Lighting system for commercial refrigerator doors
First Claim
1. A refrigerator cabinet light fixture assembly comprising an elongated base for mounting within the refrigerator cabinet, an elongated fluorescent lamp bulb spaced from said base and having an axis extending substantially parallel to said base, a reflector located between said base and said bulb, a lens extending from said base and at least partially enclosing said bulb and said reflector in spaced relation with said bulb, said lens having a one-piece plastic construction and including a first portion connected to said base adjacent one side of said bulb and inclined at an acute included angle relative to said base so as to converge toward said bulb upon progressing away from said base, said first portion extending away from said base to a location beyond the axis of said bulb, said lens including a second portion inclined at an obtuse included angle relative to said first portion and extending away from said location and toward a second plane containing said axis and disposed perpendicular to a predetermined target plane parallel to said base, said second portion extending beyond said bulb, and said first and second portions having inner sides with multiple facets which coact with said reflector to redistribute light energy radiating from said bulb substantially uniformly across said target plane.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A commercial refrigerator cabinet is illuminated by fluorescent lamps which are located closely behind insulated glass doors for closing the cabinet. Each lamp is located behind a reflector and is at least partially enclosed by a clear plastic lens having multiple facets on its inner side. The reflector and the lens cause the light emitted from the lamp to reflect and refract in such a manner as to distribute the light substantially uniformly on products located at various distances from the lamp and to reduce glare in the immediate vicinity of the lamp.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A refrigerator cabinet light fixture assembly comprising an elongated base for mounting within the refrigerator cabinet, an elongated fluorescent lamp bulb spaced from said base and having an axis extending substantially parallel to said base, a reflector located between said base and said bulb, a lens extending from said base and at least partially enclosing said bulb and said reflector in spaced relation with said bulb, said lens having a one-piece plastic construction and including a first portion connected to said base adjacent one side of said bulb and inclined at an acute included angle relative to said base so as to converge toward said bulb upon progressing away from said base, said first portion extending away from said base to a location beyond the axis of said bulb, said lens including a second portion inclined at an obtuse included angle relative to said first portion and extending away from said location and toward a second plane containing said axis and disposed perpendicular to a predetermined target plane parallel to said base, said second portion extending beyond said bulb, and said first and second portions having inner sides with multiple facets which coact with said reflector to redistribute light energy radiating from said bulb substantially uniformly across said target plane.
- 10. A refrigerator cabinet light fixture assembly comprising an elongated base for mounting within the refrigerator cabinet, an elongated fluorescent lamp bulb spaced from said base and having an axis extending substantially parallel to said base, a reflector located between said base and said bulb, a lens extending from said base and at least partially enclosing said bulb and said reflector in spaced relation with said bulb, said lens having an inner side with multiple facets which coact with said reflector to redistribute light energy radiating from said bulb substantially uniformly across a predetermined target plane extending substantially parallel to said base, said facets including a first group of generally V-shaped facets located between said base and a second plane extending parallel to said target plane and containing the axis of said bulb, each of the facets of said first group having long and short legs which join one another at an acute included angle, the long legs of the facets of said first group being generally parallel to one another and facing generally toward said reflector, and the short legs of the facets of said first group being generally parallel to one another and facing generally away from said reflector.
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15. A refrigerator cabinet light fixture assembly comprising an elongated base for mounting within the refrigerator cabinet, an elongated fluorescent lamp bulb spaced from said base and having an axis extending substantially parallel to said base, a reflector located between said base and said bulb, and a lens extending from said base and at least partially enclosing said bulb and said reflector in spaced relation with said bulb, said lens having an inner side with multiple facets which coact with said reflector to redistribute light energy radiating from said bulb substantially uniformly across a predetermined target plane extending substantially parallel to said base, means for releasably securing said lens to said base, said releasable securing means comprising clamps each having a tongue normally engaged with said lens to hold said lens in a fixed position on said base, and means for selectively releasing each clamp to enable the tongue thereof to be moved out of engagement with said lens.
- 16. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door assembly mounted within an opening in said cabinet, said door assembly including a door mounting frame having an outer peripheral portion about the cabinet opening, a pair of insulated glass doors mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between open and closed positions, said frame including three laterally spaced frame members extending between top and bottom sides thereof and against which said doors close, display shelves mounted within said cabinet behind said doors upon which items may be supported and viewed through said doors while said doors are closed, said shelves having front edges, a light fixture supported between said door frame and the front edges of said shelves, said light fixture including an elongated and upright base for mounting on said frame, an elongated and upright fluorescent lamp bulb spaced rearwardly from said base and having an axis substantially parallel to said base, a reflector located between said base and said bulb, and a lens extending rearwardly from said base and at least partially enclosing said bulb and said reflector in rearwardly spaced relation with said bulb, said lens having an inner side with multiple facets which coact with said reflector to redistribute light energy radiating from said bulb substantially uniformly and horizontally across a vertical target plane extending generally parallel to and spaced rearwardly from said base and located approximately at the front edges of said shelves.
- 21. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door assembly mounted within an opening in said cabinet, said door assembly including a door mounting frame having an outer peripheral portion about the cabinet opening, a pair of insulated glass doors mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between open and closed positions, display shelves horizontally mounted within said cabinet behind said doors upon which items may be supported and viewed through said doors while said doors are closed, a light fixture supported within said cabinet adjacent a side of said shelves, said light fixture including an upright elongated upright lamp bulb, a lens mounted inside said cabinet about said lamp bulb, and said lens being formed with multiple V-shaped facets which direct light emitted from said lamp bulb substantially uniformly and horizontally across a front of said shelves.
Specification