Snap-in panel design for a refrigeration cooler

Abstract

An insulated refrigeration panel has a first skin and a second skin. The second skin is spaced generally parallel to the first skin. A first insulating body is sandwiched by the first skin and the second skin. The first skin, the second skin and the insulating body form a panel unit. A first snap fit connector and a second snap fit connector is integrally formed with the panel unit. The first snap-fit connector allows engagement of a mating connector along the first direction while the second snap-fit connector allows flexible engagement of a second mating connector along the second direction transfers to the first direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to an insulated refrigeration panel assembly for an insulated cooling structure, such as a walk-in cooler, a refrigerated display cabinet, a beverage cooler and other insulated structure. [0002] Refrigerated goods are typically stored in an insulated space prior to their use or consumption. Such a space, such as offered by a walk-in cooler, may be erected and / or constructed on-site from a number of panels. For example, a walk-in cooler is typically constructed from insulated refrigeration panels. Each insulated refrigeration panel has an inner and outer skin. These skins sandwich an insulated foam, such as urethane. The inner and outer skins provide a smooth surface for cleaning while the insulating foam serves to keep goods cool. [0003] The insulated refrigeration panels may form the walls, the ceiling and the floor of the insulated space. For a walk-in cooler, the various wall, ceiling and floor panels are brought to the jo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The insulated refrigeration panel assembly has a first skin and a second skin spaced generally parallel to the first skin. The skins sandwich an insulating body, such as a urethane foam. A first snap-fit connector allows flexible engagement of a mating connector along one direction while a second snap-fit connector allows flexible engagement of a second mating connector along another direction. The snap-fit connectors are formed by the panels themselves, i.e., skins and insulating body, rather than by any separate connector. In this way, assembly time of the insulated space is greatly reduced because there is no need to install separate connectors to attach one panel to another.

[0009] The snap-fit connector may have features that allow flexing between two different dimensions. One dimension of the snap-fit connector allows a mating connector to be received while the other dimension locks the two connectors together.

[0010] Like the snap fit connector, the mating connector may be an integrated part of a panel or may be just another insulating body. This second insulating body may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion fits within the snap-fit connector while the other end portion may allow another snap-fit connector to fit over. Accordingly, the mating connector may serve to join two of the same type of snap-fit connectors. A flange may be attached to the second insulating body that covers a joint between two panels. The flange may be curved. This flange serves to cover the seam between panels to facilitate clean-up of the refrigerated panels and prevent the collection of food between panels.

Problems solved by technology

The fastening of these panels is both time consuming and costly.

Due to this limitation, the number of structural configurations that may be made from these snap-fit panels is also thereby limited.

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