Display case frame

• US 6,367,223 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Richardson, Richard J., Nazarian, John, Nicholson, Jeffery, Carson, Timothy, Crown, Charles E., Calderon, Raymundo
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/591,138
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 526/562, 526/564, 526/569, 526/566, 522/041, 522/045, 312/116, 312/138.1, 312/140, 495/04
• US Class Current: 52/656.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/125 Doors for show cases

Abstract

Perimeter frame rails and door frames rails are described for a more thermally efficient and cost-effective display case such as for refrigerated display cases. The frames are preferably formed from cold rolled steel. A perimeter frame may include first, second and third walls defining an opening or a recess that can be closed by a contact plate. A door for a refrigerated display case may include a glass unit and a forward portion extending inwardly from a perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extends rearwardly to a groove. An insulating member insulates the door rail from the cold area and includes a portion engaging the groove.

Claims

1. A frame for an opening in a refrigerated display case for receiving and supporting one or more doors for allowing access into the case, the frame comprising:

a first wall extending rearwardly from a forward portion of the opening, a second wall extending from the first wall in a second direction and a third wall extending from the second wall in a direction different from the second direction to define a recess between the first, second and third walls;

a contact plate extending between the first and third walls closing the recess; and

wherein the first, second and third walls are formed from rolled steel and wherein at least one of the walls includes bends in the wall.

2. A frame as in claim 1 further comprising a frame cover and insulation between the frame cover and at least one of the first, second and third walls.

3. A frame as in claim 2 where the frame cover includes a plurality of standoffs.

4. A frame as in claim 3 where the first, second and third walls include a plurality of grooves and wherein at least one of the standoffs extends into one of the grooves.

5. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover is positioned on an interior surface of the frame between an inside of the display case and an outside surface of the frame.

6. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover includes a surface for supporting a light source.

7. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover includes a surface for supporting a lens.

8. A frame as in claim 1 further comprising a fourth wall having a lip defining a groove.

9. A frame as in claim 8 further comprising a frame cover having an edge extending into the groove.

10. A frame as in claim 8 further comprising first and second frame elements each having a lip and a bridge element extending from the lip of the first frame element to the lip of the second frame element.

11. A frame as in claim 10 wherein each of the lips in the first and second frame elements define respective grooves and the bridge element is an angle plate having a first leg extending into the groove of the first frame element and a second leg extending into the groove of the second frame element.

12. A frame as in claim 8 further comprising a corner connecting element extending into the groove for allowing a corner of one frame element to be joined to a corner of an adjacent frame element.

13. A frame as in claim 9 wherein the first and third walls define an opening to the recess and wherein the frame further comprises a door contact plate extending across the opening.

14. A frame as in claim 1 where the first, second and third walls form a substantially rectangular recess.

15. A frame as in claim 14 further including a removable cover for extending from the first wall to the third wall for substantially covering the recess.

16. A frame as in claim 15 wherein the cover includes a surface for accepting a door contact plate.

17. A frame as in claim 1 further including a hinge support element wherein the hinge support element is surface mounted to the frame.

18. A frame as in claim 1 further including a hinge support element wherein the hinge support element includes at least one projection extending into an opening in the frame.

19. A frame as in claim 18 wherein the at least one projection is a registration pin engaging a complimentary opening in the frame.