Frameless Door Suspension

Abstract

A refrigerator cabinet includes a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; a door mounted within the opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams mounted horizontally on the housing; and structure for pivotably mounting the door between the beams.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a door suspension and. more particularly, to a suspension for mounting a door in a refrigerator cabinet.

Refrigerator cabinets are widely used for the storage of various food and other items which must be kept cold while on display. Frequently, such cabinets have glass doors to allow persons such as consumers to view items within the cabinet. Such doors are provided as an entire assembly of door and door frame which can typically include 2-6 doors, and this assembly is mounted to the front of a cabinet housing.

The assembly of doors and door frames can be very bulky, especially if the assembly is for a cabinet having several doors and/or lighting. These bulky assemblies must be stored, shipped and assembled, which requires much space and requires the handling of very heavy articles. Further, the eventual assembly requires numerous individuals to “handle” the assemblies into place.

Clearly the need exists for an improved system.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved system for mounting doors, especially glass doors in refrigerator cabinets, which reduces the problems described above.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system which can be implemented at reduced cost.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the foregoing object and numerous related advantages have been readily attained.

According to the invention, a refrigerator cabinet is provided which comprises a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; a door mounted within the opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and means for pivotably mounting the door between the beams.

In further accordance with the invention, a method is provided for mounting a door relative to a refrigerator cabinet which method comprises the steps of providing a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and pivotably mounting a door mounted in the opening between the beams.

The system and method of the present invention allow the doors to be stored, shipped and handled separately from the frame members, thereby reducing demands for storage space, shipping costs and personnel needed for assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frameless door assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are side schematic views of the upper and lower mounting beams of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a frameless door assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the system of FIG. 4, with a lighting member attached;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 4, with several doors in an open position and several doors in a closed position;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a portion of a door having a lighting member according to the invention attached thereto;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the door of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are top views of the embodiment of FIG. 8 including an adjacent door, and showing the door in an open and a closed position, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a frameless door suspension which provides for direct mounting of doors such as all-glass doors of a refrigerator cabinet directly and individually between mounting beams positioned on the cabinet. In this manner, doors can be stored, shipped and handled individually, as opposed to in an entire assembly with frame and potentially multiple doors, thereby reducing storage space, cost, shipping and handling issues.

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 according to the invention which includes a canopy 12, a base 14 and side walls 16, which are mostly shown in FIG. 1 in dashed lines. Canopy 12, base 14 and side walls 16 define an opening 18, and the top and bottom edges of the opening are respectively defined by an upper beam 20 and a lower beam 22 which are substantially horizontally mounted to the refrigerator cabinet. Doors 24 are pivotably mounted between beams 20, 22.

In conventional systems, all intended doors as well as the entire frame structure are pre-assembled into a door and frame assembly which is large, bulky and difficult to handle. This entire pre-assembly is shipped and then must be “handled” or mounted to the front of the refrigerator case, and such a process can require substantial man-power. According to the invention, beams 20, 22 and doors 24 are handled and assembled separately which resolves the foregoing issues.

FIGS. 2 and 3a-b further illustrate beams 20, 22 according to the invention. These beams 20, 22 can be provided as separate members to be mounted to the housing, or can be formed integrally with the housing. Beams 20, 22 can advantageously be provided as extruded, roll formed, or otherwise profiled members, preferably made of a suitable metal or other acceptable material, which have a forward facing surface when installed on the refrigerator cabinet, wherein the forward facing surface defines a substantially vertical portion 26 and a substantially horizontal portion 28. These portions provide a sealing surface and a mounting surface, respectively, for doors 24. Beams 20, 22 can further advantageously be provided having curved surfaces 30 on the forward facing surfaces, and curved surface 30 advantageously serves to streamline the beam with doors 24, canopy 12 and base 14. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, upper beam 20 advantageously has a forward facing surface which is defined at its uppermost portion by curved surface 30, then by horizontal surface 28 and finally by vertical portion 26, while lower beam 22 has these surfaces and portions arranged in reverse order.

Beams 20, 22 can be mounted to the walls of the refrigerator cabinet using any known and conventional method such as crew fasteners or the like. Mounting of beams 20, 22 individually further allows for ease of assembly of the beams to the cabinet since the doors are not yet in place and therefore do not obscure any portion of the beams. Further, these beams can be provided and mounted in segments if desired.

When used as a display case for consumer goods, and in many other environments as well, it is desirable to illuminate the interior of the cabinet so that contents can readily be viewed. Thus, lighting is desirable in system 10 according to the invention. This lighting can advantageously be mounted directly to the doors, or can be mounted between the doors, for example extending between beams 20, 22 and spaced between adjacent doors. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, lighting units 32 are mounted to the back or inside surfaces of doors 24 as best shown in FIG. 2. When mounted in this configuration, power for the lighting units can advantageously be conveyed to the lighting units through wiring in the door, and through power connections between the door and beam members. In this manner, each door 24 is preferably provided with an individual lighting unit 32, and the lighting unit 32 can be connected to door 24, and then door 24 can be put into place between beams 20, 22.

