U.S. patent application number 13/636648 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for internal lighting for refrigerated display cabinets.
This patent application is currently assigned to Maslen Technology Australia Pty Ltd. The applicant listed for this patent is John Maslen. Invention is credited to John Maslen.
Application Number | 20130208447 13/636648 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42313459 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130208447 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maslen; John |
August 15, 2013 |
Internal Lighting for Refrigerated Display Cabinets
Abstract
Internal lighting for refrigerated display cabinets, chillers,
cold rooms or freezers, has rearwardly-directed light assemblies
incorporated in the rear faces of the vertical stiles (and/or top
and bottom rails) of the door frames of the cabinet doors to
illuminate the contents of the cabinets. The light assemblies may
be provided in recesses, grooves or channels, and may comprise
LED(s), lamps or lighting strips, connected to an electricity
supply. Door switches can de-energise the light assemblies when the
doors are open.
Inventors: |
Maslen; John; (Caloundra,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maslen; John |
Caloundra |
|
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
Maslen Technology Australia Pty
Ltd
Caloundra DC, QL
AU
|
Family ID: |
42313459 |
Appl. No.: |
13/636648 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
May 18, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2011/000583 |
371 Date: |
April 4, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/94 ; 362/126;
362/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 27/00 20130101;
A47F 3/0426 20130101; A47F 11/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/94 ; 362/126;
362/92 |
International
Class: |
F25D 27/00 20060101
F25D027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2010 |
AU |
2010100496 |
Claims
1) Internal lighting for a refrigerated display cabinet, including:
a door for the cabinet, the door having a door frame with a pair of
vertical stiles, and optionally having at least one transparent
pane mounted in the door frame; and at least one
rearwardly-directed light assembly in, or on, one or both of the
vertical stiles; the, or each, light assembly being connectable to
an energy source, and being operable to illuminate an interior
portion of the cabinet when the door is fitted to the cabinet.
2) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the door frame
is a perimeter frame, with top and bottom rails interconnecting the
vertical stiles; and at least one additional rearwardly-directed
light assembly is mounted.
3) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the, or each,
light assembly is selected from: LED(s), LCD(s), light strips,
covered dichroic- or halogen lamps, and/or other suitable lamps or
light sources.
4) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the, or each,
light assembly is connected to a door switch, which deenergizes
the, or each, light assembly, when the door is opened.
5) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is mounted in a rearwardly-directed recess,
groove or channel in a rear face of the respective vertical stile
or top rail or bottom rail.
6) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is optionally covered by a transparent panel, or
housing, which is optionally coloured and/or has pattern(s) applied
thereto to illuminate the contents of the cabinet in selected
colour(s) and/or design(s).
7) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door provided
with at least one light assembly to provide internal lighting for
the cabinet as claimed in claim 6.
8) A refrigerated display cabinet including: a cabinet body with a
cabinet frame; at least one door hingedly mounted on top and bottom
frame members of the cabinet frame, the, or each, door having a
door frame with a pair of vertical stiles, and optionally having at
least one transparent pane mounted in the door frame; and at least
one rearwardly-directed light assembly in: or on, one or both of
the vertical stiles of the, or each, door; the, or each, light
assembly being connectable to an energy source, and being operable
to illuminate an interior portion of the cabinet when the door is
in a closed position relative to the cabinet body.
9) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the, or each,
light assembly is selected from: LED(s), LCD(s), light strips,
covered dichroic- or halogen lamps, and/or other suitable lamps or
light sources.
10) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the, or each,
light assembly is connected to a door switch, which deenergizes
the, or each, light assembly, when the door is opened.
11) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the, or each,
light assembly is connected to a door switch, which deenergizes
the, or each, light assembly, when the door is opened.
12) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is mounted in a rearwardly-directed recess,
groove or channel in a rear face of the respective vertical stile
or top rail or bottom rail.
13) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is mounted in a rearwardly-directed recess,
groove or channel in a rear face of the respective vertical stile
or top rail or bottom rail.
14) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is mounted in a rearwardly-directed recess,
groove or channel in a rear face of the respective vertical stile
or top rail or bottom rail.
15) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is optionally covered by a transparent panel, or
housing, which is optionally coloured and/or has pattern(s) applied
thereto to illuminate the contents of the cabinet in selected
colour(s) and/or design(s).
16) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is optionally covered by a transparent panel, or
housing, which is optionally coloured and/or has pattern(s) applied
thereto to illuminate the contents of the cabinet in selected
colour(s) and/or design(s).
17) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is optionally covered by a transparent panel, or
housing, which is optionally coloured and/or has pattern(s) applied
thereto to illuminate the contents of the cabinet in selected
colour(s) and/or design(s).
18) Internal lighting as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the, or each,
lighting assembly is optionally covered by a transparent panel, or
housing, which is optionally coloured and/or has pattern(s) applied
thereto to illuminate the contents of the cabinet in selected
colour(s) and/or design(s).
19) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door
provided with at least one light assembly to provide internal
lighting for the cabinet as claimed in claim 1.
20) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door
provided with at least one light assembly to provide internal
lighting for the cabinet as claimed in claim 2.
21) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door
provided with at least one light assembly to provide internal
lighting for the cabinet as claimed in claim 3.
22) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door
provided with at least one light assembly to provide internal
lighting for the cabinet as claimed in claim 4.
23) A refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door
provided with at least one light assembly to provide internal
lighting for the cabinet as claimed in claim 5.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to internal lighting for refrigerated
display cabinets.
[0003] The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited
to, internal lighting for refrigerated display cabinets which have
a mullion-less door system, or which have respective mullions
provided for adjacent pairs of doors; but may also be used for
other controlled- or ambient-environmental applications, including
chillers and freezers, for the storage of foods or other
articles.
[0004] Throughout the specification, the term "refrigerated display
cabinets" shall be used to include, but not be limited to, (i)
refrigerated cabinets, chillers and freezers of the types for the
display of the refrigerated products typically sold in upright
multi-level display refrigerators and freezer cases at
supermarkets, grocery shops, fuel outlets, bottle shops, butcher
shops, fruit shops, pet-food shops and the like, together with (ii)
all other types of refrigerated cabinets, freezers, cool rooms and
freezer rooms for the (retail or wholesale) display and/or storage
of foods or other articles.
[0005] 2. Prior Art
[0006] Refrigerated products, including fresh and frozen foods, are
typically displayed in open display cabinets; or behind glass
doors, either mounted on refrigerated display cabinets, or
providing consumer access to controlled-environment rooms or
spaces.
[0007] Typically, these display cabinets can extend along the
whole, or part of, the length of the aisles and/or walls in the
supermarkets, shops or other retail or wholesale outlets.
[0008] The open display cabinets are not as energy efficient as the
display cabinets using glass doors, as heat is drawn from the
adjacent environment; but there is a resistance by many retailers
to use the display cabinets having the glass doors, as these
retailers believe the glass doors act as a "barrier" to their
customers, resulting in reduced sales. Many of the retailers prefer
the "open look" of the door-less open display cabinets; but are
seeking energy efficient alternatives thereto.
[0009] While glass doors maybe retrofitted to existing open display
cabinets, many retailers are concerned by the disruption to trading
due to the complicated installation procedures.
[0010] The glass-door display cabinets typically have a mullion
between each adjacent pair of doors; where the, or each, mullion
typically houses at least one vertical light and protective
cover(s) therefore, all of which protrude rearwardly into the
refrigerated space; further impeding a clear view, to the
consumers, of the products displayed within the display cabinets,
when viewed looking along the length of the display.
[0011] The mullions are typically arranged to provide the surfaces
of the cabinets against which the door seals (e.g. of a flexible
gasket/seal type) provides sealing engagement between each door and
its respective mullion.
[0012] The retailers must consider the balance between:
[0013] (i) the potential loss of sales by the fitting of glass
doors to the open display cabinets; against:
[0014] (ii) the reduced size and operational requirements
(including the reduced electricity (or other input energy)
consumption) for the refrigerating/freezer units used to maintain
the desired temperatures within the display cabinets fitted with
doors, where the provision of the doors minimizes the ingress of
heat from the surrounding environment into the display
cabinets.
[0015] In addition, particularly with fresh fruit and vegetables,
the air temperature and humidity within the display cabinets must
be maintained within strict control limits to ensure maximum shelf
life of the fresh foods.
[0016] The fitment of the doors, and the mullions, adds to the
difficulty in illuminating the contents in the refrigerated display
cabinets, as the quantity of light available externally from the
cabinets is reduced.
[0017] As discussed above, internal lighting may be provided in the
mullions, bit the covers therefor tend to intrude, into the
cabinets and block the "sight lines" to the contents.
[0018] Of course, in mullion-less door systems, there are no
mullions available to mount the internal lighting for the
cabinets.
[0019] Solutions to the problem proposed to date include:
[0020] a) U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,666 (Trulaske) where a light assembly
is mounted on, and spaced inwardly from, side framing members of a
door frame. A base member extends between the top and bottom
framing members to conceal the lighting from outside the
refrigerated display cabinet; and
[0021] b) EP 1 645 823 (Thermo Glass Door) has LED(s) mounted on a
sloping surface of a support which is supported by an inside edge
of a "perimetral" gasket between the spaced glass sheets of the
door. The LED(s) are located in the air gap between the glass panes
and rely on direct transmission and reflection from the inner face
of the outer-glass pane to illuminate the contents in the interior
of the display cabinet.
[0022] The arrangement of Trulaske reduces the viewing area through
the door to the interior of the display cabinet, while the Thermo
Glass Door arrangement requires the door to be disassembled to
enable replacement/maintenance of the LED(s) in the (sealed) air
gap.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0023] It is an object of the present invention to provide internal
lighting for refrigerated display cabinets (as hereinbefore
defined) which is suitable for "retro-fitting" to existing open
display cabinets and/or for installation in new refrigerated
display cabinets.
[0024] It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide
such lighting which seeks to minimize as many obstructions to the
clear view, by consumers, of the products displayed within the
refrigerated display cabinets, while still maintaining a high
degree of thermal efficiency.
[0025] It is a further preferred object of the present invention to
provide such lighting which provides effective illumination of
their displayed products, controlled operation, such as being
switched off when the door(s) are opened, and/or ease of
installation and/or maintenance.
[0026] Other preferred objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description:
[0027] In one aspect, the present invention resides in internal
lighting for a refrigerated display cabinet, including:
[0028] a door for the cabinet, the door having a door frame with a
pair of vertical stiles, and optionally having at least one
transparent pane mounted in the door frame;
[0029] at least one rearwardly-directed light assembly in, or on,
one or both of the vertical stiles; and
[0030] the, or each, light assembly being connectable to an energy
source, and being operable to illuminate an interior portion of the
cabinet when the door is fitted to the cabinet.
[0031] Preferably, the door frame is a perimeter frame, with top
and bottom rails interconnecting the vertical stiles; and
[0032] at least one additional rearwardly-directed light assembly
is mounted in, or on, the top and/or bottom rails.
[0033] Preferably, LED(s) are preferred as the light assemblies for
their compactness & low heat emission. Other suitable lighting
types e.g. LCD(s), light strips, covered dichroic- or halogen
lamps, and/or other suitable (low-heat-emitting) lamps or light
sources may be used
[0034] Preferably, the, or each, light assembly may be connected to
a door switch, which de-energizes the, or each, light assembly,
when the respective door is opened.
[0035] Preferably, the peripheral frame for the glass door is
manufactured from metal, such as aluminium or stainless steel);
plastics; fiberglass or other composite materials; or a combination
of two or more of these materials.
[0036] Preferably, the, or each, lighting assembly is mounted in a
rearwardly-directed recess, groove or channel in a rear face of the
respective vertical stile or top or bottom rail.
[0037] The, or each, lighting assembly may be covered by a
transparent panel, or housing, which may be coloured and/or have
pattern(s) applied thereto to illuminate the contents in selected
colour(s) e.g. pink for red meat and/or design(s) for improved
aesthetic display.
[0038] In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a
refrigerated display cabinet having at least one door provided with
at least one light assembly hereinbefore described.
[0039] In a third aspect, the present invention resides in a
refrigerated display cabinet including:
[0040] a cabinet body with a cabinet frame;
[0041] at least one door hingedly mounted on top and bottom frame
members of the cabinet frame, the, or each, door having a door
frame with a pair of vertical stiles, and optionally having at
least one transparent pane mounted in the door frame; and
[0042] at least one rearwardly-directed light assembly in, or on,
one or both of the vertical stiles of the, or each, door;
[0043] the, or each; light assembly being connectable to an energy
source, and being operable to illuminate an interior portion of the
cabinet when the door is in a closed position relative to the
cabinet body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred
embodiments will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0045] FIG. 1 is front elevation view of a refrigerated display
cabinet before the fitment of the doors incorporating the internal
lighting in accordance with the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a similar view of a mullion-less refrigerated
display cabinet after the (slim-line) doors have been fitted;
[0047] FIG. 3 is an isometric rear view of one of the doors;
[0048] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of Detail A of FIG. 3 on an
enlarged scale;
[0049] FIG. 5 is a similar view of Detail B;
[0050] FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the door;
[0051] FIG. 7 is a sectional top view of the door taken on line C-C
on FIG. 6;
[0052] FIG. 8 is a top view of Detail D on FIG. 7 on an enlarged
scale;
[0053] FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the door taken on line
E-E on FIG. 6; and
[0054] FIGS. 10 and 11 are side views of Details F and G,
respectively, on FIG. 9 on an enlarged scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS
[0055] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the refrigerated
display cabinet 10 has a body 11, typically of sheet metal/expanded
polystyrene foam (and/or other insulation foam)/sheet metal
construction. One or both of the metal skins can be manufactured
from stainless steel; or one or both of the sheet metal skins may
be manufactured from sheet steel or aluminium, where the exposed
face of the or each metal skin is provided with a suitable
protective and/or ascetically-appealing coated finish.
[0056] At the front of the cabinet body 11, a mullion-less cabinet
frame 12 is provided within the display cabinet 10, to enable the
mounting of the doors, incorporating the internal lighting in
accordance with the present invention, to be hereinafter
descried.
[0057] The cabinet frame 12 has, in this embodiment, top and bottom
(horizontal) frame members 13, 14, interconnected by a pair of
vertical end members 15, 16, but not by door mullions.
[0058] A plurality of shelves 17, in this example being four (4) in
number, are provided within the cabinet body 11, and may be
vertically adjustable to enable the number of shelves 17 and/or the
vertical spacings there-between to be varied.
[0059] NB: The skilled addressee will appreciate that different
numbers of shelves 17, and the vertical spacing's there-between,
may be provided along the length of the cabinet body 11 to provide
the best display configuration for the different products (e.g.
fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meats and the like)
being stored and displayed in the display cabinet 10.
[0060] FIG. 2 illustrates a similar view of the refrigerated
display cabinet 10 where, in this example, four (4) doors 20 have
been fitted to the cabinet frame 12, and where the spaces between
adjacent pairs of doors 20 are sealed by sealing members 30.
[0061] In an alternative embodiment of the refrigerated display
cabinet 10, not illustrated, the cabinet frame has continuous top
and bottom frame members which are not connect by vertical end
members or by door mullions. This embodiment may be preferred where
the display cabinet is to extend along the full length of a wall
interconnecting a pair of spaced walls; or where the doors are to
be installed in a cold room (e.g. for alcoholic beverages), where
the products on any of the shelves may be viewed and accessed by
consumers either from inside or outside the cold room.
[0062] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9, doors 20 have
"slim-line" peripheral frames 20, with slim vertical stiles 23, 24
in which the light assemblies 40, to be hereinafter described, are
mounted.
[0063] The doors 20 have a transparent pane 22 e.g. of
single-or-multi-layered glass, single-or-multi-layered plastics
materials; or a multi layered glass/plastics combination; where the
multi-layers are preferably separated by an air-gap or vacuum-gap
to minimise heat transfer to the interior of the display cabinets
10, 110.
[0064] The peripheral frame 21 for each door 20 has first and
second vertical stiles 23 and 24 interconnected by top and bottom
rails 25 and 26; and may be formed from metal, plastic, fibreglass
or other-composite construction; or a combination of two or more of
these materials (e.g. a pair of stainless steel or aluminum
extrusions which are interlocked together).
[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, each vertical stile 23, 24 is profiled
to provide a rearwardly-directed channel 27 defined by an inner
flange 28 and an inclined wall-portion 29.
[0066] A light strip 40, incorporating a plurality of LED(s) 41 (or
other lamps/light sources), is mounted in the rearwardly-directed
channel 27 of one or both of the vertical stiles 23, 24 to
illuminate the interior of the display cabinet 10 when the door 20
is closed.
[0067] By mounting the light strip 40 on the inclined wall-portion
29, the light strip will directly illuminate the interior portion
of the display cabinet rearwardly of the door 20.
[0068] As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 8, 10 and 11, the light strip 40
extends the full height of the door 20.
[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, the light strip 40 is
enclosed within a transparent cover or housing 50 which is
(preferably) releasably mounted on the rear of the vertical stile
23, 24 e.g. by suitable clips or by engagement with the profile of
the vertical stiles 23, 24.
[0070] The cover or housing is preferably formed of transparent
plastics-material, which may be coloured e.g. pink for a display
cabinet 10 for red meat and/or have a pattern incorporated in, or
placed thereon, to project an aesthetically-pleasing design onto
the contents of the display cabinet 10.
[0071] Each light strip 40 in the door 20 is connected to a door
switch 60, on the top rail 25, which will de-energize the LED(s) 41
in the light strip 40 when the door 20 is opened.
[0072] The door switch 60 may have a magnet-controlled relay which
opens when the door switch 60 moves a preset distance from the
cabinet frame 12 as the door 20 is opened; and which closes to
re-energise the LED(s) 41 when the door 20 is closed; or the relay
may be controlled by a finger 61.
[0073] By locating the interior lighting for the display cabinet 10
within the vertical stiles 23, 24 all of the illumination from each
light assembly 40 is directed into the interior of the display
cabinet 10; and additional light housings, potentially restricting
the view into the display cabinet, are not required.
[0074] The skilled addressee will appreciate that the present
invention, by employing a mullion-less door system, a maximum
viewing area is available, for the viewing of the goods within the
display cabinet 10 when the doors 20 are closed, compared to
existing refrigerated display cabinets which incorporate door
mullions to enable sealing between adjacent pairs of doors.
[0075] In addition, by recessing the lighting assemblies 40 into
the rear faces 27 of the vertical stiles 23, 24 of the peripheral
frames 21; and more particularly, if thin-profile light assemblies
such as light strips 40 incorporating LED(s) 41 are selected; then
the effective obstruction to the viewing of the contents of the
display cabinet 10 by the doors 20 is further reduced.
[0076] The skilled addressee will appreciate the internal lighting
of the present invention, employing the doors 20 hereinbefore
described, can also be applied to display cabinets where a single
mullion is provided for each pair of doors.
[0077] The skilled addressee will appreciate that the present
invention provides highly effective internal lighting for
refrigerated display cabinets 10; and where the invention can be
applied to both existing refrigerated display cabinets, by way of
"retro-fitted" installations; or as "original equipment
manufacture" (OEM) in new refrigerated display cabinets.
[0078] The skilled addressee will also appreciate that the internal
lighting can be installed to illuminate the interiors (and articles
therein) of a wide range of refrigerated- or freezer cabinets,
chillers, cool-rooms, cold-rooms, freezer-rooms, and like equipment
or installations for the display and/or storage of foods or other
goods/articles which must be kept at or below preset
temperatures.
[0079] Various changes and modifications may be made to the
embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the
present invention.
* * * * *