Abstract: A multi-pane insulated glass door assembly in which the forward pane of the glass unit extends outwardly a greater distance than the panes rearwardly thereof and is supported by an outer metal frame having a relatively narrow forwardly extending perimeter portion adjacent the peripheral edge of the forward glass pane so as to provide the door with a modernistic, substantially all glass front appearance. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer metal frame has a rear portion extending inwardly behind the forward glass pane and a moulding is interposed between the forwardly extending perimeter portion of the metal frame and the peripheral edge of the forward glass pane to provide a finished appearance. A dark ink is affixed to an inside peripheral face of the forward glass pane for masking the peripheral components of the door assembly from sight through the forward glass pane from the front side thereof.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet light fixture assembly comprising an elongated base with an electrical socket at each end thereof, an elongated bulb supported between the sockets, and a clear plastic tubular sleeve concentrically supported about the bulb for defining an air insulating space therebetween. A plurality of stabilizing members are mounted on the base member intermediate the ends of the tubular sleeve for engaging the tubular sleeve and preventing relative movement between the sleeve and bulb for enabling the sleeve to protect the bulb from damaging impact of forces striking the exterior of the sleeve. The stabilizing members each have a base fixed to the light fixture base member and an outwardly extending sleeve engaging arm mounted for pivotal movement between an operative tubular sleeve engaging and retaining position and a retracted position out of engagement with the tubular sleeve for permitting removal of the sleeve and bulb from the fixture.

Abstract: A multi-pane insulated glass door assembly in which the forward pane of the glass unit extends outwardly a greater than the panes rearwardly thereof and is supported by an outer metal frame having a relatively narrow forwardly extending perimeter portion adjacent the peripheral edge of the forward glass pane so as to provide the door with a modernistic, substantially all glass front appearance. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer metal frame has a rear portion extending inwardly behind the forward glass pane and a moulding is interposed between the forwardly extending perimeter portion of the metal frame and the peripheral edge of the forward glass pane to provide a finished appearance. A dark ink is affixed to an inside peripheral face of the forward glass pane for masking the peripheral components of the door assembly from sight through the forward glass pane from the front side thereof.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly mountable in an opening of a refrigerator cabinet including a door mounting cabinet frame having a front wall positionable against the cabinet adjacent the opening and a plurality of insulated glass doors mounted in the cabinet frame. The insulated glass doors each include an insulated glass unit and a door frame surrounding and supporting the periphery of the glass unit. Decorative trim panels, preferably made of plastic, are detachably mounted on the door and cabinet frames in overlapping relation to the front walls thereof for providing the desired finished appearance for the door assembly, which may be color coordinated with the decor of the room or commercial establishment in which the refrigerator is installed.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly having a door mounting frame with at least one mullion that includes a primary metallic structural frame member, a plastic insulating plate positioned adjacent a rear side of the primary structural frame member, a channel shaped frame member having forwardly directed legs engageable with the insulating plate, and fasteners interconnecting the first and channel shaped frame members with the insulating plate interposed therebetween. A magnetically attractable sealing plate is mounted forwardly on the mullion for defining a stop and sealing surface for the swinging ends of pivotably mounted doors. The mullion includes an insulating and sealing plate retaining assembly which supports the sealing plate in thermally isolated relation to the frame members and defines air insulating spaces adjacent the primary structural frame member.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly having a thermally efficient door mounting frame which includes a forward structural frame member mounted within the opening of a refrigerator cabinet for providing an attractive finished appearance for the frame, a separate rear structural frame member for establishing a door closure sealing surface against which doors of the assembly close and which may be made of less expensive and/or less heat conductive material than the forward structural frame member, and a flexible plastic barrier sheet interposed between the forward and rear structural members for thermally insulating the structural members from each other. Stitch like connections are formed from adjacent connecting flanges of the forward and rear structural members together without substantial contact therebetween. Various magnetically attractable sealing strip arrangements are disclosed that are adapted for use in low temperature refrigeration units without condensation or frost build up.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly having a door mounting frame with at least one mullion that includes a metallic structural frame member and a magnetically attractable sealing plate mounted forwardly on the mullion for defining a stop and sealing surface for the swinging ends of pivotably mounted doors. The mullion includes an insulating and sealing plate retaining assembly which supports the sealing plate in thermally isolated relation to the structural member and which defines an air insulating space completely about the structural frame member. The illustrated insulating and sealing plate retaining assembly includes a plastic channel shaped member having a front wall disposed in closely adjacent relation to a front side of the structural frame member and side walls extending in rearwardly directed fashion therefrom. A cover plate is releasably engagable with the rearwardly extending side walls for completely encapsulating the structural frame member.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly having a thermally efficient door mounting frame which includes a forward structural frame member mounted within the opening of a refrigerator cabinet for providing an attractive finished appearance for the frame, a separate rear structural frame member for establishing a door closure sealing surface against which doors of the assembly close and which may be made of less expensive and/or less heat conductive material than the forward structural frame member, and a flexible plastic barrier sheet interposed between the forward and rear structural members for thermally insulating the structural members from each other. Stitch like connections are formed from adjacent connecting flanges of the forward and rear structural members for rigidly coupling the structural members together without substantial contact therebetween.

