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Refrigerated case

Refrigerated case description/claims

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/744,048, filed Mar. 31, 2006, and entitled “Refrigerated Case”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length.

The invention relates to refrigerated cases. More particularly, the invention relates to lighted signs for such cases.

In several configurations of refrigerated case (including freezers), a backlit sign is positioned along a header above the case doors. The sign includes an at least partially transparent or translucent panel held in front of one or more lightbulbs. Such panels must often be removed (e.g., to replace the panels or replace the bulbs). Various panel retention mechanisms are known. In one group, the panel is held within a metallic frame. A lip of the frame engages a perimeter portion of the panel front surface/face. A lower edge of the panel may be supported by a bottom portion of the frame. To retain the panel against rearward movement, a plurality of screws extend through the frame. Tip portions of the screws in the interior of the frame engage a perimeter portion of the panel rear surface/face.

To remove the panel for panel or bulb replacement, some or all of the screws are at least partially unscrewed to retract their tip portions and permit disengagement of the tip portions from the panel rear face. The panel may then be rotated and/or translated in a series of movements to permit its removal (optionally including a slight bending/flexing of the panel). Panel replacement/reinstallation may be by a reverse of this process.

Such use of screws may have one or more of several disadvantages. Unscrewing and rescrewing may be cumbersome and time-consuming. The potential exists for stripping of the screwhead and/or the frame hole.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention involves a refrigerated display case having a body, at least one door coupled to the body, and an internal refrigerated compartment. The case includes a lighted sign apparatus mounted to the body. The apparatus includes a bulb, a housing, and an at least partially transparent and/or translucent sign carried by the housing. A number of extractable snap fasteners extend through associated holes in the housing and engage the sign to retain the sign in an installed condition.

In various implementations, the snap fasteners may include a first group along the bottom of the housing and a second group along a top of the housing. The snap fasteners may consist essentially of nylon. The snap fasteners may comprise a head and a transversely-apertured shaft depending from the head. The housing may comprise first and second pieces. The first piece may essentially form a top and first side of the housing and the second piece may essentially form a bottom and second side of the housing. The sign may be replaceable by extracting at least one of the fasteners, removing the sign, replacing the sign with a replacement sign, and replacing the extracted fastener(s). A similar process may be used for bulb replacement.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

FIG. 1 is a view of a refrigerated case.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a header-mounted sign of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of a housing of the sign of FIG. 2 with a sign panel exploded forward.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the housing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the housing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 3.

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