REFRIGERATED CABINET

MX430993BActive Publication Date: 2026-02-25TRUE MFG CO INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
MX2022011598
Authority / Receiving Office
MX · MX
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-09-21
Filing Date
2022-09-19
Publication Date
2026-02-25
Estimated Expiration
2042-09-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Refrigeration cabinets, particularly large display cabinets, are difficult to install level due to their weight and the cumbersome process of adjusting shim stacks, which is time-consuming and challenging for installers.

Method used

An adjustable support system with movable legs and floor sliders allows installers to level the cabinet from inside, using a center indicator and level sensor for precise adjustments, and optionally an automated leveling system for enhanced ease.

Benefits of technology

Facilitates easy and precise leveling of refrigeration cabinets without crawling under the unit, reducing installation time and enhancing safety by allowing internal adjustments and potentially automating the process.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A leg is attached to the bottom wall of a refrigerated cabinet. The leg can be selectively moved relative to the bottom wall to adjust its vertical position. The bottom wall provides access to the leg from inside the cabinet, allowing a user to selectively move the leg to adjust its vertical position relative to the bottom wall. The leg includes a stop configured to engage with the bottom wall, thus limiting the leg's downward adjustment relative to the bottom wall. A floor slider is attached to the bottom wall and initially extends downward from the bottom wall beyond the leg. The floor slider allows the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployed position, and then the leg can be lowered to rest the cabinet in the deployed position on the slider.
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Description

REFRIGERATED CABINET Field of Invention This description refers in general to refrigeration cabinets, and more particularly to refrigeration cabinets with features for moving and / or leveling the cabinet on site. Background of the Invention Commercial refrigerated cabinets are widely used to refrigerate large quantities of products, such as food or pharmaceuticals. For example, refrigerated display cabinets are used to store chilled food for sale. Many end users require that the cabinet be installed level to properly store the refrigerated products. Typically, the cabinet is placed on stacks of leveling blocks, which facilitate leveling the unit. Brief Description of the Invention In one aspect, a refrigerated cabinet comprises walls that separate an exterior of the cabinet from an interior that is configured to be cooled by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall. A leg is attached to the bottom wall to support it on a bearing surface. The leg can be selectively moved relative to the wall. Ref. 337963 to the bottom wall to adjust the vertical position of the leg relative to the bottom wall. The bottom wall is configured so that the leg is accessible from inside the cabinet to allow a user to selectively move the leg to adjust its vertical position relative to the bottom wall. In another aspect, a method of deploying a refrigerated cabinet comprises placing the refrigerated cabinet in a deployment location such that the cabinet rests on a support surface. At least one of a plurality of legs connected to a lower wall of the refrigerated cabinet is moved relative to the lower wall to adjust the vertical position of the lower wall with respect to the support surface. Assisting in moving at least one of a plurality of legs comprises accessing the at least one of a plurality of legs from inside the refrigerated cabinet. In another aspect, a refrigerated cabinet comprises walls that separate an exterior of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet, which is configured to be cooled by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall. At least one leg is connected to the bottom wall and projects downward from the bottom wall a first distance. The leg can move relative to the bottom wall along a vertical axis. A floor slider is connected to the bottom wall and projects downward from the bottom wall a second distance greater than the first. The floor slider is configured to allow the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployed position, and the leg is configured to be lowered after the cabinet is in the deployed position to support the cabinet in the deployed position on the leg. In another aspect, a refrigerated cabinet comprises walls that separate an exterior from an interior, which is configured to be cooled by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall. A leg is attached to the bottom wall to support it on a surface. The leg can be selectively moved relative to the bottom wall to adjust its vertical position. A drive shaft is configured to automatically drive the leg's movement. A level sensor is configured to emit a signal representing the cabinet's level orientation. A controller is configured to receive the signal from the level sensor and to actuate the drive shaft accordingly, moving the leg to level the cabinet. In another aspect, a refrigerated cabinet comprises walls that separate an exterior from an interior configured to be cooled by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet. The walls include a bottom wall. A leg is attached to the bottom wall to support it on a surface. The leg can be selectively moved relative to the bottom wall to adjust its vertical position. The bottom wall is configured so that the leg is accessible from inside the cabinet, allowing a user to selectively move the leg to adjust its vertical position relative to the bottom wall. The leg includes a stop configured to limit the downward adjustment of the leg relative to the bottom wall of the cabinet. In another aspect, a support assembly for a refrigerated cabinet comprises a support bracket including at least one threaded opening and an adjustable leg for each of the at least one threaded opening. Each adjustable leg includes a threaded shaft that is threaded into the threaded opening. The threaded shaft has an upper end portion and a lower end portion separated along an axis of the threaded shaft. The upper end portion of the threaded shaft includes a peripheral annular groove. Each adjustable leg further includes a retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove. The retaining ring is sized and arranged to engage an upper portion of the support bracket when the adjustable leg is threaded downward to a lower position of the adjustable leg, whereby the retaining ring forms a stop that limits the downward movement of the adjustable leg relative to the support bracket. Other aspects will be partly obvious and partly pointed out below. Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerated display cabinet; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a part of the wardrobe showing a skirting board connected to a lower wall via a support assembly; Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the cabinet; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support assembly; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a lower cabinet assembly including a bottom wall and a plurality of support assemblies, showing the legs of the support assemblies in various stages of use; Figure 6 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 5, showing a leg of a support assembly in a top position; Figure 7 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 7-7 of Figure 5, showing a center interval indicator and a drill bit attached to a leg of a support assembly in a top position; Figure 8 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 8-8 of Figure 5, showing a drill attached to another leg of the support assembly of Figure 7, wherein the leg is in a lower position and a center interval indicator is received in an indicator position in an access opening in the lower wall; Figure 9 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 9-9 of Figure 5, showing a leg of a support assembly in a lower position and an insulating plug in a corresponding access opening; Figure 10 is a cross-section taken through the plane of line 10-10 of Figure 5, showing another leg of the support assembly of Figure 9 in a lower position, an insulating plug in a corresponding access opening, and a cap over the insulating plug; Figure 11 is a front elevation view of a level indicator; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a central interval indicator; Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of an automated leveling system for a refrigeration cabinet; Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of 1030 a part of a support bracket including a leg having a stop on a portion of the upper end of a threaded shaft; Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the upper end portion of the shaft in Figure 14; Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective of the leg in Figure 14; Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective similar to Figure 14 but showing the leg in a lower position of its range of motion where the stop limits the downward movement of the leg; and Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 17; The corresponding reference characters indicate the corresponding parts in all figures. Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to Figures 1-3, one embodiment of a refrigerated cabinet within the scope of this description is generally designated by reference number 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the refrigerated cabinet 110 comprises a retail display cabinet. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, retail display cabinets may be equipped with one or more glass doors 112 so that the contents of the cabinet are visible to customers in a retail establishment. It is also contemplated that the refrigerated cabinets within the scope of the description may be air curtain type display cabinets that use air curtains instead of doors. Additionally, it is contemplated that other types of refrigerated cabinets may be used without departing from the scope of the description.For example, refrigeration cabinets may include commercial upright refrigerators and / or freezers, undercounter refrigerators and / or freezers, open refrigerators and / or freezers, drawer refrigerators and / or freezers, or other types of residential or commercial refrigerators and / or freezers. Refrigeration cabinets within the scope of this description may be of the self-contained type (where the refrigeration system is integrated with the cabinet as a single product), of the remote refrigeration type (where the mechanical components of the refrigeration system are located away from the refrigeration cabinet and are connected to the refrigeration cabinet via ductwork, plumbing, and electrical lines), or of another type (for example, where the cabinet is manufactured separately from the refrigeration system but is configured to have the separate refrigeration unit installed in the cabinet on-site). The inventors have acknowledged that refrigerated cabinets of the various types described above can be difficult to install level. The problem is particularly acute in large display cabinets. 