DISPLAY CASE DOOR ASSEMBLY WITH TEMPERED GLASS VACUUM PANEL
First Claim
1. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:
- an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device; and
a vacuum panel mounted within the opening, the vacuum panel comprising;
a first vacuum pane of tempered glass;
a second vacuum pane of tempered glass;
an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel; and
a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device includes an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device and a vacuum panel mounted within the opening. The vacuum panel includes a first vacuum pane of tempered glass, a second vacuum pane of tempered glass, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap has a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel. The vacuum panel further includes a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:
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an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device; and a vacuum panel mounted within the opening, the vacuum panel comprising; a first vacuum pane of tempered glass; a second vacuum pane of tempered glass; an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel; and a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vacuum panel for a temperature-controlled storage device, the vacuum panel comprising:
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a first vacuum pane of tempered glass, a second vacuum pane of tempered glass, an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, the evacuated gap having a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel; and a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thermally-insulated vacuum panel comprising:
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a first vacuum pane of tempered glass; a second vacuum pane of tempered glass; an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes providing a thermal insulation effect for the vacuum panel; and a perimeter seal bonding a perimeter of the first vacuum pane to a perimeter of the second vacuum pane and providing a hermetic seal within the evacuated gap; wherein the perimeter seal has a melting temperature below a glass transition temperature of the tempered glass and is bonded to the perimeter of the first vacuum pane and the perimeter of the second vacuum pane by heating the perimeter seal to the melting temperature without detempering the tempered glass.
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Specification