The refrigerator cabinet to which beams 20, 22 are mounted does not need to have any specific structure, and thus the door suspension of the present invention can be used to fit new doors to existing cabinets, and/or in connection with newly designed units.

Beams 20, 22 can be provided of any suitable material which will be sufficient in mechanical strength to support a plurality of doors 24. Ideally, beams 20, 22 are provided of an extruded material as such process allows beams 20, 22 to be provided with the desired profile as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b with relative simplicity.

The connection between doors 24 and beams 20, 22 is advantageously a rotatable connection which allows for the door to be pivotably mounted while the beams are in position on the refrigerator cabinet. The components of one embodiment of this connection will be further described below.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein lighting units 34 are separately installed between doors 24 (not shown in FIG. 4), and are mounted directly to beams 20, 22. In this embodiment, during assembly, beams 20, 22 can be mounted to or otherwise positioned on the refrigerator cabinet, and then lighting units 34 can be installed between the beams 20, 22. Lighting units 34 in this embodiment can be spaced along beams 20, 22 at locations appropriate to allow for positioning of doors 24 between adjacent lighting units 34 as desired.

Lighting units 34 according to this embodiment of the present invention can advantageously be mounted to beams 20, 22, for example by securing to a back surface 36 thereof. Flange portions or fingers 37 of lighting units 34 can be provided to facilitate mounting to back surface 36 of beams 20, 22.

Power can be provided to lighting units 34 through any conventional connection, for example by wires passing through beams 20, 22 and insulated openings in beams 20, 22 to connections with lighting units 34 for providing current to the lighting units as desired. FIG. 5 shows a lighting unit 34 mounted between upper beam 20 and lower beam 22, without a door installed. As shown, in this embodiment, lighting unit 34 is positioned to illuminate an interior of the refrigerator cabinet. FIG. 6 shows the assembly of beams 20, 22 and lighting unit 34, this time including door 24 mounted between beams 20, 22.

FIG. 7 is a further view of system 10 according to the invention, and shows beams 20, 22 in a mounted position (albeit not showing the rest of the refrigerator cabinet), lighting units 34 mounted to beams 20, 22, and a series of doors 24 mounted between beams 20, 22 and spaced between lighting units 34. Two of the doors are shown pivoted to an open position, and two are in a closed position.

Doors 24 are advantageously mounted to beams 20, 22 using a mounting mechanism which readily allows for door 24 to be positioned at any desired location along beams 20, 22, and preferably which allows power to be delivered to same. FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 schematically illustrate one such mounting mechanism, wherein a lower mounting plate 38 is attached to horizontal portion 28 of lower beam 22. Door 24 can be provided having a hole or receptacle 40 on a lower surface thereof, while mounting plate 38 is provided with a post 42, and post 42 can be inserted into hole 40 to provide a pivot point of door 24 relative to lower beam 22. At the upper edge of door 24, a post 44 can be provided which is inserted into a hole or receptacle 46 in upper beam 20. A spring mechanism can be provided in one or the other of upper and lower post/hole assemblies to allow for sequential assembly of a door, first into one and then the other pivot point connections with beams 20, 22. In this manner, doors 24 can be pivotably connected to beams 20, 22 one at a time by one person, rather than the clumsy procedure previously required to assemble an entire frame, multiple door and lighting assembly to the front of a refrigerator cabinet. Of course, other mechanisms can be used for connecting doors 24 to beams 20, 22, and would be considered to be well within the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein lighting units 32 are mounted to the back of doors 24, it may be desirable to power such lighting units 32 through the pivot connection of the doors. In this manner, power lines can be run along the interior of beams 20, 22 and extend through the receptacle and post components of the pivot connections to provide power to wiring within the lighting units 32 as desired. This can be provided in the form of an insulated opening through beam 20, 22. An insulating insert can be positioned within the receptacle and/or post of the pivot connection for receiving such wiring.

It should be appreciated that the system of the present invention advantageously provides for a solution to the storage, shipping and handling issues encountered in connection with conventional door and door frame assemblies. Advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated with a consideration of the assembly method of the present invention.

According to the invention, the refrigerator cabinet of interest is either already present at the location of use, or is shipped there separately or together with the door and frame components of the present invention. After the cabinet is assembled, if not already incorporated into cabinet components, beams 20, 22 are attached to front edges of the canopy and base of the refrigerator cabinet. This can be done using simple fasteners or in any other manner which would be apparent to a person of skill in the art. During this step, wiring can also be provided through beams 20, 22 if needed to power lighting units 34 or the like.

The position of doors 24 can then be mapped along beams 20, 22, and suitable hardware and/or receptacles can be mounted and/or formed along beams 20, 22 at the proper locations. Any mounting holes which are needed in beams 20, 22 can also now be provided at the proper locations. Of course, the hardware and holes can also be provided on beams 20, 22 before shipping if desired.

