U.S. patent application number 12/217438 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for system and method for distributing air within a display case.
Invention is credited to Keith Tilley.
Application Number | 20090044553 12/217438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40228896 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090044553 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tilley; Keith |
February 19, 2009 |
System and method for distributing air within a display case
Abstract
A display case for storing food and beverage products that
evenly distributes chilled air within the display case that
includes a cassette unit and a chassis that has an interior volume
that is encapsulated by a front section, a rear section, a base
portion and a top portion and two side portions. The chassis has
one or more shelves and one or more goal posts mounted therein. The
goal posts deliver chilled air to the shelves. The shelves have a
bottom surface that has a plurality of impingement holes disposed
therein that disperse the chilled air into the interior volume so
that the chilled air blankets the top of the food and beverage
products on the shelves below. The shelves may incorporate a groove
in the bottom surface. Low power consumption LED lighting may be
incorporated in the grove to illuminate the product on the shelf
below.
Inventors: |
Tilley; Keith; (Denbydale,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley;Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor, One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Family ID: |
40228896 |
Appl. No.: |
12/217438 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60958488 |
Jul 6, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/251 ; 62/255;
62/264; 62/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 2003/046 20130101;
A47F 3/0443 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/251 ; 62/255;
62/264; 62/56 |
International
Class: |
A47F 3/04 20060101
A47F003/04; F25D 23/00 20060101 F25D023/00; F25D 3/00 20060101
F25D003/00 |
Claims
1. A display case for storing food and beverage products
comprising: a chassis having an interior volume encapsulated by a
front section, a rear section, a base portion, a top portion and
two side portions, the interior volume having air circulating
therein, the chassis having one or more shelves therein, the one or
more shelves having a plurality of impingement holes disposed
thereon that disperse the air into the interior volume.
2. The display case of claim 1, wherein the one more shelves have a
top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of
the one or more shelves has the plurality of impingement holes that
disperse the air into the interior volume so that the air blankets
a top of the food and beverage products on adjacent shelves.
3. The display case of claim 1, further comprising one or more goal
posts that deliver the air to the one or more shelves.
4. The display case of claim 3, wherein the one or more goal posts
are a first hollow tube on a first side of the one or more shelves
and a second hollow tube on a second side of the one or more
shelves to communicate the air from a refrigeration system to the
one or more shelves.
5. The display case of claim 1, further comprising a cassette unit
that houses a refrigeration system and one or more fans to generate
and circulate the air within the display case.
6. The display case of claim 5, wherein the cassette unit is
interchangeable.
7. The display case of claim 5, wherein the cassette unit is
ambient storage.
8. The display case of claim 1, wherein the one or more shelves are
hollow.
9. The display case of claim 1, wherein the one more shelves have a
top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the top surface of
the one or more shelves has the plurality of impingement holes
disposed thereon.
10. The display case of claim 1, further comprising one or more
rear doors.
11. The display case of claim 1, wherein the one or more shelves
have integral lighting therein.
12. The display case of claim 3, wherein the one or more goal posts
are tapered toward the top of the display case.
13. The display case of claim 3, wherein the one or more goal posts
have a post portion that tapers toward the front portion and a
bottom portion that increases in size from the post portion towards
the base portion.
14. The display case of claim 3, wherein the one or more goal posts
have the air flowing there through and a post aperture, and wherein
the one or more shelves have at least one shelf aperture that is in
fluid communication with the post aperture of the one or more goal
posts to receive the air therefrom.
15. The display case of claim 1, wherein the height of the one or
more shelves is adjustable.
16. The display case of claim 4, wherein the one or more shelves
have a cover plate above and below the shelf to raise and lower the
one or more shelves.
17. The display case of claim 4, wherein the one or more shelves
has a first shelf with a first cover plate on a first side and a
second cover plate on a second opposite side, and wherein the first
cover plate and the second cover plate each has a support flange
that connects to a bottom portion of the first shelf by a screw
through one or more slots in the support flange so that the screw
slides within the one or more slots to move the first shelf with
the screw.
18. The display case of claim 17, wherein the first cover plate and
the second cover plate each have a cover portion that extends
above, below, or above and below the first shelf when the first
shelf is connected to the first and second cover plates, wherein
the first cover plate and the second cover plate each have an
opening to allow air from the one or more goal posts to the first
shelf, and wherein the first cover plate and the second cover plate
each cover a portion of an aperture in the one or more goal posts
with the cover portion to maintain the air within the one or more
goal posts and allow the air to pass through the opening to a shelf
aperture of the first shelf.
19. The display case of claim 17, wherein the first cover plate and
the second cover plate each are positioned within a guide channel
formed on one of the one or more goal posts so that each of the
first cover plate and the second cover plate selectively slide in
the channel along a length of the one of the one or more goal
posts, and wherein the or more goal posts has an inner goal post
section and an outer goal post section that forms a gap there
between that guides each of the first cover plate and the second
cover plate within the guide channel.
20. The display case of claim 16, wherein the first shelf has a
hook that is selectively able to engage with a plurality of
position apertures in one of one or more goal posts.
21. A method of distributing air within a display case comprising:
generating the air from a refrigeration system positioned
underneath a chassis of the display case; blowing the air up one or
more goal posts in the chassis; delivering the air to one or more
hollow shelves that store food and beverage products in the
chassis, wherein the air in the one or more hollow shelves cools
the bottom of food and beverage products stored thereon; dispersing
the air from the one or more shelves into an interior volume of the
chassis through a plurality of impingement holes disposed on a
bottom surface of the one or more shelves, wherein the dispersed
chilled air blankets the food and beverage products stored on the
one or more shelves with the chilled air.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Utility application that claims
priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/958,488 filed on
Jul. 6, 2007. The provisional application is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a display case and a
method of distributing chilled air within a display case that
facilitates even and denser overall product cooling to the products
stored therein.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Food and beverage products are typically displayed to retail
customers in both refrigerated and ambient display cases, depending
upon the product and customer preferences.
[0006] Conventional refrigerated display cases are incapable of
distributing air to evenly cool the products stored therein. For
example, most conventional refrigerated display cases distribute
chilled air from ports disposed about the front and/or rear of the
display case. The chilled air is delivered across the shelves in
the display case from a back-to-front or front-to-back direction.
Thus, chilled air encapsulates the outer periphery of the interior
of the display case thereby surrounding the products stored therein
with the chilled air. However, the chilled air rarely, if ever,
reaches the products stored on the middle of the shelves. Another
drawback associated with conventional refrigerated display cases is
that products that are fully surrounded by other products stored on
the shelves in the display case are cooled unevenly because only
the tops of the products are directly exposed to the chilled air
circulating therein. As a result, food and beverage products stored
within conventional refrigerated display cases are maintained at
temperatures different than adjacent or neighboring food and
beverage products, thus affecting the taste and quality of the
products prior to use.
[0007] Another problem associated with conventional refrigerated
display cases is that when chilled air is distributed from a
back-to-front or front-to-back direction, there is a tendency for
the chilled air to escape from the display case more easily when
the front or rear door of the display case is opened. Thus, there
is uneven cooling within conventional display cases because
products stored farthest away from the door of the display case are
maintained at colder temperatures than products stored closest to
the door of the display case.
[0008] Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus and method of
distributing chilled air within a refrigerated display case that
maintains food and beverage products stored therein at
substantially the same temperature regardless of their proximity to
the door of the display case or their positioning within the flow
of the chilled air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present disclosure provides a display case for storing
food and beverage products that provides an even distribution of
chilled air. The display case has a cassette unit and a chassis.
The chassis has an interior volume that is encapsulated by a front
section, a rear section, a base portion, a top portion and two side
portions. The interior volume has chilled air circulating therein.
The chassis has one or more shelves mounted therein. The chassis
also has one or more goal posts mounted therein. The one or more
goal posts deliver chilled air to the one or more shelves. The one
or more shelves have a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom
surface of the shelves has a plurality of impingement holes
disposed thereon that disperse the chilled air into the interior
volume of the chassis so that the chilled air blankets the food and
beverage products stored on the shelves below.
[0010] The present disclosure also provides a method of
distributing air within a display case. A refrigeration system
positioned underneath a chassis of the display case generates
chilled air. The chilled air is blown up one or more goal posts in
the chassis. The chilled air is delivered to one or more hollow
shelves that store food and beverage products in the chassis
thereby cooling the bottom of the food and beverage products. The
chilled air is dispersed from the one or more shelves into the
interior volume through a plurality of impingement holes disposed
on a bottom surface of the one or more shelves thereby blanketing
the food and beverage products on adjacent shelves with the chilled
air.
