초록

An illuminator has two lines of LEDs on inwardly-directed faces of an elongate body which forms a mullion for a display cabinet. Heat conduction through the body to outer surfaces provides the durable effect of anti-sweat heating to prevent condensation in doors of the cabinet.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An illuminator comprising: an elongate body having an inner surface and an outer surface; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the inner surface of said body for product illumination; the elongate body including a heat transfer portion for conduction of heat

The invention claimed is: 1. An illuminator comprising: an elongate body having an inner surface and an outer surface; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the inner surface of said body for product illumination; the elongate body including a heat transfer portion for conduction of heat from the light emitting diodes to the outer surface of the body; and the body being a structural member of a door frame for a display cabinet, said outer surface of the structural member being configured to face a door of a display cabinet to avoid a need for a heater in the structural member. 2. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are mounted in a plurality of lines. 3. The illuminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diodes are mounted for mutually divergent and at least partly inwardly-directed fields of illumination. 4. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is of extruded metal. 5. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is of extruded aluminum. 6. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises opposed rails for snap-fitting engagement of a protective cover over the diodes. 7. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical component for focusing or directing emitted light. 8. The illuminator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the optical component comprises a reflector on a surface of the body. 9. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light guide for direction of light from behind the diodes to the outer surface, and the diodes are mounted on a transparent substrate. 10. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a label holder for supporting a label across the outer surface. 11. The illuminator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the label holder comprises a pair of opposed grooves or ridges for supporting a label. 12. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially planar outer surface. 13. The illuminator as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a cover for an outer surface of the body, for abutting a cabinet door. 14. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover for an outer surface of the body, for abutting a cabinet door; and wherein the body comprises opposed elongate grooves or ridges for support of the outer surface cover. 15. A display cabinet comprising an illuminator of claim 1 acting as a structural member. 16. The illuminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are arranged in a line. 17. An illuminator comprising: an elongate body having an inner surface and an outer surface; engagement means for engaging a display cabinet; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the inner surface of said body for product illumination; the elongate body including a heat transfer portion for conduction of heat from the light emitting diodes to the outer surface of the body; and the body including a label holder for supporting a label across the outer surface; a light guide for direction of light from behind the diodes to the outer surface, and the diodes being mounted on a transparent substrate. 18. An illuminator comprising: an elongate body having an inner surface and an outer surface; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the inner surface of said body for product illumination; the elongate body including a heat transfer portion for conduction of heat from the light emitting diodes to the outer surface of the body; the body being configured to also act as a structural member for a display cabinet, and ends of the body being configured for engagement with other structural members of a display cabinet; and a cover for the outer surface of the body, for abutting a cabinet door; and the body including opposed elongate grooves or ridges for support of the cover of the outer surface. 19. An illuminator comprising: an elongate body; engagement means for engaging a display cabinet; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the inner surface of said body for product illumination; the elongate body including a heat transfer portion for conduction of heat from the light emitting diodes to the outer surface of the body; the body being configured to act as a structural member for a display cabinet, the engagement means being incorporated in ends of the body for engagement with other structural members of a display cabinet; and a light guide for direction of light from behind the diodes to the outer surface of the body, and the diodes being mounted on a transparent substrate.