Display case door assembly with vacuum panel and lighting features

• US 9,687,087 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Nicholson, Jeffery W., Artwohl, Paul J., Rolek, Matthew, Sandnes, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): FERENCE, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US15/184,842
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/125 Doors for show cases
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/02 with one pin
• 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: E05F 1/063 with complementary, substantially identical and slidingly cooperating cam surfaces E05F1/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/106 Lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/202 for display cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/025 consisting of multiple glazing units units per se E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/367 specially adapted for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/5454 inside U-shaped section members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6617 one of the panes being larger than another
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/677 Evacuating or filling the gap between the panes ; Equilibration of inside and outside pressure; Preventing condensation in the gap between the panes by means of spacing elements E06B3/663; Cleaning the gap between the panes
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 5/006 for furniture E06B3/00, E06B9/115 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/249 Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing

Abstract

A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a vacuum panel, a hinge rail, and a lighting element. The vacuum panel includes a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel. The hinge rail is coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position. The lighting element is coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the hinge rail and vacuum panel are in at least the closed position.

Claims

1. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

an edge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position;

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the hinge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position;

a mounting bracket coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and defining a lighting channel within which the lighting element is contained;

a light cover coupled to the mounting bracket and forming a rear surface of the lighting channel, wherein the lighting element emits light through the light cover; and

a light cap coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to secure the light cover between the light cap and the mounting bracket.

2. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more wipers configured to provide a seal along an edge of the display case door assembly.

3. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the edge rail comprises a hinge rail having a substantially vertical rail coupled to a side edge of the vacuum panel.

4. The display case door assembly of claim 3, wherein the hinge rail comprises at least one of a top hinge clamp coupled to a top edge of the vacuum panel and a bottom hinge clamp coupled to a bottom edge of the vacuum panel.

5. The display case door assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more magnets coupled to a perimeter of the vacuum panel and configured to magnetically engage a perimeter of the temperature-controlled storage device when the vacuum panel is in the closed position.

6. The display case door assembly of claim 1, wherein the lighting element is oriented substantially horizontally and coupled to at least one of the hinge rail and the vacuum panel using an adhesive.

7. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

an edge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position, the edge rail comprising a hinge rail;

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the edge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position;

a mounting bracket coupled to at least one of the hinge rail and the vacuum panel and defining a lighting channel within which the lighting element is contained; and

a light cover coupled to the mounting bracket and forming a rear surface of the lighting channel;

wherein the lighting element emits light through the light cover.

8. The display case door assembly of claim 7, wherein

the hinge rail has a front arm, a rear arm, and a vacuum panel channel between the front arm and the rear arm;

and

the hinge rail is configured to receive the edge of the vacuum panel within the vacuum panel channel and to support the vacuum panel via the edge.

9. The display case door assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the hinge rail comprises an axle opening in at least one of a top surface of the hinge rail and a bottom surface of the hinge rail; and

the axle opening comprises corners, linear corner segments extending from the corners, and curved central segments connecting the linear corner segments.

10. The display case door assembly of claim 7, wherein the mounting bracket is located along a rear surface of the hinge rail or the vacuum panel and configured to provide thermal insulation for the hinge rail.

11. The display case door assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the lighting channel comprises a rear corner, a coupling feature extending into the lighting channel, and a gap between the rear corner and the coupling feature; and

the light cover comprises a side edge configured to fit within the gap between the rear corner and the coupling feature to secure the light cover to the mounting bracket.

12. The display case door assembly of claim 7, wherein the light cover is configured to provide thermal insulation for the hinge rail and to maintain a space within the lighting channel at an elevated temperature relative to an internal temperature of the temperature-controlled storage device.

13. The display case door assembly of claim 7, further comprising a light cap coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to secure the light cover between the light cap and the mounting bracket.

14. The display case door assembly of claim 13, wherein the light cap comprises:

an end portion coupled to the mounting bracket via a fastener; and

a cover portion configured to fit over an end of the light cover to secure the light cover between the cover portion and the mounting bracket.

15. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

a hinge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position;

a hinge cover located along a rear surface of the hinge rail and configured to provide thermal insulation for the hinge rail; and

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the hinge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the hinge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position;

wherein the hinge cover is a mounting bracket coupled to the hinge rail and defining a lighting channel within which the lighting element is contained.

16. The display case door assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the hinge rail comprises a front arm, a rear arm, and a vacuum panel channel between the front arm and the rear arm; and

the hinge rail is configured to receive the edge of the vacuum panel within the vacuum panel channel and to support the vacuum panel via the edge.

17. The display case door assembly of claim 15, further comprising a light cover coupled to the mounting bracket and forming a rear surface of the lighting channel;

wherein the lighting element emits light through the light cover.

18. The display case door assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the lighting channel comprises a rear corner, a coupling feature extending into the lighting channel, and a gap between the rear corner and the coupling feature; and

the light cover comprises a side edge configured to fit within the gap between the rear corner and the coupling feature to secure the light cover to the mounting bracket.

19. The display case door assembly of claim 17, wherein the light cover is configured to provide thermal insulation for the hinge rail and to maintain a space within the lighting channel at an elevated temperature relative to an internal temperature of the temperature-controlled storage device.

20. The display case door assembly of claim 17, further comprising a light cap coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to secure the light cover between the light cap and the mounting bracket.

21. The display case door assembly of claim 20, wherein the light cap comprises:

an end portion coupled to the mounting bracket via a fastener; and

a cover portion configured to fit over an end of the light cover to secure the light cover between the cover portion and the mounting bracket.

22. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

an edge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position, the edge rail comprising a hinge rail;

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the edge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position;

wherein the hinge rail has a front arm, a rear arm, and a vacuum panel channel between the front arm and the rear arm; and

the hinge rail is configured to receive the edge of the vacuum panel within the vacuum panel channel and to support the vacuum panel via the edge.

23. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

an edge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position, the edge rail comprising a hinge rail; and

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the edge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position;

wherein the hinge rail comprises an axle opening in at least one of a top surface of the hinge rail and a bottom surface of the hinge rail; and

wherein the axle opening comprises corners, linear corner segments extending from the corners, and curved central segments connecting the linear corner segments.

24. A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device, the display case door assembly comprising:

a vacuum panel comprising a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes, wherein the evacuated gap provides thermal insulation for the vacuum panel;

an edge rail coupled to an edge of the vacuum panel and configured to rotate along with the vacuum panel between an open position and a closed position, the edge rail comprising a hinge rail;

a lighting element coupled to at least one of the edge rail and the vacuum panel and configured to emit light toward an interior of the temperature-controlled storage device when the edge rail and vacuum panel are in the closed position; and

a mounting bracket coupled to at least one of the hinge rail and the vacuum panel and defining a lighting channel within which the lighting element is contained, wherein the mounting bracket is located along a rear surface of the hinge rail or the vacuum panel and configured to provide thermal insulation for the hinge rail.