Showcase with an illuminating apparatus

• US 8,746,916 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Oketani, Tetsuya, Okumura, Hiroshi, Amari, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMEBO, TSION M
• Application Number:
  US12/637,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 362/92, 362/125, 362/223, 362/225, 362/260, 362/240, 362/249.02, 362/257, 362/296.05, 362/311.02, 362/311.06, 362/311.14, 362/235, 362/244, 312/114, 312/126, 312/293.1
• US Class Current: 362/125
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

A showcase comprising an illumination apparatus which includes a shade member constituted of a light-transmitting front wall positioned on the side of the light emitting surfaces of LED elements, and a back wall positioned on the side of a substrate provided with the LED elements, the front wall comprising a curved portion having an arc-like section and a pair of flat portions extended continuously from both ends of the curved portion to intersect with the back wall at an acute angle, corner portions where the flat portions intersect with the back wall being a pair of engaging portions; and a holder provided with a plurality of engagement portions and the like with which the engaging portions are disengageably engaged.

Claims

1. A showcase in which an inside of a display chamber disposed in a main body is illuminated by an illumination apparatus, said illumination apparatus comprising:

an attachment member;

a substrate located on a surface of the attachment member;

LED elements provided on a surface of the substrate;

a hollow shade member in which the LED elements are received, said hollow shade member comprising an internally hollow shade main body whose both ends open in a longitudinal direction; and

a holder attached to the main body, said holder configured to hold the hollow shade member,

the hollow shade member further comprising a light-transmitting front wall positioned on the side of the light emitting surfaces of the LED elements, and a back wall positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the side provided with the LED elements,

the front wall comprising a curved portion disposed so as to face the LED elements and having an arc-like section, and a pair of flat portions extended continuously from both ends of the curved portion to intersect with the back wall extended continuously from both ends of the flat portions at an acute angle, corner portions where the flat portions intersect with the back wall are a pair of engaging portions,

a pair of back wall projections integral with the back wall and positioned on both sides of the attachment member,

a pair of front wall projections integral with the front wall, and

the holder comprises a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion configured to disengage and engage with at least one of the engaging portions of the hollow shade member, and the second engagement portion is formed downside from the first engagement portion.

2. The showcase according to claim 1, the shade member further comprising:

end caps attached to the shade body so as to close both end openings of the hollow shade main body in a longitudinal direction, wherein

the outer surface of each of the end caps is provided with a depressed groove which opens in at least the end of the hollow shade main body on a back wall side, and the depressed groove is provided with drawing holes through which wiring lines from the substrate are drawn.

3. The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the pair of front wall projections extend to a position close to the attachment member or the substrate located on the surface of the attachment member.