REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER

• US 20080223061A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hixson, Scott N., Collier, Joshua T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/248
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/04 Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details

Abstract

A door for a refrigerated merchandiser that includes a glass panel having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The door also includes a first conductive film covering the first portion of the glass panel and a second conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film and covering the second portion of the glass panel.

Claims

1. A refrigerated merchandiser for displaying food product, the refrigerated merchandiser comprising:

a case;

a refrigeration system in communication with the case;

at least one door coupled to the case, each door including

a glass panel having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion,

a first conductive film covering the first portion of the glass panel, and

a second conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film and covering the second portion of the glass panel; and

a power supply in electrical communication with the first conductive film and the second conductive film to heat the first portion and the second portion.

2. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the second portion is lower than the first portion, and wherein the second conductive film generates more heat than the first conductive film.

3. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the glass panel includes a third portion spaced from the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the door further comprises a third conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film and the second conductive film, the third conductive film covering the third portion.

4. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are connected to the power supply in series.

5. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are connected to the power supply in parallel.

6. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are at least one of a metallic pyrolytic coating and a magnetic sputter vacuum deposition coating.

7. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are transparent.

8. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 1 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are at least partially electrically isolated from each other.

9. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser, the door comprising:

a glass panel having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion;

a first conductive film covering the first portion of the glass panel; and

a second conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film and covering the second portion of the glass panel.

10. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are configured to be connected to a power supply to heat the first and second portions and inhibit condensation from forming on the first and second portions.

11. The door of claim 10 wherein the second portion is lower than the first portion, and wherein the second conductive film generates more heat than the first conductive film.

12. The door of claim 9 wherein the glass panel includes a third portion spaced from the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the door further comprises a third conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film and the second conductive film, the third conductive film covering the third portion.

13. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are electrically coupled in series.

14. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are electrically coupled in parallel.

15. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are at least one of a metallic pyrolytic coating and a magnetic sputter vacuum deposition coating.

16. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are transparent.

17. The door of claim 9 wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film are at least partially electrically isolated from each other.

18. A method of heating a door, the method comprising:

providing a glass panel;

covering a first portion of the glass panel with a first conductive film;

covering a second portion of the glass panel with a second conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film; and

applying electricity from a power supply through the first conductive film and the second conductive film to heat the first portion and the second portion.

19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising inhibiting condensation from forming on the first portion and the second portion.

20. The method of claim 18 and further comprising applying the first conductive film and the second conductive film by sputtering.

21. The method of claim 18 and further comprising applying the first conductive film and the second conductive film by pyrolytic coating

22. The method of claim 18 and further comprising electrically coupling the first conductive film and the second conductive film to the power supply in parallel.

23. The method of claim 18 and further comprising electrically coupling the first conductive film and the second conductive film to the power supply in series.

24. The method of claim 18 and further comprising at least partially electrically isolating the first conductive film from the second conductive film.