Display showcase for fresh merchandise, such as fresh bread, cakes and pastries

Abstract

A showcase for the sales presentation of fresh merchandise, preferably fresh bread and/or cakes and pastries, includes a substantially box-like chamber for receiving the merchandise. The chamber is accessible from the outside via closing elements actuated via doors, hinged flap-type doors or the like. The showcase includes at least one air inlet for at least one externally generated cooled current of circulating air, and at least one air outlet for discharging the circulating air from the chamber receiving the merchandise. At least one lamp generating light in the merchandise-receiving chamber is also included. Each lamp has a closed housing with at least partly transparent housing walls. A predetermined area of the housing walls of at least one of the lamps has a breakthrough that is open toward the merchandise-receiving chamber. The interior of each housing having the breakthrough participates at least partly in the formation of the air outlet system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Application No. 100 48 612.6, filed Sep. 30, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a presentation showcase, specifically a sales presentation showcase for fresh merchandise, preferably fresh bread and/or cakes and pastries. The showcase includes a substantially box-like chamber for receiving the merchandise. The box-like chamber is accessible from the outside via actuated closing elements such as doors, for example hinged or flap doors. The chamber has at least one air inlet for at least one externally generated, cooled flow of circulating air, as well as at least one air outlet for discharging the circulating air from the chamber receiving the merchandise. The chamber also is equipped with at least one lamp which generates light in the chamber receiving the merchandise.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] With showcases serving for sales presentations, the side of the showcase facing the customer standing in front of the showcase can be referred to as the customer side, and the opposite side, where the sales personnel employed in the retail store is working, can be referred to as the service side.

[0006] These showcases have a box-like chamber receiving the merchandise with a front wall made of glass on the customer side, so that the customer can view and select the displayed merchandise.

[0007] Intermediate or inserted trays divide the chamber receiving the merchandise into shelves on which the merchandise can be placed. Each shelf is closed by an associated closing element near a rear wall and thus is closed from the service side. When a sales person releases a closing element, merchandise can be removed from the opened merchandise shelf. Like the front wall, the back wall with its closing elements is usefully made of a transparent material, which makes it easier for the salesperson to access the merchandise selected by the customer.

[0008] After the merchandise has been removed, the opened merchandise shelf and thus the chamber receiving the merchandise are closed again to form a box-like chamber that is closed on all sides. The interior of the chamber receiving the merchandise is cooled so that the displayed merchandise is kept fresh. Cooled air is blown into the chamber receiving the merchandise via an air inlet for that purpose. The cooled air blown into the chamber is aspirated again via an air outlet. A continuous circulation of air is consequently produced in the form of a circulating flow of air. The circulating air enters the chamber receiving the merchandise at a low starting temperature. The exhaust air flowing from the chamber receiving the merchandise via its air outlet has a higher temperature as compared to the inlet temperature because the air has been warmed up in its course from the air inlet to the air outlet.

[0009] This warming of the air results, for example, from the exchange of air occurring when the closing elements are open. This exchange is intrinsically undesirable as it permits warm air to enter from the environment into the chamber with the merchandise. An infusion of heat takes place via the walls of the chamber receiving the merchandise as well.

[0010] It is therefore important that the interior of the merchandise-receiving chamber of such showcases be maintained at a cool temperature that is as constant as possible. The energy required for generating the cooled air represents a not inconsiderable cost factor for the retailer selling the displayed merchandise, who often also operates a number of such showcases at the same time.

[0011] The invention is based on the problem of lowering for a showcase the current operating costs, and especially the costs for the cooling system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The problem is solved by a showcase according to the invention. The showcase has a substantially box-like chamber for receiving merchandise, at least one air inlet for at least one externally generated, cooled current of air, at least one air outlet for discharging the circulating air from the chamber, and at least one lamp which generates light in the chamber. Each lamp in the chamber includes a closed housing with at least partly transparent housing walls. A predetermined area of the housing walls of at least one of the lamps includes at least one breakthrough open toward the chamber receiving the merchandise. The interior of each housing including the breakthrough at least partly participates in the formation of the air outlet. Additional advantageous features of the showcase as defined by the invention are specified below.

[0013] Showcases of the type specified above are usually equipped with lamps for providing the interior of the showcase with bright and uniform lighting, so that particularly the merchandise displayed on the individual merchandise shelves is presented in an optimal manner.

[0014] Lamps are generators of heat which, because of their arrangement in the chamber receiving the merchandise, increase the requirement with respect to cooling capacity that has to be made available.

[0015] Temperature sensors that act on the external refrigeration system may be present in the merchandise-receiving chamber. If so, the required higher cooling capacity may result in temperatures that fall short of the dew point. Condensation water and even ice may form, especially around the air inlet. Furthermore, the transparent walls of the chamber receiving the merchandise may fog and thus become opaque. Such drawbacks are avoided in connection with a showcase implementing the measures as defined by the invention because the required cooling capacity can be kept low by switching off the heat generated by the lamps. The lamps have encapsulated housings that serve for discharging exhaust air from the chamber receiving the merchandise. Each lamp housing thus is a component of an air-conducting channel that participates in the formation of the air outlet. Cooled air is sucked from the chamber receiving the merchandise into the housings of the lamps and, after passing through the lamp housings via air channels or shafts, air ducts or the like flow paths participating in the formation of an air outlet system, is then exhausted. The overall air outlet system therefore comprises the air shafts, air ducts and the like air flow paths associated therewith, and finally also the interior of the encapsulated housing of the lamps. This system is associated on the suction side with an external refrigeration system equipped, for example with blowers, where the air aspirated from the overall air outlet system of the chamber receiving the merchandise is cooled and subsequently recycled into the air inlet of the chamber receiving the merchandise.

[0016] Thus the lamps are cooled in an advantageous manner, so that the heat liberated in the conversion of the electrical energy into light is eliminated or dissipated still in the site of its origin within the housings of the lamps. The housings of the lamps as such can no longer heat up because a current of relatively cooler air constantly flows from the chamber receiving the merchandise into and through the housings, sweeping the light sources installed in such housings.

[0017] Furthermore, disadvantageous heat radiation acting particularly on heat-sensitive merchandise displayed directly under the lamps will no longer occur with the showcase as defined by the invention either.

[0018] The lamp housings form air flow channels that are closed within themselves. Cooled air from the chamber receiving the merchandise, and thus from the environment of the housing, can enter each housing through openings, slots, breakthroughs or the like open areas or windows in a housing wall. The open areas also may be covered with inserted screens. These open areas may also be equipped with adjustment elements, for example movable closing blinds, sliding slot gates or the like, for setting the width of the opening.

[0019] The lamp housings are installed in the chamber receiving the merchandise so that a suction or exhaust air duct associated with the air outlet system is connected in at least one site to the interior of the respective lamp housing. With a housing present in the form of a long-stretching hollow profile made of metal or plastic that extends below an intermediate shelf from one side wall of the chamber receiving the merchandise to the other side wall of such chamber, the site of connection to a suction or exhaust air duct is located at one end or on one face side of the hollow profile. Both ends or both face sides of each lamp housing are preferably connected to the associated side wall, so that several lamp housings are disposed one on top of the other and approximately parallel with each other. These housings are connected with their ends or face sides in an air-conducting manner to a suction or exhaust air duct present in the side wall, such suction or exhaust air duct extending transversely in relation to the shelves formed in the chamber receiving the merchandise by a number of intermediate trays.

[0020] With a lamp housing present in the form of a long-stretching hollow profile, the breakthrough via which air can flow into the lamp housing from the outside is arranged in about the center based on the longitudinal expanse. If both ends of the long-stretching housing are connected to an air duct serving as part of the air outlet system, a current of cool air is produced in the lamp housing, flowing from the center to the respective ends or face sides. The current of air absorbs heat along its course to the ends of the lamp housing and finally dissipates such heat. This means that the lamp is continually cooled.

[0021] It is, of course, possible also to have several breakthroughs through which air can enter distributed over the length of a lamp housing. In this case, however, the breakthroughs have to be arranged so as to prevent dead areas without air flow from forming in the lamp housing. This can be accomplished, for example by providing the breakthroughs with different widths. If the breakthrough are, for example slots, the width of a slot located in the center of the lamp housing may be greater, or the widths of the slots may gradually decrease towards the ends of the lamp housing.

[0022] The air ducts to which the lamp housings—present again in the form of hollow profiles—are connected are integrated in the side walls of the showcase. Each air duct may have the form of a shaft that is inserted in an insulating layer of the side wall. In this way, the air ducts are received or integrated in the associated side wall. Structural components such as, for example sections serving as air ducts may also be installed in the respective side wall or in its insulation material.

[0023] The showcase as defined by the invention comprises a cabinet-like substructure (or base) supporting the chamber receiving the merchandise. The equipment for producing a cooling current of circulating air is arranged in the substructure, whereby the bottom of the chamber receiving the merchandise serves at the same time as a cover for the substructure or base, such cover comprising openings serving as the air inlet and air outlet of the chamber receiving the merchandise. The openings are the mouths (or orifices) of associated air ducts located on the side of the substructure, the air ducts being associated with the suction or pressure side of the system for generating the cooled current of circulating air.

[0024] The showcase can be supplied in the form of a construction set including prefabricated components. The components are assembled on the site of installation to form a showcase that is ready to be operated. However, the substructure may be a construction unit that is completely prefabricated as well, including all installations, and only needs to be set up on the site of installation of the showcase. The chamber receiving the merchandise, can be delivered as a finished unit as well. When the substructure is prefabricated, assembly of the showcase requires only setting up the chamber on the base, installing connections between the construction units, for example screw connections, and connecting electrical cables, for example for the lamps, to each other in the sites of separation provided and prepared for these purposes.

[0025] The bottom of the chamber receiving the merchandise forms at the same time a cover of the substructure that includes openings serving as air inlets and outlets. The openings are the orifices of associated air ducts on the side of the base. In this way, optimal measures have been implemented, to begin with, for distributing in the merchandise-receiving chamber cooled air admitted via the air inlet as such air is flowing in, and also for discharging such air from the chamber after the air has circulated through the chamber.

[0026] A first opening for an air inlet has been positioned in this connection in an area that is located in the area of transition between the bottom of the chamber receiving the merchandise, and a front wall defining the chamber for receiving the merchandise on its front customer side. The first opening merges there into a preferably slot-like widening and extends over the entire length of the chamber receiving the merchandise, whereby the length of the chamber approximately corresponds with the width of the showcase.

[0027] The cool air entering the chamber for receiving the merchandise via the slot-like widening forms a veil of air that flows into the chamber upwards and branches out due to free vortices, and diffuses in the chamber for receiving the merchandise. The front walls of showcases are set slanted in most cases, i.e. the chamber receiving the merchandise is deeper in its bottom than in its top zone. This causes the flow of cooled air entering via the air inlet to produce a motion or circulation of air that is directed from the back wall opposing the front wall downwards towards the bottom, where at least one second opening for an air outlet is located. The second opening has the form of a slot as well and is located in the area of transition between the bottom of the merchandise-receiving chamber and a back wall which defines the back or serving side of the chamber. The second opening for the air outlet advantageously extends over almost the entire length of the chamber receiving the merchandise, and thus approximately across the width of the showcase as well.

[0028] In addition to the second opening for an air outlet located in the bottom, the air is discharged according to the invention also via the housings of the lamps. Thus part of the air is discharged from the chamber receiving the merchandise via the second opening within the vicinity of the bottom in front of the back wall, and part of the air via the housings of the lamps.

[0029] In order to achieve balanced flow conditions, the openings located in the bottom area in front of the back wall and/or the front wall may be adjustable. Conceivable is, for example a change in the width of the opening of the air outlet, for example by means of adjusting slides or the like, as they are employed also in air-conditioning and ventilation systems.

[0030] The box-like chamber for receiving the merchandise preferably comprises a frame construction assembled from sections, in particular from plastic sections, preferably from plastic hollow sections. The front wall, the back wall, the side walls as well as a top shelf plate and the lower bottom are inserted in the free shelf receptacles of this frame construction. This clear and open construction provides the merchandise-receiving chamber with an attractive appearance without any loss of strength or stability. A special advantage is also gained in that the sections of the frame construction may be hollow tubes that in turn participate at least partly in the formation of air outlets and in the discharge of circulating air into the active range of an air duct for exhausting the circulating air. All sections may participate in the formation of air outlets. However, it is conceivable also that only a predetermined part of the sections or certain segments of the sections participate in the formation of the overall air outlet system.

[0031] The bottom of the chamber for receiving the merchandise forms at the same time a cover closing the substructure (or base) on the top side. The cover is advantageously a double-walled structural board component with an inner insulation layer that prevents heat generated by the equipment installed in the base for cooling the circulating air, from radiating into the chamber for receiving the merchandise.

[0032] The surface of the cover facing the chamber for receiving the merchandise is advantageously deepened in the way of a trough (or tub), whereby such trough-like deepening is covered by a cover board and ends with a predetermined spacing from the front and back walls, forming slot-like first and second openings for the air inlet and outlet system.

[0033] The air-cooling equipment is installed in the substructure in about the center of the showcase; however, it may be offset more or less in the direction of the end sides of the showcase as well. The air ducts associated with the cooling equipment feed into the trough-like recess or well. A metal sheet partition closes the orifice located below the cover, which is associated with an air duct which in turn is associated with an air outlet on the suction side, from the orifice of an air duct associated with an air inlet on the pressure side.

[0034] This embodiment offers the substantial advantage that the cooled air flowing from the air duct associated with the air inlet first flows into the trough-like recess or well and is almost completely distributed over the entire area of the cover before it exits from the trough-like recess and enters the merchandise-receiving chamber via the first widened slot of the opening located in front of the front wall. With this distribution of the cooled air flowing from the air duct into the trough-like well, the cover is at the same time cooled from the bottom. In this way, the merchandise-receiving chamber advantageously has a constantly cooled bottom.

[0035] Because of the spacing between the back wall and the front wall, the metal sheet partition is arranged offset, which enlarges the cooled surface area of the bottom of the chamber receiving the merchandise. Above the slot-shaped widenings of the first and second openings, it is possible also to arrange baffle elements for the air flowing in or out, which can be used for controlling and adjusting the flow of air and may at the same time serve as “crumb screens” that prevent parts of the displayed merchandise from inadvertently dropping down and into the air ducts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0037] In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a sectional side view of a showcase in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the showcase according to FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the showcase with schematically drawn flow paths of the circulating cooling air.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a presentation showcase particularly suitable for the sales presentation of fresh merchandise, preferably fresh bread and/or cakes and pastries. The showcase includes a cabinet-like substructure o r base 1 supporting a merchandise-receiving chamber 2 set up on top. Arranged in substructure is equipment for generating a circulation of cooled air, including a condenser or refrigerating machine 3. The low-temperature cooling medium produced by the refrigeration machine 3 is circulated through a heat exchanger 4. The heat exchanger 4 is installed in a chamber 5 of showcase substructure 1. Chamber 5 is divided by a sheet metal partition 6 which separates air shafts 7 and 8 located on the side of the substructure from each other. In a lower area, sheet metal partition 6 has passage windows 9, into which electrical ventilators or fans 10 are inserted.

[0042] Substructure 1 is closed on the top side by a cover 11. Cover 11 is a double-walled structural board component with an inner insulating layer 12.

[0043] Cover 11 forms at the same time the bottom of merchandise-receiving chamber 2. Merchandise-receiving chamber 2 has the shape of a box and includes a frame construction assembled from the profiles or sections 13, 13′, 13″ and 13′″. As shown in FIG. 3, chamber 2 includes a front wall 14, a back wall 15, side walls 16 and 16′ as well as a top shelf plate or board 17 and a lower bottom which forms cover 11 of substructure 1. Each component is inserted into the free frame compartments of the frame construction.

[0044] Front wall 14 is located on the customer side of the showcase, and back wall 15 is located on the service side of the showcase.

[0045] Front wall 14 is formed by a glass panel that is hinged at its lower edge on the right outer edge of cover 11. The front wall can be folded down for cleaning purposes.

[0046] The interior space of merchandise-receiving chamber 2 is divided by the inserted trays 18, 18′ and 18″ to form merchandise shelves. A tablet or several tablets with merchandise to be displayed can be placed on each inserted tray.

[0047] Each merchandise tray or each level formed by an inserted tray 18, 18′, 18″ is accessible from the service side. Back wall 15 includes a plurality of closing elements 19, 19′, 19″ and 19′″, which are set one on top of the other like blinds in order to form the closed back wall 15.

[0048] Each closing element takes the form of a flap-type folding door (or hinged door) supported upright in a transverse profile or section 20, 20′, 20″ and 20′″. Similar to a lamella or individual plates, each flap closes an associated merchandise tray of merchandise-receiving chamber 2. In this way, the closing elements can be actuated individually by folding them out toward the service side into the horizontal positions indicated by dashed lines. The tray holding the desired merchandise is pulled out from the associated inserted tray 18, 18′, 18″. The folded-down closing element 19, 19′, 19″ or 19′″ provide support for the corresponding extended tray. After the desired merchandise has been removed, the tray is pushed back onto the inserted bottom and the respective merchandise tray of merchandise-receiving chamber 2 is closed again by folding the closing element back.

[0049] An elongated lamp 21 or 21′ to 21′″ extends under each inserted tray 18, 18′, 18″ in the longitudinal direction of the showcase.

[0050] Lamp 21′″ is positioned in this connection under upper shelf board 17 of merchandise-receiving chamber 2.

[0051] Each lamp 21 to 21′″ includes a housing having at least partly transparent housing walls 22, 22′, 22″ and 22′″, respectively. In this way, a respective light source 23, 23′, 23″ and 23′″ installed in the housing fully illuminates an associated merchandise tablet in merchandise-receiving chamber 2 through the walls of the housing. Each merchandise tablet or tray is located below a respective inserted tray 18, 18′, 18″, or above the top shelf board 17. The housing walls are components of the housing of each lamp 21 to 21′″. In the present embodiment, the housing includes a hollow tube, which is open at least on one of its end sides. This tube feeds into an air duct 24 serving for discharging circulating air. This is indicated here by the dashed drilled holes (or bores) 25 to 25′″, which are located at an end or front side of a respective lamp 21 to 21′″ where the hollow tube housing of each lamp is connected to air duct 24. In the present case, the air duct 24 is a section or a shaft-like element that is integrated in the respective side walls 16 and 16′ laterally defining box-like chamber 2 for receiving merchandise.

[0052] In an area approximately corresponding with the center of the showcase, each housing wall 22 to 22′″ of each lamp 21 to 21′″ has a breakthrough that is open towards merchandise-receiving chamber 2.

[0053] One or more ventilators 10 cause air to be sucked from merchandise-receiving chamber 2 via air shaft 7 in the direction indicated by the drawn arrows. The ventilator forces the aspirated air into substructure chamber 5 and through heat exchanger 4 installed in that chamber. The air is cooled as it passes through heat exchanger 4, and is recycled into merchandise-receiving chamber 2.

[0054] The bottom of merchandise-receiving chamber 2 has openings 26, 27 which thus serve as an air outlet or inlet, as they are orifices of the associated air shafts 7 and 8 on the side of substructure 1.

[0055] The surface of cover 11 facing merchandise-receiving chamber 2 has a trough-like recess or well 28 that is covered with a cover board 29. The cover board ends with a predetermined spacing in front of front wall 14 and in front of back wall 15, thereby forming the widened slots 30 and 31 of opening 26 and 27 for letting air in and out.

[0056] Thus air shafts 7, 8 feed into the trough-like well. Air shaft 7 has opening 26 associated with the air outlet on the suction side and air shaft 8 has opening 27 associated with the air inlet on the pressure side. The mouth area or orifice of air shaft 7 is located below cover board 29. Sheet metal partition 6 separates this mouth area on the suction side from the mouth area of an air shaft 8 on the pressure side. The widened slots extend over the entire length of the merchandise-receiving chamber and thus approximately across the width of the showcase.

[0057] Each air duct integrated in a respective side wall 16 or 16′ is connected with top section 13′ in an air-conducting manner. Section 13′, like sections 13 and 13′″ connected therewith in an air-conducting manner, is a hollow tube through which air can flow. Lower section 13′″ has its end portion facing back wall 15, and extends near the tub-like recess or wall and thus in the vicinity of widened slots 30, 31, or aspirating air shaft 7.

[0058] Air flows from the interior of merchandise-receiving chamber 2 via lamps 21 to 21′, and subsequently through air duct 24 and sections 13′, 13 and 13′″. The flowing air exits from section 13′″ near aspirating air duct 7. The air flows through the hollow spaces (or cavities) enclosed by housing walls 22 to 22′″ of lamps 21 to 21′″. On its way, the air absorbs the heat generated by light sources 23 to 23′″ and carries it off. The showcase is in this way equipped with an advantageous lamp cooling system.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the showcase according to FIG. 1. Identical components are denoted by the same reference symbols. FIG. 2 in particular illustrates the center arrangement of the breakthroughs 32 to 32′″ in the lamps 21 to 21′″, especially in their housing walls. Each breakthrough may be a simple slot. Screen-like perforations are entirely possible as well.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the showcase for illustrating the currents of air cooling merchandise-receiving chamber 2.

