MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CASE

Abstract

A merchandise display case has a housing having a plurality of housing walls forming an access opening, a roller-type cover shiftable between an extended closed position extending across and substantially closing the opening and a retracted open position generally clear of the opening, and a seal engaged between the cover and at least one respective wall of the housing. The cover has a pair of opposite side edges and an end edge bridging the side edges. The seal is engaged with at least one of the edges.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a merchandise display case. More particularly this invention concerns a refrigerated display case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical refrigerated display case has a housing and having at least one roller-type cover for closing an access opening in the housing. Such a case serves for storing and displaying goods, particularly food, in retail establishments. The instant invention relates to such a case primarily used to display goods, cooled food for immediate removal by customers and, To this end, normally has an integrated refrigeration unit. Refrigerated cases for displaying goods are generally refrigerated racks, i.e. open cooling units having one or more shelves. In this manner, foods requiring long-term refrigeration are stored such that they are easily accessible to customers. Access to such refrigerated racks is generally possible via at least one access opening.

In contrast to closed refrigeration units, for example, open refrigeration units or refrigerated racks entail a constant exchange with the ambient air of the retail establishment, which is usually warmer. For this reason, the energy use of such open refrigeration units or refrigerated racks is considerably greater than the energy use for closed refrigeration units. Thus, it is common practice to increasingly use refrigerated racks whose access openings can be closed, for example, using glass revolving doors or so-called roller tops. The roller tops are used in particular when the retail outlet is not open. In contrast, glass swinging doors entail a relatively low loss of energy whenever the unit is operating.

However, this is true only when a low number of customers is observed because, when the number of customers is higher, the glass doors or glass revolving doors must be opened frequently, considerably reducing the energy efficiency of the unit. Moreover, such glass doors are associated with the disadvantage that a suction effect is observed in the region of the customer due to warm air coming in from outside. Quite independently of this fact, glass doors or even glass swinging doors represent a barrier to the customer and can disrupt sales.

In DE 102 36 212, a refrigeration unit is described that is equipped with a thermally insulated housing. Moreover, the known refrigeration unit has a thermally insulated cover formed by longitudinally displaceable thermally insulating elements adjacent one another that hang together like a roller blind. Thus, the access opening has a thermally insulating cover and may be closed with the aid of the cover.

The two hollow-element roller blinds here are guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion in grooves. The grooves are located inside the edges of the side walls facing one another and are preferably designed to run along the outer edges of the side walls. This design may provide an efficient guide for the roller blinds, but such a solution cannot be retrofitted, for example. Moreover, the known teaching according to DE 102 36 212 is aimed at replacing the flaps or even doors that have been used up to now with the roller blind, which as a result is or must be closed again after the removal of the desired food. In addition, with a plurality of display cases one adjacent one another, the problem exists that slots or gaps inevitably result between the covers. Similar problems are presented by the system of DE 39 12 903.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerated display case.

Another object is the provision of such an improved refrigerated display case that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that is of simple construction and has minimal energy losses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A merchandise display case has according to the invention a housing having a plurality of housing walls forming an access opening, a roller-type cover shiftable between an extended closed position extending across and substantially closing the opening and a retracted open position generally clear of the opening, and a seal engaged between the cover and at least one respective wall of the housing. The cover has a pair of opposite side edges and an end edge bridging the side edges. The seal is engaged with at least one of the edges.

Thus according to the invention, the gap or slot existing, for example, between the cover and the housing is closed off by the seal additionally disposed on the edge of the cover. This also applies for any gap or slot between a plurality of covers. It is actually possible for the display cases to be equipped, for example, with two or more adjacent covers adjacent one another in the longitudinal extension of the housing. Here, the two or the plurality of covers may normally be displaced transversely to the longitudinal extension of the housing. As long as the two covers are directly adjacent one another, the problem exists of closing the inevitable gap or slot resulting between the two directly adjacent covers in order to keep energy losses as low as possible.

In contrast to the prior art that generally works here with fixed rails, the invention reverts to a seal that is disposed on the edge or on one or both lateral ends (side edges) of the cover and that, as a result, moves along with the cover. This is usually the case when unrolling as well as rolling the cover up onto a shaft, for example, that accommodates the cover.

In any case, the invention dispenses in an explicit and advantageous manner with fixed rails between two adjacent covers. In addition, an edge-side rail or multiple edge-side rails may be omitted as well. In this manner, the cover may be designed to be fully retrofitted in a problem-free fashion.

At the same time, one or more edge seals ensure that any remaining gaps or slots between the adjacent covers or between the cover and the housing are reliably closed. By omitting additional rails, flexibility is improved because the access opening in the housing may be of virtually any size and, for example, does not require any division into exactly predetermined sections or compartments each having a separating rail. At the same time, the sealing effect may be improved because the seal as a rule is made of a flexible material. In this manner, the gaps or slots are optimally sealed such that energy loss is minimized.

An additional contributing factor is the fact that the roller-type cover is generally a web that is, for example, wound and unwound on a shaft. This cover may be embodied as a plastic web in the shape of a roller blind or even a plastic film. In addition to storing the roller-type cover by winding it up, it is also possible for the cover to be folded together for storage and to be unfolded for covering the access opening. As long as sufficient space is available, this step may be omitted entirely and the cover may be stored in the housing in its pulled-up state in a longitudinal extension in a manner similar to a sectional door. The term “roller-blind type” therefore means that the cover may be pulled up and pulled down and has the necessary flexibility to do so because the cover is bent in this process by at least 90°.

The roller cover may be made in turn of individual slats connected to one another in a jointed fashion. As a rule, the blind slats are made of plastic, with hollow profiles being commonly used. Moreover, it has proven to be valuable for the hollow profiles to be equipped with a thermally insulating core, so as to maximize R-value.

As already shown, the seal is generally provided on a lower and/or side edge of the cover, allowing the seal to be adjacent the cover. It may be detachably mounted by an adhesive or by fasteners. As an alternative, it is also possible for the seal to be independent of the cover. Either way, the seal is moved along with the cover. This means that any gaps that may result when unrolling the cover from the shaft, for example, are automatically closed off as soon as the cover has reached its fully unrolled or unwound state. Here, the seal may naturally be operated independently of the cover as well as long as the seal overall moves more or less in synchronization with the cover.

The seal, which as a rule is made of a flexible material, generally seals a gap between the cover and the housing. Alternatively or additionally, the seal as described may also seal a gap between two neighboring or directly adjacent covers.

In order to achieve this in detail the seal is normally equipped with at least one contact wing or flange formed as a flat laterally projecting plate. This contact flange is adjacent the lower and/or side edge of the cover. Usually two contact flanges are used. These contact flanges extend from a core or base web between them. In this manner, the two contact flanges, in conjunction with the base web, are able to grip the lower and/or the base edge of the cover.

In order to provide the flexibility described above for the seal, the seal has at least one elastic core in addition to the at least one contact flange. As a rule, this elastic core is disposed on or overlaps the base web. It has proven valuable for the elastic core to have a thickness that is adapted to the thickness of the cover. In this manner, the cover and the seal provided on the lower edge and/or side edge form a sort of a mat or a mat-like structure with consistently the same thickness. This results in a uniform appearance and moreover facilitates the retrofitting of existing housings with access openings.

It has proven valuable for the elastic core of the seal to be designed to yield elastically in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the cover, the longitudinal direction being the direction the slats forming the cover extend in and the transverse direction being the direction the cover moves in. Usually, one would work with an elastic core of the seal that yields elastically in the longitudinal extension of the cover when the seal is provided on the lower edge of the cover. In contrast, a design for the elastic core of the shield that yields elastically in the transverse direction of the cover recommends itself when the seal is realized on the side edge of the cover.

In order to provide the elastic flexibility of the elastic core in detail, the elastic core is normally a hollow chamber profile, a brush seal, or even a massive rubber lip that has the necessary elasticity properties. Naturally, a plurality of brush seals, hollow chamber profiles, etc. may also be used, even in combination with one another.

As is known, the seal according to the invention is moved together with the cover even if it is independent of the cover. This may be the case when the seal has no connection to the cover and is wound and unwound on the shaft described above completely independently of the cover. Naturally, it is also possible to provide a separate storage unit for the seal, but a shaft need not necessarily be used. In general, however, it is recommended for the seal to be connected to the cover at least in places. These connections may be detachable, for example, in that the seal is equipped with a metal strip or a strip made of a permanently magnetic material. As soon as this magnetic strip comes into contact with a corresponding permanently magnetic strip on the cover, the seal is magnetically attracted and adheres detachably to the cover. In addition, it is naturally also conceivable for the seal to be connected to the cover by an adhesive, for example, by means of a fluid or comparable adhesive medium inserted between the seal and the cover. In addition, the invention comprises a fixed connection of the seal to the cover at least in places, for example, with the aid of one or more fasteners.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a fixed deformation unit is provided for the seal. With the aid of this fixed deformation unit, the seal is threaded into the gap to be sealed. As a rule, this threading process occurs when the cover is unwound from the shaft because, in this process, the seal is moved along with the cover and deformed with the aid of the fixed deformation unit in such a way that it fills the gap to be sealed. Naturally, the deformation unit need not be designed in a fixed fashion; rather, it can just as easily be moved along with the cover and/or the seal. The fixed design of the deformation unit recommends itself, however, because the seal is elastically deformed upon passing this deformation unit such that it may be inserted into the gap to be sealed. As soon as the seal has passed the deformation unit, the seal elastically returns to its normal shape and grips the cover. In other words, after passing the deformation unit, the seal automatically rests against the lower edge and/or the side edge of the respective cover.

In so doing, one will usually work with a seal having an H-shaped cross section that has a total of four contact flanges and one central base web. At least two contact flanges are necessary that are disposed opposite one another, usually diametrically opposite one another, relative to the base web. With the aid of the deformation unit, one or both contact flanges are deformed such that the base of the seal is able to fill the gap entirely or almost entirely. After passing the deformation unit, the contact flanges or flange, which were initially deformed, will spring back and ensure overall that the seal attains the desired detachable engagement with the side and/or lower edge of the cover.

Because the deformation of one or both contact flanges of the seal is done only temporarily with the aid of the deformation unit during unrolling or rolling up, it is possible to guarantee a long useful life for the seal because, particularly in the unwound or unrolled state, the seal is not deformed. The useful life of the seal is not negatively influenced by this condition.

As a result, a merchandise display case is provided that is particularly suitable for use as a refrigerated case. The cover is closed over the access opening when the store closes in order to close the access opening and minimize energy losses due to exchange between the usually cool air circulating in the interior of the merchandise display case and the ambient air outside the case. In this closed state of the cover, any gaps still remaining between the cover and the housing or between two covers directly adjacent one another are reliably closed by the edge-side seal provided according to the invention. This solution is able to handle access openings of virtually any size and the cover may preferably be retrofitted. This fact is particularly supported by the fact that the individual seals are able to function with virtually no side rails.

Nevertheless, particularly in the closed state of the respective cover, the necessary stability is guaranteed. This stability is provided, for example, in that two directly adjacent covers are mechanically coupled with one another due to the advantageously realized seal between the two doors. In this manner, the cover need not be adapted to a particular compartment size of the housing because, as described above, the side rails otherwise used in the prior art are explicitly eliminated and can also be eliminated. This fact leads to significant advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. is a perspective small-scale view of a refrigerated display case according to the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2A′ are top and end views of a first seal according to the invention;

FIGS. 2B and 2B′, 2C and 2C′ are similar views of second and third seals engaged between side edges of adjacent is covers according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fourth seal;

FIGS. 4A and 4A′ are top and end views of the confronting edges of two adjacent covers according to the invention;

FIGS. 4B and 4B′ are similar views of the confronting side edges of two adjacent other covers according to the invention; and

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are end views of lower edges of two different covers in accordance with the invention where they engage the floor of the case.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1 each of three identical merchandise display cases has a housing 1 holding a plurality of shelves 2 configured to accommodate refrigerated foods. The housing 1 comprises two vertical side walls 1a, a horizontal top wall 1b, a horizontal floor base 1c, and a vertical rear wall 1d connected to rear edges of the side walls 1a, of the top wall 1b, and of the floor 1d. Thus, the housing 1 forms a box with a horizontally open access opening 3 on its front side. In this manner, customers have unhindered access from the front to the food on the shelves 2. In FIG. 1, three of the housings 1 are combined modularly in a longitudinal extension to form a refrigerated row. Thus the merchandise display case shown has a total of three individual housings 1, or is comprised of three sections or compartments, if the individual compartments are identified with the reference number 1 and a common housing is assumed. Either way, this modular structure allows refrigerated rows of virtually any length to be made up.

The merchandise display case in the illustrated embodiment is refrigerated. A cooling unit 4 at the base of the rear wall 1d ensures that cooled air circulates in the interior of the housing 1, as shown by arrows in FIG. 1. In this manner, a stream of cooled air by drawing in air through a port or access opening 3 at the lower rear of the space inside the housing 1 to prevents to a large extent the exchange of warm ambient air with the cool air in the interior of the housing. The fundamental structure of such a veil of cooled air is known from EP 1 508 288. Each opening 3 is provided with a respective roll-type cover 6 having a pair of horizontally oppositely directed side edges 6a and a horizontal end edge 6b bridging the side edges 6a. Each cover 6 is shiftable between a closed position covering the respective opening 3 and with its side edges sealed to the front edges of the housing sides 1a and its end edge 6b engaging downward against the front edge of the floor 1c, and an open position retracted above the top wall 1b.

In normal operation, i.e. when the store is open and the access opening 3 is open, energy is exchanged between the cool air in the interior of the housing 1 and the comparably warmer ambient air outside the housing 1. In order to minimize energy loss, at least while the store is closed, a total of three of the roller-type covers 6 are provided in the longitudinal extension of the housing 1 in the illustrated embodiment. The individual covers 6 may be moved transversely to their longitudinal extension in order to open or close the associated access opening 3.

For the purposes of the invention, the roller-type cover 6 can be any flexible material web that is or can be shifted between the retracted storage position and the extended use position covering the access opening 3. To this end, the cover 6 may, for example, be retracted and stored below or above the top wall 1b. A folded or wound storage method is conceivable as well.

In the case used as an example here, the individual cover 6 is a roller blind made of mat-like blind slats connected to one another. The blind slats are generally formed as hollow profile slats whose interiors are filled with thermal insulation, e.g. closed-cell foam. In this manner, energy losses may be prevented when the roller blind or cover 6 is closed.

The individual roller blind or cover 6 is made separately from the housing 1. To this end, the cover or roller blind 6 has its own roller blind housing 7 as shown in FIG. 1. This is naturally not required. In any case, the roller blind 6 is wound on and unwound from a shaft 8 rotated by a drive 9. The drive 9 is electrical, here an electrical motor.

The housing 7, like the cover 6, is outside the actual housing 1. As a result, the housing 7 and the cover 6 are ideal for a retrofitting situation. The roller blind housing 7 is actually mounted on top of the top wall 1b of the housing 1, although this is not required.

The housing-independent design of the cover 6 from the housing 1 is supported by a schematically indicated guide 10. This guide 10 is a support element, a support rail, or the like, by way of which the cover 6 moves onto and off the shaft 8 during winding and unwinding and by way of which the side edges 6b of the cover 6 are guided. An additional lateral guide of the cover 6 in side rails is not shown in the illustrated embodiment but could be in guides in the housing side walls 1a.

The three covers 6 adjacent one another in the longitudinal extension of the housing 1 are operated by a common drive system 8, 9. In this manner, the three covers 6 are wound and unwound together. However, this is not to be understood as a limitation.

In any case, the omission of rails in the edges of the housing 1 or on the housing side walls 1a on the one hand and between the covers 6 disposed directly adjacent one another on the other hand leads to gaps or slots inevitably forming in these regions between the covers 6 or between the cover 6 and the housing 1. These gaps or slots are now entirely or at least partially closed according to the invention with the aid of one or more seals 11. Examples of such seals 11 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, each cover 6 has as shown in FIGS. 5a to 5C at least one seal 11 on its lower or end edge 6a and as shown in FIGS. 2A to 4B on both of its side edges 6b. Naturally, only one seal 11 may be provided on the lower edge 6a or one of the two side edges 6b or only two seals 11 may be provided on both side edges 6b. In any case, the cover 6 has at least one seal 11 disposed on each edge.

Here, the seal 11 may be attached to the cover 6 in a detachable or non-detachable fashion. However, it is also conceivable for the seal 11 to be configured completely independently of and with no mechanical coupling to the cover 6. In any case, the seal 11 is made of a flexible material and ensures that the gap that inevitably forms between the cover 6 and the housing 1 and/or between two covers 6 directly adjacent one another is closed.

To this end, the seal 11 is equipped with at least one contact flange 11a. Usually two contact flanges 11a are provided as shown in FIGS. 2A-C, 4B, and 5A-C, making the outer side of the seal 11 generally U-shaped. Here, the contact flanges 11a are located one opposite the other relative to a base 11b or base web 11b connected between them. The two contact flanges 11a may both be mounted on an edge of the cover 6, specifically in a configuration opposite one another, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C for covers 6 located directly adjacent one another in the longitudinal extension of the housing 1. Here, the seals 11 and/or their contact flanges 11a are grip the respective side edges 6b of the covers 6. A similar situation is shown by FIGS. 5A to 5C, in which the opposing contact flanges 11a of the seal 11 may be seen on the lower edge 6a of the associated cover 6.

