Claims
- 1. A refrigeration unit suitable for high humidity environments with a thermal break member and an anti-sweat heating mechanism in the form of a heater wire, the unit comprising:a) a cabinet; b) a refrigerated compartment disposed within said cabinet and defining an access opening, said access opening being configured and disposed to provide access to said refrigerated compartment; c) refrigeration equipment configured to refrigerate said refrigerated compartment, said refrigeration equipment being disposed within said cabinet and thermally isolated from said refrigerated compartment; d) at least one compartment panel defining a portion of said refrigerated compartment disposed near said access opening; e) at least one cabinet panel defining a portion of said cabinet and disposed near said access opening; f) a thermal break member configured and disposed to connect said at least one compartment panel and said at least one cabinet panel near said access opening, said thermal break member including: i) a main body portion; ii) a conduit portion connected to said main body portion, said conduit portion defining a channel disposed near said access opening and configured to receive therein the heater wire; iii) a closure member; iv) a flexible hinge portion, said flexible hinge portion having a first end connected to said main body portion and a second end connected to said closure member; and v) said closure member being configured and to be selectively movable about said flexible hinge portion between an open position and a closed position, wherein said closure member secures the channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said closed position, and wherein said closure member permits access to said channel so as to permit replacement of the heater wire configured to be received therein when said closure member is disposed in said open position.
- 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said main body portion, said flexible hinge portion and said closure member of said thermal break member are configured in a unitary construction.
- 3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said flexible hinge of said thermal break member has a durometer of about 70 Shore A.
- 4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein at least one of said main body portion and said closure member of said thermal break member has a durometer of about 80 Shore D.
- 5. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:vi) a rib defined by said closure member; and vii) wherein said rib is configured and disposed to engage said conduit portion when said closure member secures the channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said closed position.
- 6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:vi) said closure member defining a closure flap and a closure leg, said closure leg defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end, said first end of said closure leg being connected to said closure flap; and vii) said flexible hinge portion having a second end disposed generally opposite said first end and connected to said closure leg.
- 7. An apparatus as in claim 6, comprising:viii) a rib defined by said closure flap; and ix) wherein said rib is configured and disposed to engage said conduit portion when said closure member secures the channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said closed position.
- 8. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said thermal break member includes at least one anchor portion extending generally normally from said main body portion and toward said at least one cabinet panel.
- 9. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:g) a corner piece disposed in a corner of said refrigerated compartment and covering at least one end of said thermal break member.
- 10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said corner piece includes a saddle member defining a centrally located radiused portion.
- 11. A thermal break member configured and disposed to connect at least one compartment panel of a refrigeration unit and at least one cabinet panel near an access opening of the refrigeration unit, said thermal break member comprising:a) a main body portion; b) a conduit portion connected to said main body portion, said conduit portion defining a channel disposed near said access opening and configured to receive therein a heater wire; c) a closure member; and d) a flexible hinge portion, said flexible hinge portion having a first end connected to said main body portion and a second end connected to said closure member.
- 12. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said closure member is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein said closure member secures said channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said closed position, and wherein said closure member permits access to said channel so as to permit replacement of the heater wire configured to be received therein when said closure member is disposed in said open position.
- 13. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said flexible hinge portion has a durometer of about 70 Shore A.
- 14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein at least one of said main body portion and said closure member has a durometer of about 80 Shore D.
- 15. An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising:f) a latching rib defined by said closure member; g) wherein said latching rib is configured and disposed to engage said conduit portion when said closure member secures the channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said first position.
- 16. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein:f) said closure member defining a closure flap and a closure leg, said closure leg defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end, said first end of-said closure leg being connected to said closure flap; and g) said flexible hinge portion having a second end disposed generally opposite said first end and connected to said closure leg.
- 17. An apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising:h) a latching rib defined by said closure flap; and i) wherein said latching rib is configured and disposed to engage said conduit portion when said closure member secures the channel so as to retain therein any heater wire received therein when said closure member is disposed in said first position.
PRIORITY CLAIM
The present application hereby claims priority based on provisional application serial number 60/104,003, filed on Oct. 13, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/104003 |
Oct 1998 |
US |