DOOR FOR A REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER

• US 20110100044A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Timothy D., Reichert, Craig S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/246
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A door for a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area. The door includes a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and a third glass panel. The first glass panel is in communication with an environment surrounding the merchandiser, and has a first surface facing the environment and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second glass panel has a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third glass panel is in communication with the product display area, and has a fifth surface that faces the fourth surface and a sixth surface that is opposite the fifth surface. The door also includes a film that has a split silver low-emissivity coating covering at least a portion of one or more of the first glass panel, the second glass panel, and the third glass panel.

Claims

1. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area, the door comprising:

a glass assembly including

a first glass panel adapted to be in communication with an environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser, the first glass panel having a first surface arranged to face the environment and a second surface opposite the first surface,

a second glass panel positioned adjacent the first glass panel, the second glass panel having a third surface arranged to face the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and

a third glass panel positioned adjacent the second glass panel and adapted to be in communication with the product display area, the third glass panel having a fifth surface arranged to face the fourth surface and a sixth surface opposite the fifth surface and arranged to face the product display area; and

a film including a split silver low-emissivity coating and covering at least a portion of one or more of the first glass panel, the second glass panel, and the third glass panel.

2. The door of claim 1, wherein the film is a first film, the door further comprising a second film covering at least a portion of another of the first glass panel, the second glass panel, and the third glass panel, wherein the second film is a conductive film configured to be connected to a power supply and adapted to heat the associated glass panel to at least one of inhibit and remove condensation on glass panel.

3. The door of claim 2, wherein the first film covers at least a portion of the second surface.

4. The door of claim 3, wherein the second film covers at least a portion of the fifth surface.

5. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area, the door comprising:

a glass assembly including

a first glass panel adapted to be in communication with an environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser, the first glass panel having a first surface arranged to face the environment and a second surface opposite the first surface,

a second glass panel positioned adjacent the first glass panel, the second glass panel having a third surface arranged to face the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and

a third glass panel positioned adjacent the second glass panel and adapted to be in communication with the product display area, the third glass panel having a fifth surface arranged to face the fourth surface and a sixth surface opposite the fifth surface and arranged to face the product display area;

a first film covering at least a portion of the second surface;

a second film covering at least a portion of the fourth surface; and

a third film covering at least a portion of the fifth surface.

6. The door of claim 5, wherein the first film includes a split silver low-emissivity coating.

7. The door of claim 6, wherein the second film includes a split silver low-emissivity coating.

8. The door of claim 7, wherein the third film is a conductive film configured to be connected to a power supply to heat the third glass panel and to at least one of inhibit and remove condensation on at least one of the first glass panel and the third glass panel.

9. The door of claim 8, wherein each of the first glass panel and the third glass panel includes tempered glass, and wherein the second glass panel includes annealed glass.

10. A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:

a case defining a product display area for supporting food product;

a refrigeration system in communication with the case; and

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

a glass assembly having a first glass panel in communication with an ambient environment surrounding the case, a second glass panel, and a third glass panel in communication with the product display area such that the second glass panel is positioned between the first glass panel and the third glass panel, the at least one door further including

a first film covering at least a portion of the first glass panel and including a split silver low-emissivity coating,

a second film covering at least a portion of the second glass panel and including a split silver low-emissivity coating, and

a third film covering at least a portion of the third glass panel.

11. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 10, wherein the first glass panel includes a first surface arranged to face the ambient environment and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the first film at least partially covers the second surface.

12. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 11, wherein the second glass panel includes a third surface arranged to face the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and wherein the second film at least partially covers the fourth surface.

13. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 12, wherein the third glass panel includes a fifth surface arranged to face the fourth surface and a sixth surface opposite the fifth surface and arranged to face the product display area, and wherein the third film at least partially covers the fifth surface.

14. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 13, wherein the third film is a conductive film, the refrigerated merchandiser further comprising a power supply in electrical communication with the third film to heat the third glass panel and at least one of inhibit and remove condensation on at least one of the first glass panel and the third glass panel.

15. The refrigerated merchandiser of claim 14, wherein each of the first glass panel and the third glass panel includes tempered glass, and wherein the second glass panel includes annealed glass.

16. A method of manufacturing a door for a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area and positioned in an ambient environment, the method comprising:

covering at least a portion of a first glass panel of the door with a first film for reflecting radiated energy;

covering at least a portion of a second glass panel of the door with a second film for reflecting radiated energy;

covering at least a portion of a third glass panel of the door with a third film for applying electrical energy from a power supply through the third film to heat at least the third glass panel; and

assembling the first glass panel, the second glass panel, and the third glass panel into a glass assembly of the door such that the second glass panel is between the first glass panel and the third glass panel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first glass panel has a first surface adapted to be in communication with the ambient environment and a second surface opposite the first surface, the method further comprising covering the second surface with the first film.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second glass panel has a third surface facing the second surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the method further comprising covering the fourth surface with the second film.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third glass panel has a fifth surface facing the fourth surface and a sixth surface opposite the fifth surface and adapted to be in communication with the product display area, the method further comprising covering the fifth surface with the third film.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising

assembling the glass assembly onto a refrigerated merchandiser;

and

at least one of inhibiting and removing moisture on the first glass panel and the third glass panel.