Insulated door mounting frame structure
First Claim
1. A structural member for use in forming a door mounting frame for mounting into an opening in a refrigerated cabinet and within which frame a door can be operatively mounted, said structural member being a beam elongated in the longitudinal dimension and defined by its cross-section which comprises:
- a. an elongated jamb portion adapted to abut the refrigerated cabinet opening;
b. an elongated buck portion extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal edge portion of said jamb portion adapted to be nearest the interior of the refrigerated cabinet, said buck portion comprising;
i. an elongated, relatively thick structural load bearing memberii. an elongated relatively thin faceplate adapted to coact in sealing relationship with the refrigerated cabinet door, said load bearing member and faceplate being disposed in mutually spaced relationship to define a divided thermal path in said buck portion;
c. a thermal isolation element positioned within said structural member in the area proximate the junction of said jamb and buck portions and thermally insulating the structural member components on opposite sides thereof.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a refrigerator door mounting frame, the use of a thermal barrier between the cold portion and the warm portion of the frame in combination with a divided thermal conduction path extending from an intermediate portion into the cold portion. The divided path comprises a thick load-bearing section through which conduction is impeded by the thermal barrier, in parallel with a thinner sealing face plate section exposed to the air outside the refrigerator and electrically heated to prevent condensation. In this way condensation is prevented and the heat load on the refrigerator is minimized.
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A structural member for use in forming a door mounting frame for mounting into an opening in a refrigerated cabinet and within which frame a door can be operatively mounted, said structural member being a beam elongated in the longitudinal dimension and defined by its cross-section which comprises:
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a. an elongated jamb portion adapted to abut the refrigerated cabinet opening; b. an elongated buck portion extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal edge portion of said jamb portion adapted to be nearest the interior of the refrigerated cabinet, said buck portion comprising; i. an elongated, relatively thick structural load bearing member ii. an elongated relatively thin faceplate adapted to coact in sealing relationship with the refrigerated cabinet door, said load bearing member and faceplate being disposed in mutually spaced relationship to define a divided thermal path in said buck portion; c. a thermal isolation element positioned within said structural member in the area proximate the junction of said jamb and buck portions and thermally insulating the structural member components on opposite sides thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A polygonal door mounting frame of elongated structural members having substantially similar cross-sections for mounting into a planar opening in a refrigerated cabinet and within which frame a door may be operatively suspended, comprising:
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a jamb portion adapted to extend from outside the refrigerated cabinet inward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening and lining the periphery of the opening; a door buck portion projecting from said jamb portion into the opening to prevent the door from being pushed into the refrigerated cabinet, said buck portion including a relatively thick structural load bearing member and a relatively thin faceplate disposed over the majority of the width in spaced relationship from said load bearing member to define a divided buck portion thermal path, said buck portion being positioned substantially parallel to the plane of the opening, and in contact with said jamb portion; a thermal barrier portion extending the length of each structural member and interposed therein in the area proximate the junction of said door buck and jamb portions, separating the frame into two distinct thermal sections and rigidly connecting those sections and means for electrically heating said faceplate, said faceplate being attachable to said door buck portion by faceplate attaching means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification