Collapsible refrigerated cabinets

• US 5,502,979 A
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andre Renard
• Original Assignee: Andre Renard
• Inventors: Renard, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/318,684
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 62/246, 62/255, 62/256, 62/298, 312/116, 312/401
• US Class Current: 62/256
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0086 made of cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0443 with forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0469 Details, e.g. night covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/11 made of cardboard, paper or the like racks or cabinets made of cardboard, paper or the like A47B43/02, A47B47/06; stands for packaging and displaying B65D5/52
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 15/00 Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/00 Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0651 through the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0661 from the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/32 Removal, transportation or shipping of refrigerating devices from one location to another

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display cabinet for displaying food products or the like in a shop. A refrigerated cabinet for displaying products includes at least two substantially superposed shelves (1), at least one cover panel, means for guiding and circulating cool air towards the product display shelves, and includes a cover panel made of a material that is thin and lightweight and that includes card, the cover being removably mounted on a base (8) including means for guiding and circulating cool air. The technical field of the invention is that of manufacturing refrigerated cabinets.

Claims

1. A refrigerated cabinet for displaying products on at least two substantially superposed shelves, said cabinet including

a means for guiding and circulating cool air;

a means for distributing said cool air towards said shelves;

a base that incudes a portion of said means for guiding and circulating cool air; and

,

a cover including cover panels made of a thin and lightweight card-based material, which cover is removably mounted on said base.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said cover panels are of a density that is less than or equal to 400 kilograms per cubic meter and have a thickness that is less than or equal to 30 millimeters.

3. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said base forming a support for said cover includes a top portion which includes substantially rounded edges to facilitate engaging said cover around said base.

4. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said cover panels is provided with an opening suitable for coinciding with an opening formed in a side wall of said base, which openings allow air to pass.

5. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said base includes legs or longitudinal beams delimiting at least one empty space enabling the forks of a handling device to be engaged beneath said support-forming base.

6. A cabinet according to claim 1, further including air sealing means between said base and said cover.

7. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said shelves are made of a card-based material.

8. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises:

a back cover panel and a ceiling cover panel;

side cover panels; and

, a bottom front cover panel and a top front cover panel;

said cabinet further comprising an open front product access zone protected by a curtain of air.

9. A cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising an open product access zone protected by a curtain of air.

10. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said means for distributing cool air towards said shelves include a perforated internal panel which is made of a card-based material.

11. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said cover panels are made of corrugated cardboard.

12. A refrigerated display cabinet comprising:

a base having a heat exchanger for cooling air and a fan for circulating cool air;

a dismantable superstructure which is mounted on said base and including at least two superposed shelves, means for guiding cool air and means for distributing cool air towards said shelves, and, a cover constituted by cover panels formed a thin and lightweight card-based material, said cover being removably mounted on said base to surround said base and includes an open product access zone protected by a curtain of air.

13. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said cover panels are of a density that is less than or equal to 400 kilograms per cubic meter and have a thickness that is less than or equal to 30 millimeters.

14. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said base forming a support for said cover includes a top portion which includes substantially rounded edges to facilitate engaging said cover around said base.

15. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said cover comprises a back cover panel and a ceiling cover panel, side cover panels, and, a bottom front cover panel and a top front cover panel, said cabinet further comprising an open front product access zone protected by a curtain of air.

16. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said cover panels is provided with an opening suitable for coinciding with an opening formed in a side wall of said base, which openings allow air to pass.

17. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said base includes legs or longitudinal beams delimiting at least one empty space to enable forks of a handling device to be engaged beneath said support-forming base.

18. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said shelves are made of a card-based material.

19. A cabinet according to claim 12, wherein said means for distributing cool air towards said shelves include a perforated internal panel which is made of a card-based material.

20. A refrigerated display cabinet comprising:

a base having a heat exchanger for cooling air circulating in said cabinet and a fan for circulating cool air;

a dismantable superstructure which is mounted on said base and includes at least two superposed shelves for displaying products and a duct for guiding cool air which includes a perforated panel for distributing cool air towards said shelves; and

,

a cover comprising;

a back cover panel and a ceiling cover panel,

side cover panels, a bottom front cover panel and a top front cover panel, wherein said cover panels and said perforated panel are made of corrugated cardboard, said cover being removably mounted on said base to surround said base and includes an open product access zone protected by a curtain of air.