One door at a time, doors 24 can now be installed between beams 20, 22 using the hardware and holes discussed above, with each door being positioned so that in a closed position, the surface of the door substantially seals against the vertical surface 26 of beams 20, 22 along top and bottom edges. Each door can advantageously be installed by one person if necessary. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, separate lighting units 34 can be bolted into place either before or after door installation, or alternatingly so that each door sets the proper location for the next lighting unit. Upon installation of all intended doors, assembly is complete.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, further details of one embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. According to the invention, a lighting member 50 can be provided, and mounted relative to door 24 for example as shown in FIG. 8. In this position lighting member 50 serves to illuminate an interior space of the refrigerator cabinet as desired and is nevertheless not obstructing access to within the cabinet. Lighting member 50 can advantageously be provided having a mounting frame 52 including fastening structure 54 for fastening relative to door 24, and further having a sealing surface 56 for sealing against the surface of an adjacent door 24a as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Mounting frame 52 can be provided as a simple plate or other structure having a door facing surface 58 and an interior facing surface 60. A light 62 can be mounted to interior facing surface 60, while fastening structure 54 in this embodiment is positioned on door facing surface 58 and includes a conventional fastener 64 for securing mounting frame 52 relative to door 24. Also in this embodiment, sealing surface 56 is provided as an extension of mounting frame 52 which extends to overlap with an edge of an adjacent door 24a as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Positioning of adjacent door 24a in this manner serves to define a vertical sealing surface for adjacent door 24a which does not require the complete frame which is conventionally used. In this regard, it is noted that particularly advantageous positioning involves sealing surface 56 extending away from door 24 in an opposite direction with respect to the pivot point of the door. That is, door 24 extends from the pivot point (defined by hole 40 and post 42) in one direction, and sealing surface 56 extends from the pivot point in an opposite direction with respect to door 24.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show system 10 according to the invention with door 24 open in FIG. 10 and closed in FIG. 11. As shown, when door 24 is opened, sealing surface 56 is pivoted away from an adjacent door 24a, and pivoted back into place when door 24 is closed.

In similar fashion, lighting units 34 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 can also have similar structure to that described in FIGS. 8-11, and can thereby provide a vertical sealing surface 56 against which an adjacent door 24a can seal.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing is a description of preferred embodiments, and that modifications to size, shape and arrangement of parts of the described embodiments would be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is therefore considered to not be limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather by the scope of claims as attached hereto.

Claims

1. A refrigerator cabinet, comprising:

a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening;

a door mounted within the opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and

means for pivotably mounting the door between the beams.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabinet has a width and the beams extend along the width.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the beams comprise a single upper beam and a single lower beam, and wherein a plurality of doors are mounted therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beams are elongate profiled members mounted to the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beams are elongate profiled members formed integrally with the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beams have an outwardly facing profile comprising a substantially vertical portion which contacts the door when the door is in a closed position, and a substantially horizontal portion, and wherein the means for pivotably mounting is defined between the door and the substantially horizontal portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises a lighting member, and wherein the means for pivotably connecting further comprises means for electrically connecting the lighting member with a power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising lighting beams mounted substantially vertically relative to the beams.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lighting member mounted relative to the door to provide light inside the refrigerator cabinet, and wherein the lighting member includes a mounting frame including fastening structure for mounting to an edge of the door, and a sealing surface extending from the mounting frame to contact an edge of an adjacent door.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the door has a pivot point with respect to the cabinet housing, and wherein the door extends from the pivot point in one direction, and the sealing surface extends from the pivot point in a direction opposite from the door.

11. A method for assembling a refrigerator cabinet, comprising the steps of:

providing a cabinet housing having a canopy, a base, and side walls which define an opening; wherein edges of the canopy and base define upper and lower boundaries of the opening, and the edges are defined by beams positioned horizontally on the housing; and

pivotably mounting a door mounted in the opening between the beams.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cabinet has a width and the beams extend along the width.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the beams comprise a single upper beam and a single lower beam, and wherein a plurality of doors are mounted therebetween.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the beams are elongate profiled members mounted to the housing.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the beams have an outwardly facing profile comprising a substantially vertical portion which contacts the door when the door is in a closed position, and a substantially horizontal portion, and wherein the means for pivotably mounting is defined between the door and the substantially horizontal portion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the door further comprises a lighting member, and wherein the means for pivotably connecting further comprises means for electrically connecting the lighting member with a power source.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mounting lighting beams to the cabinet housing between the beams and extending substantially vertically therebetween.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of positioning a lighting member relative to the door, wherein the lighting member has a mounting frame including fastening structure for mounting to an edge of the door, and a sealing surface extending from the mounting frame, and further comprising the steps of mounting an adjacent door between the beams and adjacent to the door, with the sealing surface of the lighting member positioned to contact an edge of the adjacent door.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the door has a pivot point with respect to the cabinet housing, and wherein the door extends from the pivot point in one direction, and the sealing surface extends from the pivot point in a direction opposite from the door.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing step comprises mounting the beams on the housing without the door, and wherein the step of pivotably mounting the door is carried out after the beams are mounted to the housing.