REFRIGERATED CASE WITH PARTIAL HEIGHT DOORS
A temperature controlled case includes: a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and a door coupled to the housing. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening.
The present disclosure relates to a temperature controlled case. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to temperature controlled cases with access doors covering a portion of the front of the case and adjacent to one or more uncovered openings (gaps or passages) on the front of the case.
BACKGROUNDIt is known to provide a temperature controlled case (e.g., refrigerated case, freezer, merchandiser, etc.) for the storage and presentation of food products (such as perishable meat, dairy, seafood, produce, etc.). Such known temperature controlled cases may include those of a type having one or more substantially horizontal support surfaces or shelves for the support and presentation of food products. Typically, one or more doors enclose the case to ensure that the food products stay refrigerated. To prevent the transfer of heat to the food products, the one or more doors typically completely seal in the area that holds the food products.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment a temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and a door coupled to the housing. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening.
According to another embodiment a temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; a door coupled to the housing; and a barrier device coupled to at least one of the door and the housing. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening. The barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce an amount of heat transfer between the display area and an area external to the case via the gap.
According to another embodiment a vertically oriented temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position. When the door is in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is in substantial contact with the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a gap from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount of heat transfer may occur via the gap.
According to another embodiment a vertically oriented temperature controlled case includes a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a substantially predetermined temperature; and a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position. When the door is in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is separated by a first gap from the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a second gap from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount of heat transfer may occur via the first and second gaps.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
Referring to the figures generally, various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a temperature controlled case having a front (or top, for horizontal style cases) opening with one or more “partial height” doors. The opening allows access to a display area that holds various products (e.g., dairy items). A first portion of the opening is selectively closeable by the partial height door, while the remaining portion of the opening remains open to define a gap or passage that remains open even when the door is fully closed. Although heat transfer between the display area and the external environment is readily available via the gap, the gap may prevent stale air from accumulating within the display area, accommodate objects with a wide array of temperature sensitivities due to the temperature gradient (e.g., deli meat may be located in the display area selectively covered by the door whereas a premade sandwich is located in the gap area because it does not require the same cooler temperature as the deli meat), enable modularity of doors for temperature controlled cases, and/or reduce manufacturing and material costs. For example, the partial height door may allow manufacturers to be less concerned with completely sealing the opening of the temperature controlled case, which may allow them to manufacture doors quicker. Similarly, manufacturers may be able to produce a standard door (e.g., use common items) for temperature controlled cases to reduce the engineering and production costs associated with the production of customized doors.
As such, according to the embodiments illustrated and disclosed herein, a refrigerated case 100 generally includes a housing 105 which defines a temperature controlled space that provides a display area 130 that is configured to receive products or objects (e.g. perishable food products, meats, dairy, produce items, frozen items, etc.), an opening 131 across the front of the housing 105 that provides access to the display area 130, a cooling system 125 that substantially controls the temperature of the display area 130, and one or more partial height doors 150. The partial height door 150 is coupled to the housing 105 and partially covers the opening 131 to form at least one gap (or passage) 110 with the housing 105 of the refrigerated case 100.
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Typically, door 150 is a transparent, insulated material (e.g., glass) such that a user can see through it to the display area 130 located within the housing 105. The door 150 is operable between a full close position (
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In the configuration where the barrier device 200 is arranged as an air producing or guiding device, the barrier device 200 provides one or more layers of air substantially over the gap 110 to separate the air and temperature within the housing 105 (display area 130) from the air and temperature in the environment. The barrier device 200 may include one or more blower fans, plenums, coils, cooling systems, etc. In one embodiment, the barrier device 200 directs warmer air that has risen within the display area 130 downward over the gap 110. The continuous guiding of the warmer air separates the display area 130 within the housing 105 and the environment external to the provided barrier. In another embodiment, the barrier device 200 guides external air (outside of the case 100) over the gap 110 to separate the display area 130 from the external environment. In either configuration, a barrier of air is provided by the barrier device 200 that substantially covers the gap 110 to reduce the amount of heat transfer via the gap 110. Although the barrier device 200 has been described as producing a downward air stream, depending on the case style (vertical, horizontal, semi-vertical, service and/or self-service over-counter), the barrier device 200 may be positioned to provide an air stream in any direction to substantially cover the gap 110.
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Although door(s) 150 is described as movable below in regard to
As mentioned above, in the full self-service configuration, a customer or user may access items in the display area 130 in the gap 110, and open the door(s) 150 to access items located behind the door(s) 150 in the display area 130. In the combination self-service and service over-counter configuration, a user or customer may access items in the display area 130 in the gap 110, but be substantially prevented from accessing items behind the door(s) 150 (i.e., because the door(s) 150 are stationary or locked). For example, deli meats, etc. may be stored behind the door(s) 150 and pre-made sandwiches or other premade deli items may be located in the display area 130 in the gap 110. The user may obtain a premade sandwich, but may have to ask an attendant to acquire the desired deli item. This configuration may be used when the items behind the door(s) need or substantially need to stay at a relatively cooler temperature than the items in the display area 130 in the gap 110. In the full service over-counter configuration, items may be located behind the door(s) in the display area 130, rather than in the display area 130 in the gap 110. In this configuration, the user may have to ask an attendant of the case 100 to obtain the items held by the case 100 (i.e., from behind the door(s) 150).
In comparison to the vertical and horizontal case styles that were described above, the semi-vertical case style is characterized by the door(s) being angled relative to the ground. In the vertical orientation, the door was oriented perpendicular to the ground. In the horizontal orientation, the door was oriented parallel with the ground.
In the semi-vertical orientation of the case, the door(s) 150 may be structured to be slidably opened (
As with any other case configuration disclosed herein, the semi-vertical case 100 may also include a barrier device 200. The barrier device 200 may include a shield or divider (solid or perforated component) that extends across all or some of the gap 110 (length and width) or the barrier device 200 may be structured as an air curtain provider/guider where air is guided by the device to serve as a boundary layer over the opening 131 for the display area 130 and the external environment. In either configuration, the barrier device 200 may be added to the case 100 when heat transfer reduction is needed.
It should be noted that references to “front,” “rear,” “upper,” and “lower” in this description are merely used to identify the various elements as they are oriented in the Figures, with “front” and “rear” being relative the positioning of the temperature controlled case in which the partial height door is used. These terms are not meant to limit the element which they describe, as the various elements may be oriented differently in various temperature controlled cases.
Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between the two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of refrigerated case 100 and the partial height door 150 provided herein are illustrative only. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these embodiments (e.g., the number of doors per case configuration, the type and number of coupling mechanisms for the door to the case, the number and geometry of the gaps, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the inventions. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the inventions.
Claims
1. A temperature controlled case comprising:
- a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;
- an opening across the housing that provides access to the display area;
- a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and
- a door coupled to the housing, the door movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening.
2. The temperature controlled case of claim 1, wherein the temperature controlled case is at least one of a vertical, horizontal, service over-counter, or semi-vertical style refrigerated case.
3. The temperature controlled case of claim 1, further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing.
4. The temperature controlled case of claim 3, wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce an amount of heat transfer via the gap.
5. The temperature controlled case of claim 4, wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device.
6. The temperature controlled case of claim 1, wherein the door is configured to be at least one of rotatably and slidably attached to the housing.
7. A temperature controlled case comprising:
- a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;
- an opening across the housing that provides access to the display area;
- a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature;
- a door coupled to the housing, the door movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening; and
- a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing, the barrier device configured to provide a barrier to reduce an amount of heat transfer via the gap.
8. The temperature controlled case of claim 7, wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device.
9. The temperature controlled case of claim 7, wherein the temperature controlled case is at least one of a vertical, horizontal, service over-counter, or semi-vertical style refrigerated case.
10. A vertically oriented temperature controlled case comprising:
- a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;
- an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and
- a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge;
- wherein the door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, and
- wherein in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is in substantial contact with the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a gap away from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount heat transfer may occur via the gap.
11. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 10, wherein the door is at least one of slidably and rotatably attached to the housing.
12. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 10, further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing.
13. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 12, wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce the amount of heat transfer via the gap.
14. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 13, wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device.
15. A vertically oriented temperature controlled case comprising:
- a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;
- an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a substantially predetermined temperature; and
- a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge,
- wherein the door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, and
- wherein in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is separated by a first gap away from the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a second gap away from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount heat transfer may occur via the first and second gaps.
16. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 15, wherein the door is at least one of slidably and rotatably attached to the housing.
17. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 15, further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing.
18. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 16, wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce the amount of heat transfer via the first and second gaps.
19. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 15, wherein the first and second gap distances are equal.
20. The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of claim 15, wherein the first gap is less than the second gap.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 31, 2015
Inventors: Larry C. Howington (Chesterfield, VA), Timothy Dean Swofford (Midlothian, VA)
Application Number: 14/318,349