U.S. patent application number 12/092107 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for refrigerated case.
This patent application is currently assigned to CARRIER COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION, INC.. Invention is credited to Robert J. Reese.
Application Number | 20080259593 12/092107 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38563992 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080259593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reese; Robert J. |
October 23, 2008 |
Refrigerated Case
Abstract
A refrigerated display case has a body (72), at least one door
(28; 32) coupled to the body, and an internal refrigerated
compartment (24). The case includes a lighted sign apparatus (32)
mounted to the body. The apparatus includes a bulb (64), a housing
(60), and an at least partially transparent and/or translucent sign
(62) carried by the housing. A number of extractable snap fasteners
(120) extend through associated holes (150) in the housing and
engage the sign to retain the sign in an installed condition.
Inventors: |
Reese; Robert J.;
(Edwardsville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C. (UTC)
900 CHAPEL STREET, SUITE 1201
NEW HAVEN
CT
06510-2802
US
|
Assignee: |
CARRIER COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION,
INC.
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
38563992 |
Appl. No.: |
12/092107 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
August 30, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US06/33941 |
371 Date: |
April 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60744048 |
Mar 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 3/0426
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/126 |
International
Class: |
F25D 27/00 20060101
F25D027/00 |
Claims
1. A refrigerated display case (20) comprising: a body (72); at
least one door (28; 32) coupled to the body; an internal
refrigerated compartment (24); a lighted sign apparatus (32)
mounted to the body and comprising: a bulb (64); a housing (60); an
at least partially transparent and/or translucent sign (62) carried
by the housing; and a plurality of extractable snap fasteners (120)
extending through associated holes (150) in the housing and
engaging the sign (62) to retain the sign in an installed
condition.
2. The case of claim 1 wherein: the plurality of snap fasteners
(120) include: a first group along a bottom of the housing; and a
second group along a top of the housing.
3. The case of claim 1 wherein: the snap fasteners (120) consist
essentially of nylon.
4. The case of claim 3 wherein: the snap fasteners comprise: a head
(200); and a transversely-apertured (206) shaft (202).
5. The case of claim 1 wherein: the housing comprises first and
second pieces, the first piece (130) essentially forming a top (90)
and first side (122) of the housing (60) and the second piece (140)
essentially forming a bottom (92) and second side (124) of the
housing.
6. With the case of claim 1, a method for replacing the sign
comprising: extracting at least one of the fasteners (120);
removing the sign (62); replacing the sign with a replacement sign
(62); and replacing the extracted fasteners (120).
7. With the case of claim 1, a method for replacing the bulb
comprising: extracting at least one of the fasteners (120);
removing the sign (62); removing the bulb (64); replacing the bulb
(64) with a replacement bulb (64); replacing the sign (62); and
replacing the extracted fasteners (120).
8. A method for forming the case (20) of claim 1 comprising:
removing screws from the holes (150) or hole precursors thereof;
and replacing the screws with the snap fasteners (120).
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: enlarging the hole
precursors to form the holes (150).
10. The method of claim 8 wherein: the snap fasteners comprise: a
head (200); and a transversely-apertured (206) shaft (202).
11. The case of claim 2 wherein: the snap fasteners consist
essentially of nylon and comprise: a head (200); and a
transversely-apertured (206) shaft (202).
12. The case of claim 1 wherein: the snap fasteners comprise: a
head (200); and a transversely-apertured (206) shaft (202).
13. A refrigerated display case (20) comprising: a body (72); at
least one door (28; 32) coupled to the body; an internal
refrigerated compartment (24); a lighted sign apparatus (32)
mounted to the body and comprising: a bulb (64); a housing (60); an
at least partially transparent and/or translucent sign (62) carried
by the housing; and non-screw means (120; 150) for retaining the
sign in an installed condition.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] 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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to refrigerated cases. More
particularly, the invention relates to lighted signs for such
cases.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a view of a refrigerated case.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a header-mounted sign of the
case of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a view of a housing of the sign of FIG. 2 with a
sign panel exploded forward.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of the housing of FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of the housing of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top view of a first member of the housing of
FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a front view of the member of FIG. 7.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a second member of the housing of
FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the member of FIG. 9.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a front view of a fastener of the housing of FIG.
3.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 11.
[0021] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerated case 20 having a housing 22
surrounding an interior compartment 24. In the exemplary case 22, a
recirculating airflow is directed from/to the compartment 24 by a
refrigeration equipment cassette 26 (e.g., containing the
compressor, heat exchangers, expansion device, fans, and the like).
The exemplary case 20 has a pair of doors 28 and 30. Above upper
edges of the doors, the exemplary case includes a lighted sign
32.
