U.S. patent application number 10/437348 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-18 for door molding for a walk-in food chilling compartment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Delay, Daniel John, Hunsaker, Allen Joe, Rasmusson, Loren D., Swetish, Gary B., Yates, Gaylon.
Application Number | 20040226253 10/437348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33417359 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040226253 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yates, Gaylon ; et
al. |
November 18, 2004 |
Door molding for a walk-in food chilling compartment
Abstract
A door molding for use with doors closing openings into
food-chilling compartments, and the like, is aligned to a
horizontal edge of the door and extends from one vertical side of
the door to the opposite vertical side. The door molding has a back
surface adjacent to the door and a convex outer surface. An
elongated side surface near the horizontal edge of the door is
substantially perpendicular to the door and extends from the back
surface to the convex outer surface. A beveled surface opposite to
the elongated side surface extends from the back surface to the
convex outer surface. Rounded sides near the vertical sides of the
door extend from the back surface to the convex outer surface. A
plurality of cavities in the base extend from the back surface into
the base toward the convex outer surface. A method of fabricating
the door molding is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Yates, Gaylon; (Parsons,
TN) ; Rasmusson, Loren D.; (River Falls, WI) ;
Hunsaker, Allen Joe; (Hillsboro, IA) ; Swetish, Gary
B.; (Racine, WI) ; Delay, Daniel John;
(Muskego, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jasper W. Dockrey
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
P.O. Box 10395
Chicago
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
Manitowoc Foodservice Companies,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
33417359 |
Appl. No.: |
10/437348 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/717.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/717.01 |
International
Class: |
E04C 002/38 |
Claims
1. 1. A door molding for a food-chilling compartment door
comprising: a) a back surface for mounting on a face of a door; b)
a front surface opposite the back surface; c) a first elongated
side surface extending between the back surface and the front
surface and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the back
surface; and d) a second elongated side surface opposite the first
elongated side surface and extending between the back surface and
the front surface.
2. The door molding of claim 1 further comprising first and second
shortened side surfaces, each extending between the back surface
and the front surface and having a gradual transition to the front
surface.
3. The door molding of claim 2 wherein the front surface and the
first elongated side surface join at a corner forming a convex arc
wherein the convex arc has a radius of curvature, and wherein the
radius of curvature becomes smaller at the first and second
shortened side surfaces.
4. The door molding of claim 2 wherein the front surface, the first
and second elongated side surfaces and the first and second
shortened side surfaces comprise textured surfaces.
5. The door molding of claim 1 wherein the second elongated side
surface forms a right angle with the back surface.
6. The door molding of claim 1 wherein the front surface comprises
a dome-shaped surface.
7. The door molding of claim 1 wherein the first and second
shortened side surfaces comprise rounded surfaces curved in a
direction from the back surface toward the front surface.
8. The door molding of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
interior walls extending from the back surface into an interior
region of the door molding wherein a plurality of interior walls
define cavities within the door molding.
9. The door molding of claim 8 wherein each of the cavities
comprises funnel-shaped indentations in the back surface.
10. The door molding of claim 1 wherein the door molding comprises
a thermoplastic material.
11. The door molding of claim 10 wherein the door molding comprises
a blow molded thermoplastic material.
12. The door molding of claim 10 wherein the thermoplastic material
comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.
13. In combination, a door of a walk-in cooler and a door molding
mounted on the door, the door molding comprising: a) a rectangular
base having two elongated sides and two ends; b) a domed front
surface opposite the rectangular base; c) a beveled surface
extending between one of the elongated sides to the domed front
surface; d) rounded end surfaces extending between the ends to the
domed front surface; and e) an elongated side surface extending
between the other of the elongated sides to the domed front
surface.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the domed front surface,
the beveled surface, the elongated side surface, and the rounded
end surfaces comprise textured surfaces.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the molding in mounted
adjacent to either a top end or a bottom end of the door, and the
beveled surface comprises a flat surface inclined in a direction
from the rectangular base toward the domed front surface and toward
the end of the door on which the molding is mounted.
16. The combination of claim 13 wherein the domed front surface and
the beveled surface join at a corner forming a convex arc wherein
the convex arc has a angle of curvature, and wherein the angle of
curvature becomes greater at the rounded end surfaces.
17. The combination of claim 13 wherein the door comprises an inner
and outer panel with an insulation material therebetween.
18. The combination of claim 13 wherein the door molding is located
in proximity to an upper edge of the door and the beveled surface
faces toward a lower edge of the door.
19. The combination of claim 13 wherein the door molding is located
in proximity to a lower edge of the door and the beveled surface
faces toward an upper edge of the door.
20. The combination of claim 13 wherein the door molding comprises
a thermoplastic material.
21. The combination of claim 20 wherein the door molding comprises
a blow molded thermoplastic material.
22. The combination of claim 20 wherein the thermoplastic material
comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.
23. A molding mounted on a door that closes an opening into a food
chilling compartment, the molding comprising: a) a base
substantially parallel to a horizontal edge of the door and
extending from one vertical side of the door to the opposite
vertical side, the base having a back surface adjacent to a door
face; b) a convex outer surface; c) an elongated side proximate to
the horizontal edge of the door and substantially perpendicular to
the door face and extending from the base to the convex outer
surface; d) a beveled side opposite the elongated side and
extending from the base to the convex outer surface; e) rounded
sides adjacent to the vertical sides of the door and extending from
the base to the convex outer surface; and f) a plurality of
interior walls in the base extending from the back surface toward
the convex outer surface.
24. The molding of claim 23 wherein the door molding comprises a
thermoplastic material.
25. The molding of claim 24 wherein the door molding comprises a
blow molded thermoplastic material.
26. The molding of claim 24 wherein the thermoplastic material
comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.
27. The molding of claim 23 wherein the plurality of interior walls
define a plurality of cavities extending from the back surface into
an interior region of the door molding.
28. The molding of claim 27 wherein each of the plurality of
cavities comprises funnel-shaped indentations in the back
surface.
29. A walk-in cooler door molding having a cross-sectional
configuration comprising: a) a back surface and an elongated side
surface intersecting the back surface at substantially a right
angle; b) a beveled side surface inclined toward the back surface
and intersecting the back surface at an acute angle; and c) a
convex outer surface intersecting the top surface and the beveled
side surface.
30. A door molding comprising a rectangular base of two opposed
elongated side surfaces intersecting two opposed shortened side
surfaces and a front side having a convex surface opposite the base
and joining the two opposed elongated side surfaces and the two
opposed shortened side surfaces wherein one of the two opposed
elongated side surfaces is inclined toward the convex surface.
31. The door molding of claim 30, wherein the door molding is
mounted to a door closing an opening into a structure selected from
the group consisting of a tool compartment, a food storage
compartment, and a warehouse.
32. The door molding of claim 30, wherein the door molding
comprises a molding that extends across a portion of a face surface
of a door.
33. The door molding of claim 30, wherein the door molding
comprises a plurality of door molding sections arranged across a
face surface of a door.
34. A method of fabricating a door molding for a walk-in food
chilling compartment, where the door molding includes a rectangular
base of two opposed elongated side surfaces intersecting two
opposed shortened side surfaces and a front side having a convex
surface opposite the base and joining the two opposed elongated
side surfaces and the two opposed shortened side surfaces wherein
one of the two opposed elongated side surfaces is inclined toward
the convex surface and a plurality of cavities in the base, the
method comprising: a) providing a mold having a cavity that is
configured to form the door molding; b) providing a thermoplastic
material; and c) flowing the thermoplastic material into the
mold.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein flowing the thermoplastic
material comprises blow molding.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein providing a thermoplastic
material comprises providing a copolymer of acrylonitrile,
butadiene, and styrene.
37. In combination a door and two door moldings mounted on the door
wherein each of the door molding comprises a rectangular base of
two opposed elongated side surfaces intersecting two opposed
shortened side surfaces and a front side having a convex surface
opposite the base and joining the two opposed elongated side
surfaces and the two opposed shortened side surfaces wherein one of
the two opposed elongated side surfaces is inclined toward the
convex surface.
38. The combination of claim 37 wherein two door moldings are
mounted on the door such that the elongated side surface that is
inclined toward the convex surface of each door molding face each
other.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates, generally, to decorative and
functional door moldings for food-chilling compartment doors and,
more particularly, to protective door moldings for walk-in coolers
used in large kitchens and commercial facilities.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Large food-chilling units are commonly used in commercial
kitchens and food storage areas for preservation of perishable food
items. Commercial food-chilling units, such as walk-in coolers,
refrigerators, and freezers, and the like, generally include a
cabinet or room having a rectangular opening in one of the vertical
walls. Typically, a heavy duty industrial door is mounted in the
opening and secured to the vertical wall by hinges. Because it is
often necessary to transfer large, bulky materials into and out of
the food-chilling unit, the door is relatively large in the width
direction to facilitate movement of the large, bulky materials.
[0003] In addition to being relatively large in size, doors for
commercial food-chilling units are typically constructed of
materials similar to the vertical walls of the food-chilling units.
Until recently, commercial food-chilling units were fabricated of
heavy steel construction and corrugated metals. With the
development of new materials and construction techniques,
commercial food-chilling units can now be constructed of lighter
materials, such as aluminum and aluminum alloys, and the like. In
addition to being lighter, the new materials improve the esthetic
appearance of the food-chilling units. For example, the exteriors
of the food-chilling units can be fabricated with a metallic
material having a shiny or glossy surface. Accordingly, advances in
materials and construction techniques have resulted in commercial
food-chilling units that are lighter and more esthetically pleasing
than in the past.
[0004] Although the light-weight attractive materials of
construction have resulted in food-chilling units having an
improved appearance, the exterior materials are somewhat more
susceptible to denting, marring, and other types of surface damage.
Since the food-chilling units are often located in areas where
movement of hand-trucks and heavy transport carts takes place, the
food-chilling units are constantly in danger of being damaged by
collisions. Additionally, food-chilling units are often located in
close proximity to other machines and walls, and the like, that can
damage the doors of the food-chilling units when the doors are
opened. Accordingly, a need exists for protective door moldings to
preserve the esthetic appearance of food-chilling compartment
doors, and preserving the overall enhanced appearance of modem
food-chilling compartments.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] There is provided in accordance with the invention a door
molding including a rectangular base with two opposed elongated
side surfaces intersecting two opposed shortened side surfaces. A
front side opposite to the base has a convex surface and joins the
two opposed elongated side surfaces and the two opposed shortened
side surfaces. One of the two opposed elongated side surfaces is
inclined toward the convex surface.
[0006] In another aspect of the invention, a walk-in cooler door
molding has a cross-sectional configuration that includes a back
surface and an elongated side surface intersecting the back surface
at substantially a right angle. A beveled side surface is inclined
toward the back surface and intersects the back surface at an acute
angle. A convex outer surface intersects the top surface and the
beveled side surface.
[0007] In yet another aspect of the invention, a walk-in cooler
door and door molding combination is provided. The door molding
includes a rectangular base having elongated sides and shortened
ends. A domed front surface resided opposite the rectangular base.
A beveled surface joins one of the elongated sides to the domed
front surface. Rounded end surfaces join the shortened ends to the
domed front surface. An elongated side surface joining the other of
the elongated sides to the domed front surface.
[0008] In a further aspect of the invention a door molding for a
food-chilling compartment door includes a back surface for mounting
on a face of the door. A front surface is opposite the back
surface. A first elongated side surface extends between the back
surface and the front surface and is inclined at an acute angle
with respect to the back surface. A second elongated side surface
is opposite to the first elongated side surface and extends between
the back surface and the front surface.
[0009] In a still further aspect of the invention a molding mounted
on a door that closes an opening into a food chilling compartment.
The molding includes a base substantially parallel to a horizontal
edge of the door and extending from one vertical side of the door
to the opposite vertical side. The base has a back surface adjacent
to a door face. A convex outer surface. An elongated side is
proximate to the horizontal edge of the door and substantially
perpendicular to the door face and extends from the base to the
convex outer surface. A beveled side is opposite to the elongated
side and extends from the base to the convex outer surface. Rounded
sides are located adjacent to the vertical sides of the door and
extend from the base to the convex outer surface. A plurality of
interior walls in the base extend from the back surface toward the
convex outer surface.
[0010] In still another embodiment, a method of fabricating a door
molding for a food-chilling compartment includes providing a mold
having a cavity that is configured to form the door molding recited
above. A thermoplastic material is provided and the thermoplastic
material is flowed into the mold to form the door molding.
Additional aspects of the fabrication method include blow molding
and flowing a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and
styrene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a food-chilling
compartment having a door with door moldings configured in
accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the door and one
of the door moldings taken along section line II-II of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the door molding shown in FIG.
2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the door molding taken
along section line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a back view of the door molding shown in FIG.
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a chilling-compartment door 10 in a
vertical wall 12 of a chilling compartment. Door 10 is attached to
vertical wall 12 by means of hinges 14. An upper door molding 16
and a lower door molding 18 are attached to a face surface 20 of
door 10. In the illustrated embodiment, upper and lower door
moldings 16 and 18 are positioned near the horizontal edges of door
10. Further, upper and lower door moldings 16 and 18 span face
surface 20 from a first vertical edge 22 to a second vertical edge
24. By arranging upper and lower door moldings 16 and 18 as shown
in FIG. 1, face surface 20 of door 10 and hinges 14 can be
protected from damage by collision with hand-trucks, carts and
other heavy objects.
[0017] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, upper
and lower door moldings 16 and 18 protrude outwardly from face
surface 10 to a distance that is sufficient to prevent direct
contact against face surface 20 and hinges 14, so long as the
contacting object is positioned on the floor. Upper door molding 16
will guard against damage caused by opening door 10 in situations
where additional wall surfaces are present, or ventilation of other
equipment is attached to the ceiling in proximity to the
food-chilling compartment.
[0018] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that upper and
lower door moldings 16 and 18 can be positioned in other locations
on door 10. For example, upper and lower door moldings 16 and 18
can be positioned closer to the center of door 10. Further, door
moldings 16 and 18 can be considerably taller than is shown in FIG.
1, and can extend vertically across a large portion of face surface
20. Additionally, instead of two separate door moldings, a single
door molding can be used to protect door 10. It will also be
apparent to those skilled in the art that upper and lower door
moldings 16 and 18 can be sized such that they do not extend
entirely across face surface 20 from first vertical edge 22 to
second vertical edge 24. Instead, upper and lower door moldings 16
and 18 can be configured to only extend across a portion of face
surface 20, or can be formed in small sections and a plurality of
small sections can be arranged across face surface 20 of door
10.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1, upper door molding 16 and lower
door molding 18 are similarly shaped and, as arranged on door 10,
the moldings are mirror images of one another. Although illustrated
as mirror images, upper door molding 16 and lower door molding 18
can be shaped differently from one another. The particular design
illustrated in FIG. 1 offers an aesthetically pleasing symmetry;
however, either of the upper or lower door moldings can be shaped
to correspond with a particular environmental hazard to which the
food-chilling compartment is subjected. The several embodiments of
the invention will now be described with reference to upper door
molding 16. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that
the following description also applies to lower door molding
18.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of upper molding
16 and a portion of door 10 taken along section line II-II of FIG.
1. Upper molding 16 includes a back surface 26 that is adjacent to
face surface 20 of door 10. A front surface 28 is opposite from
back surface 26. Two elongated side surface constitute a top or
upper surface 30 opposite from a beveled surface 32. Beveled
surface 32 is inclined away from face surface 20 of door 10 and
forms an acute angle .theta. with back surface 26. Front surface 28
forms a generally right angle with upper elongated surface 30.
Also, in the illustrated embodiment, upper surface 30 is generally
flat and extends perpendicularly from face surface 20 of door 10.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, upper door molding 16
is positioned on door 10, such that top surface 30 is positioned in
close proximity to upper edge 34 of door 10.
[0021] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a
plurality of interior walls are formed in upper and lower door
moldings 16 and 18 to define cavities within the door mold. The
cavities improve the impact resistance and resiliency of the door
moldings. One such cavity 36 is illustrated in silhouette outline
in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. Cavity 36 is defined by an
interior wall surface 37. By forming one or more cavities within
upper and lower door moldings 16 and 18, the door moldings show
improved resilience to sudden impact and are better able to protect
face surface 10 and hinges 14 of door 10.
[0022] A front view of door molding 16 is illustrated in FIG. 3.
Beveled surface 32 extends from a first shortened side surface 36
to a second shortened side surface 38. The top portion of beveled
surface 32 forms a convex arc 40 where beveled surface 32 joins
front surface 28. Convex arc 40 is defined by a radius of
curvature, such that the radius becomes smaller at each of side
surfaces 36 and 38.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, upper door molding 16 is
generally rectangular shaped, such that upper surface 30 and bevel
surface 32 are formed along elongated edges, while first side
surface 36 and second side surface 38 are formed along shortened
edges. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that
although the door moldings of the invention are illustrated as
generally rectangular structures with respect to their placement on
face surface 20, other geometrical forms, such as square, oval,
circular, and the like are possible.
[0024] A cross sectional view of door molding 16 taken along
section line IV-IV of Figure is illustrated in FIG. 4. In the
illustrated embodiment, the front surface 28 has generally domed
shape having a crown 42 and gradually transitioning toward each of
first and second side surfaces 36 and 38.
[0025] A plurality of cavities are illustrated in the side view of
upper door molding 16 illustrated in FIG. 4. In addition to cavity
36, in the illustrative embodiment cavities 44 and 46 reside in
door molding 16 on either side of cavity 36. Those skilled in the
art will recognize that although three cavities are illustrated,
door moldings in accordance with the invention can have more than
three cavities or less than three cavities. Further, the cavities
can vary in size from one another depending upon the particular
degree of resiliency desired in the door molding.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of door molding 16 showing
back surface 26 and cavities 36, 44, and 46. The cavities are
generally funnel-shaped indentations in back surface 26. Referring
to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cavities extend from back surface 26 into the
interior region of molding 16. The depth to which the cavities
extend into the interior regions of molding 16 will depend upon the
particular design requirement for rigidity and resiliency of the
door molding. Although the cavities are illustrated as generally
funnel-shaped, the cavities can have a variety of geometric
arrangements in the interior regions of the door molding. For
example, the cavity openings on back surface 26 can be rectangular,
round, square, oval, and the like. Further, the cavities can extend
through the interior regions of molding 16 and terminate in close
proximity to front surface 28. Alternatively, the cavities can be
much shorter and terminate at various distances from front surface
28.
[0027] A door molding in accordance with the invention can be
fabricated from a wide range of materials, including rubber,
plastics, thermoplastics, polymers, and the like. Regardless of the
particular material of construction, the door molding fabrication
method preferably involves a molding process, in which a mold or
dye is constructed to have the desired shape of the door molding. A
wide variety of molding processes can be used to fabricate a door
molding in accordance with the invention, including injection
molding, blow molding, thermoforming, transfer molding, reaction
injection molding, compression molding, extrusion, and the like.
While numerous molding techniques can be used, the particular
molding process should be compatible with the particular material
of construction. Further, the construction material should offer
the desired resiliency and hardness to provide adequate impact
protection to a chilling-compartment door. Further, the particular
material of construction preferably forms a non-skid surface, such
as a textured surface or the like. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that numerous rubber, thermoplastic, and polymer
materials can be selected that are both compatible with a molding
process and will have a desired degree of hardness and impact
resistance.
[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, a thermoplastic material
is molded to form a door molding in accordance with the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, a thermoplastic copolymer of
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) material is used to fabricate
the door molding. The components of the ABS material can be varied
relative to one another to produce a desired impact strength,
chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, colorfastness, and the
like. Further, the ABS material can be formulated to have
particular thermoexpansion characteristics.
[0029] In one particular embodiment of the invention, an ABS
material is used in a blowmolding process to fabricate a door
molding. Blowmolding processes are particularly suited to forming
articles having hollow regions in the interior portions of the
article. Accordingly, a blowmolding process is particularly useful
to fabricate an embodiment of the invention in which cavities are
formed within the door molding. In the blowmolding process, a
molten tube of thermoplastic material, such as an ABS material, is
blown into a tube with compressed air or other inert gas, while the
blow mold is chilled. Those skilled in the art will recognize that
blow molding processes can be carried by means of extrusion,
injection, and injection-stretch blowmolding. When a door molding
of the invention is fabricated with an ABS material, an injection
blowmolding process is preferably carried out. In the preferred
process, an ABS preform is placed within a split mold having a
hollow cavity. The mold sides are clamped together and pinched to
seal the preform. Air is then blown into the tube to expand the ABS
material into the shape of the hollow cavity. After removing the
mold, the door molding is trimmed and finished to a desired
appearance.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment an extrusion molding process is
carried out in which the ABS material is heated to form a molten
plastic then forced into the mold. In an alternative processing
method, a twin-sheeting process can be used in which halves of the
door molding are formed then fused together.
[0031] In one particular embodiment of the invention, the door
moldings are formed to have a textured outer surface. The texturing
of the surface improves the resiliency and wear resistance of the
door moldings.
[0032] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, through the
molding process, door moldings configured in accordance with the
invention offer wide ranging utility. For example, the door
moldings for either the upper portion or the lower portion of a
door can be fabricated from a single mold. Accordingly, the same
door molding can be applied to either the top or bottom of the door
simply by flipping the door molding over so that the beveled
surface faces toward the central portion of the door.
[0033] Thus, it is apparent that there has been described, in
accordance with the invention, a door molding for a food-chilling
compartment that fully provides the advantages set forth above.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with
reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not
intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative
embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that
variations and modifications can be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention. For example, although the invention has
been described with reference to walk-in coolers, the door moldings
can be used for a wide variety of doors that require impact
protection. Accordingly, in addition to food-chilling compartments,
refrigerators, freezers, and the like, the invention finds utility
with doors closing openings into various structures, such as tool
compartments, food storage compartments, warehouse doors, and the
like. It is therefore intended to include within the invention
variations and modifications that fall within the scope of the
appended claims and equivalence thereof
* * * * *