Removable cooling unit for display case and method for using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cooled display case comprising:
- a case housing comprising a back wall, a bottom wall, sidewalls, and a front wall forming a display compartment, each of said back wall, front wall, and sidewalls having upper edges;
a top frame attached to said upper edges of said back wall, said front wall, and said sidewalls of said case housing, said top frame forming a top opening above said compartment of said case housing;
a door opening in said front wall;
a door hinged to said housing and covering said door opening;
a cooling unit housing having a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall, sidewalls, and a bottom wall forming a cooling chamber therein, said sidewalls of said cooling unit housing being formed in a shape which conforms to the shape of said top frame and resting in registered alignment above said top frame;
cooling means within said cooling chamber of said cooling unit for cooling air passing therethrough;
said bottom wall of said cooling unit housing having an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct providing communication through said top opening between said display compartment and said cooling chamber;
said cooling unit housing having a vertical baffle within said cooling chamber between said cooling means and said outlet duct and adjacent and forming a part of said outlet duct;
fan means within said cooling unit for drawing air into said inlet duct from said display compartment and for forcing said air through said cooling chamber, around said cooling means, around said vertical baffle, and through said outlet duct into said display compartment, whereby said cooling means cools said air as it passes through said cooling chamber;
a vertical duct having an open lower end within said display compartment adjacent said bottom wall of said case housing and having an upper open end registered with and closely adjacent said inlet duct of said cooling unit housing, whereby actuation of said fan causes air to be drawn into said lower end of said vertical duct and upwardly through said vertical duct into said inlet duct of said cooling unit;
a first thermostat positioned within said cooling chamber for sensing the temperature of the air within said cooling chamber;
a compressor mounted to said cooling unit housing and connected to said cooling means for causing said cooling means to be cooled;
said first thermostat being connected to said compressor for causing actuation of said compressor whenever the air temperature sensed by said thermostat is above a first predetermined level.
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Abstract
A display case includes a display case housing having an open upper end. Fitted over the open upper end is a removable cooling unit which has an inlet opening and an outlet opening both in communication with the interior of the display case. The cooling unit draws air into the cooling unit, cools the air, and recirculates it into the display case. The cooling unit can be removed from the upper end of the housing for repair, and can be replaced with a similar unit so that the display case can continue to be used. A modified form of the invention includes a cooling unit which is insertable into the display compartment of the display case adjacent the bottom wall thereof.
77 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A cooled display case comprising:
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a case housing comprising a back wall, a bottom wall, sidewalls, and a front wall forming a display compartment, each of said back wall, front wall, and sidewalls having upper edges; a top frame attached to said upper edges of said back wall, said front wall, and said sidewalls of said case housing, said top frame forming a top opening above said compartment of said case housing; a door opening in said front wall; a door hinged to said housing and covering said door opening; a cooling unit housing having a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall, sidewalls, and a bottom wall forming a cooling chamber therein, said sidewalls of said cooling unit housing being formed in a shape which conforms to the shape of said top frame and resting in registered alignment above said top frame; cooling means within said cooling chamber of said cooling unit for cooling air passing therethrough; said bottom wall of said cooling unit housing having an air inlet duct and an air outlet duct providing communication through said top opening between said display compartment and said cooling chamber; said cooling unit housing having a vertical baffle within said cooling chamber between said cooling means and said outlet duct and adjacent and forming a part of said outlet duct; fan means within said cooling unit for drawing air into said inlet duct from said display compartment and for forcing said air through said cooling chamber, around said cooling means, around said vertical baffle, and through said outlet duct into said display compartment, whereby said cooling means cools said air as it passes through said cooling chamber; a vertical duct having an open lower end within said display compartment adjacent said bottom wall of said case housing and having an upper open end registered with and closely adjacent said inlet duct of said cooling unit housing, whereby actuation of said fan causes air to be drawn into said lower end of said vertical duct and upwardly through said vertical duct into said inlet duct of said cooling unit; a first thermostat positioned within said cooling chamber for sensing the temperature of the air within said cooling chamber; a compressor mounted to said cooling unit housing and connected to said cooling means for causing said cooling means to be cooled; said first thermostat being connected to said compressor for causing actuation of said compressor whenever the air temperature sensed by said thermostat is above a first predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification