REFRIGERATED CASE WITH THERMAL DOOR FRAME

• US 20110304253A1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill Phoenix Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hill Phoenix Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Howington, Larry C., Eget, Larry W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,157,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/04 Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

A temperature controlled display device includes a body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein. The display device includes a frame coupled to the body portion, where the frame defines at least one opening and a door is coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening. The frame includes two parallel vertical members and two parallel horizontal members. A lighting device is coupled to an interior surface of at least one of the vertical members, to illuminate the interior space. A thermally conductive member is disposed within the vertical member and extends at least partially along the length of the vertical members to transfer heat from the lighting device to an exterior surface of the vertical member.

Claims

1. A temperature controlled display device having a body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein, the display device comprising:

a frame coupled to the body portion, the frame defining at least one opening and having a door coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening, the frame comprising two substantially parallel vertical members and two substantially parallel horizontal members;

a lighting device coupled to an interior surface of at least one of the vertical members, the lighting device configured to illuminate the interior space;

a thermally conductive member disposed within the at least one of the vertical members and extending at least partially along the length of the at least one of the vertical members, the thermally conductive member having a receiving surface configured to interchangeably receive and thermally engage any one of a plurality of lighting devices and to transfer heat from the lighting device to an exterior surface of the at least one of the vertical members.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein the vertical members comprise mullions formed as a composite structure having an interior insulating portion and a substantially rigid external shell portion.

3. The display device of claim 2 wherein the lighting device comprises a plurality of LEDs mounted on a heat sink.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the receiving surface of the thermally conductive member engages the heat sink in a heat transfer relationship to form a thermal passageway that conducts heat from the heat sink away from the interior space and toward an external surface of the mullion to provide anti-condensation heating to the external surface of the mullion.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein the thermally conductive member comprises a plurality of channels configured to receive the external shell portion and the interior insulating portion.

6. The display device of claim 4 further comprising a cover disposed substantially over the LEDs.

7. The display device of claim 6 wherein the external shell portion of the mullion comprises integrally formed receptacles configured to receive the cover.

8. The display device of claim 4 wherein the display device further comprises air flow directional guides configured to direct air flow within the interior space away from the LEDs.

9. The display device of claim 2 wherein the two substantially parallel horizontal members comprise a polymeric upper rail and lower rail that are integrated into a foam insulation layer of the body portion.

10. A temperature controlled display device having a body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein, the display device comprising:

a frame coupled to the body portion, the frame defining at least one opening and having a door coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening, the frame comprising at least two mullions, a top rail and a bottom rail;

the mullions being formed as a composite structure having an interior insulating portion and a substantially rigid polymeric external shell portion;

an LED strip disposed on one side of at least one of the mullions, and a metallic striker plate disposed on an opposite side of the mullion;

a thermally conductive member embedded within the composite structure, the thermally conductive member having a receiving surface in thermal communication with the LED strip, and a spine portion for transferring the heat from the LED strip to the striker plate.

11. The display device of claim 10 wherein the LED strip comprises a plurality of LEDs mounted on a heat sink.

12. The display device of claim 11 wherein the receiving surface of the thermally conductive member engages the heat sink in a heat transfer relationship to form a thermal passageway that conducts heat from the heat sink away from the interior space and toward the opposite side of the mullion to provide anti-condensation heating to the external surface of the mullion.

13. The display device of claim 10 wherein the receiving surface is configured to interchangeably receive any one of a plurality of LED strips.

14. The display device of wherein claim 10 wherein the thermally conductive member comprises a plurality of channels configured to receive the external shell portion and the interior insulating portion.

15. The display device of claim 10 wherein the thermally conductive member comprises a cross-sectional portion having a “

Y”

shape.

16. The display device of claim 10 further comprising a cover disposed substantially over the LEDs.

17. The display device of claim 16 wherein the external shell portion of the mullion comprises integrally formed receptacles configured to receive the cover.

18. The display device of claim 15 wherein the display device further comprises air flow directional guides configured to direct air flow within the interior space away from the LEDs.