[0023] Each exemplary door includes a frame 40 holding one or more
glass or other transparent panes 42. Each exemplary door is
supported by a pair of upper and lower hinges 44 and 46 and has an
opposite handle 48. The door may be held in a closed condition by
means of a magnetic seal, biasing spring, or gravity cam device
(not shown). An exemplary sign 32 extends essentially full case
width and spans the doors. The exemplary sign 32 includes a frame
or housing 60 holding a sign panel 62 in front of a lightbulb 64.
Via an appropriate combination of opaque, transparent, and
translucent areas of different color, opacity, texture, and the
like, the panel 62 provides a lighted graphitic having design
and/or written elements.
[0024] The exemplary bulb 64 is an elongate transversely-extending
florescent bulb. FIG. 2 shows the bulb 64 on a fixture 66 mounted
to a front surface 68 of a header area 70 of a main housing body
72. FIG. 2 further shows the panel 62 as having front and rear
faces 80 and 82 and upper and lower edges 84 and 86. The housing
may be formed from one or more sheetmetal (e.g., stainless or
coated steel) pieces, cut and bent to shape. An exemplary housing
may be formed from one or more sheetmetal pieces (e.g., cut and
bent stainless or coated steel) to enclose an interior space
88.
[0025] The exemplary housing forms an upper wall 90 and a lower
wall 92. A lip 94 extends downward (depends) from a forward edge of
the upper wall 90. A similar lip 96 extends upward from a forward
edge of the lower wall. A rear end portion of the upper wall 90
overlaps a forward portion of an upper surface 100 of the main
housing body 72. To mount the housing 60 to the main housing body
72, screws (e.g., sheetmetal screws) 102 may extend through holes
in the overlapping portions. Exemplary screws are self-threading,
passing with clearance through apertures in the upper wall 90 and
threaded into the apertures in the main housing body 72. Similarly,
a rear lip 110 may depend from a rear edge of the lower wall 92.
The lip 110 may similarly be secured to the main housing body 72
along the front surface 68.
[0026] The rear faces of the lips 94 and 96 engage adjacent
perimeter portions of the front face 80 of the panel 62. Perimeter
portions of the rear face 82 may be retained by upper and lower
arrays of snap fasteners 120 extending through the upper and lower
walls, respectively. Exemplary snap fasteners are "arrow clips"
available from Micro Plastics, Inc, Flippin, Ark. Gaps may be
provided in one or both of the overlapping portion of the top wall
or the rear lip 110 to accommodate, for example, adjacent hinges,
latches, and the like.
[0027] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the housing 60 as including respective
left and right sidewalls 122 and 124 (left being viewed from the
point of view of the case rather than a person facing the
case).
[0028] FIGS. 7-10 show an exemplary housing formed of two metal
pieces, a first piece 130 (FIGS. 7 and 8) forms the upper wall 90
and lip 94 as well as the left sidewall 122 and associated front
lip. Similarly, the second piece 140 (FIGS. 9 and 10) forms the
lower wall 92 and its associated lips as well as the right sidewall
124 and an associated front lip. The two pieces may be secured to
each other (e.g., by screwing, riveting, tack welding, or the
like). The upper wall 94 and lower wall 92 include pluralities of
holes/apertures 150 for receiving the fasteners 120.
[0029] FIGS. 11 and 12 show the snap fasteners having a head 200
and a shaft 202 depending from the head and extending to a tip 204.
The exemplary shaft has a transverse central aperture 206 which may
provide a resilient bias for shaft branches along either side of
the aperture. The exemplary branch outer surfaces 210 have a first
relaxed separation at a central location, tapering both distally
and proximally therefrom to provide for snap fit insertion and
removable extraction through a complementary hole 150 in the
housing. The exemplary complementary hole 150 is elongate to
correspond to the elongate cross-section of the fastener. The
exemplary fasteners are non-barbed to provide non-destructive
removability (e.g., by placing a fork-like tool between the head
and the housing and prying). The non-destructability allows for
re-insertion. Alternative embodiments may involve fasteners which
are destroyed or damaged and may be replaced with replacement
fasteners. Exemplary fasteners are of a polymeric or plastic
material such as nylon. For easy tool access, the holes may be
oriented longitudinally (i.e., with their longer dimension
front-to-back).
[0030] One or more embodiments of the present invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the principles may be applied
in the retrofit of an existing case or the reengineering of an
existing case configuration. In an exemplary retrofit or
reengineering situation, existing screw holes may be enlarged to
form the snap fastener holes or may be replaced or supplemented.
Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *