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Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiserRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Display Type, With Air Controlling Or Directing MeansBottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060207280, Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/663,388, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled SPILL PREVENTION FORMED FEATRUE ON BOTTOM DECK AND SPILL PROFF DISCHARGE GRILL COVER TO BE USED IN COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION UNITS THAT CONTAIN CASSETTE REFRIGERATIION SYSTEMS, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. [0002] This application is related to the following applications subject to assignment to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application: U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--817NP), entitled "REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--816NP), entitled "SEALING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--820NP), entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--879NP), entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--819NP), entitled "EVAPORATOR FAN/MOTOR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BRACKET". Each of the afore-listed patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to refrigerated merchandisers in general and, more particularly, to refrigerated display cabinets including modular cassette refrigeration units stowed in a compartment beneath the product display zone of the refrigerated cabinet. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Refrigerated merchandisers have a refrigeration system associated therewith for providing the cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers commonly employ a conventional refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser fan, and compressor. In stand alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment separate from and insulated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. Refrigerant lines connect the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. A refrigerant is circulated by the compressor through the condenser and the evaporator before returning to the compressor. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant so as to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof. [0005] However, it is well-known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments. For example, cold beverages, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc. are commonly displayed in refrigerated merchandisers for self-service purchase by customers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors that provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or in six-packs, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display space of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf. [0006] Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with refrigeration units disposed beneath the refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows up from the equipment compartment through a flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet, along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone. The refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the equipment compartment, entering thereto upstream of the evaporative refrigerant unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor. [0007] Therefore, a relatively large opening exists in the floor of the cabinet through which undesireable spill liquids and other contaminants may enter the refrigeration unit during operation, service or transportation. Spilled liquids draining into the refrigeration unit from the product display zone through the air inlet opening may foul or otherwise damage refrigerant unit components such as the evaporator heat exchanger coils, motors and fans. Liquid spills could originate from product breakage within the product display zone, cleaning and maintenance operations, or condensation. Further, loosen bottle wrappers, paper and other litter may be entrained in the air stream passing from the product display zone through the air inlet and be carried into the evaporator and clog part of the flow area through the evaporator. [0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,421, Maynard et al. disclose a modular refrigeration unit housed in a compartment beneath the interior product display area of a refrigerated merchandiser. In the merchandiser disclosed therein, refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit enters the product display zone through a central rear flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet and returns to the refrigeration from the product display zone through a pair of lateral rear flow ducts along the back of the cabinets. Thus, no air return inlet opening is provided in the floor of the cabinet. However, a drainage hole is provided in the floor through which any liquids or condensation within the product display zone may pass into a drainage tube to drain to the condensate tray beneath the condenser of the refrigeration unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser wherein a refrigeration unit disposed beneath the product display space is protected from liquid spills and condensation from the product display zone. [0010] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a cover superadjacent an air return inlet in the floor of the display cabinet of the merchandiser for preventing liquid spills or condensation from draining through the air return inlet. [0011] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a floor having a recessed surface thereon for collecting liquid spills and condensation. [0012] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a grille plate superadjacent an air return inlet for preventing bottle wrappers and other litter from passing through the air return inlet [0013] A refrigerated merchandiser is provided having a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers. A refrigeration unit is disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall. An opening in the lower wall provides an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall. A cover is disposed atop the lower deck superadjacent the air return inlet. The cover includes at least one air intake port lying in a generally vertical plane. The lower wall may be provided with a recessed upper surface facing the product display area for collecting liquid spills and condensation. A grille plate having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough may be disposed beneath the cover to extend atop and across the air return inlet to block wrappers, paper and other litter from passing through the air return inlet. [0014] In a particular embodiment, the refrigerated merchandiser includes a cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower deck. The cover may also include a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower deck. The cover may further include an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange. Continue reading about Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser... Full patent description for Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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