[0011] The above described and other features and advantages of the
present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description,
drawings, and appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a right-side planar view of a display case of the
present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front-right-side planar view of a display case
of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom-right-side perspective view of a display
case according to the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a right-side planar view of a display case
according to the present disclosure that illustrates the direction
of the air flowing therein.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a display case
according to the present disclosure that illustrates the cassette
unit removed from the display case.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cassette unit of the
present disclosure that houses a refrigeration system and one or
more fans therein.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
shelf of the present disclosure having a plurality of impingement
holes disposed thereon.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a right-side planar view of the display case of
the present disclosure having goal posts that have a first post
portion and a bottom portion.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a front-right-side planar view of the display case
of FIG. 8.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a cover plate.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a partial top view of the display case of FIG.
8.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a shelf connected to a pair of cover plates of
FIG. 10.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a partial front perspective view of the display
case of FIG. 8 having a shelf in a located position.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a partial front perspective view of the display
case of FIG. 8 having a shelf in a floating position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1-6, a
display case generally referred to be reference number 100 is
shown. In an exemplary embodiment, display case 100 has a cassette
unit 105 and a chassis 110. Chassis 110 has an interior volume 115
that is encapsulated by a front section 120, a rear section 125, a
base portion 130, a top portion 135, and two side portions 137.
Interior volume 115 has chilled air circulating therein. In an
exemplary embodiment, interior volume 115 decreases from base
portion 130 to top portion 135.
[0027] Chassis 110 has one or more shelves 140 mounted therein.
Chassis 110 also has one or more goal posts 145 mounted therein.
One or more goal posts 145 deliver chilled air to one or more
shelves 140. One or more shelves 140 have a top surface 150 and a
bottom surface 155. Bottom surface 155 has a plurality of
impingement holes 160 disposed thereon that disperse the chilled
air into interior volume 115 so that the chilled air blankets the
food and beverage products on the shelves below.
[0028] Chassis 110 is common for all types of display cases
including refrigerated customer serve cases, refrigerated staffed
serve cases, ambient customer serve cases and ambient staff served
cases.
[0029] One or more goal posts 145 are mounted at the rear section
125 of chassis 110. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more goal
posts 145 support one or more rear doors (not shown) in chassis
110. In another exemplary embodiment illustrated clearly in FIGS. 1
and 3, one or more goal posts 145 are tapered and reduce in area
towards top portion 135 of chassis 110. In a still further
exemplary embodiment illustrated clearly in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, one
or more goal posts 145 have a first post portion 145a that has a
cross section that is tapered towards front portion 120 from a
first width W1 to a second width W2, as shown in FIG. 11, and does
not reduce in area towards top portion 135. First post portion 145a
has a bottom portion 133 connecting the first post portion to base
portion 130. Bottom portion 133 may have a cross section that
increases in size from first post portion 145a to base portion 130.
The increase in size of bottom portion 130 from first post portion
145a to base portion 130 increases an amount of air that may be
communicated to one or more goal posts 145. Each of one or more
goal posts 145 may have a top flange 136, as shown in FIG. 11, that
connects top portion 135 to one or more goal posts 145.
[0030] In yet another exemplary embodiment, one or more goal posts
145 deliver chilled air from cassette unit 105 to one or more
shelves 140. A volume of chilled air may bypass one or more shelves
140 and travel to top portion 135 of chassis 110 where it is
dispersed into interior volume 115 and circulated downward so that
the chilled air blankets the food and beverage products stored
therein. Bypass of one or more shelves 140 may be achieved by
blocking an entry of chilled air.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more shelves 140 are
hollow. Thus, the chilled air delivered to one or more shelves 140
cools the bottom of the food and beverage products stored on one or
more shelves 140.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the height of one or more
shelves 140 is adjustable. Referring to FIGS. 9 through 14, a first
shelf 140a of one or more shelves 140 may be moved to different
positions on one or more goal posts 145. First shelf 140a may be
connected to one or more goal posts by cover plate 165. Referring
to FIG. 10, cover plate 165 has a cover portion 166 that extends
above, below, or above and below first shelf 140a when first shelf
140a is connected to cover plate 165. Cover plate 165 has an
opening 169 to allow air from one or more goal posts 145 through to
first shelf 140a. Cover plate 165 has a support flange 167 with one
or more slots 168 there through.
[0033] A first cover plate is connected to a first side of first
shelf 140a and a second cover plate is connected to a second
opposite side of first shelf 140a, as shown in FIG. 12. Opening 169
of each of the first and second cover plates are positioned over
shelf apertures 142. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, first shelf 140a
connects to each support flange 167 by screws 141 through each of
one or more slots 168 so that support flange 167 supports first
shelf 140a and screws 141 may slide within slots 168 to move the
first shelf a distance with in the slots.
[0034] Cover plate 165 is positioned within a guide channel 147
formed on one of one or more goal posts 145 so that the cover plate
selectively slides in the channel along a length of one of the goal
posts. One or more goal posts 145 may have an inner goal post
section 148 and an outer goal post section 149 that forms a gap
there between that guides cover plate 165 within guide channel 147.
One or more goal posts 145 have at least one aperture within the
channel that distributes air from within cassette unit 105 through
the aperture. Cover plate 165 covers a portion of the aperture with
cover portion 166 to maintain the air within the one or more goal
posts and allows air to pass from the goal post through opening 169
to shelf aperture 142.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 9, 13 and 14, one or more goal posts 145
have a plurality of position apertures 146. As shown in FIGS. 12
through 14, first shelf 140a has a connector, for example, hooks
143 that are able to engage with plurality of position apertures
146 in one of one or more goal posts 145. Although FIGS. 13 and 14
show only one side of first shelf 140a, an opposite side of the
first shelf moves to different positions on another of one or more
goal posts 145 as described herein. First shelf 140a may slide via
cover plate 165 sliding within the guide channel to a first pair of
position apertures 146. First shelf 140a may slide to move hooks
143 into the pair of position apertures 146 by sliding screws 141
within slots 168 to engage hooks 143 with the first pair of
position apertures 146 to a located position, as shown in FIG.
13.
[0036] First shelf 140a may slide toward top portion 135 via cover
plate 165 sliding within the guide channel to disengage hooks 143
from position apertures 146. First shelf 140a may slide to move
hooks 143 out of position apertures 146 by sliding screws 141
within slots 168 to a floating position, as shown in FIG. 14. First
shelf 140a may slide via cover plate 165 within the guide channel
to another pair of position apertures 146 to a different position
on the one of one or more goal posts 145. There may be three pairs
of position apertures 145 for each of one or more shelves 140 so
that one or more shelves 140 may be moved to three different
positions. The positions apertures that are not covered by one of
one or more shelves 140 may dispense air to interior volume
115.
[0037] The tapered goal post section of one or more goal posts, as
shown in FIG. 11, allows ease of shelf height adjustment. The
mating surfaces between goal posts and shelves are tapered, as
shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 11. One or more shelves 140 only become a
tight fit between one or more goal posts 145 at the final location
between the goal post surfaces or the located position. Cover
plates 165 may be permanently connected to one or more shelves 140
so that cover plates do not become detached and lost from the
display case. As an alternative to cover plate 165, a cover cap
(not shown) may connect to one or more goal posts 145 and
disconnect from one or more goal posts 145 to cover any portion of
the apertures not covered by one or more shelves 140.
[0038] A lighting system (not shown) is installed in a channel 170
on bottom surface 155 of one or more shelves 140, as shown in FIG.
7. The lighting system has LED low voltage DC lights that are
highly efficient compared to incandescent or florescent lights.
Thus, the power consumption and the heat input of chassis 110 are
reduced. The power to the lights from cassette unit 105 is provided
via low voltage DC supply with a plug and socket arrangement.
[0039] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 6, a
cassette unit of the present disclosure generally referred to by
reference number 200 is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, cassette
unit 200 houses a refrigeration system 205 and one or more fans 210
that generate and distribute chilled air within the chassis of the
display case. The fans used, such as, for example, for an
evaporator and/or condenser of a refrigeration system, are low
voltage DC to reduce power consumption and heat input into the
chilled cabinet over other available refrigeration system fans. In
another exemplary embodiment, cassette unit 200 provides ambient or
heated storage. Thus, cassette unit 200 provides maximum
flexibility in store arrangement, rearrangement and ordering.
Cassette unit 200 is removable and can be easily swapped with
another cassette unit to change the display case from refrigerated
to ambient and from ambient to refrigerated. The interchangeability
of cassette unit 200 reduces the repair time, which thereby reduces
the down time of the display case when a part malfunctions.
Further, the interchangeability of cassette unit 200 allows it to
be swapped by less skilled personnel thereby reducing costs.
[0040] Cassette unit 200 is mounted on castors 215 to allow for
ease of movement. Cassette unit 200 engages with slide rails on
either side of the display case that lift cassette unit 200 to
align with the display case. This allows for the display case to be
raised and leveled. When cassette unit 200 is fully engaged with
the display case, a clip on either side of cassette unit 200 locks
cassette unit 200 into position, thus ensuring secure engagement
with the display case. Resilient seals between cassette unit 200
and the display case give security of air passage.
[0041] In one embodiment, the duct connection between cassette unit
200 and one or more goal posts 145 in the display case may be
tapered to provide ease of sliding cassette unit 200 into place
with the seals only touching at the final travel of cassette unit
200. Thus, the seals are not deformed in a shearing motion.
[0042] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 7, a
shelf of the present disclosure generally referred to by reference
number 300 is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, shelf 300 has a
graduated pattern of impingement holes 305 disposed on a bottom
surface 310 of shelf 300. Impingement holes 305 evenly disperse
chilled air into the interior volume of the chassis of the display
case so that the chilled air blankets the top of the food and
beverage products on the shelves below. Shelf 300 also chills the
food and beverage products stored on top of the shelf because the
products are in contact with a top surface (not shown) of shelf
300. In another exemplary embodiment, shelf 300 has a plurality of
impingement holes disposed on the top surface of shelf 300.
[0043] The present disclosure is advantageous because chilled air
is distributed and delivered through hollow shelves to the
displayed product. The display case of the present disclosure
reduces the problem of restricted air movement and distribution
caused by over-filled shelves that do not leave sufficient gaps
between the products for air passage. The present disclosure is
also advantageous because it provides a method of cooling food and
beverage products from six sides including the top, bottom, front,
back, left and right, instead of traditional cooling and air
distribution methods that only cool products from five sides, if
sufficient air passage gaps between products are left.
[0044] The present disclosure is further advantageous because it
reduces lifetime ownership costs of refrigerated display cases. At
the end of the expected life of the refrigeration system and all
working parts therein, only the cassette unit needs to be replaced.
In addition, the present disclosure is advantageous because it
overcomes the traditional problem associated with over-stocking
shelves and not leaving necessary gaps between food and beverage
products to allow cold air to pass from the rear of the display
case to the products stored at the front of the display case.
[0045] The present disclosure further provides a method of evenly
distributing air within a display case 100. Referring to FIG. 4, a
refrigeration system 205 positioned underneath a chassis 110 of the
display case 100 generates chilled air, as shown by arrow A. The
chilled air is blown up one or more goal posts 145 in the chassis,
as shown by arrow B. The chilled air is delivered to one or more
hollow shelves 140 and top portion 135, as shown by arrows C, and
flow through the one or more hollow shelves and the top portion, as
shown by arrows D, that store food and beverage products in chassis
110 thereby cooling the bottom of the food and beverage products.
The chilled air is dispersed from the one or more shelves 140 and
top portion 135 into the interior volume through a plurality of
impingement holes disposed on a bottom surface of the one or more
shelves thereby blanketing the top of the food and beverage
products on adjacent shelves with the chilled air, as shown by
arrows E. Chilled air may be returned to refrigeration system, as
shown by arrows F.
[0046] Another advantage of the present disclosure is that the goal
posts and hollow shelves eliminate the need to blow the chilled air
up ducts on the rear doors of the display case that is needed to
obtain an even distribution to all shelves. This also eliminates
the need for ducts at the rear of the display case, thereby
allowing the use of sliding door and/or hinged doors.
[0047] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be
made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without
departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that
the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *