US3698205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Walk-in cooler refrigerated display case combination
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-07
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-10-07
Abstract
Abstract This is a combined refrigerated display case and walk-in cooler or cold room with the display case having a front opening for unimpeded access to the refrigerated area and a rear opening for unimpeded access from the walk-in cooler or cold room area. Each of these access openings has a curtain of refrigerated air thereacross to prevent the ambient room temperature air and the air from the cold room entering the refrigerated case space. The case has shelves therein from which goods may be removed through the front access opening and on which food may be deposited through the rear access opening. The case also has a separate horizontal curtain of refrigerated air across the lower portion of the refrigerated space to provide two vertically adjacent zones of refrigeration within the refrigerated space. The refrigerated air forming the curtain in front of the refrigerated display space is recirculated into the cold room or walk-in cooler space after passing under the refrigerated display case.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Perez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:21
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F3/00; A47F3/04; A47F3/0439; A47F3/0443; A47F3/0452
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination of the type having an access opening in the front of the display case for unimpeded access to material therein and having an access opening between said refrigerated case and said walk-in cooler for unimpeded access to the material in said refrigerated display case from said walk-in cooler comprising: single means for refrigerating said walk-in cooler and at least a portion of said refrigerated display case, means for establishing an air curtain directly across the access opening in the front of said refrigerated display case and serving to oppose a passage of ambient air through said access opening into said refrigerated display case, means for establishing an air curtain directly across the said access opening between said walk-in cooler and said refrigerated display case and serving to oppose the passage of air through said last-mentioned access opening between said walk-in cooler and said refrigerated display case, air circulating means for circulating said air past said refrigerating means across said air curtain means and through said walk-in cooler, whereby air is first refrigerated, then utilized to form air curtains isolating the space in said refrigerated display case, then circulated through said walk-in cooler before returning to the refrigerating means for re-cooling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination of the type having an access opening in the front of the display case for unimpeded access to material therein and having an access opening between said refrigerated case and said walk-in cooler for unimpeded access to the material in said refrigerated display case from said walk-in cooler comprising: single means for refrigerating said walk-in cooler and at least a portion of said refrigerated display case, means for establishing an air curtain directly across the access opening in the front of said refrigerated display case and serving to oppose a passage of ambient air through said access opening into said refrigerated display case, means for establishing an air curtain directly across the said access opening between said walk-in cooler and said refrigerated display case and serving to oppose the passage of air through said last-mentioned access opening between said walk-in cooler and said refrigerated display case, air circulating means for circulating said air past said refrigerating means across said air curtain means and through said walk-in cooler, whereby air is first refrigerated, then utilized to form air curtains isolating the space in said refrigerated display case, then circulated through said walk-in cooler before returning to the refrigerating means for re-cooling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 1 including: an upper plenum chamber capable of circulating air from said walk-in cooler to said air curtains, a lower plenum chamber capable of circulating air from said air curtains to said walk-in cooler, said upper plenum chamber maintained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and said lower plenum chamber maintained at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, whereby Air circulated from said walk-in cooler through said upper plenum chamber, through said air curtains to said lower plenum chamber and returned from said lower plenum chamber to said walk-in cooler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 1 in which: said refrigerated display case contains shelves accessible through either of said air curtains.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 1 in which: said refrigerated display case includes means for establishing an air curtain within said refrigerated space and directed substantially horizontal at a plane extending substantially at right angles to said access opening, said latter mentioned air curtain serves to divide said refrigerated space into separate vertically adjacent zones of refrigerated space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 2 in which: one of said plenum chambers contain air cooling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 2 in which: said refrigerated display case includes means for establishing an air curtain within said refrigerated case and directed substantially horizontal in a plane extending substantially at right angles to said access opening, said latter mentioned air curtain serving to divide said refrigerated case into separately vertically adjacent zones of refrigerated space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 2 in which: said refrigerated display case contains shelves accessible through either of said air curtains.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 4 in which: the lower of the two vertically adjacent zones is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the upper of the said two vertically adjacent zones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 6 in which: the lower of the two vertically adjacent zones is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the upper of the said two vertically adjacent zones.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A refrigerated display case walk-in cooler combination as claimed in claim 7 in which: the lower of the two vertically adjacent zones is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the upper of the said two vertically adjacent zones.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |