Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Refrigerator case

Refrigerator case description/claims

The invention relates to refrigerator cases. More particularly, the invention relates to structural integration of insulated panels in walls of such cases.

Refrigerator cases (generically including freezers) are used in a variety of commercial situations. One key use is for retail display and vending. Many such cases include a closed rear wall and either an open front or a glass door front.

Insulation of the compartment of such cases relative to their external structure is important for a number of reasons. In addition to basic efficiency concerns, insulation may be appropriate to avoid or control condensation on components external to the compartment. This may be motivated by sanitary considerations in addition to refrigerator case longevity.

In refrigerator case engineering and manufacturing, modularity has been a relevant consideration. It is advantageous to be able to use at least some of the same components when producing a variety of sizes and/or configurations of case. Configurations have been developed that include combinations of external and internal structural components. These components can be coupled to each other through insulated panels. An exemplary configuration is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,826. In that patent, one or more insulated panels intervene between external and internal structural members. Studded dog bone-shaped mounting elements are embedded within the foam panels with the studs protruding from surfaces of the panels. The studs may be engaged to internal and external structural members to structurally couple such members.

The external structural members can be somewhat space-consuming. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention involves a refrigerated case having a base and a number of supports extending upward from the base. A refrigeration apparatus is positioned to cool an interior of the case. The rear supports are positioned to permit a back-to-back positioning of a pair of such refrigerated cases. When so-positioned, the left end of each case is substantially aligned with the right end of the other case and the rear supports of each case are in a nested relationship with the rear supports of the other case.

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 refrigerator case.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic side sectional view of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view of the case of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a transverse horizontal sectional view of a group of cases of FIG. 1.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator case 20 having a front 22, a back 24, and left and right ends 26 and 28. For purposes of reference, front, back, left, and right, are taken from the point of view of the case itself rather than a user facing the case. The case includes a base structure 30, a rear wall structure 32, and a top structure 34. The case has a cooled interior volume or compartment 36. The exemplary case has a series of vertical groups of shelves 38. The exemplary case is a closed case having a sliding or hinged glass door front structure 40 and patch end or partition structures 42 and 44. Partitions are used where cases are arrayed side-by-side; patch ends are used at the two ends of the array. Alternative cases are open-front.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws