OUTSIDE-MOUNTED FRAME FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

• US 20140203699A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Pack, William, Wach, Ryan, Rolek, Matthew, Sandnes, Mark, Artwohl, Paul, Roche, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,116 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A frame assembly can be configured to couple one or more doors to a refrigeration case having an opening. The frame assembly can be mounted outside the opening of the refrigeration case, which can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating the frame assembly and doors to prevent condensation. Mounting the frame assembly outside the opening can also improve the uniformity of light used to illuminate goods displayed in the refrigeration case. Mounting the frame assembly outside the opening can also allow for the use of larger doors. In some embodiments, and adapter can be used to mount the frame assembly outside the opening. In some embodiments, refrigeration units having a frame assembly mounted in the opening can be retrofitted to include a frame assembly that is mounted outside the opening.

Claims

1. A refrigeration unit comprising:

a refrigeration case comprising an interior chamber, at least one side wall, and an opening to provide access to the interior chamber, wherein the opening comprises a bottom surface at a bottom of the opening, and wherein the refrigeration case comprises a bottom exterior surface adjacent to the bottom of the opening;

a frame assembly coupled to the refrigeration case, the frame assembly comprising a lower portion;

at least one door coupled to the frame assembly, wherein the at least one door is movable between an open position and a closed position; and

a frame sealing gasket, wherein a lower portion of the frame sealing gasket is attached to the lower frame portion, the frame sealing gasket being configured to seal against the at least one door when the at least one door is in the closed position, wherein at least a portion of the lower portion of the frame sealing gasket is disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening;

wherein at least a portion of the lower frame portion is disposed outside the opening such that the at least one door is disposed forward of a plane defined by the bottom exterior surface of the refrigeration case.

2. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one adapter that couples the frame assembly to the refrigeration case.

3. The refrigeration unit of claim 2, wherein the at least one adapter comprises:

an attachment member removably coupled to the bottom surface of the opening;

a substantially horizontal support surface disposed outside the opening, wherein the frame assembly is positioned over the support surface such that the support surface provides support to the frame assembly; and

an extension portion extending substantially downward from the attachment member to the support surface such that the support surface is spaced apart from the attachment member and disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

4. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein a majority of the lower frame portion is disposed forward of the plane defined by the bottom exterior surface of the refrigeration case.

5. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein a majority of the lower frame portion is disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

6. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, further comprising a frame sealing gasket, wherein a lower portion of the frame sealing gasket is attached to the lower frame portion, the frame sealing gasket being configured to seal against the at least one door, wherein the lower portion of the frame sealing gasket is disposed forward of the plane defined by the bottom exterior surface of the refrigeration case.

8. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly includes an upper frame portion, a right frame portion, and a left frame portion, wherein the frame portions are coupled to form a closed rectangular shape.

9. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the lower frame portion comprises a back side that faces substantially rearward, and wherein a majority of the back side of the lower frame portion faces towards the bottom exterior surface.

10. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall that comprises insulation, wherein the insulating wall is disposed directly rearward of a majority of the lower frame portion such that the insulation of the insulating wall insulates the lower frame portion from the interior chamber of the refrigeration case.

11. The refrigeration unit of claim 10, wherein a majority of the lower frame portion does not have the insulating wall disposed directly therebelow.

12. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, further comprising an insulating member disposed over at least a portion of the lower frame portion.

13. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein less than 20% of the lower frame portion is exposed to the interior chamber of the refrigeration unit.

14. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall includes an extension portion that is disposed over at least a portion of the lower frame portion, the extension portion comprising insulation.

15. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration case comprises a support surface configured to support the frame assembly.

31. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one door comprises a transparent panel, and wherein a bottom of the transparent panel is disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

32. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, further comprising a heater configured to heat the frame assembly, wherein the lower frame portion comprises a channel disposed forward of the plane defined by the bottom exterior surface of the refrigerator case, and wherein one or more wires for the heater are routed through the channel.

33. The refrigeration unit of claim 32, wherein the channel is disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

34. The refrigeration unit of claim 32, wherein the at least one side wall comprises a hole, and wherein the one or more wires for the heater are routed through the hole in the at least one side wall.

35. The refrigeration unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one door is coupled to the lower frame portion at a location that is lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

7. (canceled)

16. A refrigeration unit comprising:

a refrigeration case comprising an interior chamber, at least one side wall, and an opening to provide access to the interior chamber;

a frame assembly coupled to the refrigeration case, the frame assembly configured to attach to at least one door, the frame assembly comprising a lower portion, wherein a majority of the lower frame portion is disposed outside the opening; and

at least one door coupled to the frame assembly, wherein the at least one door is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the at least one door is coupled to the lower portion of the frame assembly at a location that is lower than a bottom of the opening.

17. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, wherein a majority of the frame assembly is disposed outside the opening.

18. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, further comprising a frame sealing gasket attached to the frame assembly and configured to seal against the at least one door, wherein the frame sealing gasket is disposed outside the opening.

20. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, wherein the at least one door is disposed forward of the opening when the door is in the closed position.

21. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, wherein a vertical height of the at least one door is greater than a vertical height of the opening.

22. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, wherein a vertical height of the frame assembly is greater than a vertical height of the opening.

23. The refrigeration unit of claim 16, wherein a horizontal width of the frame assembly is greater than a horizontal width of the opening.

19. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. A refrigeration unit comprising:

a refrigeration case comprising an interior chamber, at least one side wall, and an opening to provide access to the interior chamber, wherein the opening comprises a bottom surface at a bottom of the opening, and wherein the refrigeration case comprises a bottom exterior surface adjacent to the bottom of the opening;

at least one door comprising a door sealing gasket; and

means for coupling the at least one door to the refrigeration case such that the at least one door is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the at least one door is disposed forward of a plane defined by the bottom exterior surface of the refrigeration case, wherein at least a portion of the door sealing gasket is disposed lower than the bottom surface of the opening.

30. The refrigeration unit of claim 29, wherein the coupling means comprises a frame assembly.