19. A temperature controlled display device having a body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein, the display device comprising:

a frame coupled to the body portion, the frame defining at least one opening and having a door coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space, the frame comprising at least two mullions, a top rail and a bottom rail;

the mullions being formed as a composite structure having an interior insulating portion and a substantially rigid polymeric external shell portion;

a plurality of LEDs coupled to an interior surface of at least one of the mullions, the LEDs configured to illuminate the interior space;

a thermally conductive member disposed within the at least one of the mullions and extending at least partially along the length of the mullion, the thermally conductive member configured to transfer heat from the LEDs to an exterior surface of the mullion to provide anti-condensation heating to the external surface of the mullion; and

a plurality of channels formed in the thermally conductive member to interlock at least one of the external shell portion and the interior insulating portion to the thermally conductive member.

20. The temperature controlled display device of claim 19 wherein the channels comprise dovetail channels.

21. A temperature controlled display device having an insulated body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein, the display device comprising:

a frame coupled to the body portion, the frame defining at least one opening and having a door coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening, the frame comprising;

a substantially horizontal lower rail integrated within a lower portion of the insulated body portion and including a plurality of lower receptacles;

a plurality of substantially parallel vertical mullions having a top end and a bottom end, each mullion formed as a composite structure having an interior insulating portion encapsulated within a substantially rigid external shell portion;

a substantially horizontal upper rail coupled to an upper portion of the insulated body portion and including a plurality of upper receptacles;

wherein the bottom end of the mullions are received within the lower receptacles and the top end of the mullions are received within the upper receptacles.

22. The display device of claim 21 wherein the lower rail and the upper rail comprise hollow polymeric members that are substantially filled with an insulation material.

23. The display device of claim 21 wherein an insulation layer of the insulated body portion is foamed around the lower rail to at least partially encapsulate the lower rail within the body portion.

24. The display device of claim 21 wherein the lower receptacles have a first configuration engageable only with the lower end of the mullions, and the upper receptacles have a second configuration engageable only with the upper end of the mullions.

25. The display device of claim 21 wherein the plurality of mullions include one or more single-width mullions and one or more double-width mullions.

26. The display device of claim 21 wherein the plurality of mullions include two or more single-width mullions.

27. The display device of claim 21 wherein the interior insulation portion of the mullions comprises a core of a polyurethane foam material and the external shell portion of the mullions comprise a non-foam layer of a polyurethane material.

28. The display device of claim 21 further comprising an upper support member coupled to the upper rail and a lower support member coupled to the lower rail, and wherein the upper and lower support members provide support for the door.

29. A temperature controlled display device having a body portion with an insulation layer at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein, the display device comprising:

a frame coupled to the body portion, the frame defining at least one opening and having a door coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening, the frame comprising;

a substantially horizontal lower rail integrated within a lower portion of the body portion and at least partially encapsulated within the insulation layer, and including a plurality of lower receptacles having a first configuration;

a substantially horizontal upper rail coupled to an upper portion of the insulated body portion and including a plurality of upper receptacles having a second configuration that is different from the first configuration;

a plurality of substantially parallel vertical mullions having a bottom end receivable only in the lower receptacle and a top end receivable only in the upper receptacle, each mullion formed as a composite structure having an interior insulating portion comprising a polyurethane foam material encapsulated within a substantially rigid external polyurethane shell portion.

30. The display device of claim 29 wherein the lower rail and the upper rail comprise molded hollow polymeric members that are substantially filled with a foam insulation material.

31. The display device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of mullions include one or more single-width mullions and one or more double-width mullions.

32. The display device of claim 30 wherein the plurality of mullions include two or more single-width mullions.

33. The display device of claim 30 further comprising an upper support member coupled to the upper rail and a lower support member coupled to the lower rail, and wherein the upper and lower support members provide support for the door.

34. The display device of claim 33 further comprising an LED lighting strip interchangeably coupled to an interior face of at least one of the mullions.