PORTE DECORATIVE POUR UN REFRIGERATEUR

DECORATIVE DOOR FOR COOLER

Abrégé français

L'invention concerne une porte décorative pour un réfrigérateur, qui comprend un cadre présentant une fente périphérique et une chambre périphérique qui sont en communication l'une avec l'autre. Le cadre est adapté pour être monté au réfrigérateur de façon articulée. Un panneau transparent intérieur est fixé par ses bords à l'intérieur de la fente périphérique du cadre et présente un canal décoratif formé dans celui-ci. Un nombre de diodes électroluminescentes servent de sources de lumière disposées dans la chambre périphérique et éclairent le canal décoratif du panneau transparent intérieur. Les panneaux transparents de surface interne et de surface externe sont montés sur le cadre sur des côtés opposés du panneau transparent intérieur et les espaces entre ceux-ci sont au moins partiellement évacués d'air. Le cadre comprend également un passage périphérique contenant un matériau isolant, tel qu'un réseau moléculaire.

Abrégé anglais

A decorative door for a cooler includes a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that are in communication with one another. The frame is adapted for mounting to a cooler in a hinged fashion. An interior transparent panel is secured by its edges within the circumferential slot of the frame and features a decorative channel formed therein. A number of light-emitting diodes serve as light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber and illuminate the decorative channel of the interior transparent panel. Inner surface and outer surface transparent panels are mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the interior transparent panel and the spaces there between are at least partially evacuated of air. The frame also includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material, such as molecular mesh.

Revendications

CLAIMS
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A decorative door for a cooler comprising:
a. a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that
are in
communication with one another, said frame adapted for mounting to a cooler in
a
hinged fashion;
b. a first transparent panel secured by its edges within the circumferential
slot
of the frame, said first transparent panel having a decorative channel formed
therein;
c. a plurality of light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber,
said
plurality of light sources illuminating the decorative channel of the first
transparent panel; and
d. a second transparent panel secured by its edges to the frame so that a
first space is
formed between the first and second transparent panels, said first space being
at
least partially evacuated of air.
2. The decorative door of claim 1 wherein said first transparent panel is an
interior
transparent panel and said second transparent panel is an outer surface
transparent panel and
further comprising an inner surface transparent panel, said inner surface
transparent panel
secured by its edges so that a second space is formed between the interior
transparent panel and
the inner surface transparent panel, said second space being at least
partially evacuated of air.
6

3. The decorative door of claim 2 wherein the frame includes a circumferential
passage
containing an insulating material.
4. The decorative door of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a circumferential
passage
containing an insulating material.
5. The decorative door of claim 4 wherein the insulating material includes a
molecular
mesh.
6. The decorative door of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light sources are
light-emitting
diodes.
7. The decorative door of claim 1 wherein the decorative channel is generally
V-shaped.
8. The decorative door of claim 1 further comprising left and right door posts
mounted to
opposing sides of said frame wherein one of the door posts is adapted to mount
the decorative
door to a cooler and the other door post includes a handle.
9. The decorative door of claim 8 wherein the left and right door posts secure
the second
transparent panel to the frame.
7

10. The decorative door of claim 1 further comprising top end and bottom end
caps attached
to the frame and securing the second transparent panel to the frame.
11. The decorative door of claim 1 further comprising an insulation bridge
secured to the
frame in a circumferential fashion, said insulation bridge including a glass
engagement portion
that secures the second transparent panel to the frame.
12. The decorative door of claim 11 further comprising a door gasket
circumferentially
attached to the insulation bridge.
13. A cooler comprising:
a. a housing containing a refrigerated space, said housing featuring an open
front so
that the refrigerated space may be accessed; and
b. a decorative door mounted to the housing in a hinged fashion so that the
open
front of the housing may be selectively closed, said decorative door
including:
i) a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that
are in communication with one another, said frame adapted for mounting
to a cooler in a hinged fashion;
ii) a first transparent panel secured by its edges within the circumferential
slot of the frame, said first transparent panel having a decorative channel
formed therein;
8

iii) a plurality of light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber,
said
plurality of light sources illuminating the decorative channel of the first
transparent panel;
iv) a second transparent panel secured by its edges to the frame so that a
first
space is formed between the first and second transparent panels, said first
space being at least partially evacuated of air.
14. The cooler of claim 13 wherein said first transparent panel of the
decorative door is an
interior transparent panel and said second transparent panel of the decorative
door is an outer
surface transparent panel and the decorative door further comprising an inner
surface transparent
panel, said inner surface transparent panel secured by its edges so that a
second space is formed
between the interior transparent panel and the inner surface transparent
panel, said second space
being at least partially evacuated of air.
15. The cooler of claim 14 wherein the frame of the decorative door includes a
circumferential passage containing an insulating material.
16. The cooler of claim 13 wherein the frame of the decorative door includes a
circumferential passage containing an insulating material.
17. The cooler of claim 16 wherein the insulating material includes a
molecular mesh.
9

18. The cooler of claim 13 wherein the plurality of light sources of the
decorative door are
light-emitting diodes.
19. The cooler of claim 13 wherein the decorative channel of the decorative
door is generally
V-shaped.
20. The cooler of claim 13 wherein the decorative door also includes:
v) an insulation bridge secured to the frame in a circumferential fashion,
said
insulation bridge including a glass engagement portion that secures the second
transparent panel to the frame; and
vi) a door gasket circumferentially attached to the insulation bridge.

Description

CA 02658928 2009-01-26
WO 2008/014269 PCT/US2007/074237
DECORATIVE DOOR FOR COOLER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to coolers for storing and
refrigerating beverages and food
items and, more particularly, to an illuminated and insulated decorative door
for such a cooler.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Coolers are typically used in retail establishments to display
beverages or other food
items that require refrigeration. Such coolers typically feature doors with at
least one window
that permit viewing of the beverages and/or food items being sold. The door is
hinged and may
be opened to retrieve the beverage or food item out of the cooler. The door
typically seals when
closed to insulate the refrigerated interior of the cooler. It is desirable
for the front of such
coolers to be decorative so as to attract attention and advertise the
beverages and/or food items
contained in the cooler.
[0004] The present invention offers an insulated decorative door for a cooler
featuring a window
having a design that is side-lit so as to be illuminated in an attractive
fashion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the cooler door
of the invention;

CA 02658928 2009-01-26
WO 2008/014269 PCT/US2007/074237
[0006] Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the cooler door of Fig. 1;
[0007] Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cooler door of Figs. 1 and 2;
[0008] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cooler door of Figs. 1-3 taken along
line 4-4 of Fig. 1;
[0009] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of circled portion A of Fig. 4;
[0010] Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the cooler door of Fig. 1 taken along
line 6-6 of Fig. 1:
[0011] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of circled portion B of Fig. 6;
[0012] Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the door frame of the cooler door
of Figs. 1-7;
[0013] Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the cooler door of Fig. 8 taken along
line 9-9 of Fig. 8;
[0014] Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the interior transparent panel
of the cooler door of
Figs. 1-7;
[0015] Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the interior glass of Fig. 10 taken
along line 11-11 of Fig.
10;
[0016] Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of circled portion C of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13
[0017] Fig. 13 is a rear elevational view of a section of the insulation
bridge of the cooler door of
Figs. 1-7;
[0018] Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the insulation bridge of Fig. 13 taken
along line 14-14 of
Fig. 13;
[0019] Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view of the door gasket of the cooler
door of Figs. 1-7;
[0020] Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the door gasket of Fig. 15 taken along
line 16-16 of Fig. 15;
[0021] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a cooler equipped with the decorative
door of Figs. 1-3.
2

CA 02658928 2009-01-26
WO 2008/014269 PCT/US2007/074237
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] A cooler door constructed in accordance with the present invention is
indicated in general
at 20 in Fig. 1. The door features an outer protective transparent panel 22
(which may or may
not be decorative). In addition, as illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the door
features a left door post 24a, a
right door post 24b, a top end cap 26a and a bottom end cap 26b. As
illustrated in Fig. 2, the left
door post 24a features a handle 28 for opening. The left and right door posts
and top end and
bottom end caps may be constructed from plastic, aluminum or other materials.
[0023] As illustrated in Figs. 4-7, the door features three layers of
transparent panels in addition
to the outer protective transparent panel 22. More specifically, the door
features an interior
transparent panel 32, outer surface transparent panel 34 and inner surface
transparent panel 36.
The space between interior transparent pane132 and outer surface transparent
pane134, indicated
at 38 in Figs. 5 and 7, and the space between interior transparent panel 32
and inner surface
transparent panel 36, indicated at 42 in Figs. 5 and 7, are vacuum insulated.
The transparent
panels 22, 32, 34 and 36 may be constructed from acrylic, glass or any other
transparent material.
[0024] A frame, indicated at 44 in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, and indicated in general
at 44 in Fig. 9,
features a circumferential slot 46 (Fig. 9) that holds the interior
transparent panel 32
circumferentially by its edges. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the frame also
includes a chamber 50 that
travels the circumference or perimeter of the frame and that houses multiple
light-emitting
diodes (LEDs) as illustrated at 52 in Figs. 5 and 7. As a result, the LEDs 52
run along the top
and bottom and both sides of the frame 44. The LEDs receive power via electric
cord 54 of Figs.
1-3. In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the frame includes a passage 54
that travels the
circumference or perimeter of the frame. This passage is filled with molecular
mesh, indicated at
56 in Figs. 5 and 7, to provide insulation to interior transparent panel 32.
While LEDs are
illustrated and described herein, alternative light sources may be used. In
addition, alternative
insulation materials known in the art may be substituted for the molecular
mesh 56. Frame 44
may be constructed from aluminum, plastic or a variety of other materials,
preferably providing
low levels of heat transfer.
3

CA 02658928 2009-01-26
WO 2008/014269 PCT/US2007/074237
[0025] As illustrated in Fig. 5, outer surface transparent panel 34 is secured
against frame 44 by
inwardly protruding portions 57 of left and right door posts 24a and 24b, as
well as outer
protective transparent panel 22 and inwardly protruding portions 59 of top end
and bottom end
caps 26a and 26b (Fig. 7).
[0026] As illustrated in Figs. 10-12, the interior transparent panel or sheet
32 features a V-
shaped channel 58 formed or etched therein that forms a decoration that
illuminates when lit
from the side by the LEDs 52 of Figs. 5 and 7. As an example only, the angle
of the channel
(indicated at 62 in Fig. 12) may be approximately 90 . Alternative channel
shapes may be used,
as long as the channel catches the light produced by LEDs 52 of Figs. 5 and 7
as they travel
through the interior sheet 32. In addition, while a bottle shape is
illustrated as the decoration in
Fig. 10, the decorative shape may obviously take other shapes and could
optionally include text.
[0027] As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, an insulation bridge 66 travels around
the periphery of
inner surface transparent pane136 and is secured to top and bottom caps 26a
and 26b by pins 68
(as illustrated in Fig. 7) and to right and left door posts 24a and 24b by
pins 72 (as illustrated in
Fig. 5). An enlarged view of a section of the insulation bridge is illustrated
in Fig. 13, while a
sectional view of the bridge is illustrated in Fig. 14, where the bridge is
indicated in general at
66. Pins 68 and 72, of Figs. 7 and 5, respectively, pass through openings 74
of Figs. 13 and 14.
As illustrated in Figs, 13 and 14, the insulation bridge features a channel 76
and a transparent
panel engagement portion 78. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, the transparent
panel engagement
portion 78 engages the inner surface transparent panel 36 and secures the
periphery of the inner
surface transparent panel to frame 44. The function of channe176 will be
explained below. The
insulation bridge is preferably constructed of rubber, plastic or another type
of insulating
material that is at least semi-rigid.
[0028] As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, a door gasket 82 is secured to the
channel 76 of the
insulation bridge 66 via studs 84 so as to run around the periphery of the
door inner surface. An
enlarged view of the gasket is provided in Fig. 15, while Fig. 16 provides a
sectional view of the
gasket. The gasket is preferably formed of rubber and seals the interior space
of coolers
equipped with the door when the door is closed.
4

CA 02658928 2009-01-26
WO 2008/014269 PCT/US2007/074237
[0029] As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the right door post 24b features
cylindrical opening 86
passing longitudinally there through. The opening 86 receives a rod, bar or
other means for
mounting the door to the front side edge of a cooler in a hinged fashion, as
illustrated for cooler
90 in Fig. 17. More specifically, with reference to Fig. 17, the cooler 90
includes a housing 92
that encloses and houses a refrigerated space for beverages or food items. The
housing features
an open front so that the beverages or food items may be removed from the
interior of the cooler.
Decorative door 20 is mounted in a hinged fashion to cover the open front of
the cooler housing.
[0030] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, it will
be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be
made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined by the appended
claims.

Dessin représentatif