Display case having a mullion with recessed light fixtures

• US 6,578,978 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Upton, Ronald D., Brancheau, Harry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/744,261
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 362/92, 362/125, 362/127, 362/225, 362/133, 362/223, 362/260, 362/278, 312/223.4, 622/64
• US Class Current: 362/92
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0044 Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/02 Geometry problems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

A refrigerated display case and process of illuminating the case is provided. The display case has a support mullion (22) positioned in proximity to a glass door. A fluorescent lamp (34) is located within a lateral opening along either side of the support mullion (22). A diffusing lens (32) is positioned within the lateral opening, opposite the lamps, scattering the light as it passes through from the side of the mullion and through the diffusing lens (32). The glass door provides a reflective surface which reflects a substantial portion of the scattered light towards the interior space of the display case.

Claims

1. A display case comprising:

a cabinet defining an enclosure with height, width, a rear plane and an interior space;

a door supported by the cabinet for permitting viewing of product within the interior space of the enclosure and movable to permit access to the interior space of the enclosure, said door having an interior perimeter frame supporting a panel defining an interior surface of the cabinet, the interior perimeter frame of said door defining a plane forming an interior angle of between about 75 to about 90 degrees relative to a cabinet axis perpendicular to the rear plane of the cabinet;

a mullion extending the height of the enclosure and positioned opposite a leading edge of the door, said mullion defining at least one lateral opening;

a light fixture supported within the at least one lateral opening defined by the mullion, the light fixture adapted for receiving and supporting an illumination source; and

a light diffuser positioned within the lateral opening and opposite the light fixture so as to diffuse the direction and intensity of light from the illumination source whereby a portion of the directed light further reflects off the interior surface of said door into the interior space.

7. The display case according to claim 1 wherein the mullion defines a pair of lateral openings, each opening being configured and disposed for receiving and supporting an illumination source.

8. The display case according to claim 7 wherein the door of the cabinet defines an interior surface, the mullion is configured and disposed so that the illumination source directs light through the lateral opening and through the diffuser in a manner whereby a portion of the directed light further reflects off the interior surface of the door and into the interior space of the enclosure.

20. The display case according to claim 1 wherein the light diffuser further defines a plurality of slat-like projections along an inner surface of the diffuser.

21. The display case according to claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of slat-like projections are substantially parallel with respect to the other slat-like projections.

22. The display case according to claim 1 wherein the diffuser is positioned within the mullion by the engagement of a first notch defined by the diffuser and a second notch defined by the diffuser with a corresponding first ridge and second ridge defined by the mullion.

2. A process of lighting an interior of a display case having a door having an interior perimeter frame supporting a panel defining an interior surface of the cabinet and positioned across an opening at the front of the display case comprising:

providing a vertical support member positioned along a front of the display case, the support member having a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one side which defines a lateral opening extending along a length of the support member;

disposing within the at least one lateral opening a light fixture having an illumination source;

directing light discharged from the illumination source to the interior of the display case, a portion of the discharged light being directed to the door'"'"'s interior surface positioned along a front of the display case at an interior angle of between about 75 to about 90 degrees relative to a cabinet axis perpendicular to a rear plane of the cabinet; and

reflecting from the interior surface of the door towards the interior of the display case, a substantial portion of the light that is incident on the interior surface of the door from the illumination source, the reflected light providing illumination for the interior of the display case.

9. The process according to claim 2, wherein the step of providing a vertical support member further comprises providing a lateral support member which defines an opening along each side of the support member.

10. The process according to claim 2, wherein the discharged light is directed from a fluorescent bulb.

11. The process according to claim 2 wherein an interior perimeter frame of the door defines a plane which forms an interior angle of between about 80 to 75 degrees relative to a cabinet axis perpendicular to a rear plane of the cabinet.

12. The process according to claim 11 wherein the interior angle is between about 79 to 76 degrees.

13. The process according to claim 11 wherein the interior angle is between about 78 and 77 degrees.

14. The process according to claim 11 wherein the interior angle is about 77.5 degrees.

3. A display case comprising:

a cabinet defining an enclosure with height, width, a rear plane and an interior space;

a door supported by the cabinet for permitting viewing of product within the interior space of the enclosure and movable to permit access to the interior space of the enclosure, said door having an interior perimeter frame supporting a panel defining an interior surface of the cabinet, the interior perimeter frame of said door defining a plane forming an interior angle of between about 80 to about 75 degrees relative to a cabinet axis perpendicular to the rear plane of the cabinet;

a mullion extending the height of the enclosure and positioned opposite a leading edge of the door, said mullion defining at least one lateral opening;

a light fixture supported within the at least one lateral opening defined by the mullion, the light fixture adapted for receiving and supporting an illumination source; and

a light diffuser positioned within the lateral opening and opposite the light fixture so as to diffuse the direction and intensity of light from the illumination source whereby a portion of the directed light further reflects off the interior surface of said door into the interior space.

4. The display case according to claim 3 wherein the interior angle is between about 79 to about 76 degrees.

5. The display case according to claim 3 wherein the interior angle is between about 78 and 77 degrees.

6. The display case according to claim 3 wherein the interior angle is about 77.5 degrees.

15. A lighted refrigeration display case comprising:

a cabinet defining an enclosure with a height, a width, and an interior space;

a pair of doors, each individual door supported by the cabinet for permitting viewing of product within the enclosure and movable to permit access to the interior space of the enclosure and further defining an interior door surface;

a mullion extending the height of the enclosure and positioned opposite a leading edge of each of the individual doors, the mullion having a front, a back disposed opposite the front, and a pair of opposed sides extending between the front and the back, each said side defining a lateral opening;

a first light fixture supported within a first lateral opening defined by one of the sides of the mullion, the first light fixture adapted for receiving and supporting a first illumination source;

a second light fixture supported within a second lateral opening defined by the other side of the mullion, the second light fixture adapted for receiving and supporting a second illumination source;

a first light diffusing lens positioned within the first lateral opening and opposite the first light fixture;

a second light diffusing lens positioned within the second lateral opening and opposite the second light fixture; and

wherein a substantial portion of the light from the first and second illumination sources which strikes an interior door surface is reflected off the interior door surface to provide a frontal lighting source for the display cabinet.

16. The display case according to claim 15 wherein an interior perimeter frame of one of the doors defines a plane which forms an interior angle of between about 80 to 75 degrees relative to a cabinet axis perpendicular to a rear plane of the cabinet.

17. The display case according to claim 15 wherein the interior angle is between about 79 to 76 degrees.

18. The display case according to claim 15 wherein the interior angle is between about 78 and 77 degrees.

19. The display case according to claim 15 wherein the interior angle is about 77.5 degrees.