Display refrigerator

Abstract

An improved display cooler for storing and displaying refrigerated items for retail purchase. The improved cooler includes an LED lighting system integrated within the periphery of the glass display door of the cooler that is oriented so as to provide substantially greater illumination of the products contained within the cooler. The LED system is further of substantially lower maintenance and space efficiency compared to prior art lighting systems. The improved cooler further includes a base-integrated refrigeration unit that is substantially easier to access than prior art coolers. Such cooling system further includes condenser coils having a fin-free design that substantially reduces servicing and cleaning.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND[0003]The present invention is directed to improved coolers for storing and displaying refrigerated items for retail purchase. The improved coolers are provided with enhanced illumination means and are further significantly easier to maintain and service than prior art coolers.[0004]Display refrigerators or coolers for storing and displaying refrigerated items, and in particular beverages, are well-known in the art. Typically, such coolers are configured per conventional refrigerators that are provided with a series of shelves or racks upon which refrigerated items may be displayed. Typically, the display cooler is provided with a glass door and illumination means, set within the ceiling or sides of the refrigerator that enables the retail purchaser to see the contents within the refrigerator while keeping the contents within the display cool...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]More specifically, the improved display refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a transparent display door that includes an LED-based lighting system integrated about all or a portion of the interior periphery thereof. The LED-based lighting system is preferably arranged as one or more linear arrays of LED lights that are operatively angled to optimally illuminate the contents stored within the display refrigerator. Unlike prior art display refrigerators that utilize fluorescent bulbs integrated within the refrigerator body of the display refrigerator, the LED system is integrated within the periphery of the refrigerator door, which is not only space efficient, but substantially minimizes the ability of such lighting system to become damaged or broken. Moreover, by virtue of the fact that LED lights are utilized, the lighting system will possess substantially longer life and be of substantially lower maintenance than prior art display refrigerators utilizing alternative lighting means.

[0010]To enhance the ability of the LED system integrated within the refrigerator door of the improved display refrigerator to both optimally illuminate the contents within the refrigerator, as well as to enhance the durability and enhance the ability of the lighting system to withstand impact or damage, there is further preferably provided an elongate protective casing that is operative to extend over the linear array of LED lights. Such protective coating is preferably formed from a durable polymer material and operative to facilitate the distribution of light emitted from the LED electrodes. To that end, the protective casing will preferably be formed to have a generally arcuate cross-section and may further include a plurality of apertures that align with respective ones of the LED lights to allow for direct illumination. Still further, the protective casing will be formed in a manner that is operative to resist condensation buildup as is well-known in the art to occur in refrigeration systems.

[0011]With respect to the easier access and lower maintenance associated with the improved display refrigerator of the present invention, there is provided a base-mounted refrigeration system accessible from the bottom front portion thereof. By providing such access through the front portion of the improved display r

Problems solved by technology

Unlike prior art display refrigerators that utilize fluorescent bulbs integrated within the refrigerator body of the display refrigerator, the LED system is integrated within the periphery of the refrigerator door, which is not only space efficient, but substantially minimizes the ability

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