Edge-lit door for refrigerator unit
First Claim
1. A door for a refrigeration unit comprising:
- a transparent panel assembly comprising an outer transparent panel and an inner transparent panel, the outer transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges and the inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges, wherein a first decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel;
a rectangular door shell;
a perimeter channel located in the door shell, the perimeter channel having a front wall, a rear wall, and a perimeter wall, wherein the transparent panel assembly is retained within the perimeter channel;
a front spacers between the front wall of the perimeter channel and the outer side of the outer transparent panel;
a first population of light sources positioned on at least one of the top, bottom, left or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel;
a spacer bar proximate the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the outer and inner transparent panels, the spacer bar connecting the inner sides of the outer and inner transparent panels; and
a population of light source retention members contacting the first population of light sources, wherein the population of light source retention members include a population of chamfered fingers adapted to be inserted a depth into the spacer bar of the transparent panel assembly;
wherein the first decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the first population of light sources.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A door for a refrigeration unit having a transparent panel assembly having an outer transparent panel and an inner transparent panel. The outer transparent panel has an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges and the inner transparent panel has an outer side, an inner side and top, bottom, left, and right edges. A decorative design is applied to the inner side of the outer transparent panel. A population of light sources are positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel and are capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel, such that the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A door for a refrigeration unit comprising:
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a transparent panel assembly comprising an outer transparent panel and an inner transparent panel, the outer transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges and the inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges, wherein a first decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel; a rectangular door shell; a perimeter channel located in the door shell, the perimeter channel having a front wall, a rear wall, and a perimeter wall, wherein the transparent panel assembly is retained within the perimeter channel; a front spacers between the front wall of the perimeter channel and the outer side of the outer transparent panel; a first population of light sources positioned on at least one of the top, bottom, left or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel; a spacer bar proximate the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the outer and inner transparent panels, the spacer bar connecting the inner sides of the outer and inner transparent panels; and a population of light source retention members contacting the first population of light sources, wherein the population of light source retention members include a population of chamfered fingers adapted to be inserted a depth into the spacer bar of the transparent panel assembly; wherein the first decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the first population of light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A door for a refrigeration unit comprising:
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a rectangular door shell; a perimeter channel located in the door shell, the perimeter channel having a front wall, a rear wall, and a perimeter wall; a transparent panel assembly retained within the perimeter channel, the transparent panel assembly comprising; an outer transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges; an inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges; and a spacer bar proximate the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the outer and inner transparent panels, the spacer bar connecting the inner sides of the outer and inner transparent panels; a population of light sources positioned on at least one of the top, bottom, left or right edges of the outer or inner transparent panels capable of emitting light into the outer or inner transparent panels; and a population of light source retention members contacting the population of light sources, wherein the light source retention members comprise a population of chamfered fingers adapted to be inserted a depth into the spacer bar of the transparent panel assembly.
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22. A refrigeration unit comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage compartment and refrigeration system components capable of refrigerating the storage compartment; and a door mounted to the cabinet, the door comprising; a rectangular door shell; a perimeter channel located in the door shell, the perimeter channel having a front wall, a rear wall, and a perimeter wall; a transparent panel assembly retained within the perimeter channel, the transparent panel assembly comprising; an outer transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges; an inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges; and a spacer bar proximate the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the outer and inner transparent panels, the spacer bar connecting the inner sides of the outer and inner transparent panels; a population of light sources positioned on at least one of the top, bottom, left or right edges of the outer or inner transparent panels capable of emitting light into the outer or inner transparent panels; and a population of light source retention members contacting the population of light sources, wherein the population of light source retention members further comprise a population of chamfered fingers adapted to be inserted a depth into the spacer bar of the transparent panel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification