DISPLAY MERCHANDISER WITH CONICALLY-SHAPED GLASS

Abstract

A glass member configured for installation on a display case that includes a front portion and an upper case frame. The glass member includes a glass pane having a curved lower portion configured to couple to the front portion and a curved upper portion configured for pivotal attachment to the upper case frame. The glass pane defines a curved profile in a horizontal cross-section and a straight profile in a vertical cross-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a straight case of a display merchandiser of the prior art having a curved glass pane.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a prior art glass clamp of the straight case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inside wedge-style case of a glass-front display merchandiser according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a glass clamp of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane of the case shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 9 is a top view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the conically-shaped glass pane of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the glass clamp of the case shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the glass clamp shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross-section view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an outside wedge-style case of a glass-front display merchandiser according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a front view of the case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a front view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane of the case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a top view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a side view of the glass clamp and conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a cross-section view taken along line 26-26 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a front view of the conically-shaped glass pane of the case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 28 is a top view of the conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a side view of the conically-shaped glass pane shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a cross-section view taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 is a cross-section view of the glass clamp of the case shown in FIG. 19.

Claims

1. A case for displaying food product in a product display area, the case comprising: a base including a front portion and a rear portion;an upper case frame coupled to the rear portion and extending partially above the product display area; anda glass member including a lower portion coupled to the front portion, and an upper portion coupled to the upper case frame, the glass member defining a curved profile when viewed in a horizontal cross-section, and the glass member defining a straight profile when viewed in a vertical cross-section.

2. The case of claim 1, further comprising a clamp coupled to the upper portion of the glass member and a hinge pivotally coupled to the clamp and the upper case frame.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein the clamp is bent to match a curvature of the upper portion of the glass member.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein the case is defined by a wedge-style shape, and wherein the case includes one of an inside wedge-style case and an outside wedge-style case.

5. The case of claim 4, wherein the glass member is curved to match a curvature defined by the wedge-style case.

6. The case of claim 4, wherein each of the inside wedge-style case and the outside wedge-style case extends through an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the glass member includes a conically-shaped glass pane as if cut from a cone pointing in a downward direction.

8. The case of claim 1, wherein the glass member includes a conically-shaped glass pane as if cut from a cone pointing in an upward direction.

9. The case of claim 1, wherein the glass member defining a straight profile in a vertical cross-section is configured to mate with a straight glass member of a straight case positioned adjacent the case.

10. The case of claim 1, wherein the straight profile of the glass member defines an axis and wherein the axis defines an angle relative to a vertical axis between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees.

11. A glass member configured for installation on a display case that includes a front portion of an upper case frame, the glass member comprising: a glass pane including a curved lower portion configured to couple to the front portion, and a curved upper portion configured for pivotal attachment to the upper case frame;wherein the glass pane defines a curved profile in a horizontal cross-section, and a straight profile in a vertical cross-section.

12. The glass member of claim 11, wherein the glass pane is conically-shaped as if cut from a cone pointing in a downward direction.

13. The glass member of claim 11, wherein the glass pane is conically-shaped as if cut from a cone pointing in an upward direction.

14. The glass member of claim 11, wherein the glass pane is configured to mate with a straight glass member of an adjacent straight display case.

15. A clamp configured for installation on a wedge-style display case to couple a glass member to the display case, the display case including an upper case frame, the clamp comprising: a base including a first surface, the base configured to couple to the upper case frame;a top portion spaced apart from the base and including a second surface;a back wall coupled to the base and the top portion such that the first surface, the second surface, and the back wall define a slot configured to receive a portion of the glass member along a clamping axis, the clamping axis and a vertical axis cooperating to define a clamping angle for the glass member between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees.

16. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the clamping angle is between about 30 degrees and about 40 degrees.

17. The clamp of claim 15, wherein a wedge is configured to be positioned at least partially within the slot to partially secure the glass member.

18. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the second surface includes ridges configured to partially secure the glass member in the slot.

19. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the base defines a curved profile to substantially correspond to the curvature of the wedge-style display case.

20. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the base is configured to attach to a hinge of the display case to pivotally couple the glass member to the case.

21. A method of converting a case having a spherical glass member to a case having a conically-shaped glass member, the method comprising: providing a case including a hinge, a first clamp attached to the hinge, and a spherical glass member coupled to the first clamp;removing the spherical glass member from the first clamp;detaching the first clamp from the hinge;attaching a second clamp to the hinge; andcoupling a conically-shaped glass member to the second clamp.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing a case includes providing a wedge-style style case including one of an inside wedge-style case and an outside wedge-style case.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein detaching the first clamp from the hinge and attaching the second clamp to the hinge includes modifying a clamping angle from about 55 degrees relative to a vertical axis to between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising: inserting a wedge at least partially within the second clamp; andpartially securing the conically-shaped glass member to the second clamp with the wedge.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising aligning the case including the conically-shaped glass member with a case including a straight glass member.