Abstract: An air cooler having coolant tubes, a drain, a pair of coolant tube supports and a defroster for preventing condensate in the drain from freezing. The coolant tube supports include a vertical plate provided with a pair of horizontally spaced notches for supporting the defroster. The notches open to the lower edge of the plate and converge towards one another.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly comprising a plurality of insulated doors each mounted for pivotal swinging movement about a vertical axis. The insulated doors each comprise a plurality of glass panes disposed in side-by-side relation with a structural frame at least partially interposed and contained between the glass panes for maintaining the panes in parallel relation with the sealed air space therebetween and for supporting the door for swinging opening and closing movement, without the necessity for a separate outer load carrying support frame as conventionally required. Each door has a trim portion formed of a structural foam that has insulating qualities so as to eliminate the necessity for electrical heating of the door for condensation control, while at the same time enhancing the structural rigidity of the door assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly comprising a plurality of insulated glass doors mounted in a cabinet frame for relative movement. The glass doors each includes an insulated glass unit having a plurality of glass panes disposed in side-by-side relation, a metal spacer interposed between adjacent of the panes for maintaining the panes in parallel relation with an air space therebetween, and a sealant about the periphery of the spacer for sealing the air space from the outside environment. An outer metal frame is disposed about the periphery of the glass unit, and rigid, non-metallic barrier members are interposed between the outer metal frame and the glass unit for retaining the glass unit within the outer metal frame and for forming a thermal insulating barrier between the outer metal frame and the glass unit and between the outer metal frame and the cabinet frame.

Abstract: A door assembly describing a stationary frame having doors mounted therein for relative translational movement. Each door includes a self-closing mechanism comprising a flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other end of the tubular member for loose positioning in an active position adjacent a side of the door for urging the door in a closed position, and a self-opening means comprising a similar flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other for loose positioning in an active position adjacent an opposite side of the door for urging the door to a fully open position. The self-closing and self-opening mechanisms both are adapted to be deactivated as an incident to positioning the door to respective locations within the mounting frame.

Abstract: A door assembly describing a stationary frame having doors mounted therein for relative translational movement. Each door includes a self-closing mechanism comprising a flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other end of the tubular member for loose positioning in an active position adjacent a side of the door for urging the door in a closed position, and a self-opening means comprising a similar flexible tubular member affixed at one end to the frame and a follower secured to the other for loose positioning in an active position adjacent an opposite side of the door for urging the door to a fully open position. The self-closing and self-opening mechanisms both are adapted to be deactivated as an incident to positioning the door to respective locations within the mounting frame.

Abstract: A refrigerator door construction including a mounting frame having at least one vertical mullion disposed between side members and interconnecting upper and lower members, at least a pair of reversible doors swingably mounted in the frame in selective left- and right-hand operating directions, hinge means for mounting the doors in the frame about a hinge axis disposed along one vertical edge of each of the doors. The doors each having a rearwardly facing recess adjacent the hinge axis substantially centrally between opposite ends of the door, handle means mounted on the other vertical edge of each of the doors substantially centrally between opposite ends thereof and electrical heater means in each of the doors having a flexible cord connected at one end thereto and having plug means at the other end disposed in the recess.

Abstract: A door-operating mechanism is disclosed which is particularly suited for use with hingedly mounted swinging glass doors of a refrigerated display cabinet. The door operating mechanism includes an extensible gas spring biased toward an extended condition, and a linkage arrangement operatively interconnecting the gas spring with the door. A portion of the gas spring is movably disposed within a slot defined by the linkage arrangement such that in one position of the gas spring the door is biased toward its closed position, and in another position of the gas spring the door may be maintained in an opened position such as for stocking or maintenance of the display cabinet.

Abstract: A hold-open mechanism is disclosed which is particularly suitable for use on a self-closing door assembly for a refrigerated display cabinet. The hold-open mechanism includes a stop plate carried by the hinged door, and a hold-open spring mounted on the door frame which supports the door. In one embodiment, the hold-open spring is selectively positionable so as to accommodate normal swinging movement of the door in one position, and is adapted to releasably engage and retain the stop plate on the door in a second position so that the door is maintained opened. In another embodiment, the hold-open mechanism automatically operates to releasably retain the door in its fully opened position whenever the door is moved to that position.

Abstract: An improved adjustable mounting arrangement for mounting a glass door assembly on a door frame for a refrigerated display cabinet. The mounting arrangement includes upper and lower hinge assemblies for providing swinging movement of the door assembly relative to the door frame, with the hinge assembly accommodating adjustment of the hinge axis relative to the door frame for alignment of the door assembly in order to provide effective sealing and enhanced appearance of the display case. The hinge assemblies include upper and lower hinge brackets which are adapted to receive upper and lower hinge pins of the door assembly, the brackets being adapted to be attached to frame members of the door frame in different positions for effecting alignment of the door.

Abstract: An input control system having a sensing circuit, a switching circuit and a source of power isolated from the sensing circuit and the switching circuit. The sensing circuit includes a sensor having a variable electrical characteristic, a detector for detecting variations in that characteristic and for producing a representative output, a signal producing circuit for producing a predetermined signal in response to the detector output achieving a selected value, and coupler responsive to the predetermined signal to produce a coupling output. The switching circuit which is isolated from the sensing circuit produces a switching signal in response to the coupling signal to operate a switch for connecting an electrical load to the power source.

Abstract: A rectangular glass panel refrigerator door is provided with a mitered frame construction. The door frame has two vertical side frame members and two horizontal cross frame members. Each frame member is generally channel-shaped and has a front wall, an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall which together form a substantially U-shaped channel. The end of each frame member is angled at 45 degrees to form a miter joint with another frame member perpendicular thereto. A right angle corner brace is provided at each miter joint and has one leg lying along the inner wall of the horizontal cross frame member and another leg lying along the inner wall of the vertical frame member. Projecting outwardly from the inner wall of the vertical side frame member is a lug having a threaded aperture therein.