U.S. patent application number 11/980148 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to IMAGEWORKS DISPLAY AND MARKETING GROUP. Invention is credited to Gregory Scott Isaacs, Brian Hart Welker.
Application Number | 20090001861 11/980148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40159556 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090001861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Welker; Brian Hart ; et
al. |
January 1, 2009 |
Retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage unit
Abstract
A cooling apparatus in the form of a refrigeration and storage
apparatus employs a cooling unit, such as a thermoelectric module.
Forced cool air is circulated in a storage compartment containing
retail merchandise. An air duct extends from an intake on one side
of a door on the front of storage compartment to the rear of the
apparatus where air passes by hot side sink and air is then
exhausted on a opposite side of the door. The refrigeration and
storage apparatus can be mounted in a cabinet or on a shelf and can
be surrounded by other item without obstruction of the air duct
intake and exhaust and without heating adjacent items.
Inventors: |
Welker; Brian Hart;
(Pfafftown, NC) ; Isaacs; Gregory Scott; (Mt.
Airy, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT W PITTS
PO BOX 11483
WINSTON-SALEM
NC
27116-1483
US
|
Assignee: |
IMAGEWORKS DISPLAY AND MARKETING
GROUP
|
Family ID: |
40159556 |
Appl. No.: |
11/980148 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60937716 |
Jun 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/236 ;
62/3.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2321/0251 20130101;
F25D 2400/12 20130101; A47F 3/0482 20130101; F25B 21/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/236 ;
62/3.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 3/04 20060101
A47F003/04; F25B 21/02 20060101 F25B021/02 |
Claims
1. A retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus for use
in storing sales items at a lower than normal temperature
comprises: a storage compartment with a door opening on the front
of the storage compartment so that sales items stored therein can
be withdrawn or replenished though an opening at the front of the
storage compartment; a thermoelectric cooling unit located at the
rear of the storage compartment to cool sales items in the storage
compartment; and a duct comprising an intake on one side of the
door at the front of the in-cabinet refrigeration and storage
apparatus and a exhaust on an opposite side of the door at the
front of the in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus, the
duct being thermally separated from the storage compartment;
whereby the intake and exhaust of air to maintain the temperature
of the thermoelectric cooling unit will not be obstructed when the
in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus is positioned on a
shelf of a cabinet near other items.
2. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein a fan in the storage compartment circulates cooler
air in the storage compartment.
3. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein the door is hinged from below so that the door when
open does not obstruct either intake into or exhaust from the air
circulation duct.
4. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 3 wherein a pusher track is positioned in the storage
compartment between the door and the thermoelectric cooling
unit.
5. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein a hot side sink on the thermoelectric cooling unit
extends into the duct.
6. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein a blower unit on the exterior of the storage
compartment circulates air through the air circulation duct.
7. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 6 wherein the blower unit is located at the rear of the
apparatus.
8. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein the door is transparent so that items in the
storage compartment can be viewed by prospective customers.
9. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 wherein an upper surface and a lower surface are both flat
so multiple retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatuses
can be stacked.
10. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus of
claim 1 including an air circulation fan located in the storage
compartment.
11. An apparatus for storing and displaying merchandise comprising:
a storage compartment having a front and rear with a door through
which merchandise can be removed from the front of the apparatus; a
thermoelectric cooling unit located at the rear of the storage
compartment, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a
thermoelectric cooling element with a cold side sink mounted on a
front surface of the thermoelectric cooling element and a hot side
sink mounted on a rear surface of the thermoelectric cooling
element; a barrier wall extending between the hot side sink and the
cold side sink; an air circulation fan located in the storage
compartment adjacent the cold side sink to circulate air within the
storage compartment; and a duct on the exterior of the storage
compartment for exhausting hot air passing over the hot side sink
out the front of the apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the hot side sink extends
into the duct.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a blower is located behind
the storage compartment adjacent to the hot side sink to blow air
past the hot side sink.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the duct extends from one
side of the door on the front of the apparatus, around behind the
rear of the apparatus and out on an opposite side of the door on
the front of the apparatus.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the duct extends between top
and bottom surfaces of the apparatus.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the thermoelectric cooling
unit and the barrier wall are located between front and rear
housings, with the air circulating fan being mounted on the front
housing and with a rear portion of the duct extending between the
barrier wall and the rear housing.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cold side sink and the
air circulating fan are offset relative to a center of the storage
compartment, with the front housing including an inclined surface
adjacent to the air circulating fan so that air may be circulated
between opposite sides of the storage compartment and between the
front and back of the storage compartment.
18. An apparatus for refrigerating and displaying merchandise
comprising: an insulated storage compartment; a thermoelectric
cooling comprising a thermoelectric element and a cold side sink
and a hot side sink mounted in a housing attachable to the rear of
the insulated storage compartment with the cold side sink open to
the interior of the insulated storage compartment, and with the hot
side sink being located outside of the insulated storage
compartment; and a duct extending on opposite sides of the storage
compartment from a front surface of the apparatus, with the duct
extending through the housing at the rear of the apparatus so that
the hot side sink is located within the duct.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a blower unit is located in
the portion of the duct extending through the cooling unit housing,
the blower unit drawing air into one side of the duct at the front
of the apparatus and out of an opposite side of the duct at the
front of the apparatus.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an air circulating
fan positioned adjacent the cold side sink to circulate air within
the storage compartment.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 60/937,716 filed Jun. 30, 2007
entitled Retail In-Cabinet Refrigeration and Storage Unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention is related to a retail refrigeration and
storage unit for storing merchandise that should be cooled or
heated. This invention is also related to a display unit that can
employ a thermoelectric or Peltier cooling unit. This invention is
also related to a retail refrigeration and storage unit which can
be positioned in a cabinet in which related or competitive
merchandise, that may not require refrigeration, may be
displayed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Retail merchandise that must be or should be cooled or
chilled in an establishment, such as a grocery or convenience
store, is normally placed in a conventional refrigeration unit.
These typical refrigeration units are typically large units that
may be open so that prospective customers can easily remove
merchandise, or if necessary can have glass doors where items, such
as frozen foods, must be kept at a lower temperature. These large
units, are however, intended for storing a wide variety of
competitive items. Representative examples of such refrigerated
merchandisers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,513 and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,584,192. Such refrigeration units are normally intended for
use in storing food and beverages, and are normally not suitable
for storing nonfood items. This lack of storage space is one factor
preventing the effective retail distribution of items, which if
refrigerated or heated, could offer improvements to the prospective
purchaser.
[0006] There are situations in which a smaller cooler that can be
dedicated to the storage and display of a single item or a single
family of merchandise is desirable. For example, a small, dedicated
cooler that could be mounted on a counter would provide a means for
attracting the attention of a shopper or prospective purchaser. One
such version of a merchandising cooler with a small footprint is
suggested by US Patent Application Publication 2005/0109040 A1.
This device employs a thermoelectric array for either heating or
cooling an insulated container. One advantage of the thermoelectric
array is its relatively small size. However, one apparent
disadvantage of this device is the relatively small area of windows
or doors that would allow inspection of the product or merchandise
in the insulated container. Furthermore there is no suggestion of
means for drawing a prospective purchaser's attention to the
product. Of course, it would be possible to make the majority of
the insulated container transparent, assuming that the loss of
thermal efficiency would be compatible with the desired
application. However, even such a totally transparent, insulated
storage container would only make the product or merchandise
visible. It would still rely primarily on the appearance of the
product to draw the attention of the prospective purchaser.
[0007] Thermoelectric cooling elements are used for applications
other than point of sale refrigeration units. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,769,260 discloses the use of a thermoelectric cooling
element for storing cosmetics. A thermoelectric unit can also
employed in a humidifier as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,007,242.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The instant invention is intended for use in a cabinet or
shelf alongside other items in a retail establishment, such as a
supermarket, a convenience store or a restaurant. This retail
in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus can be placed in a
section where other items need not be cooled, and it can be
positioned on an existing shelf or counter. For example, this
retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus can be placed
with competitive items to draw the attention of prospective
customers. It can also be placed near related items, which would
attract a prospective customer with the same interests. However,
this retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus is
intended to be used with products that either must be maintained at
a lower temperature than nearby items, or it can be used where
lower temperature storage could offer some advantage or attract a
prospective customer's attention. However, this retail in-cabinet
refrigeration and storage apparatus cannot be allowed to overheat
and air must be circulated around a hot side sink on a
thermoelectric cooling unit. In this invention, air is circulated
into and out of the refrigeration and storage apparatus through the
front so that hot air will be exhausted through the front and will
not affect surrounding product. The retail in-cabinet refrigeration
and storage apparatus must employ an intake and exhaust that will
not be susceptible to obstruction by nearby items or
structures.
[0009] A retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus
according to this invention is used for storing retail sales items
at a lower than normal temperature. A storage compartment has a
door opening on the front of the storage compartment so that retail
items stored therein can be withdrawn or replenished though an
opening at the front of the storage compartment. A thermoelectric
cooling unit is located at the rear of the storage compartment to
cool air and retail items in the storage compartment. A duct
includes an intake on one side of the door at the front of the
in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus and a exhaust on an
opposite side of the door at the front of the in-cabinet
refrigeration and storage apparatus. The duct is thermally
separated from the storage compartment. The intake and exhaust of
air, maintaining the temperature of the thermoelectric cooling
unit, will not be obstructed when the in-cabinet refrigeration and
storage apparatus is positioned on a shelf of in a cabinet near
other items. Items on the sides and on the top and bottom of this
unit will not be affected by the air flow or the heat transferred
by this moving air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of a retail in-cabinet
refrigeration and storage apparatus according to this
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the retail in-cabinet refrigeration
and storage apparatus according to this invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the individual components
of the retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus
according to this invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cut away view showing the interior storage
compartment of the retail in-cabinet refrigeration and storage
apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-5.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a three dimensional view of a cooling unit
comprising a thermoelectric cooling unit used in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the individual components
of the thermoelectric cooling unit.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view of a thermoelectric cooling element with
cold and hot side sinks contacting opposite sides of the
thermoelectric cooling element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Although not limited to reliance upon thermoelectric or TE
modules for temperature control, these devices provide an effective
method of pumping heat for use in this invention, and a brief
discussion of these modules is appropriate prior to discussion of a
first embodiment of this invention. Thermoelectric modules are the
basis of efficient solid state heat pumps or heat exchangers for
both heating and cooling. Thermoelectric modules are based on the
Peltier effect, which recognizes that current passed through two
dissimilar electrical conductors will cause heat to be either
emitted or absorbed at the junction of the two conductors. A
typical thermoelectric module consists of bismuth telluride
semiconductor P/N doped pellets with pairs of P/N pellets
electrically in series, but thermally in parallel. Thermoelectric
modules of this type function as heat pumps and are especially
suited for units of small size in which the temperature
differential between the exterior and the refrigerated interior is
on the order of 30-50.degree. F. for example.
[0020] These devices can be used for cooling or for heating
depending upon the direction of current flow through the
semiconductor junction. Thermoelectric modules can also be employed
for power generation, although this application is not relevant to
the instant invention. A discussion of thermoelectric modules and
the Peltier Effect can be found in "Thermoelectric Materials:
Principles, Structure, Properties, and Applications", Encyclopedia
of Materials: Science and Technology, .COPYRGT. 2002 Elsevier
Science Ltd., incorporated herein by reference. A thermoelectric
cooling unit is preferred for use in this application for a number
of reasons, such as the absence of moving parts reducing
maintenance, and the absence of coolants that must be replenished.
Other components of cooling unit will be subsequently discussed in
further detail. It should be understood, that while thermoelectric
modules are especially suited for use in small coolers of the type
described herein, this invention is not limited to the use of
thermoelectric or solid state cooling units.
[0021] The principal application of a thermoelectric module
relevant to a first embodiment of this invention is its use for
cooling the contents of a storage compartment. It should be
understood that alternative embodiments in which heat is delivered
to the contents of the storage compartment are also possible in
addition to the point of sale cooler or retail refrigeration and
storage apparatus 50, comprising a representative and preferred
embodiment of the invention, described herein.
[0022] The storage compartment 52 of this in-cabinet refrigeration
and storage apparatus 50 provides space for storage of individual
retail items 54 in one or more merchandise pusher tracks 3, which
is suitable for holding multiple rows of sales items 54. As shown
in FIG. 5, pusher track 3 has grooves for holding three rows of
sales items. Spring loaded pusher paddles 4 advance the sales items
toward the front position in track 3. The storage compartment 52
will be bounded on four sides by insulating foam panels including a
top foam panel 12, a bottom foam panel 13, a right side panel 20
and a left side panel 23, which are individually depicted in FIG.
5. A door 2 is located on the front of the storage compartment 52,
and individual items 54 from any of the three rows can be removed
through door 2. The door 2 can be transparent so that prospective
customers can examiner merchandise with the refrigeration and
storage apparatus 50 is located either on an accessible shelf or on
a counter in a convenience store or other retail outlet. The pusher
track 3 can also be replenished through door 2. A refrigeration
unit in the form of a thermoelectric cooler assembly 7 is
positioned at the back of the storage compartment 52 so that the
temperature in the storage compartment can be maintained at a level
suitable for the sales items 54 stored therein without interfering
with access to merchandise stored within the unit.
[0023] The storage compartment 52 is accessible through a door 2,
which extends over most of the front. The door 2 is hinged to a
front panel 1 by a hinge pin 15 located on the bottom of front
panel 1 so that the top of door 2 rotates downward when grasped by
a handle located at the top of the door 2. A gasket 5 extends
around the edge of the door 2, and when the door 2 is closed, the
gasket 5 will engage front panel 1 to close off the opening in the
front panel 1. A rare earth magnet 6 will retain the door 2 in a
closed position. When the in-cabinet refrigeration and storage
apparatus 50 is placed on a shelf or in a cabinet, the door 2 may
be the only face that is visible, so information stickers 19 can be
placed on the exterior of the door 2. The door 2 may also be
transparent so that prospective customers can view merchandise in
the storage compartment 52.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 6, an exterior top panel 8 and an exterior
bottom panel 9 are positioned in contact with the upper insulating
foam panel 12 and the lower insulating foam panel 13 respectively.
Side panels 10 and 11 do not lie against the side insulating foam
panels 10 and 23 respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the exterior
panel 11 includes a central rib extending inwardly from the plane
of panel 11. This rib maintains a space between the exterior panel
11 and the insulating foam panel 23. A duct will then be
established between the panel 11 and the adjacent foam panel 23.
Although not visible in FIG. 5 a similar duct is established
between insulating foam panel 20 and the exterior panel 10 and the
spacing between the two panels 10 and 20 is maintained in the same
manner as for panels 11 and 23. As seen in FIG. 6 this spacing will
form a slot 60 open on the front face of in-cabinet refrigeration
and storage apparatus. FIGS. 1 and 3 show that a similar slot 70 is
formed on the opposite side of the front face of the in-cabinet
refrigeration and storage apparatus 50 on opposite sides of door
2.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows how this spacing defines ducts 62 and 72 on
opposite sides of the storage compartment 52. Ducts 62 and 72 as
well as storage compartment 52 are beneath the top panel 8 or
extensions thereof. The duct 62 will comprise an exhaust duct and
panel 11 can be referred to as an exhaust panel. Duct 72 will
comprise an intake duct and panel 10 on the opposite side will
comprise an intake panel. Air can then be drawn in the opening 70
past the thermoelectric cooling apparatus 7 at the rear of the
storage compartment 52 and then out through the exhaust slot or
opening 60. Both intake and exhaust thus take place on the front of
the in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus 50. When the
in-cabinet refrigeration and storage apparatus 50 is placed on a
shelf of a cabinet between other items and where there is the
possibility of obstructions either above or below, then the intake
of cool air though slot 70 and the exhaust hot air there slot 60 on
the opposite side of door 2 will tend to maintain a continuous flow
of air to prevent over heating of the thermoelectric cooling unit 7
located at the rear of the in-cabinet refrigeration and storage
apparatus 50 and behind the storage compartment 52. Wicks 16 and 17
will prevent discharge of fluids resulting from the refrigeration
of items stored in storage compartment 52. Strip magnets 21 can be
located on the bottom of the assembly to hold it in place and
attached thereto by double sided foam tape 25. Self adhesive
bumpers 22 may also raise the bottom of the unit above a shelf
leaving a gap so that exterior air can be drawn into the storage
compartment 52 if necessary.
[0026] The thermoelectric cooling unit 7 is located at the rear of
the storage compartment 52, and thermoelectric cooling unit 7
maintains this compartment and the items 54 stored therein at a
desired temperature below the normal exterior temperature. Details
of the thermoelectric cooling unit 7 of the type used herein are
shown in FIGS. 7-9. This cooling unit 7 is located at the rear of
the storage compartment 52 and communicates with both ducts 62 and
72. A thermoelectric cooling element 100 is positioned between a
cold side sink 80 and a hot side sink 90. An interior barrier 102
separates the cold side sink 80 from the hot side sink 90, and the
thermoelectric cooling unit resides in an opening in the barrier
102 with opposite sides in contact with the cold side sink 80 and
the hot side sink 90. The cold side sink 80 is located in the
storage compartment 52, and the barrier 102 also separates the
cooled storage compartment 52 from the duct system in which the hot
side sink 90 is located.
[0027] The thermoelectric cooling element 100, the heat sinks 80
and 90 and the barrier wall 102 are surrounded by a housing formed
by a front housing wall 104 that is secured to a rear housing wall
106 by conventional fasteners, such as screws. The front housing
wall 104 has an opening 112 through which the fins 82 of the cold
side sink 80 extend. A circulating fan 110 is attached to the wall
104 above the cold side sink 80 to circulate air in the storage
compartment 52 over the fins 82 to keep the air in the storage
compartment appropriately cooled. An inclined surface 114 on front
wall 104 extends beyond the opening 112 and beyond the circulating
fan 110 so that air drawn into close proximity with the cold side
sink fins 82 by the circulating fan 110 will be returned back to
the cooled storage compartment 52. Since the fan 110 is offset from
the center of the storage compartment 52 a steady circulation will
be maintained around the storage compartment 52.
[0028] A blower unit 120 is located between the barrier wall 102
and the rear housing wall 106. This blower unit 120 is located
within a shroud 122, which includes inclined vents 124. The blower
unit 120 is in communication with the ducts 62 and 72 so that
blower unit can draw air through the intake slot 70 and duct 72,
and through inclined vents 124 past the hot side heat sink 90.
After air drawn from one side of the front of the refrigeration and
storage unit 50 passes over the hot side sink 90, the heated air
then passes through the exhaust duct 62 and the slot 60 and is
exhausted on the front of the unit 50 on the opposite side of the
door 2. Thus air is taken in and exhausted on the front of the unit
50, where there will be no interference with adjacent items on that
same shelf, and it is not necessary to be sure that the top and
bottom of the unit are free from obstruction. Thus a continuous
flow of air can be maintained without damaging the thermoelectric
cooling unit or merchandise near the refrigeration and storage unit
50. Since the top and bottom surfaces of the apparatus 50 are
relatively flat, multiple refrigeration and storage units 50 can
also be stacked, one of top of another, without obstructing cooling
air flow or damaging neighboring merchandise.
* * * * *