Abstract: A refrigerator door is described for a refrigerated display case. The door includes a glass unit having first and second spaced apart glass panels where the first panel has a forward facing surface and the second panel has a rearward facing surface. A spacer element extends between the first and second glass panels. A door rail element includes an external perimeter wall extending from front to back from a point adjacent the edge of the forward glass panel to a point adjacent the rearward glass panel. A second frame element wall extends between the first and second spaced apart glass panels and extends externally out of the spaced apart glass panels to the perimeter wall. The door rail element also includes a rear wall portion extending inwardly toward the center of the door from the perimeter wall and over a portion of the rearward facing surface of the second glass panel.

Abstract: Perimeter frame rails and door frames rails are described for a more thermally efficient and cost-effective display case such as for refrigerated display cases. The frames are preferably formed from cold rolled steel. A perimeter frame may include first, second and third walls defining an opening or a recess that can be closed by a contact plate. A door for a refrigerated display case may include a glass unit and a forward portion extending inwardly from a perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extends rearwardly to a groove. An insulating member insulates the door rail from the cold area and includes a portion engaging the groove. A glass door is also provided for a refrigerated display case having a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and low emissivity coatings on the inside surfaces of the first and second glass panels. One or more intermediate glass panels can also be included.

Abstract: Perimeter frame rails and door frames rails are described for a more thermally efficient and cost-effective display case such as for refrigerated display cases. The frames are preferably formed from cold rolled steel. A perimeter frame may include first, second and third walls defining an opening or a recess that can be closed by a contact plate. A door for a refrigerated display case may include a glass unit and a forward portion extending inwardly from a perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extends rearwardly to a groove. An insulating member insulates the door rail from the cold area and includes a portion engaging the groove. A glass door is also provided for a refrigerated display case having a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and low emissivity coatings on the inside surfaces of the first and second glass panels. One or more intermediate glass panels can also be included.

Abstract: A refrigerator door is described for a refrigerated display case. The door includes a glass unit having first and second spaced apart glass panels where the first panel has a forward facing surface and the second panel has a rearward facing surface. A spacer element extends between the first and second glass panels. The door relevant includes an external perimeter wall extending from front to back from a point adjacent the edge of the forward glass panel to a point adjacent the rearward glass panel. A second frame element wall extends between the first and second spaced apart glass panels and extends externally out of the spaced apart glass panels to the perimeter wall. The door rail element also includes a rear wall portion extending inwardly toward the center of the door from the perimeter wall and over a portion of the rearward facing surface of the second glass panel.

Abstract: Perimeter frame rails and door frames rails are described for a more thermally efficient and cost-effective display case such as for refrigerated display cases. The frames are preferably formed from cold rolled steel. A perimeter frame may include first, second and third walls defining an opening or a recess that can be closed by a contact plate. A door for a refrigerated display case may include a glass unit and a forward portion extending inwardly from a perimeter frame edge portion toward an edge of the forward glass pane and a first side portion extends rearwardly to a groove. An insulating member insulates the door rail from the cold area and includes a portion engaging the groove.

Abstract: A refrigerator door for a refrigerated display case includes a glass unit having first and second spaced apart glass panels where the first panel has a forward facing surface and the second panel has a rearward facing surface. A spacer element extends between the first and second glass panels. A door rail element includes an external perimeter wall extending from a point adjacent the edge of the first glass panel to a point adjacent the second glass panel. The door rail element also includes a portion which extends within the space between the first and second spaced apart glass panels and a portion which extends externally of the spaced apart glass panels to the perimeter wall. The door rail element further includes a rear wall portion extending inwardly toward the center of the door from the perimeter wall and over a portion of the rearward facing surface of the second glass panel. In one aspect, one or more of the door rail elements may be formed from a composite, for example, resin and glass fibers.

Abstract: A refrigerator door is described for a refrigerated display case. The door includes a glass unit having first and second spaced apart glass panels where the first panel has a forward facing surface and the second panel has a rearward facing surface. A spacer element extends between the first and second glass panels. The door relevant includes an external perimeter wall extending from front to back from a point adjacent the edge of the forward glass panel to a point adjacent the rearward glass panel. A second frame element wall extends between the first and second spaced apart glass panels and extends externally out of the spaced apart glass panels to the perimeter wall. The door rail element also includes a rear wall portion extending inwardly toward the center of the door from the perimeter wall and over a portion of the rearward facing surface of the second glass panel.

Abstract: A ballast can having at least one of an opening which faces in a direction other than toward the rear of the refrigeration unit in which it is mounted and a ballast mounted on the can's cover. The ballast can may include resilient members for attaching the can to a refrigeration unit frame.

Abstract: A refrigerating door construction is disclosed which includes door rail elements form one or more spacer elements between adjacent panels so that separate, discrete spacer bars may be eliminated.

Abstract: A wheel unit is disclosed for supporting a structure for movement on a track. The unit includes a rotatable wheel having a substantially flat bearing surface and supported on an axis for running on a track. A housing supports the wheel and includes a convex-shaped guide for maintaining the wheel on the track. A wheel and track combination is also disclosed wherein the wheel has a contact surface having a first dimension and supported by the housing to rotate about an axis. The track supports the housing and wheel and includes a contact surface for contacting the contact surface of the wheel and wherein the contact surface of the track has a second dimension larger than the first dimension of the contact surface on the wheel. Preferably, a guide keeps the wheel on the track while permitting the wheel to move laterally on the track.

Abstract: A ballast can having at least one of an opening which faces in a direction other than toward the rear of the refrigeration unit in which it is mounted and a ballast mounted on the can's cover. The ballast can may include resilient members for attaching the can to a refrigeration unit frame.

Abstract: A product advance mechanism is described and includes a product contact element for contacting a product and for moving so as to push the product. A track is included for supporting and guiding the product contact element as the contact element moves. A bias element biases the product contact element in a direction along the track, and a brake mechanism controls the amount of bias applied to the product element.

Abstract: A refrigerator door construction is disclosed which includes door rail elements formed from a foamed polymeric substance. At least one substantially transparent panel is supported, retained by and sealed in the door rail. Connection elements are provided for connecting the door rail elements. At least one hinge is provided for allowing pivotal movement of the door about an axis. The foam rail element may also form one or more spacer elements between adjacent panels so that separate, discrete spacer bars may be eliminated.

Abstract: A display case having shaped lighted shelves which facilitate the illumination of lighting items placed on the shelves near the front and middle of the shelves. One such shaped shelf has a curved plate or rod attached at the front of the shelf which positions items placed near the front and middle of the shelf a selected distance toward the back of the shelf. As a result, items placed near the front and middle of the shaped shelves are illuminated better by fluorescent lighting tubes, mounted inside the display case near the ends of the shelves, than items placed near the front and middle of unshaped shelves. The display case may have shaped shelves having different degrees of curvature. Alternatively, the display case may have shelves that are shaped and unshaped.

Abstract: A sliding door lock having a latch plate, which slidably engages a channel in one leg of a corner piece. The corner piece is mounted in a door frame. A stud is attached to the slider plate so that a person may grasp the stud and slide the plate up and down. The stud has internal threads. A small screw is threaded into the internal threads of the stud. The sliding door lock is used by grasping the stud, which extends through an elongated slot in the door frame, and using the stud to move the latch plate upward so that it extends past the top of the door frame. The small screw is then used to hold the latch plate in an upward position. A tool is used to thread the small screw past the end of the stud so that the end of the small screw is in frictional contact with the corner piece, thus holding the latch plate in the upward position.

Abstract: A self return mechanism for automatically closing or opening a closure, preferably having a movable door supported during movement by a door frame, the door having a braking element mounted to the top edge of the door, and a door return element. The door return element has one end coupled to the door frame structure and its other end coupled to the door and has an intermediate segment oriented to pass through the braking element and around a portion of the grooved circumference of a pulley wheel. The door return element is preferably an elastic element having an outer dimension that changes as the door moves from an opened position to a closed position. The self return mechanism controls the acceleration and deceleration of the door as it is automatically closed, returns the sliding door to its closed position when it is opened only partially, allows for easy removal and replacement of the door from the door frame structure and is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to assemble.