In addition, however, it is also possible for the two contact flanges 11a to engage opposite one another on different covers 6 as shown in FIG. 4B. Here, the seal 11 is detachably mounted directly on the two covers 6, here magnetically. To this end, the seal 11 has a magnetic and/or metal strip 12 secured to an inner face of the contact flange 11a facing the cover 6. This magnetic and/or metal strip cooperates with a corresponding magnetic and/or metal strip 13 on the respective cover 6. In this manner, the seal 11 can be magnetically but detachably secured to the cover 6. Instead of the cooperating magnetic and/or metal strips 12 and 13, it is naturally also possible to work with an adhesive, for example, a fluid or the like, with the aid of which the seal 11 may be detachably attached to the cover 6.

FIG. 4A shows an embodiment in which a total of four contact flanges 11a are provided. Here, the contact flanges 11a are disposed across from one another in pairs. All embodiments other than the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B are characterized by the fact that the at least two contact flanges 11a grip each cover 6 in conjunction with the base web 11b on the lower edge 6a like a clamp, as also shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C and/or grip the side edge 6b as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and 4A.

In addition to the one or more contact flanges 11a, the seal 11 can have, in addition to the base web 11b, an additional elastic core 14. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the elastic core 14 and the base web 11b coincide are unitarily formed with each other. In contrast, the elastic core 14 is a separate part in the other illustrated embodiments.

In each case, the elastic core 14 has a thickness B in its cross section that conforms to the thickness of the cover 6. In this manner, the covers 6 and the respective seals 11 connected thereto form an overall level surface of a virtually continuous thickness.

As may be seen from the embodiments of FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 5B, 5C, the elastic core 14 is embodied as a tubular profile. However, the variant according to FIGS. 2A and 5A shows an elastic core 14 that has the shape of a brush with flexible bristles or two brush bands (see FIG. 2A) engaging with one another, one brush being U-shaped to engage around and past the other. In addition, the elastic core 14 may be configured as a massive rubber lip as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

In each case, the elastic core 14 is designed to be elastically yielding in the transverse direction Q (FIG. 5A) of the cover 6 when the seal 11 is attached to the lower edge 6a of the cover 6 as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. In contrast, if the seal is mounted on the side edges 6b of the cover 6, then the elastic core 14 has an elastically yielding design in the longitudinal extension L (FIG. 2A′) of the cover 6 (see FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A, 4B). Naturally, the elastic core 14 may also be designed to be elastically yielding in the longitudinal direction L as well as in the transverse direction Q of the cover 6.

In order to ensure that the seal 11 of the cover 6, which is designed to be fundamentally independent of the respective cover 6, follows and is able to follow the shaft 8, it has proven valuable for the seal 11 to be attached to the cover 6 at least in places. This can be seen in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4A, 4B because these figures show fasteners 15, with the aid of which the seal 11 is connected to a cover 6 or two covers 6 located directly adjacent one another. The fasteners 15 may be screws, rivets or even magnets. It can be seen that here the fasteners 15 generally couple the seal 11 with the lowest or end slat of the cover 6. This ensures that the seal 11 follows the respective cover 6 during winding and unwinding on the shaft 8.

In addition, FIG. 3 shows a deformation unit 16 for the seal 11. This deformation unit 16 is designed to be fixed in place and is mounted on the housing 1 at its top wall 1b. The deformation unit 16 is a guide that ensures that the seal 11 is threaded into the gap between the two covers 6 located directly adjacent one another as shown in FIG. 3. To this end, the seal 11 is at least partially deformed upon passing the deformation unit 16 and, after passing the deformation unit 16, automatically places itself on the associated side edge 6b of the directly adjacent cover 6. Basically, the deformation unit 16 may also be used when the aim is to close the gap between the lower edge 6a of the cover 6 and the housing 1; however, this is not shown.

In the context of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4A, a special seal 11 is used with an H-shaped cross section. This H-section seal 11 has a total of four contact flanges 11a extending opposite one another on the central base 11b, which simultaneously serves as the elastic core 14. In the illustrated embodiment, as soon as the seal 11 in question, which grips two covers 6 directly adjacent one another being lowered, passes the fixed deformation unit or threader 16, the two exterior contact flanges 11a are deformed. This occurs in such a way that the outer contact flanges 11a thus raised are able to pass along with the base 11b or elastic core 14 through the gap between the two covers 6 located directly adjacent one another. Because FIG. 3 shows a view of the covers 6 from inside the housing 1, it becomes clear that, in the process described, both outer contact flanges 11a are deformed. As an alternative, it is naturally also possible for the two inner contact flanges 11a to be deformed, although this is not shown. Finally, it naturally also lies within the scope of the invention for only one contact flange 11a to be deformed with the aid of the deformation unit or threader 16.

In addition, the process described above may be assisted by an unillustrated pressure device. With the aid of the pressure device, the seal 11 is threaded through the gap between the covers 6. This applies at least to the two exterior contact flanges 11a and the base 11b or the elastic core 14. Usually, the deformation unit or threader 16 already described above also can function as the pressure device.

As soon as the seal 11 following the covers 6 as they move downward in the closing direction has passed the deformation unit 16, the exterior contact flanges 11a return to the original H shape that they form along with the interior contact flanges 11a and the base 11b. In other words, the contact flanges 11a or the seal 11, after passing the deformation unit 16, automatically rests against the respective side edges 6b of the adjacent covers 6. This condition is shown with solid lines in FIG. 4A while the raised position of the exterior contact flanges 11a is shown in dashed lines.

In any case, it becomes clear that the seal 11, with the aid of the deformation unit 16, is threaded into the gap between the adjacent covers 6 and, after passing the deformation unit 16, rebounds elastically to its initial position while at the same time being fixed to the two covers 6. This ensures that the seal 11 does not experience any more deformation from the deformation unit 16 in the closed state of the covers 6, such that its useful life is not reduced

Claims

1. A merchandise display case comprising:

a housing having a plurality of housing walls forming an access opening;

a roller-type cover shiftable between an extended closed position extending across and substantially closing the opening and a retracted open position generally clear of the opening; and

a seal engaged between the cover and at least one respective wall of the housing.

2. The display case defined in claim 1 wherein the cover has a pair of opposite side edges and an end edge bridging the side edges, the seal being engaged with at least one of the edges.

3. The display case defined in claim 2 wherein the seal is secured to the housing and the cover moves relative to the seal.

4. The display case defined in claim 2, further comprising:

fastening means for securing the seal to the cover for movement therewith.

5. The display case defined in claim 4 wherein the fastening means include a magnet, a screw fastener, or a rivet.

6. The display case defined in claim 4, further comprising:

a second such housing adjacent the first-mentioned housing;

a second such cover on the second housing with side edges of the covers confronting and adjacent each other, the seal extending between the confronting side edges.

7. The display case defined in claim 6 wherein the seal is of H-section and has on one side a pair of spaced flanges gripping one of the confronting side edges and on the other side another pair of spaced flanges gripping the other of the confronting side edges.

8. The display case defined in claim 7, further comprising:

deforming means mounted on the housings for deflecting two of the flanges of the seal away from the cover for separation of the seal from the cover.

9. The display case defined in claim 4 wherein the seal has a core and a pair of flanges projecting from the core and gripping one of the side edges.

10. The display case defined in claim 9 wherein the core is elastically deformable.

11. The display case defined in claim 10 wherein the core and flanges are unitarily formed of an elastomer.

12. The display case defined in claim 9 wherein the core is provided with a tubular seal element.

13. The display case defined in claim 9 wherein the core is provided with a brush seal element.

14. The display case defined in claim 9 wherein the core has a thickness generally equal to that of the cover.

15. The display case defined in claim 9 wherein the seal is fixed to the cover and comprises two side seals on the side edges and an end seal on the end edge and bridging the side seals.

16. The display case defined in claim 15 wherein the housing walls include a pair or vertical side walls having front edges flanking the opening, a top wall bridging the side walls and having a front edge vertically bounding the opening, a floor wall bridging the side walls below the top wall and having a front edge vertically bounding the opening, and a back wall connected to rear edges of the side, top, and floor walls.

17. The display case defined in claim 16, further comprising

a cooler in the housing for circulating refrigerated air therein.

18. The display case defined in claim 1 wherein the cover is formed by a plurality of stiff and hinged-together horizontal slats.