US3812684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerated display case
Assignee: Kysor Industrial Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-07
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Granted: 1974-05-28
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Expires: 1992-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerated display case includes an open front permitting customer access to the products contained therein and rear doors permitting access for restocking. An inner curtain of refrigerated air is circulated across the open front and adjacent surfaces forming a portion of the display case to refrigerate the contents therein. The case includes an air inlet extending along the lower front of the case for drawing cooled air therein which is then circulated rearwardly and discharged upwardly adjacent the exterior surface of the rear doors to prevent condensation thereon. The air stream adjacent the doors is then circulated over the top of the case and across the front of the case to form a guard curtain adjacent and outside the inner curtain of refrigerated air.
Inventors
- 👤 G Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:39
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F3/00; A47F3/04; A47F3/0439; A47F3/0443; A47F3/0447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of reducing condensation on the exterior of an access door at the rear of an open front refrigerated display case employing a refrigerated curtain of air to maintain the products refrigerated within the case comprising the steps of: collecting air spilled from said refrigerated curtain over the front of said case; directing the collected air across the exterior surface of the access door from one edge thereof; collecting the air at a different edge of the access door; and recirculating the air collected during the last named collection step across the open front of said refrigerated display case.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of reducing condensation on the exterior of an access door at the rear of an open front refrigerated display case employing a refrigerated curtain of air to maintain the products refrigerated within the case comprising the steps of: collecting air spilled from said refrigerated curtain over the front of said case; directing the collected air across the exterior surface of the access door from one edge thereof; collecting the air at a different edge of the access door; and recirculating the air collected during the last named collection step across the open front of said refrigerated display case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said refrigerated display case employs an inner curtain of refrigerated air and an outer guard curtain and said method includes the additional steps of: mixing ambient air with air collected during the last named collection step; and exhausting the mixed air across the front of the case to form the guard curtain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A refrigerated display case having a compartment with an open front permitting access to products therein, said case including: at least one access door in a rear wall thereof; means for forming a curtain of refrigerated air across the open front of said case; means for collecting cool air in an aisle adjacent the front of said case and for discharging the collected air across an exterior surface of said access door from one edge thereof; and means adjacent an opposite edge of said access door for receiving and maintaining the stream of air across said door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A refrigerated display case having a compartment with an open front permitting access to products therein, said case including: at least one access door in a rear wall thereof; means for forming a curtain of refrigerated air across the open front of said case; means for collecting cool air in an aisle adjacent the front of said case and for discharging the collected air across an exterior surface of said access door from one edge thereof; and means adjacent an opposite edge of said access door for receiving and maintaining the stream of air across said door.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 3 and further including means for recirculating the received air across the open front of said case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for forming a curtain of refrigerated air includes a nozzle extending across the open front of said case along the top thereof for directing refrigerated air downwardly; an intake grill extending across the open front of said case near the bottom of the compartment for collecting the refrigerated air curtain; and wherein said means for collecting cool air includes an air inlet extending across said refrigerated display case below said intake grill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for discharging air across an exterior surface of said accEss door includes a nozzle extending adjacent said one edge of said access door.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 6 and further comprising air moving means communicating between said air inlet and said last named nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 7 wherein said receiving means comprises an air intake extending along the edge of said access door opposite said last named nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for recirculating said received air comprises an outer nozzle extending across said refrigerated display case near the top thereof and air moving means communicating between said receiving means and said outer nozzle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 9 and further including means for mixing ambient air with said received air to form a guard curtain of air exhausted across the front of said case exterior to said curtain of refrigerated air by said outer nozzle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A refrigerated display case having a rear access door and an open front permitting customer access to the storage area therein, means for providing a refrigerated air curtain extending across the open front to aid in maintaining the storage area refrigerated whereby the refrigerated air curtain tends to cause cool air to fall into the aisle adjacent said refrigerated display case, and means for circulating air from the aisle adjacent and below said storage area around said refrigerated display case in a path extending in part adjacent the exterior surface of the access door.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A refrigerated display case having a rear access door and an open front permitting customer access to the storage area therein, means for providing a refrigerated air curtain extending across the open front to aid in maintaining the storage area refrigerated whereby the refrigerated air curtain tends to cause cool air to fall into the aisle adjacent said refrigerated display case, and means for circulating air from the aisle adjacent and below said storage area around said refrigerated display case in a path extending in part adjacent the exterior surface of the access door.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 11 wherein said circulating means includes: an air inlet extending along said refrigerated display case below the storage area; means for drawing air into said inlet from the aisle adjacent said inlet; and means coupled to said drawing means for directing air from the aisle across the access door from one edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The refrigerated display case as defined in claim 12 wherein said circulating means further includes: an air intake positioned adjacent an edge of the access door opposite said directing means; and means coupled to said intake for receiving air therefrom and discharging the air across the open front of the refrigerated display case exterior to the refrigerated air curtain.
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) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |