Door closing control and electrical connectivity system for refrigerated case

• US 8,845,045 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill Phoenix Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hill Phoenix Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Stubblefield, Steven O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rohrhoff, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Kimberley S
• Application Number:
  US13/103,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 312/116, 312/326, 312/327, 312/328, 312/329, 312/405, 312/223.6, 312/319.5, 312/319.6, 312/319.7, 312/319.8, 624/48, 624/49, 624/65, 362/94, 362/125, 494/00, 494/01, 494/02, 491/38, 492/36, 492/37, 492/39, 162/98, 162/99, 163/01, 163/07, 163/08
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/08 for use in suspensions comprising two spigots placed at opposite edges of the wing, especially at the top and the bottom, e.g. trunnions E05D15/266 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/081 the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1011 biased by free springs E05D7/1016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1025 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/202 for display cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges

Abstract

A temperature-controlled case is provided including a frame and a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door. The electrical connectivity system includes a first electrical connector coupled to the door, and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame so that the first and second electrical connectors are engaged when the door is coupled to the frame. The door closure control assembly includes a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.

Claims

1. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:

a frame at least partially defining a temperature-controlled space;

a door pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, the door including a passage at least partially along the pivot axis;

a door closure device having an elongated bar configured to bias the door toward the closed position, and the door closure device coupled to one of a top or a bottom of the door and to the frame;

an electrical connectivity system including a first electrical connector axially aligned with the pivot axis and coupled to the other of the top or the bottom of the door and configured to engage a second electrical connector axially aligned with the pivot axis and coupled to the frame, wherein the first electrical connector extends along the pivot axis outside an external perimeter of the door and engages the second electrical connector outside the external perimeter of the door;

the electrical connectivity system including a first annular coupling device attached to an outer perimeter surface of the door and having a central cavity within which the first electrical connector is at least partially disposed, and a second annular coupling device attached to an inner perimeter surface of the frame and having a central cavity within which the second electrical connector is at least partially disposed, the first and second annular coupling devices being removably engagable with one another via engagement features extending radially from circumferential surfaces thereof.

2. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1, further comprising at least one compartment within the frame, and one or more electrical devices disposed in the compartment, an electrical connection between the electrical devices in the compartment and the door being formed when the first electrical connector is coupled to the second electrical connector.

3. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1, wherein the elongated bar is torsionally pre-loaded to bias the door to the closed position when the door is in the open position and when the door is in the closed position.

4. The temperature-controlled case of claim 3, further comprising a preload device having a disc that is rotatable to, and lockable in, one of a plurality of preload positions.

5. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical connectors and the elongated bar are aligned along or parallel to the pivot axis when the door is coupled to the frame.

6. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1, wherein the door closure device and the electrical connectivity system are interchangeably adaptable for engagement with the top of the door and the bottom of the door.

7. The temperature-controlled case of claim 6, wherein the door is a modular door and can be configured for use as a right-hand door or a left-hand door by reversing the orientation of the door closure device and the electrical connectivity system from the top of the door to the bottom of the door.

8. The temperature-controlled case of claim 1, wherein the door closure device further comprises a spring-biased plunger coupled to the elongated bar.

9. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:

a frame;

a door coupleable to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position;

at least one compartment separate from and adjacent to the door, the compartment housing one or more electrical devices;

an electrical connectivity system including a first annular coupling device attached to an outer perimeter surface of the door and removably engagable with a second annular coupling device attached to an inner perimeter surface of the frame, the first and second annular coupling devices being removably engagable with one another via engagement features extending radially from circumferential surfaces thereof; and

a first electrical connector disposed within the first annular coupling device and a second electrical connector disposed within the second annular coupling device;

wherein coupling the first annular coupling device to the second annular coupling device also engages the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to one another, wherein the first electrical connector extends along the pivot axis outside an external perimeter of the door and engages the second electrical connector outside the external perimeter of the door; and

wherein engaging the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector forms an electrical connection between the door and, one or more electrical devices disposed in the compartment.

10. The temperature-controlled case of claim 9, wherein the electrical devices in the compartment are accessible by moving or removing a panel from the compartment.

11. The temperature-controlled case of claim 9, wherein the compartment is disposed substantially along one of an upper side of the temperature-controlled case located generally above the door or a lower side of the temperature-controlled case located generally below the door.

12. The temperature-controlled case of claim 9, wherein the door is configured to remain closed and assembled during maintenance of the electrical devices.

13. The temperature-controlled case of claim 9, wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are at least partially concentrically disposed within the first coupling device and the second coupling device, respectively.

14. The temperature-controlled case of claim 13, wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are overmolded into sleeves that are preassembled into the cavities of the first coupling device and the second coupling device.

15. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:

a frame;

a door pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position; and

a door closing control assembly configured to bias the door toward the closed position, comprising;

an elongated bar having a first end removably received within a passage in the door and rotationally fixed to the door,

a rotatable disc having a central aperture configured to removably receive a second end of the elongated bar opposite the first end, wherein the second end is rotationally fixed to the rotatable disc when received in the central aperture, the rotatable disc having a plurality of peripheral apertures parallel to the central aperture, each of the plurality of peripheral apertures corresponding to a different preload position, wherein the rotatable disc is rotatable relative to the frame and lockable relative to the frame at one of the different preload positions by inserting a pin into the corresponding peripheral aperture,

wherein the elongated bar increasingly twists and the door rotates relative to the rotatable disc as the door is moved from the closed position toward the open position.

16. The temperature-controlled case of claim 15, wherein the second end of the elongated bar further comprises a plunger that is axially biased toward the aperture in the frame.

17. The temperature-controlled case of claim 15, wherein the door closing control assembly is interchangeably receiveable within the passage at a top of the door and a bottom of the door.

18. The temperature-controlled case of claim 15, further comprising an electrical connectivity system including a first coupling device removably coupleable to a second coupling device, a first electrical connector substantially annularly aligned within the first coupling device and a second electrical connector substantially annularly aligned within the second coupling device, wherein coupling the first coupling device to the second coupling device also couples the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.

19. The temperature-controlled case of claim 18, wherein the electrical connectivity system is interchangeably receivable with the passage at a top of the door and a bottom of the door.

20. The temperature-controlled case of claim 19, wherein the door is a plug-and-play modular door that is interchangeable from a right-hand orientation to a left-hand orientation by interchangeably moving the door closure control assembly and the electrical connectivity system from between the top of the door and the bottom of the door.

21. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:

a frame;

a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, the door including a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door;

the electrical connectivity system including a first electrical connector coupled to the door and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame, wherein the first and second electrical connectors are engaged and in axial alignment when the door is coupled to the frame and while the door is moved between the closed position and the open position, wherein the first electrical conductor extends along the pivot axis outside an external perimeter of the door and engages the second electrical conductor outside the external perimeter of the door;

the electrical connectivity system including a first annular coupling device attached to an outer perimeter surface of the door and having a central cavity within which the first electrical connector is at least partially disposed, and a second annular coupling device attached to an inner perimeter surface of the frame and having a central cavity within which the second electrical connector is at least partially disposed, the first and second annular coupling devices being removably engagable with one another via engagement features extending radially from circumferential surfaces thereof;

the door closure control assembly comprising a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.

22. A temperature-controlled case, comprising:

a frame;

a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, the door including a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door;

the electrical connectivity system including a first annular coupling device attached to an outer perimeter surface of the door and removably engagable with a second annular coupling device attached to an inner perimeter surface of the frame, a first electrical connector concentrically disposed within the first annular coupling device and a second electrical connector concentrically disposed within the second annular coupling device, the first and second annular coupling devices being removably engagable with one another via engagement features extending radially from circumferential surfaces thereof, wherein coupling the first coupling device to the second coupling device also axially aligns and connects the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector extends along the pivot axis outside an external perimeter of the door and connects to the second electrical connector outside the external perimeter of the door.