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 decorative design is applied to the inner side of the outer transparent panel; and
a population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel;
wherein the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources.
1 Assignment
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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.
63 Citations
54 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 decorative design is applied to the inner side of the outer transparent panel; and a population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel; wherein the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. 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 decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel; and a population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel; wherein the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A door for a refrigeration unit comprising:
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a transparent panel assembly comprising; an outer 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 outer transparent panel; an inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges, wherein a second decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel; a first population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel; and a second population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel; wherein the first decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the first population of light sources; and wherein the second decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the second population of light sources.
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26. 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 the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer and/or inner transparent panels capable of emitting light into the outer and/or inner transparent panels; a population of light source retention members contacting the population of light sources; and a population of springs contacting the population of light source retention members and the perimeter wall of the perimeter channel, wherein the population of springs provides a spring force to maintain the population of light sources in contact with the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer and/or inner transparent panels.
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27. 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 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 decorative design is applied to the inner side of the outer transparent panel; and a population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel; wherein the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. 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 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 decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel; and a population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel; wherein the decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the population of light sources. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. 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 transparent panel assembly comprising; an outer 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 outer transparent panel; an inner transparent panel having an outer side, an inner side, and top, bottom, left, and right edges, wherein a second decorative design is applied to the inner side of the inner transparent panel; a first population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer transparent panel capable of emitting light into the outer transparent panel; and a second population of light sources positioned on the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the inner transparent panel capable of emitting light into the inner transparent panel; wherein the first decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the first population of light sources; and wherein the second decorative design is capable of being illuminated by the second population of light sources.
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32. 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 the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer and/or inner transparent panels capable of emitting light into the outer and/or inner transparent panels; a population of light source retention members contacting the population of light sources; and a population of springs contacting the population of light source retention members and the perimeter wall of the perimeter channel, wherein the population of springs provides a spring force to maintain the population of light sources in contact with the top, bottom, left and/or right edges of the outer and/or inner transparent panels. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification