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 refrigerator, such refrigerator need not be moved or otherwise pulled from its position in order to access the refrigeration system for maintenance and cleaning. As a consequence, such base-mounted refrigeration system accessible from the front of the improved display refrigerator is substantially less labor intensive and disruptive of retail operations.

[0012]With respect to the refrigeration system incorporated within the improved display refrigerator, the same may take any of a variety of conventional designs known in the art and may include conventional elements such as a compressor, drain pan and condenser coils, among other conventional equipment, but will preferably include a condenser coil that has a fin-free design. In this respect, it is contemplated that the condenser coil utilized in connection with the refrigeration system of the present invention will have a unique serpentine configuration that is spaced such that heat may be caused to dissipate therefrom without the need of using fins to facilitate the dissipation of the heat, as well as may minimize the usage or dispense entirely with a fan to facilitate heat removal via convection. In this regard, it is contemplated that the condenser coils will be stacked upon one another in close proximity to the front-facing base of the refrigerator in close proximity to an external grill operative to provide ventilation sufficient to facilitate the dissipation of heat. By eliminating the fins associated with condenser coils, as well as minimizing or eliminating the use of a condenser fan as is typically deployed to facilitate the removal of heat from the condenser coils, there is substantially minimized the potential for the improved display refrigerator, and more particularly the refrigeration system thereof, to break down due to potential mechanical failure to the condenser fan. Such design likewise requires lower maintenance, due to the substantially lessened ability of dust and debris to build up about the condenser coils and the fins thereof, given the reduced surface area of the condenser coils and the reduced or eliminated use of a fan operative to blow air about the coils which facilitate the accumulation of dust. As a consequence, substantially less effort is required to clean condenser coils and maintain the refrigeration in top operative condition.

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 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.

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