Display case
First Claim
1. A modular case for displaying food or the like, comprising:
- a bed section having a first length and having first and second ends;
a first zone having a variable second length;
a second zone having a variable third length, said first and second zones being arranged serially along a longitudinal axis of said bed section and being adapted for maintenance at substantially different temperatures relative to one another said different temperatures maintained constant regardless of the actual size of said variable lengths by providing each said zone with independent temperature control; and
a partition located in said case for dividing said first and second zones;
wherein said partition may be positioned at a location along the length of said bed section axially spaced from said first and second ends, and is adapted to be movable when modification of said second or third lengths is desired.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular food display case system permits a particular display case arrangement to be easily customized from a basic design. A plurality of modular bed sections, which are pre-manufactured from a lightweight composite honeycomb material, are used as the basic building blocks of the customized display case, and are arranged end to end. Their lengths may be cut and angled as desired to further customize the arrangement of the customized display case. Partitions divide different temperature-controlled zones within the display case, and may be positioned anywhere along the length of the case, according to the specific arrangement and lengths of hot, cold, and dry (ambient temperature) zones employed, without regard to the ends of the case or the location of joints separating each of the bed sections.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A modular case for displaying food or the like, comprising:
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a bed section having a first length and having first and second ends; a first zone having a variable second length; a second zone having a variable third length, said first and second zones being arranged serially along a longitudinal axis of said bed section and being adapted for maintenance at substantially different temperatures relative to one another said different temperatures maintained constant regardless of the actual size of said variable lengths by providing each said zone with independent temperature control; and a partition located in said case for dividing said first and second zones; wherein said partition may be positioned at a location along the length of said bed section axially spaced from said first and second ends, and is adapted to be movable when modification of said second or third lengths is desired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A modular case for displaying food or the like, comprising:
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a plurality of temperature-controlled compartments; and a plurality of partitions dividing and substantially sealing said compartments; wherein said compartments have varying lengths, according to design considerations related to the needs of a particular application, and said partitions are movable to change the respective lengths of each compartment either during or after installation of the case, the temperature of said compartments remaining constant regardless of the actual size of the varying lengths. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. A modular bed section adapted for use in constructing a display case having a plurality of temperature-controlled zones, said bed section having a first end and a second end and being pre-manufactured to a predetermined standard length, and being adapted for combination with other similar bed sections to construct said case by attaching the bed sections in an end-to-end fashion along a longitudinal axis thereof.
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24. A method of assembling a case for displaying food or the like, and having a plurality of temperature-controlled zones, the case including a plurality of pre-manufactured modular bed sections, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining the desired length of the case and procuring a sufficient number of said modular bed sections; b) attaching said modular bed sections in an endwise fashion; c) providing structure to support said bed sections; and d) positioning one or more partitions in said case to divide said plurality of temperature-controlled zones, said partitions being located anywhere along the length of said case to customize the length of each zone as desired while maintaining a constant temperature in each zone regardless of its actual length. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of changing the configuration of a case for displaying food or the like, and having a plurality of temperature-controlled compartments, the case including a plurality of modular bed sections which are attached in an endwise fashion to form a desired case configuration, and one or more partitions to divide said plurality of temperature-controlled compartments, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) rearranging said plurality of bed sections to create a new desired case configuration; and b) moving one or more of said partitions to create a new arrangement of temperature-controlled compartments, wherein the movement of said partitions may be completed without regard to the location of the joints between said bed sections. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification