REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE DOOR WITH TRANSPARENT LCD PANEL

• US 20120285089A1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Nicholson, Jeffery W., Artwohl, Paul J., Sandnes, Mark, Roche, John Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/70
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/06 Means for bringing about special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/0058 on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A door assembly that includes a single glass unit having at least first, second and third panels, a front surface, a rear surface, and an outside edge. At least one of the first, second or third panels is a transparent LCD panel on which media can be displayed. The single glass unit also includes a frame that at least partially surrounds the outside edge of the single glass unit, and electronic components in electrical communication with the LCD panel.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising:

single glass unit that includes at least first, second and third panels, wherein at least one of the first, second or third panels is a transparent LCD panel on which media can be displayed, wherein the single glass unit has a front surface, a rear surface, and an outside edge,

a frame that at least partially surrounds the outside edge of the single glass unit, and

electronic components in electrical communication with the LCD panel.

2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the second panel comprises the transparent LCD panel and is positioned between the first and third panels, wherein the first panel is spaced from the second panel by a first spacer and the third panel is spaced from the second panel by a second spacer.

3. The door assembly of claim 2 wherein the first, second and third panels each have an outside edge and a length and a width, wherein the length and the width of the second panel is smaller than the length and the width of the first and third panels, thereby defining a margin between the outer edge of the second panel and the outer edges of the first and third panels, and wherein the first panel is spaced from the third panel by a third spacer that is positioned within the margin.

4. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the first, second and third spacers are made of an elastomeric material.

5. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the single glass unit further includes insulation disposed within the margin and between the first and third panels.

6. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the second panel is hermetically sealed between the first and third panels.

7. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the first panel includes an outer opaque section and an inner transparent section through which the second panel is visible.

8. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the electronic components are disposed within the margin between the first and third panels.

9. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the electronic components are disposed within the frame.

10. The door assembly of claim 9 wherein the frame includes a rail secured adjacent at least a portion of the outside edge of the single glass unit, wherein the electronic components are positioned in the rail, and wherein the rail includes a removable cover for accessing the electronic components.

11. The door assembly of claim 3 further including a case, wherein the frame is hingedly connected to the case by an electrical hinge pin, wherein the electrical hinge pin supplies electricity and data to the electronic components.

12. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein the electronic components includes a media player that has the ability to receive and/or transmit data wirelessly.

13. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein at least one of the panels includes an electro-conductive film thereon that is generally clear, wherein when a voltage is applied across a portion of the film, the film becomes opaque.

14. The door assembly of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first or third layers includes an electro-conductive coating thereon, wherein when a voltage is applied across the coating it is heated, thus helping prevent condensation thereon.

15. The door assembly of claim 3 further comprising motion sensor technology, whereby the second panel only displays media when the motion sensor technology is actuated.

16. The door assembly of claim 15 wherein the motion sensor technology includes a camera mounted in the frame.

17. The door assembly of claim 1 further comprising touch screen technology.

18. The door assembly of claim 6 further comprising an insulating gas disposed within the hermetically sealed first and third panels.

21. The door assembly of claim 5 wherein the insulation includes an opening therein for housing at least a portion of the electronic components.

19. The door assembly of claim 19 wherein the electronic components are powered by IEC Class 2 Low Voltage.

20. The door assembly of claim 19 wherein the electronic components are powered by 24V DC.