Patent Application
20160367046
The present invention relates to insulated glass, and more particularly to an insulated glass enclosure for a refrigerated display case.
Refrigerated display cases are well known and widely used for the retail display of products such as food and flowers. One goal of any display case is to maximize the product viewing area within the practicalities of the price point for the display case and manufacturing costs.
Typically, these practicalities are balanced by providing a metal frame and conventional insulated glass (IG) panels supported within the frame. Unfortunately, this approach reduces the viewable area, both because of the frame and the edges of the insulated glass. The IG panels include spacers between the glass panes about the outer periphery of the insulated glass. The display case frame that supports the IG panels overlaps and thereby hides the spacers, providing a decorative finished appearance to the display case. However, the frame provides a box-like appearance, which is undesirable for some customers; and the frame at least partially blocks viewing of the display case contents.
The noted problems are addressed by the present invention providing an insulated glass display case that is substantially frameless, thereby significantly increasing the visibility of the display case contents.
In one embodiment, the display case includes a glass enclosure having a glass top, opposed side panels, and a front panel. One or more of the panels is an insulated glass panel having spaced inner and outer glass panes. The edges of the panes of the one panel are glued to an adjacent panel, thereby eliminating the need for an IG spacer along those edges. For example, the upper edges of the side panels and the front panel may be glued to the glass top; and the front edges of the side panels may be glued to the front panel. In this embodiment, the display case does not include IG spacers at the IG panel edged that abut another panel. The free edges of the IG panels (e.g. the edges that do not abut another panel) may include a conventional spacer.
In another embodiment, a display case includes an inner glass enclosure and an outer glass enclosure. The inner enclosure has opposed side panels, a front panel, and a top panel with edges glued to the abutting panels. The outer enclosure also has opposed side panels, a front panel, and a top panel again with edges glued to the abutting panels. The inner enclosure fits within the outer enclosure with a gap between the inner and outer enclosures. The free edges of the two enclosures are sealed together, for example with conventional spacers.
In related embodiment, a method of manufacturing an insulated glass display case includes forming an inner enclosure having front, top, and side panels in which each abutting edge is glued to its abutting panel; forming an outer enclosure having front, top, and side panels in which each abutting edge is glued to its abutting panel; placing the inner enclosure inside the outer enclosure with a gap between the enclosures; and sealing the inner and outer enclosures together, for example, suing conventional spacers. For example, the lower and rear edges may be so sealed.
In all embodiments, the display cases eliminate (or at least reduce) the use of IG spacers in the upper and front areas of the cases. Glass enclosures in accordance with the present invention therefore have increased visibility, while maintaining the ability to be used in refrigerated applications.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the entire application including the specification, the claims, and the drawings.
An insulated glass enclosure 10 for use with a refrigerated display case 12 in accordance with one or a first embodiment is illustrated in
Throughout this description, directional terms, such as “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “front”, and “rear”, are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiment shown in the illustrations. More specifically, the below description refers to the display case 12 and glass enclosure 10 in the orientation shown in
The display case 12 includes a cabinet 14 of conventional construction that houses the mechanical equipment that provides cooling, such as an evaporator assembly, fan, etc. In the example shown in
The glass enclosure 10 includes a substantially horizontal glass top 20 having an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 24. The glass enclosure 10 also includes two generally vertical, opposed side panels 26 each including spaced inner and outer glass panes 28 and 30. Further, the glass enclosure includes a generally vertical front panel 32 including spaced inner and outer glass panes 34 and 36. These panels are arranged to form a structure having four surfaces where the adjacent sides are oriented at 90° angles, forming corners therebetween. The number, the shapes, and the orientations of the panels may vary depending on the desired shape of the enclosure.
Each of the side panels 26 defines four edges: an upper edge 38, a front edge 40, a rear edge 42, and a lower edge 44. The front panel 32 also defines four edges: an upper edge 50, two opposed side edges 52, and a lower edge 54. Lastly, the glass top 20 has four edges: two opposed side edges 60, a front edge 62, and a rear edge 64.
Referring to the detail view illustrated in
Referring to the detail view illustrated in
Referring to the detail view illustrated in
Although the bonding material is not illustrated in the drawings, adjacent panels are bonded together using any suitable adhesive, glue, bonding agent, or other suitable material. In the current embodiments, the bonding material is ultraviolet adhesive, also known as ultraviolet light curing adhesive, in which ultraviolet light activates and cures the adhesive. Ultraviolet adhesives bond and seal materials, including glass, together. Further, ultraviolet adhesive hardens substantially transparently, has a relatively short curing time, and provides strong bond strength. Other suitable adhesives may be used. Transparent adhesives are preferred because of their reduced visibility. Other adhesives may be used, but may provide visual obstructions, although less visible than the frames of prior art cases.
As perhaps best seen in
The insulated glass enclosure 10 is disposed atop the upper display area 16, and may be affixed and/or sealed to the cabinet 14 according to any known means. The glass enclosure 10 may be located in other areas in or on the display case 12, and indeed multiple glass enclosures could be provided. Further, as is conventional, the glass enclosure 10 may include doors 74, enclosing the rear of the insulated glass enclosure 10. The illustrated example does not include a bottom panel on the glass enclosure; however, a bottom panel is within the scope of the invention.
The construction of the present insulated glass enclosure 10 eliminates the spacer and metal frame, as is conventional, along the upper front and sides of the enclosure. This provides an unobstructed view of the upper display area 16 for a consumer standing in front of the display case 12.
A second embodiment of the insulated glass enclosure 110 is illustrated in
The inner enclosure 180 and the outer enclosure 182 are fabricated separately and then assembled together. Regarding the inner enclosure 180, the front edge 140 of the side panel 126 is bonded to the front panel 132, along the side edge 152 of the front panel 132, as shown in
Accordingly, the inner enclosure 180 and the outer enclosure 182 are distinct and separate elements that together form the insulated glass enclosure 110. The inner enclosure 180 is dimensioned to fit within the outer enclosure 182 such that a gap 170 is defined therebetween when the inner enclosure 180 is positioned inside the outer enclosure 182. A spacer 172 is located between the inner and outer enclosures 180 and 182 along the rear and lower edges 142, 144, and 154 thereof. The spacer 172 maintains the gap 170 therebetween and seals the edges together, enabling the interior to be sealed as is conventional for insulated glass. Accordingly, all four surfaces of the glass enclosure 110 are insulated glass.
Referring now to the flow chart of
The method continues with providing the inner enclosure and outer enclosure at steps 204 and 206. At step 208, a spacer is applied on the outer surface of the inner enclosure and along the front, side, and rear edges. The inner enclosure is then placed inside the outer enclosure at step 210, and a gap is formed between the enclosures. Alternatively, a single spacer may be inserted continuously along the rear and lower edges of the enclosure. In either situation, the panels are adhered or otherwise sealed to the spacer in conventional fashion and sealant is used to fill any remaining gap between the spacer and the inner and outer enclosures at step 212. As part of the process, the space between the inner and outer enclosures 180, 182 is filled with an inert gas.
At step 214, the insulated glass enclosure 110 may be affixed to a display case 112.
The above descriptions are those of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14627039 | Feb 2015 | US |
| Child | 15254056 | US |