[0061] A blower causes air to flow from the equipment for generating cooled circulating air accommodated in substructure 1. The air flows in a constant current in the direction of the arrow 33 from the bottom against the cover board 29 of the trough-like well (not shown here in detail) in cover 11 of the substructure. Cover 11 is at the same time the bottom of chamber 2 receiving the merchandise. The cooled air is distributed through the trough-like well under cover board 29 and exits via a widened slot 31 between front wall 14 and a baffle plate 32, which is located on the front edge of cover board 29 covering the trough-like well. A veil of cooled air is formed that flows upwards in front of the front wall and is distributed in merchandise-receiving chamber 2. Part of the air present in merchandise-receiving chamber 2 enters in the cavities enclosed by the lamp housing walls via breakthroughs 32 to 32′″ in the housings of lamps. In each lamp, the entered air flows in the direction indicated by the arrows 34 to 34′″ to the end and front sides of the lamps, thereby cooling the interior of the lamp. From the lamps, the current of air feeds into and changes in respective air ducts 24 and 24′, and then flows back to the back wall via sections 13′, 13 and 13″ each framing a side wall, and at the back wall. The air particularly flows into the vicinity of widened slot 30 of opening 26, into which aspirating air shaft 7 is feeding. This completes the circulation of the cooling current of air through a path including the encapsulated lamps.

[0062] While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A presentation showcase for fresh food merchandise, comprising

(a) a closable chamber for receiving and allowing access to merchandise;

(b) at least one air inlet provided in said chamber for admitting at least one externally generated, cooled current of air;

(c) at least one air outlet provided in said chamber for discharging circulating air from said chamber; and

(d) at least one lamp mounted in the chamber for generating light within the chamber, said at least one lamp comprising a closed housing having an interior and at least partially transparent housing walls provided with at least one breakthrough open toward the chamber in a predetermined area of the housing walls;

wherein the interior of said housing with said at least one breakthrough is fluidly connected to said at least one air outlet to assist in the discharge of circulating air from said chamber.

2. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said air outlet comprises an air duct for discharging circulating air and said housing of each of the at least one lamps comprises a tube having at least an end portion permitting air to feed into said air duct.

3. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises side walls, at least one of said side walls having an air duct for discharging circulating air from said chamber.

4. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said housing of each of the at least one lamps comprises a tube having a length and each of said at least one breakthrough in the housing of said at least one lamp is arranged in a center portion with respect to the length of the tube.

5. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises a cabinet substructure housing equipment for generating a cooled current of circulating air and a bottom forming a cover for the substructure, wherein said at least one air inlet and said at least one air outlet comprise openings in said cover and wherein the showcase further comprises air shafts associated with the openings on a side of the substructure, said openings feeding into the associated air shafts.

6. The showcase according to claim 5 further comprising a first widened slot extending lengthwise over said chamber, wherein said openings in said cover comprise a first opening feeding into the first widened slot.

7. The showcase according to claim 6 wherein said chamber comprises a front wall and said first widened slot is arranged in an area of transition between the bottom and the front wall of said chamber.

8. The showcase according to claim 6 further comprising a second widened slot extending lengthwise over said chamber, wherein said openings in said cover comprise a second opening forming an air outlet feeding into the second widened slot.

9. The showcase according to claim 8 wherein said chamber comprises a back wall and said second widened slot is arranged in an area of transition between the bottom and the back wall of the chamber.

10. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises a frame assembled from sections forming a plurality of compartments, said chamber having a front wall, a back wall, side walls, a top shelf board and a lower bottom cover inserted in said compartments.

11. The showcase according to claim 10 further comprising an air shaft fluidly connected to said at least one air outlet for discharge of circulating air from said chamber and wherein said sections comprise tubes fluidly connected to said air shaft to assist in the discharge of partly circulating air.

12. The showcase according to claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises a substructure and a bottom forming a cover closing the substructure at a top side of the substructure.

13. The showcase according to claim 12 wherein said cover comprises a double-walled structural component with an inner insulating layer.

14. The showcase according to claim 12 wherein the cover has a surface facing the chamber and a trough formed in said surface.

15. The showcase according to claim 14 further comprising a cover board covering the trough and extending in the chamber, wherein said chamber comprises a front wall and a back wall and said cover board is positioned with a predetermined spacing from the front of the front wall and the front of the back wall to form first and second widened slots forming said at least one air inlet and said at least one air outlet.

16. The showcase according to claim 15 further comprising a first air-conducting shaft associated with said at least one air outlet on a suction side of a circulating air system and a second air-conducting shaft associated with said at least one air inlet on a pressure side of the circulating air system, said air-conducting shafts feeding into said trough and a sheet metal partition separating a mouth portion of said first air-conducting shaft located below the cover board from a mouth portion of said second air-conducting shaft.