초록 ▼

A refrigerated display case having a front opening for enabling access to products within the display case from a plurality of angular positions with respect to the display case. In order to more readily enable the consumer to obtain access to products within the display case, the opening circumscri

A refrigerated display case having a front opening for enabling access to products within the display case from a plurality of angular positions with respect to the display case. In order to more readily enable the consumer to obtain access to products within the display case, the opening circumscribes an angle of at least 90°or alternatively, the opening within the case extends continuously through the case so that the case has openings on opposing sides. The refrigerated display case includes a cabinet having top and bottom sections with an air conduit portion interconnecting and extending into the top and bottom sections. Either a single air conduit or two air conduits can be utilized. Arranged within the first air conduit is a refrigeration mechanism and air is circulated through that conduit for providing a band of refrigerated air which includes an inner air curtain across the opening in the case, for cooling the product in the display case. If a second air conduit is included within the display case, that conduit serves to provide a secondary band of air which establishes an outer air curtain across the opening in the display case. The display case is also provided with an ambient air defrost system so that ambient air is drawn through the first air conduit for defrosting the refrigeration mechanism. Finally, the refrigerated display case also can be provided with a compressor unit and a condenser unit so that the case is in effect a self-contained unit.

대표청구항 ▼

A refrigerated display case comprising: a cabinet having top and bottom sections and air conduit means coupling said top and bottom sections and said cabinet having an opening therein between said top and bottom sections, said opening circumscribing an angle of at least approximately 90°; said cond

A refrigerated display case comprising: a cabinet having top and bottom sections and air conduit means coupling said top and bottom sections and said cabinet having an opening therein between said top and bottom sections, said opening circumscribing an angle of at least approximately 90°; said conduit means having a vertically extending portion located approximately at the center of radius of said cabinet and extending into both said top and bottom sections, said conduit means including a first air conduit and a second air conduit; said first air conduit passing through said conduit means and having at opposing ends thereof an air outlet opening and an air inlet opening, said air outlet opening and said air inlet opening being in alignment for establishing an inner air curtain across said opening in said cabinet; said second air conduit passing through said conduit means and lying so as to be at least partially surrounded by said first air conduit in said vertically extending portion thereof and said second air conduit having at opposing ends thereof an air outlet opening and an air inlet opening lying outside of said air outlet and inlet openings of said first air conduit, said air outlet opening and said air inlet opening being in alignment for establishing a second air curtain across said opening in said cabinet, such second air curtain being directed along a path spaced outwardly of the inner air curtain; first air band establishing means for circulating air through said first air conduit and forming an air band of refrigerated air within said display case, said first air establishing means including first air propelling means arranged within said first air conduit for propelling air through said first air conduit and refrigeration means for cooling air passing through said first air conduit and such cool air being expelled from said air outlet opening of said first air conduit and received by said inlet opening of said first air conduit so as to establish a band of refrigerated air with an inner air curtain across said opening in said cabinet; second air band establishing means for establishing a band of non-refrigerated circulating air in said second air conduit and including second air propelling means for propelling air through said second air conduit such that such air leaving said outlet opening of said second air conduit passes across said opening in said cabinet and is received by said inlet opening of said second air conduit, thereby establishing a secondary air band with the second air curtain across said opening in said cabinet; and defrost means for deactivating said refrigeration means and causing ambient air to circulate through said first air conduit for defrosting said refrigeration means.