Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02461635 2004-03-22
REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE
The present invention relates to coolers and more particularly, relates to a
method
and apparatus wherein a display case or container may be converted to a
refrigerated
display case.
The use of a display cases in the food retailing is well known. Typically, the
display cases are manufactured for a very limited life span and are scrapped
after a
particular promotion has ended. Naturally, if the life span of the display
case or container
can be extended, then such would be desirable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerated display
case which
has been converted from a non refrigerated display container.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the
conversion
of a non refridgerated display case to a refrigerated display case.
According to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerated display
container which includes a lower compartment and a upper compartment, a
barrier or
divider between said upper and lower compartments, and a thermoeletric cooling
means
mounted in the barrier, with a cold side thereof being situated upwardly of
the barrier and
a warm side thereof being situated downwardly of the barrier.
Having this generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
company and drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, and which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view along one vertical axis of the upper portion of a
display
case according to the present invention;
-1-
CA 02461635 2004-03-22
Figure 2 is a sectional view along the other vertical axis of the upper
portion of a
display case;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a display case;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the upper portion of the display case;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a display case according to the present
invention with inner components thereof shown in dotted lines.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated in Figure 5 a display case which is generally designated by
reference numeral
10.
Display case 10 includes an upper portion generally designated by reference
numeral 12 and a lower portion generally designated by reference numeral 14.
CTpper
portion 12 and lower portion 14 are separated by a barrier or divider 16.
In lower portion 14, in one sidewall thereof, there is provided an opening 18
which
communicates with an inlet air chamber 20. On the opposite sidewalk there is
provided a
fan 22 to drew direct air outwardly from an outlet air chamber 24.
Divider 16, has may be best seen in Figure 4, has a pair of sidewalk 26, 28
and a
pair of in walls 30, 32 with a base 34. Base 34 has a sloping portion 36 (see
Figurel).
There is also provided an opening 38 in base 34 which is adapted to receive a
thermoeletric assembly generally designated by reference numeral 40.
Thermoelectric
assembly 40 is mounted such that a cold sink 42 is on thf; upper side thereof
and a heat sink
44 is on the lower side.
-2-
CA 02461635 2004-03-22
A drainage outlet 46 is provided is provided in the base 34. Preferably ,
there is a
provided a sealing arrangement for opening 46 and which arrangement
conveniently may
consist of a ball or a plug which is designed to float when there is water in
the base and
which would otherwise seal the opening 46.
As may be best seen in Figure 4, there is provided an upper container 70 which
consists of end walls 72; 74 and sidewalk 76, 78 with a lbase 80.
Inserted within upper container 70 is a liner consisting of a liner bottom 48
with liner
walls 50 and 51. Is will be best seen in Figure 2, liner wall 50 is spaced
from end wall 72
and liner wall 51 is slightly spaced from end wall 74 to there by a form a
cold air supply
channel 52 and a cold air return channel 54. Cold air supply channel 52 is in
communication with a cold chamber 56 formed between divider 16 and base 80 of
upper
container 70.
With the above arrangement, a non refridgerated display case can be converted
to a
refridgerated display case which is efficient and self contained.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
-3-
