U.S. patent application number 11/885193 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for display merchandiser with lighting enhancement.
This patent application is currently assigned to CARRIER CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Mark A. Daniels, Thomas E. Drago, Stephen Kenney, Robert J. Reese, Riad Saraiji, Timothy J. Tifft.
Application Number | 20090213579 11/885193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37024105 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090213579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saraiji; Riad ; et
al. |
August 27, 2009 |
Display Merchandiser with Lighting Enhancement
Abstract
Illumination of the interior product display space of a cold
beverage merchandizer is enhanced by: a first reflector (90)
disposed along a lower front region of the interior product display
space at the front of the cabinet; a second reflector (92) disposed
in the upper front region of the interior display space in
operative association with a lamp (80); a third reflector (94)
disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a
side and front of the cabinet; a fourth reflector (94) disposed in
a side front region of the interior display space at a side and
front of the cabinet opposite the third reflector, a fifth
reflector (96) mounted to an interior facing surface of the door
bounding the upper front region of the interior display space, and
a sixth reflector (98) mounted to an interior facing surface of the
door.
Inventors: |
Saraiji; Riad; (Al Ain,
AE) ; Daniels; Mark A.; (Port Charlotte, FL) ;
Reese; Robert J.; (Edwardsville, IL) ; Kenney;
Stephen; (North Syracuse, NY) ; Drago; Thomas E.;
(Liverpool, NY) ; Tifft; Timothy J.; (Liverpool,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARJAMA MULDOON BLASIAK & SULLIVAN LLP
250 SOUTH CLINTON STREET, SUITE 300
SYRACUSE
NY
13202
US
|
Assignee: |
CARRIER CORPORATION
Farmington
CT
|
Family ID: |
37024105 |
Appl. No.: |
11/885193 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 23, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US05/47046 |
371 Date: |
November 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60663081 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/126 ;
362/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21Y 2103/00 20130101;
A47F 3/0404 20130101; F25D 27/00 20130101; F21V 7/005 20130101;
F21V 7/0025 20130101; A47F 3/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/126 ;
362/125 |
International
Class: |
F25D 27/00 20060101
F25D027/00; A47F 11/10 20060101 A47F011/10 |
Claims
1. A display merchandiser having an improved lighting system for
illuminating an interior product display space within said display
merchandiser, said display merchandiser comprising: a cabinet
defining the interior display space and having an area through
which at least a portion of the interior display region can be
viewed, said viewing area bounded by at least a first side and a
second side, the second side being opposite the first side; a lamp
disposed along the first side for emitting light into the interior
product display space; and a first reflector disposed along the
second side of said access opening, said first reflector adapted to
direct at least of the light emitted from said lamp into the
interior product display space.
2. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a second reflector disposed along the first side in operative
association with said lamp, said second reflector adapted to
reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp
toward said first reflector.
3. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
a third reflector disposed along a third side extending laterally
along said viewing area between the first side and the second side,
said third reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the
light emitted from said lamp into the interior product display
space.
4. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 3 further comprising:
a fourth reflector disposed along a fourth side extending laterally
along said viewing area between the first side and the second side
and opposite of the third side, said fourth reflector adapted to
direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into
the interior product display space.
5. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 1 wherein said
viewing area comprises an access opening to the interior display
space of said cabinet.
6. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 5 further comprising
at least one transparent door mounted to said cabinet, said at
least one door being selectively positionable between a first
position in which said door closes said access opening to access to
the interior display space and a second position in which said door
opens said access opening to access to the interior display
space.
7. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 6 wherein said at
least one transparent door comprises at least one hinged glass
door.
8. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 6 wherein said at
least one transparent door comprises at least one sliding glass
door.
9. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 6 further comprising
a fifth reflector disposed along a first portion of said door
bounding the first side of said viewing area, said fifth reflector
adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said
lamp into the interior display space.
10. A display merchandiser as recited in claim 6 further comprising
a sixth reflector disposed along a second portion of said door
bounding the second side of said viewing area, said sixth reflector
adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said
lamp into the interior display space.
11. A display case as recited in claim 1 wherein said viewing area
comprises a transparent surface of said cabinet.
12. A cold beverage merchandiser having an improved lighting system
for illuminating an interior product display space within said
merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising: a
refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by
a top, a base, an open front, and a surrounding side wall structure
including a plurality of insulated side walls extending between
said top and said base; at least one door mounted to said cabinet
and extending across the open front of the interior display space,
said at least one door having a transparent viewing area through
which at least a portion of the interior display space can be
viewed; a lamp disposed along an upper front region of the interior
display space at the top and front of the cabinet for emitting
light into the interior product display space; and a bottom
reflector disposed along a lower front region of the interior
display space at the base and front of the cabinet, said bottom
reflector adapted to direct at least of the light emitted from said
lamp to illuminate the interior product display space.
13. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 further
comprising a lamp reflector disposed in the upper front region of
the interior display space in operative association with said lamp,
said lamp reflector adapted to reflect at least a portion of the
light emitted from said lamp toward said first reflector.
14. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 13 further
comprising: a first side reflector disposed in a side front region
of the interior display space at a side and front of the cabinet,
said first side reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of
the light emitted from said lamp to illuminate the interior product
display space; and a second side reflector disposed in a side front
region of the interior display space at a side and front of the
cabinet opposite said first side reflector, said second side
reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted
from said lamp to illuminate the interior product display
space.
15. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 further
comprising a side reflector disposed in a front region of the
interior display space at a side of the cabinet, said side
reflector adapted to reflect an image of the interior product
display space toward the transparent viewing area of said at least
one door.
16. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 further
comprising a first door reflector mounted to an interior facing
surface of said at least one door bounding the upper front region
of the interior display space, said first door reflector adapted to
direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into
the interior display space.
17. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 further
comprising a second door reflector mounted to an interior facing
surface of said at least one door bounding the lower front region
of the interior display space, said second door reflector adapted
to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp
into the interior display space.
18. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 wherein
said at least one door comprises at least one glass door.
19. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 wherein
said at least one door comprises at least one hinged glass
door.
20. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 wherein
said at least one transparent door comprises at least one sliding
glass door.
21. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 further
comprising a refrigerant unit operatively associated with said
refrigerated cabinet for supplying refrigerated air to the interior
display space of said cabinet.
22. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 12 wherein
said refrigeration unit comprises a refrigeration cassette
including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in
a refrigerant flow circuit.
23. A cold beverage merchandiser having an improved lighting system
for illuminating an interior product display space within said
merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising: a
refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by
a top wall, a base, a surrounding side wall structure including a
plurality of insulated side walls extending between the top wall
and the base, and an open access area in either the top wall or one
of the side walls providing access to the interior display space;
at least one door mounted to said cabinet and extending across the
open access area of the interior display space, said at least one
door having a transparent viewing area through which at least a
portion of the interior display space can be viewed; a lamp
disposed within the cabinet along a first side bounding the open
access area for emitting light into the interior product display
space; and a reflector disposed within the cabinet along a second
side bounding the open access area, said reflector adapted to
reflect an image of the interior product display space toward the
transparent viewing area of said at least one door.
24. A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in claim 23 wherein the
open access area is in a front side wall of the cabinet, the lamp
is disposed along an upper side bounding the open access area, and
the reflector is disposed along a vertical side bounding the open
access area.
25. A refrigerated merchandiser having an improved lighting system
for illuminating an interior product display space within said
merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising: a
refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by
a top wall, a base wall, an open front, and a surrounding side wall
structure including a plurality of insulated side walls extending
between said top wall and said base wall; at least one door mounted
to said cabinet and extending across the open front of the interior
display space, said at least one door having a transparent viewing
area through which at least a portion of the interior display space
can be viewed; a lamp disposed along an upper front region of the
interior display space at the top wall and front of the cabinet for
emitting light into the interior product display space; a
reflective surface disposed along a lower front region of the
interior display space at the base and front of the cabinet; a lamp
reflector disposed in the upper front region of the interior
display space in operative association with said lamp; a reflective
surface disposed along a first side front region of the interior
display space of the cabinet; and a reflective surface disposed
along a second side front region of the interior display space of
the cabinet opposite the first side front region.
26. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 25 further
comprising: a reflective surface on an interior facing surface of
said at least one door bounding the upper front region of the
interior display space; and a reflective surface on an interior
facing surface of said at least one door bounding the lower front
region of the interior display space.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Reference is made to and this application claims priority
from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
60/663,081, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled LIGHTING ENHANCEMENT
USING REFLECTIVE SURFACES IN BOTTLE COOLERS, which application is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to display merchandisers
and, more particularly, to improving illumination of product
displayed within a lighted display merchandiser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Display merchandisers, also commonly referred to as display
cases or display cabinets, are widely used in merchandising
products in department stores, bakeries, groceries, supermarkets,
convenience stores and other retail establishments. Such
merchandisers commonly have a glass front, and often also a glass
top and even glass sides, through which a consumers may view the
products display within the merchandiser. Non-refrigerated display
merchandisers are commonly used to display a wide range of
products, including for example, jewelry, toys, electronic devices,
baked goods, bottled and canned beverages. Refrigerated display
merchandisers are commonly used to display perishable and frozen
comestibles and beverages, including for example meats, poultry,
fish, diary products, prepackaged frozen foods, cold bottled and
canned beverages and other products that need to be maintained in a
controlled environment.
[0004] It is well appreciated that illuminating the product
displayed within the merchandiser can enhance the appearance of the
displayed product to the consumer. Accordingly, both refrigerated
and non-refrigerated display cases have often been equipped with
lights placed within the interior of the cabinet to illuminate the
product. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,529 discloses a
non-refrigerated display case for food items, such as baked goods,
wherein the interior of the cabinet is illuminated by a plurality
of vertically arrayed incandescent lamps disposed in the rear
corners of the cabinet and by a plurality of horizontally disposed,
vertically spaced fluorescent lamps extending across the front of
the cabinet. A front lighted display case, for displaying jewelry
and the like, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,876, has a single,
horizontally extending fluorescent light mounted at the upper front
of the cabinet for illuminating product display therein. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,865,516 discloses a display case for displaying scale models
wherein the cabinet is illuminated by a plurality of low wattage
lamps extending around the entire upper periphery of the interior
of the cabinet.
[0005] Similarly, refrigerated display merchandisers are well known
in the art, such as, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,297,863; 5,584,189, 5,508,898; and 4,977,754. In U.S. Pat. No.
5,297,863 a multiple door, glass-door display case is disclosed
wherein vertically extending fluorescent lamps disposed near both
front comers and between the doors of the display case illuminate a
plurality of horizontal shelves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,189 discloses
a hexagonally-sided refrigerated merchandiser wherein three
vertically extending fluorescent lamps are disposed in the wall of
the cabinet at equally spaced intervals about the periphery of the
interior of the cabinet to illuminate the horizontal shelves
therein.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,898 discloses an open-front refrigerated
display case for food products wherein a pair of horizontally
extending fluorescent lamps disposed at the upper front of the
cabinet with an associated reflector which directs the light from
the lamps downwardly and into the cabinet to illuminate the
forwardly-sloping shelves therein. Additionally, a horizontally
extending fluorescent lamp is mounted to the underside of each
shelve near the forward edge thereof with an associated reflector
to illuminate that the next shelve there below and the region below
the lowermost shelve.
[0007] Lights are also commonly used in cold beverage merchandisers
to illuminate the beverage cans or bottles displayed therein. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,754 discloses a two-door, glass door,
cold beverage merchandiser wherein a horizontally extending
fluorescent lamp is mounted in a forward position in an upper
region of the interior of the cabinet to illuminate the sloping
shelves therein. Further, a horizontally extending fluorescent lamp
is disposed in a separate compartment in association with a sign
disposed at the upper front of the merchandiser so as to illuminate
the sign. Glass-door, cold beverage merchandisers are also
available that include a single horizontally-extending fluorescent
lamp disposed at the upper front of the cabinet interior with to
light a sign disposed along the upper front of the cabinet, as well
as illuminate shelves there below. A reflector is typically
provided in association with the lamp to aid in directing light
from the lamp downwardly toward the shelves.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,666 discloses a glass door refrigerated
merchandiser wherein a vertically extending fluorescent lamp
mounted to door so as to extend along the side thereof at a front
corner of the cabinet provides light to illuminate the interior of
the cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a display
merchandiser having an improved lighting system for illuminating an
interior product display space within the merchandiser.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a display
merchandiser including at least one reflector having a relatively
high reflectivity surface adapted to direct light into an interior
product display space within the merchandiser.
[0011] It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a
cold beverage merchandiser having a lighting system incorporating a
lamp and at least one reflector having a relatively high
reflectivity surface adapted to direct light emitted from the lamp
into an interior product display space within the merchandiser.
[0012] In one aspect of the invention, an embodiment of a display
merchandiser is provided having an improved lighting system for
illuminating an interior product display space within the display
merchandiser. The display merchandiser includes a cabinet defining
the interior product display space and having a viewing area
through which at least a portion of the interior product display
region can be viewed. A lamp for emitting light into the interior
product display space is disposed along a first surface bounding
the interior product display space. A first reflector, adapted to
direct at least a portion of the light emitted from the lamp into
the interior product display space, is disposed along a second
surface bounding the interior product display space, the second
surface being opposite the first surface.
[0013] In another embodiment, a second reflector may be disposed in
operative association with the lamp, and adapted to reflect at
least a portion of the light emitted from the lamp toward the first
reflector. In additional embodiments, a third reflector may be
disposed along a third surface bounding the interior product
display space, and a fourth reflector may be disposed along a
fourth surface bounding the interior product display space. In
addition to reflecting light into the interior product display
space, when both the third and fourth reflectors are provided,
these reflectors may be cooperatively disposed to reflect back and
forth across the product viewing area. The viewing area may be an
open access opening in a surface bounding the interior product
display space or a transparent portion of a surface bounding the
interior product display space.
[0014] In a further embodiment of the display merchandiser, the
viewing area constitutes an access opening and the cabinet has at
least one door that is selectively positionable between a first
position in which the door closes the access opening to access to
the interior product display space and a second position in which
the door opens the access opening to access to the product interior
display space. The door includes a transparent surface commensurate
with the viewing area and may be a hinged glass door or a sliding
glass door. In additional embodiments, a fifth reflector may be
mounted to an interior facing surface of the door bordering the
first surface bounding the interior product display space along
which the lamp extends, and a sixth reflector may be mounted to an
interior facing surface of the door bordering the second surface
bounding the interior product display space. In addition to
reflecting light into the interior product display space, when both
the fifth and sixth reflectors are provided, these reflectors are
cooperatively disposed such that the fifth reflector also reflects
light emitted by the lamp toward the sixth reflector.
[0015] In one aspect of the invention, a cold beverage merchandiser
is provided having an improved lighting system for illuminating an
interior product display space within the merchandiser. The cold
beverage merchandiser includes a an insulated cabinet having a top
wall, a base wall, an open front, and a surrounding side wall
structure including a plurality of side walls extending between the
top wall and the base wall, and defining a refrigerated interior
including the interior display space. At least one door is mounted
to the cabinet and extends across the open front of the interior
display space. The door has a transparent viewing area through
which at least a portion of the interior display space can be
viewed. The door may be a hinged or a sliding glass front door. A
lamp is disposed along an upper front region of the interior
display space near the top wall and front of the cabinet for
emitting light. A first reflector is disposed along a lower front
region of the interior product display space at the front of the
cabinet and is adapted to direct at least a portion of the light
emitted from the lamp into the interior product display space. In
another embodiment of the cold beverage merchandiser, a second
reflector disposed in the upper front region of the interior
display space in operative association with the lamp and is adapted
to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the lamp
toward said first reflector.
[0016] In a further embodiment of the cold beverage merchandiser, a
third reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light
emitted from the lamp into the interior product display space is
disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a
side and front of the cabinet, and a fourth reflector adapted to
direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into
the interior product display space is disposed in a side front
region of the interior display space at a side and front of the
cabinet opposite the third reflector. The third and fourth
reflectors may be cooperatively disposed to reflect back and forth
across the front of the interior product display space.
[0017] In other embodiments of the cold beverage merchandiser, a
fifth reflector is mounted to an interior facing surface of the
door bounding the upper front region of the interior display space.
This fifth reflector is adapted to direct at least a portion of the
light emitted from the lamp inwardly and downwardly into the
interior display space. Advantageously, a sixth reflector may be
mounted to an interior facing surface of the door bounding the
lower front region of the interior display space. The sixth
reflector is adapted to direct at least a portion of the light
emitted from said lamp, including light reflected downwardly by the
fifth reflector, into the interior display space.
[0018] In a further embodiment, a refrigerated merchandiser
includes an insulated cabinet having a top wall, a base, an open
front, and a surrounding side wall structure including a plurality
of side walls extending between the top wall and the base wall, and
defining a refrigerated interior display space. At least one door
is mounted to the cabinet and extends across the open front of the
interior display space. The door has a transparent viewing area
through which at least a portion of the interior display space can
be viewed. A lamp is disposed along an upper front region of the
interior display space near the top wall and front of the cabinet
for emitting light. Illumination of the interior product display
space is enhanced by: a reflective surface disposed along a lower
front region of the interior product display space at the front of
the cabinet; a lamp reflector disposed in the upper front region of
the interior display space in operative association with the lamp;
a reflective surface disposed along a first side front region of
the interior display space of the cabinet; a reflective surface
disposed along a second side front region of the interior display
space of the cabinet opposite the first side front region. In an
embodiment of the refrigerated merchandiser, a reflective surface
is provided on an interior facing surface of the door bounding the
upper front region of the interior display space, and a reflective
surface is provided on an interior facing surface of the door
bounding the lower front region of the interior display space.
[0019] In a further embodiment, the cold beverage merchandiser
includes a cabinet having a top wall, a base wall, and a
surrounding side wall structure including a plurality of side walls
extending between the top wall and the base wall, defining a
refrigerated interior display space. An access opening is provided
in either the top wall or one of the side walls providing access to
the interior display space. At least one door is mounted to the
cabinet and extends across the access opening to the interior
display space. The door has a transparent viewing area through
which at least a portion of the interior display space can be
viewed. A lamp is disposed along an upper front region of the
interior display space near the top wall and front of the cabinet
for emitting light. A reflector is disposed within the cabinet
along a second side bounding the access opening. The reflector
adapted to reflect an image of the interior product display space
toward the transparent viewing area of the at least one door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] For a further understanding of these and objects of the
invention, reference will be made to the following detailed
description of the invention which is to be read in connection with
the accompanying drawing, where:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly sectioned, of a cold
beverage merchandiser in accord with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the exterior of the cold
beverage merchandiser of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectioned plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation view of the upper front
region and the lower front region of the interior of the
merchandiser of FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded plan of the right and left comers of
the front region of the interior of the merchandiser of FIG. 2;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reflector strip;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of a side reflector
strip;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a bottom reflector
strip;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a side view of an embodiment of a door reflector
strip; and
[0030] FIG. 10 is a side view of a two-lamp embodiment of a lamp
reflector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3 in particular, there is
depicted a cold beverage merchandiser, designated generally by the
reference numeral 10, including an interior product display space
100 having shelves 102 for holding product 110 to be purchased,
such as for example bottled or canned soda, milk, water, juices,
fruit drinks, beer and other beverages. Although the invention will
be described herein with reference to the depicted embodiment of a
refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, it is to be understood
that that invention may be applied to other display merchandisers,
for example non-refrigerated display merchandisers for displaying
jewelry, toys, electronic devices, baked goods, bottled and canned
beverages and the like, and refrigerated display merchandisers for
displaying perishable and frozen comestibles and beverages,
including for example meats, poultry, fish, diary products,
prepackaged frozen foods, and other products that need to be
maintained in a controlled environment.
[0032] A refrigerated cabinet 20 having a top wall 22, a base wall
24, and a surrounding side wall structure including a plurality of
insulated side walls 32, 34 36 and 38 extending between the top
wall 22 and the base wall 24. The front side wall 32 includes a
viewing area 35 through which the interior product display space
100 may be viewed from exteriorly of the cabinet 20. In the
depicted embodiment, the viewing area in the front side wall 32
comprises an open area covered by a one door 40 mounted to the
cabinet 20. The door 40 extends across the open area 35 to the
interior product display space 100 and has a transparent viewing
area, for example a glass panel 44 mounted in frame 42, through
which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100
can be viewed. Although the embodiment of the display merchandiser
10 depicted in the drawing has only one door 40, it is to be
understood that the display merchandiser may have one, two, three
or more doors that collectively cover the open area 35 when in the
closed position. The door 40 is selectively positionable between a
closed position covering the open area 35 and an open position in
which consumers may access the interior product display space 100
to remove a product for purchase. The door or doors 40 may be
mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example on
hinges for pivotal movement or on a tract for sliding movement
between an open and closed position.
[0033] The top wall 22, base wall 24 and surrounding side walls 32,
34, 36 and 38 may be heat insulated for insulating the refrigerated
interior product display space 100, from the environment exterior
of the display merchandiser 10. A refrigeration unit is provided in
operative association with the interior product display space 100
for providing refrigerated air thereto. In the depicted embodiment,
the refrigeration unit is housed in a compartment 52 beneath the
product display space 100 and includes an evaporator/evaporator fan
assembly 60, a condenser/condenser fan assembly 70, and a
compressor 74. The evaporator of the evaporator/evaporator fan
assembly 60, the condenser of the condenser/condenser fan assembly
70 and compressor 74 are appropriately coupled in fluid
communication by refrigerant lines (not shown) in a conventional
refrigeration cycle to form a closed loop refrigerant circuit.
[0034] The evaporator fan is operative in a conventional manner to
draw air from the interior product display space 100 and thence
pass the air through the evaporator to and through a return air
circulation duct defined between the rear side wall 34 and a rear
panel 33 spaced inwardly of the rear side wall 34. Refrigerated air
passing through the circulation duct passes back into the interior
product display space 100, typically in part through an opening
(not shown) at the upper end of the duct and in part through
openings (not shown) provided in the rear panel 33. The condenser
fan is operative, typically only when the compressor 74 is in
operation, to draw air from outside the refrigerated display
merchandiser, such as for example from the ambient environment
external thereof through the front grille 12 at the lower front of
the merchandiser 10, and through the condenser. As the external air
passes through the condenser in heat exchange relationship with the
hot refrigerant vapor from the compressor 74 being passed through
the condenser, the refrigerant is cooled and condensed, and the air
heated. The cooled refrigerant passes on to the evaporator. Having
traversed the condenser, this air is exhausted out of the
compartment back into the external environment.
[0035] The particular mode of refrigerating the product display
space 10 is not limiting of the invention. For example, rather than
a self-contained refrigeration unit as discussed above, an
evaporator/evaporator fan assembly may be provided within the
product display space, the evaporator of which is connected by
refrigerant lines in a refrigerant circuit with a
condenser/condenser fan assembly and compressor which disposed
remotely from the merchandiser 10. In such as arrangement, the
evaporator fan circulates air within the product display space over
the evaporator refrigerant coils to cool the air.
[0036] As discussed hereinbefore, it is desirable to illuminate the
interior product display space 100 and the product disposed therein
to enhance the appearance of the product 110 disposed on the
shelves 102 to the consumer viewing the product through the view
area. A lamp 80, preferably a fluorescent light, is positioned in
an upper front region of the interior product display space 100.
When energized, the lamp 80 emits light directly into the interior
product display space 100. As in the depicted embodiment, the lamp
80 may also function to illuminate graphics 78, which may carry an
advertising message relating to one or more of the products
displayed or other design, laid on an upper portion of the door 40.
Although light emitted from the lamp 80 will effectively illuminate
product disposed on the front portion of the upper shelf within the
interior product display space 100, as well as product disposed at
the front portion of the lower shelves, that light will only poorly
illuminate product disposed on portions of the shelves more toward
the rear side wall 34 or on portions of the lower shelves shaded by
any shelves there above. The shelves 102 may be gravity-feed
shelves angled slightly downwardly from back to front, as depicted
in FIG. 2, or horizontally disposed shelves, or other shelving
configuration appropriate to support the particular product being
displayed for purchase. However, the specific number, arrangement
and configuration of the shelves 102 is not germane to the
invention and is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the
art to select for optimizing the presentation of and the customer
accessibility to the particular product being displayed.
[0037] In accordance with the invention, illumination of the
product is enhanced through at least one, and most advantageously a
plurality of, highly reflective surfaces disposed at specific
locations relative to the lamp 80. Commonly, the surfaces of the
walls facing the interior product display area I 00 are relatively
non-reflective or of relatively low reflectivity. Therefore, most
of the light emitted from the lamp 80 that impinges upon these
bounding surfaces is absorbed. The reflective surfaces of the
lighting system of the invention will reflect, rather than absorb,
a significant portion of the light form the lamp 80 that impinges
thereon back into the interior product display space 100, thereby
enhancing illumination of the interior product display space 100
and the product disposed therein. In the embodiment depicted in the
drawings, the system comprises six reflectors, a first reflector 90
in a lower front region of the interior product display space 100,
a second reflector 92 in the upper front region of the interior
product display space 100, a third and a fourth reflector forming a
paired side reflectors 94 disposed along the respective front side
regions of the interior product display space 100, a fifth
reflector 96 on an upper portion of the door 40 and a sixth
reflector 98 on a lower portion of the door 40. It is to be
understood, however, that this embodiment is illustrative only and
that the system of the invention may include one or greater number
of reflectors.
[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, a first reflector 90, having
a reflective surface 91, is disposed opposite the lamp 80 extending
along the front of the bottom wall 34 bounding the interior product
display space 100. The first reflector 90 is contoured or otherwise
configured with its reflective surface 91 facing inwardly and
upwardly toward the interior product display space 100 so as to
reflect light upwardly and also inwardly into the product display
space. A second reflector 92, having a reflective surface 93, may
be disposed in operative association with and to extend along the
lamp 80. As depicted, the second reflector 92 is contoured or
otherwise configured and positioned so as to extend over and inside
of the lamp 80 whereby the reflective surface 93 thereof will
reflector light emitted from the lamp 80 both generally downwardly
toward the first reflector 90 positioned oppositely thereof along
the lower front of the cabinet. The second reflector 92 may also be
configured such that a portion of its reflective surface 93
reflects light from the lamp 80 generally outwardly toward the sign
78.
[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, a third reflector 94A,
having a reflective surface 95A, may be disposed in a side front
region of the interior product display space 100 so as to extend
vertically along the side wall 36 near the front edge thereof.
Also, a fourth reflector 94B, having a reflective surface 95B, may
be disposed in the other side front region of the interior product
display space 100 so as to extend vertically along the side wall 38
near the front edge thereof. These side reflectors may extend the
full height of the interior product display space or may be
foreshortened so as to extend for only a portion of the height of
the interior product display space 100. Each of the reflectors 94A
and 94B are contoured or otherwise configured with its reflective
surface 95A and 95B, respectively, having a portion extending
obliquely to the side walls 34 and 36, respectively, and facing
inwardly toward the interior product display space 100 and a
portion extending generally parallel to the side walls 34 and 36,
respectively. Each of the reflective surfaces 95A and 95B reflects
light inwardly into the product display space 100 as well as along
the glass front panel 45 of the door 40 and toward its paired side
reflector on the opposite side wall. Additionally, each of these
side reflectors 94 may be configured to reflect an image of the
interior product display space toward the transparent viewing area
44 of the door 40 to create an illusion for consumers viewing the
product through the door of a larger display space filled with more
products. This enhanced merchandising effect provided by the side
reflectors 94 improves the consumer-appeal of the products
displayed.
[0040] One or two additional reflectors may be provided on the
indoor side of the door 40, one positioned to extend along the top
of the door and the other to extend along the bottom of the door.
For example, referring again to FIG. 4, a fifth reflector 96 may be
disposed against an upper portion of the inside surface 45 of the
glass panel 44 of the door 40. The fifth reflector 96 has a
reflective surface 97 that faces generally inwardly toward the
interior product display space and that is contoured or otherwise
configured to reflect light inwardly and downwardly into the
interior product display space 100 when the door 40 is closed. A
sixth reflector 98 may be disposed against a lower portion of the
inside surface 45 of the glass panel 44 of the door 40. The sixth
reflector 98 has a reflective surface 99 that faces generally
inwardly toward the interior product display space and that is
contoured or otherwise configured to reflect light inwardly and
upwardly into the interior product display space 100 when the door
40 is closed.
[0041] The reflectors 90, 94, 96 and 98 may comprise simple,
elongated strips bent along a longitudinal line at an included
angle, A, with the respective interior surface 91, 95, 97 and 99
being reflective, such as depicted in FIG. 6. The reflectors may
comprise a structural support member having a reflective surface on
the side that will face the interior of the product display space.
The strips may be formed sheet metal strips, for example anodized
aluminum, having a polished surface as a reflective surface or a
having a reflective paint or other reflective material coating
deposited thereon as a reflective surface as depicted in FIG. 7.
The strips may be extruded strips configured to the desired contour
during the extrusion process and having a reflective coating
deposited, for example extruded plastic, PVC resin or aluminum
substrate laminated with a skin of reflective aluminum or
aluminized Mylar to provide the reflective surface as depicted in
FIGS. 8 and 9. The reflectors may be mounted to the cabinet
structure and door structure as appropriate by any suitable
attachment technique, such as for example mechanical fasteners,
including screws, magnetic strips, hook-and-loop fabric with
adhesive on both sides, double-sided tape, or adhesive.
[0042] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the length of
each reflector and the included angle in the reflective surface
will depend upon the geometry and dimensions of the product display
space 100 and exact placement of the reflectors therein. In a
conventionally sized, single door, rectangular cabinet, cold
beverage merchandiser, for example, the interior product display
space would commonly have a width of about 26 inches, a depth of
about 29 inches and a height of about 52 inches. For a product
display spaced so sized, the strip reflectors 90, 94, 96 and 98
would typically have an included angle, A, lying in the range of
about 130 to about 170 degrees. In the illustrative example shown
in FIG. 7, the side reflectors 94 might, for example, be a strip
having a width of about 2.5 inches, be bent along a longitudinal
line at an included angle of about 165 degrees, and extend up the
respective front side comers of the product display space 100 for
substantially the full height of the product display space or a
portion of the height of the product display space. In the
illustrative example shown in FIG. 8, the bottom reflector 90
might, for example, be a strip having a width of about 3.5 inches,
be bent along a longitudinal line at an included angle of about 135
degrees and extend up the respective across the front bottom
surface of the product display space 100 between the side walls
thereof for an overall length commensurate with the width of the
product display space. In the illustrative example shown in FIG. 9,
the top and bottom door reflectors 96 and 98, for example, be a
strip having a width of about 1.5 inches, be bent along a
longitudinal line at an included angle of about 147 degrees and
extend up the respective across the top inside and bottom inside
surfaces of the door 40 between the sides thereof for an overall
length of about 18 inches for a typical single door.
[0043] The reflector 92 comprises an elongated member having a
multi-facet contour such as illustrated in a one-lamp embodiment in
FIG. 4 and in a two-lamp embodiment in FIG. 10. In the two-lamp
embodiment, the reflector has a first section 92A, associated with
the first lamp 80 and similar in configuration to the one-lamp
embodiment of the reflector as depicted in FIG. 4, and a second
section 92B, associated with the second lamp 80, extending
outwardly from the front edge of the first section. The reflector
92 comprises a structural support member, for example anodized
aluminum or other metal, having a polished surface as a reflective
surface or a having a reflective paint or other reflective material
coating deposited thereon as a reflective surface. The reflector 92
is positioned within the product display space 100 behind the lamp
or lamps 80 with its reflective surface on the side facing the
interior of the product display space. The length of the lamp
reflector, the number of facets and the included angles between the
various facets in the reflective surface will also depend upon the
geometry and dimensions of the product display space 100 and the
placement of the reflector with respect to the lamp or lamps 80
therein. In a conventionally sized, single door, rectangular
cabinet, cold beverage merchandiser, for example, the included
angles between adjacent facets would typically fall in the range of
about 90 to about 170 degrees.
[0044] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the embodiment as illustrated in the
drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that
various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
claims. For example, in a display merchandiser having a vertically
extending lamp disposed along one side of the product display space
at the front thereof, the first reflector would be disposed in the
opposite front corner of the product display space to extend
vertically along that side opposite the lamp. Additional reflectors
could be disposed along the upper front and lower front of the
product display space.
* * * * *