Apparatus and methods of forming a display case door and frame

• US 6,606,833 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Nazarian, John, Nicholson, Jeffery, Carson, Timothy, Crown, Charles E., Calderon, Raymundo, Richardson, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amiri, Nahid
• Application Number:
  US09/877,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 801 Days
• Field of Search: 526/569, 522/041, 522/045, 527/841, 312/116, 312/138.1, 495/04
• US Class Current: 52/204.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/125 Doors for show cases

Abstract

Perimeter frame rails and door frames rails are described for a more thermally efficient and cost-effective display case such as for refrigerated display cases. The frames are preferably formed from cold rolled steel. A perimeter frame may include first, second and third walls defining an opening or a recess that can be closed by a contact plate. A door for a refrigerated display case may include a glass unit and a forward portion extending inwardly from a perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extends rearwardly to a groove. An insulating member insulates the door rail from the cold area and includes a portion engaging the groove. A glass door is also provided for a refrigerated display case having a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and low emissivity coatings on the inside surfaces of the first and second glass panels. One or more intermediate glass panels can also be included. Spacer assemblies are used to separate adjacent glass panels and preferably include a desiccant-embedded sealant. Preferably, little or no metal structures are used in the spacers.

Claims

1. A frame for an opening in a refrigerated display case for receiving and supporting one or more doors for allowing access into the case, the frame comprising:

a first wall extending rearwardly from a forward portion of the opening wherein the first wall is formed from steel and includes a bend in the wall, a second wall extending from the first wall in a second direction and a third wall extending from the second wall in a direction different form the second direction to define a recess between the first, second and third walls; and

a contact plate supported by the bend in the first wall and extending between the first and third walls.

2. A frame as in claim 1 further comprising a frame cover and insulation between the frame cover and at least one of the first, second and third walls.

3. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover is positioned on an interior surface of the frame between an inside of the display case and an outside surface of the frame.

4. A frame as in claim 2 where the frame cover includes a plurality of standoffs.

5. A frame as in claim 4 where the first, second and third walls include a plurality of grooves and wherein at least one of the standoffs extends into one of the grooves.

6. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover includes a surface for supporting a light source.

7. A frame as in claim 2 wherein the frame cover includes a surface for supporting a lens.

8. A frame as in claim 1 further comprising a fourth wall having a lip defining a groove.

9. A frame as in claim 8 further comprising a frame cover having an edge extending into the groove.

10. A frame as in claim 8 further comprising first and second frame elements each having a lip and a bridge element extending from the lip of the first frame element to the lip of the second frame element.

11. A frame as in claim 10 wherein each of the lips in the first and second frame elements define respective grooves and the bridge element is an angle plate having a first leg extending into the groove of the first frame element and a second leg extending into the groove of the second frame element.

12. A frame as in claim 11 further comprising a corner connecting element extending into the groove for allowing a corner of one frame element to be joined to a corner of an adjacent frame element.

13. A frame as in claim 1 where the first, second and third walls form a substantially rectangular recess.

14. A frame as in claim 13 wherein the first and third walls define an opening to the recess and wherein the contact plate is a door contact plate extending across the opening.

15. A frame as in claim 13 further including a removable cover for extending from the first wall to the third wall for substantially covering the recess.

16. A frame as in claim 15 wherein the cover includes a surface for accepting the contact plate.

17. A frame as in claim 1 further including a hinge support element wherein the hinge support element is surface mounted to the frame.

18. A frame as in claim 1 further including a hinge support element wherein the hinge support element includes at least one projection extending into an opening in the frame.

19. A frame as in claim 18 wherein the at least one projection is a registration pin engaging a complimentary opening in the frame.

20. A mullion for combining with a perimeter frame for an opening in a refrigerated display case for receiving and supporting one or more doors for allowing access into the case, the mullion comprising:

at least first and second walls to define a recess between the first and second walls and formed from rolled steel and wherein at least one of the first and second walls includes at least one bend in the wall; and

a contact plate extending between the first and second walls closing the recess.

21. A mullion as in claim 20 further comprising a mullion cover and insulation between the mullion cover and at least one of the first and second walls.

22. A mullion as in claim 21 wherein the mullion cover is positioned on an interior surface of the mullion between an inside of the display case and an outside surface of the mullion.

23. A mullion as in claim 21 where the mullion cover includes a plurality of standoffs.

24. A mullion as in claim 23 where the first and second walls include a plurality of grooves and wherein at least one of the standoffs extends into one of the grooves.

25. A mullion as in claim 21 wherein the mullion cover includes a surface for supporting a light source.

26. A mullion as in claim 21 wherein the mullion cover includes a surface for supporting a lens.

27. A mullion as in claim 20 where the first and second walls and a third wall form a substantially rectangular recess.

28. A mullion as in claim 20 wherein the first and third walls define an opening to the recess and wherein the mullion further comprises a door contact plate extending across the opening.

29. A mullion as in claim 20 further including a removable cover for extending from the first wall to the third wall for substantially covering the recess.

30. A mullion as in claim 29 wherein the cover includes a surface for accepting a door contact plate.

31. A door for a refrigerated display case, the door comprising:

a glass unit including a forward glass pane and a rearward glass pane for allowing viewing of product within the display case;

a door frame for surrounding and supporting the glass unit;

the door frame being formed from rolled steel and including a perimeter frame edge portion and a forward portion extending inwardly from the perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extending rearwardly from the perimeter edge portion and a second wall extending inwardly from the first side portion and a third wall together defining a groove; and

a plastic insulating assembly having at least one anchor portion extending into the groove.

32. A door as in claim 31 further comprising an insulating tape between the frame and the glass unit.

33. A door as in claim 31 wherein the plastic insulating assembly extends inwardly toward the glass unit and contacts the glass unit.

34. A door as in claim 31 wherein the forward portion and the second and third walls have lengths and wherein the second and third walls are shorter than the length of the forward portion and wherein the plastic assembly includes a projecting portion for projecting between the second wall and an edge of the rearward glass pane in the glass unit.

35. A door as in claim 34 wherein the frame further includes an interior wall having an end and extending between an edge of the rearward glass pane and the first side portion and wherein the projecting portion of the plastic assembly engages the end of the interior wall.

36. A door as in claim 31 further including a glazing channel encasing the forward and rearward glass panes.

37. A door as in claim 31 wherein the plastic wall portion includes an end portion extending inwardly toward the rearward glass pane.

38. A door as in claim 37 wherein the plastic wall end portion contacts the rearward glass pane.

39. A door as in claim 37 further including a glazing channel around edges of the rearward glass pane and wherein the plastic wall end portion contacts the glazing channel.

40. A door for a refrigerated display case, the door comprising:

a glass unit including a forward glass pane and a rearward glass pane for allowing viewing of product within the display case;

a door frame for surrounding and supporting the glass unit, at least one side of the door frame including a forward portion extending partly over a surface of the forward glass pane, a rearward portion extending inwardly toward the glass unit and rearward of the forward portion and a side wall extending between the forward portion and the rearward portion; and

an insulating portion engaging the rearward portion and extending from the rearward portion inwardly and contacting a surface of the rearward glass pane.

41. A door as in claim 40, further comprising a wall on the forward portion of the frame extending toward the rearward portion of the door frame.

42. A door as in claim 41, further comprising a corner key having a portion extending between the wall and the frame side wall.

43. A door as in claim 40, further comprising a wall extending from the rearward portion of the frame toward the forward portion of the door frame.

44. A door as in claim 43, further comprising a corner key having a portion extending between the wall and the frame side wall.

45. A door as in claim 43, wherein the insulating portion includes an engagement element for engaging the wall on the rearward portion of the frame.

46. A door as in claim 40, wherein the rearward wall includes an extension wall forming a groove.

47. A door as in claim 40, wherein insulating portion includes an engagement portion extending into the groove.

48. A door as in claim 40, wherein the insulating portion includes a first plastic portion and a second plastic portion having a hardness less than a hardness of the first plastic portion and wherein the second plastic portion contacts the rearward glass pane.

49. A door as in claim 40, wherein the rearward portion is spaced from and does not overlap any portion of the rearward glass pane.

50. A door as in claim 40, wherein the insulating portion and the forward portion of the frame extend over the glass unit approximately the same amount.