1030 format cabinets are very heavy and difficult to move. The typical process requires a team of technicians to load the cabinet onto a pallet jack or forklift and then move it to a deployment position, where the back of the cabinet is usually placed against a wall or the back of another cabinet. In the deployment position, the cabinet is lowered onto a series of shims, which allow for subsequent height adjustments to level the unit. If the cabinet is being installed side-by-side with additional cabinets, the same process is repeated for the additional cabinets, and then the cabinets are joined together using mechanical fixings and sealing. When all the cabinets are positioned side by side, the installer verifies that the cabinets are level.If, as is typical, the cabinets were not initially installed perfectly level, the installer must crawl on the floor and reach under the cabinet to repeatedly remove shims from the selected shim stacks until the cabinet achieves a level orientation. The inventors have acknowledged that this process is time-consuming and difficult for installers. Because refrigerated cabinets are typically very heavy, it is not easy for installers to lift a cabinet onto a jack or accurately lower it onto a shim stack. Furthermore, removing the shims supporting the cabinet is difficult, particularly when it is necessary to remove shims from shim stacks located near the rear of the cabinet, where access is often obstructed.Accordingly, the inventors have devised an adjustable support system that allows installers to more easily move the heavy 110 cabinet into place and then level the cabinet once it is in position. With reference to Figures 1-3, cabinet 110 generally comprises a set of walls separating the refrigerated interior from the exterior of the cabinet. In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet comprises a pair of side walls 114, a rear wall 116, a top wall 118, and a bottom wall 120. It will be appreciated that if the cabinet is to be used in a side-by-side configuration with one or more additional refrigerated cabinets, one or both side walls may be omitted to provide a contiguous interior along the length of the cabinets. It will be appreciated that cabinets with a different number of doors (e.g., one or more doors) may be used without departing from the scope of the description. In the illustrated embodiment, cabinet 110 is configured for top-mounted refrigeration. Therefore, a refrigeration system (not shown) may be mounted on the top wall 118 to cool the interior of cabinet 110.A top cover 124 is located around the perimeter of the top wall 118 above the doors 112 to conceal the refrigeration system. The cabinet 110 has a width extending between the side walls 114 and a depth extending from front to back from the doors 112 to the rear wall 116. The bottom wall 120 of the refrigerated cabinet 110 comprises a foam insulation panel 125 (Figures 6-10) extending the full width and depth of the cabinet. In addition, the bottom wall 120 comprises upper and lower linings 126 (e.g., sheet metal linings, Figures 6-10) that substantially encapsulate the insulation panel 125. The upper lining 126 defines the upper surface of the bottom wall 120, and the lower lining 126 defines the lower surface of the bottom wall. As shown in Figures 5-10, the illustrated bottom wall 120 comprises a plurality of pluggable access openings 128 extending through the thickness of the wall from the lower surface to the upper surface, such that the access openings are accessible from inside the cabinet 110.In particular, the illustrated bottom wall 120 comprises three crosswise access openings 128 along the front of the bottom wall and three crosswise access openings along the rear of the bottom wall. It is contemplated that other bottom walls of the cabinet may have other arrangements of one or more access openings. In certain exemplary embodiments, the bottom wall... 1030 may comprise at least one access opening in each of the four corner regions of the lower wall. With reference to Figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 110 comprises three support assemblies 130 attached to the bottom wall 120 at separate locations along the width of the cabinet between the side walls 114. The three support assemblies 130 form the aforementioned support system of the illustrated cabinet 110. In general, each of the support assemblies 130 is configured to support the cabinet 110 on an underlying support surface (e.g., a floor). Each of the illustrated support assemblies 130 comprises a support bracket 132 that is configured to support one or more fixed, low-friction floor glides 134 and one or more adjustable stabilizing legs 136. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the support assemblies 130 is substantially identical to the others.But in other configurations, it is considered that the support assemblies may differ, for example, according to their position along the bottom wall. With reference to Figure 4, the support bracket 132 comprises a support plate that includes an elongated upper web 140 extending longitudinally from a portion of the front end to a portion of the rear end. The support bracket 132 is installed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 120 such that the elongated web 140 generally extends from front to rear, with the front end portion below the front portion of the bottom wall and the rear end portion below the rear portion of the bottom wall. The illustrated support bracket 132 further comprises a front and rear flange 142 extending downward from the front and rear end portions of the upper web 140 along the front and rear end portions thereof.The front flange 142 includes a front edge portion 144 forming a skirting board attachment device that defines the skirting board attachment points (e.g., fastening holes such as screw or bolt holes) for attaching a skirting board 122 (Figure 2) to the rest of the cabinet 110. In certain embodiments, the attachment points can be defined by means of clip nuts that are attached to the front edge portion 144. Each of the flanges 142 further comprises a side edge portion 146 forming a cabinet-to-cabinet attachment device that defines attachment points (e.g., fastening holes such as screw or bolt holes) for attaching the refrigeration cabinet 110 to an adjacent cabinet.Therefore, it will be appreciated that the support assemblies 130 installed along the side portions of the cabinet should be installed so that the side edge portions 146 of the flanges 142 face laterally outwards. 1030 With reference to Figures 4 and 6, in one example embodiment, a floor slider 134 is attached to the underside of the upper web 140 at a location adjacent to the front end portion of the support 132, and another floor slider 134 is attached to the underside of the upper web at a location adjacent to the rear end portion of the support. As shown in Figures 6-8, the floor slider 134 can be mounted on the support bracket 120 to project downward from the bottom wall 120 by a vertical distance DF. In one or more embodiments, the distance DF can be a fixed distance. In other words, the floor slider 134 can be fixedly mounted on the support plate 130. As will be explained in more detail below, the legs 136, on the other hand, are vertically adjustable with respect to the support bracket 132 to adjust the orientation of the cabinet 110 on the supporting surface (e.g.,(for leveling the cabinet). In exemplary embodiments, the floor glides 134 have lower contact surfaces formed from a relatively low-friction material. For example, in one or more embodiments, the floor glides are formed from one or more polyoxymethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, and nylon. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the floor glides 134 is in the shape of an inverted dome or a downward-pointing hemisphere. Other shapes, including flat-bottomed shapes, are also possible within the scope of the description. With reference to Figures 6-7, the upper web 140 of the support bracket 132 comprises front and rear leg openings 148 adjacent to the front and rear end portions of the support bracket. The bracket 132 further comprises a nut 150 fixed (e.g., welded) to the upper web 150 at each leg opening 148 to define a respective threaded opening in the bracket. It is also contemplated that in one or more alternative embodiments, a threaded opening can be threaded directly into a support plate. As will be explained in more detail below, each nut 150 is configured to be threaded into one of the legs 136 so that the leg can be adjusted vertically with respect to the lower wall 120. Each nut 150 is received in a lower portion of a respective access opening 128 (e.g., the threaded opening is aligned with the access opening) so that a portion of the respective leg 136 can extend through the nut and the access opening. With reference to Figures 4-10, in general, each support assembly 130 comprises at least one adjustable leg 136 that is connected to the bottom wall 120 to support the bottom wall and the rest of the cabinet 110 on a bearing surface. As will be explained in more detail in 1030 Next, each leg 136 can be moved relative to the bottom wall 120 to adjust the leg's vertical position with respect to the bottom wall. In other words, the leg 136 can be moved along a vertical axis to adjust an adjustable distance DA between the bottom wall 120 and an underlying support surface. By adjusting the adjustable distance DA of one or more of a plurality of legs 136 connected to the bottom wall 120 at separate locations along the depth and width of the cabinet 110, an installer can level the cabinet. As will be explained in more detail below, an installer can adjust the illustrated legs 136 by working inside the cabinet, eliminating the need to crawl on the floor and reach under the cabinet during the leveling process. In the illustrated configuration, each leg 136 has a range of motion relative to the bottom wall 120 along a vertical axis.The full range of motion extends from a higher position shown in Figures 6-7, where the lower part of the leg is separated above the lower part of the floor slider 134, to a lower position somewhat lower than the positions shown in Figures 8-10, where the lower part of the leg is separated below the lower part of the floor slider. In the illustrated embodiment, each leg 136 comprises an initial (upper) position shown in Figure 6. After sliding the cabinet 110 over the protruding sliders 134 through the floor to a deployed position, the legs 136 are lowered to the positions shown in Figures 8-10. With reference now to Figures 8-10, in one or more configurations, each of the legs 136 is configured to lower to a final cabinet-supporting position in which the header 156 is recessed beneath the top of the corresponding access opening 128. The purpose of recessing the headers 156 in this manner is to allow a portion of the opening 128 extending through the insulating panel 125 to be filled with an insulating plug 160, as shown in Figures 9-10. Each insulating plug 160 is made of a material with good thermal insulation properties. As such, when each of the legs 136 is lowered and each of the openings 128 is filled with a respective plug 160, the lower wall 120 provides a substantially contiguous layer of insulation along the bottom of the cabinet interior.In one or more forms, the plugs can be covered with removable caps 162 that are suitably adapted in appearance and / or material to the upper coating 126. In order to provide sufficient space for the 160 plugs, in one or more modalities, before making the 1030 1030 Final leveling adjustments, each of the legs 136 is lowered to a "center interval position" which is substantially vertically centered along a lower portion of the total range of motion that can accommodate the entire plug 160, e.g., along the entire lower portion of the range of motion, the plug can be received in the access opening above the head 156. This allows minor leveling adjustments to be subsequently made to any of the legs 136 (e.g., movement up or down from the center interval position), while ensuring that the legs remain within the lower portion of the range of motion to accommodate the plug 160.To ensure that the cabinet 110 is installed level with each of the legs positioned within this lower portion of the travel range, as shown in Figures 5, 7, 8, and 12, the illustrated cabinet includes a center range indicator 164 that indicates the location of the head 156 in a central position within the lower portion of the travel range. In particular, the center range indicator 164 comprises a lower annular wall 166 configured to be received over the upper end portion of the threaded shaft 154, a pair of arms 168 extending upward from the margin of the perimeter edge of the lower annular wall on diametrically opposite sides, and flanges 170. The 1030 arms extend radially outward from the upper end portions of the arms 168. In use, the lower annular wall 166 is positioned over the head 156 of the threaded shaft 154 as shown in Figure 7. The spaced arms 168 and the opening through the annular wall 166 allow a drill bit B or other tool to engage with the head of the shaft 156. Drill bit B is then used to rotate the threaded shaft 154 and lower the leg 136 until the upper flanges 170 engage with the top surface of the lower wall 120, as shown in Figure 8. Engagement of the upper flanges 170 with the top surface of the lower wall 120 provides an indication that the leg 136 is generally located at the desired center interval.In one or more of the embodiments, after sliding the cabinet 110 over the floor slides 134 to a deployed position, the center interval indicator 164 is used to position each of the legs 126 at the respective center interval location before fine-tuning the legs to level the cabinet 110. This ensures that, when the cabinet is finally leveled, each of the legs 136 is positioned low enough on the bottom wall 120 so that the plug 160 can fit into the access opening 128. With reference to Figure 11, in one or more modes, the cabinet includes a level indicator 172. In mode As illustrated in Figure 1030, the level indicator 172 comprises a level or bubble level. More specifically, the illustrated indicator 172 comprises a tubular horizontal level 174 and a tubular vertical level 176. It is contemplated that, in another embodiment, the level will comprise a target level. Conveniently, the level indicator 172 is mounted on the inner surface of at least one of the walls 114, 116 adjacent to one of the access openings 128. In certain embodiments, multiple level indicators 172 are mounted on the walls 114, 116 adjacent to the respective access openings 128. In some embodiments, a first level indicator 172 can be mounted on the rear wall 116 to indicate leveling in the width direction, and a second level indicator can be mounted on one of the side walls 114 to indicate leveling in the front-to-back direction.Providing one or more integrated level indicators 172 allows the technician to perform a leveling check while making adjustments to the vertical positions of one or more of the legs 136 from inside the cabinet 110. In certain configurations, the level indicator 172 may not be attached to the cabinet 110. For example, the cabinet 110 may include a manual or sticker that provides instructions on where to place the level during the leveling process. An example method for deploying cabinet 110 is briefly described below. Cabinet 110 is initially shipped from the manufacturer or distributor with legs 136 in the initial positions shown in Figure 6. In other words, each of the floor sliders 134 projects downward from the bottom wall 120 by a distance DF, and each of the legs 136 projects downward from the bottom wall by a distance DA, which is less than the distance DF. Therefore, cabinet 110 rests on the floor sliders 134. In this configuration, cabinet 110 can be slid on the floor sliders 134 with relative ease to move the cabinet to the deployment position (e.g., a location against a wall). Once the cabinet 110 is placed in the desired deployment position, the installers can support the cabinet on the legs 136. Initially, the installers use the center-range indicator 164 to lower each leg 136 to a center-range position, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. More specifically, the installers place the indicator 164 on the head 156 of each threaded shaft 154 inside the cabinet 110 and then use a drill bit D or other drive shaft inside the cabinet to rotate the shaft until the flanges 170 engage with the top surface of the bottom wall 120, indicating that the leg 136 is in the desired center-range position. Subsequently, the installer uses a drill bit D or other drive shaft to make fine adjustments to the vertical positions of the legs. 1030 The installer adjusts the selected legs 136 until the cabinet is level both widthwise and front-to-back. More specifically, the installer attaches a tool head B to the head 156 of the threaded shaft 154 of the selected legs 136 inside the cabinet 110 and rotates the tool head to turn the leg 136 relative to the bottom wall 120, thereby adjusting the vertical position as desired. In certain embodiments, installers use integrated level indicators 172 to determine whether the cabinet 110 is roughly level. Optionally, the installer can then place a long level (e.g., a box beam level) along a reference surface of the cabinet 110 to ensure that the cabinet is substantially level widthwise and front-to-back. Further adjustments to the legs 136 can be made from inside the cabinet 110 to further improve leveling as required.Once the cabinet is leveled as desired, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the installer inserts plugs 160 into each of the access openings 128 and installs caps 162 over the plugs. A potential advantage of the illustrated cabinet 110 is its use in environments that may require periodic relocation of the cabinet to different locations. The cabinet 110 can be moved by removing the caps 162 and plugs 160, rotating the threaded shafts 154 of the legs 136 to raise the legs so that the cabinet rests again on the sliders 134, and then sliding the cabinet on the sliders to the desired relocation location. Once the cabinet 110 reaches the redeployment location, the legs 136 can be lowered and used to stabilize and level the cabinet in the same manner as described above. It is envisaged that, in one or more embodiments, the cabinet 110 may be provided with an automated leveling system 178. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the cabinet 110 comprises a level controller 180, one or more leg drive shafts 182, and a level sensor 184. The level sensor 184 may be integrated into the cabinet or may be a separate instrument configured to connect to the cabinet controller 180 via a communication port. Each leg drive shaft 182 may comprise an electric motor coupled to a gear train configured to drive the rotation of the threaded shaft 154 of one of the respective legs. The level sensor 184 suitably comprises one or more inclinometers or another sensor configured to provide an output signal representative of the orientation of one or more axes of a plane of the cabinet 110 intended to be horizontal when deployed.Controller 180 is connected to level sensor 184 to receive the orientation signal. In response to the orientation signal, the controller is configured to send control signals to leg drive shafts 182, which in turn activate the drive shafts to raise and lower the legs as needed to level the cabinet floor. It is also envisaged that a controller 180 and an electronic level sensor 184 can be used with a manually adjusted pin 136. For example, in one or more modes, the controller 180 is connected to an indicator (e.g., a display, a light element, an audio device, etc.). The controller can interpret the signal from the level sensor 184 and activate the indicator to provide the installer with information about the leveling of the cabinet. With reference to Figures 14-18, the inventors have acknowledged the risk that an installer, working from inside the cabinet to adjust the legs, could inadvertently lower a leg beyond the lowest position in which it remains securely connected to the cabinet 110. This presents a serious safety hazard. If one of the legs were to become disconnected, the cabinet 110 could tip over or fall on the installer. As explained earlier, there are many advantages to the illustrated adjustment system that allows the installer to adjust the legs from inside the cabinet 110. However, the installer does not have a clear view of the area up to the point of connection between the leg and the support bracket. Therefore, the inventors believe that providing an additional restraint against excessive rotation of the leg can make the installation process safer for the installer. To address this safety risk, the inventors have designed a new leg 136' that includes a stop 137' broadly configured to limit the downward adjustment of the leg relative to the bottom wall of cabinet 110. Leg 136' is substantially similar to leg 136, except for the features relating to stop 137'. The features of leg 136' corresponding to leg 136 will be given the same reference number, followed by a prime symbol. Leg 136' can replace leg 136 in cabinet 110 and throughout this description. The leg 136' comprises a threaded shaft 154' having an upper end portion 156' and a lower end portion separated along an axis A of the threaded shaft. The stop 137' generally comprises a projection extending radially outward from axis A on the upper end portion 156' of the threaded shaft 154'. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper end portion 156' of the threaded shaft 154' comprises a peripheral annular groove 157' (Figure 16), and the stop 137' comprises a retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove. As shown in Figure 16, the retaining ring 137' comprises an external shaft ring having a first end portion 137A' and a second end portion 137B'. IVIA / a / ZUZZ / U 11 330 and a length extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The length of the retaining ring 137' extends in a loop around the axis A of the threaded shaft 154' such that the first end portion 137A' is adjacent to the second end portion 137B' and is separated from the second end portion by a groove in the retaining ring. The first end portion 137A' and the second end portion 137B' of the retaining ring 137' each have a first radial dimension RD1 with respect to the axis A of the threaded shaft 154'. The retaining ring 137' further comprises a segment 137C' between the first end portion 137A' and the second end portion 137B', segment (137C) extending along most of the length of the retaining ring. This middle segment 137C' has a second radial dimension RD2.The first radial dimension RD1 is larger than the second radial dimension RD2 such that at least the first and second end portions 137A', 137B' form the radial projection that provides the stop limiting the downward movement of the leg 136'. In certain embodiments, the radial dimension RD2 of the middle segment 137C' is dimensioned so that the entire middle segment also projects radially from the shaft 154' to form a radial projection that provides a stop limiting the downward movement of the leg 136'. As shown in Figures 14, 17 and 18, the threaded shaft 154' of each leg 136' is threaded into one of the nuts 150 of the support brackets 132. In one example, each nut 150 of the cabinet 110 receives a leg 136' with a safety stop 137'. As explained above, the threaded shafts 154' can be used to lift the cabinet 110 off the slides 134 onto the legs 136' and can be further adjusted to level the cabinet 110. During these processes, the threaded shaft 154' is configured to be threaded downwards by rotation about the nut 150. If the installer accidentally over-rotates the leg 136', the stop 137' is configured to engage the top of the nut 150 to limit the downward adjustment of the leg relative to the bottom wall 120 of the cabinet 110.In other words, stop 137' defines a lower position of a vertical adjustment range of leg 136' and will not allow the leg to move down beyond this lower position. When introducing elements of the present invention or its preferred embodiment(s), the articles "a," "a," and "the" imply that there is one or more of the elements. The expressions comprising, including, and having are intended to include and refer to the possibility of additional elements beyond those indicated. Taking into account the foregoing, it will be observed that the various objectives of the invention are achieved and other beneficial results are obtained. Since various changes can be made to the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all the material contained in the preceding description be interpreted as illustrative and not in a definitive sense. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerated cabinet, characterized in that it comprises: walls separating an exterior of the cabinet from an interior of the cabinet that is configured to be cooled by a refrigeration system connected to the cabinet, wherein the walls include a bottom wall; a leg connected to the bottom wall to support the bottom wall on a bearing surface, wherein the leg can be selectively moved relative to the bottom wall to adjust a vertical position of the leg with respect to the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall is configured such that the leg is accessible from the inside of the cabinet to allow a user to selectively move the leg in order to adjust the vertical position of the leg with respect to the bottom wall; and wherein the leg includes a stop configured to limit the downward adjustment of the leg with respect to the bottom wall of the cabinet.

2. The refrigeration cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the leg comprises a threaded shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion separated along an axis of the threaded shaft.

3. The refrigeration cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop comprises a projection extending radially outwards with respect to the shaft on the upper end portion of the threaded shaft.

4. The refrigeration cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper end portion of the threaded shaft comprises a peripheral annular groove.

5. The refrigeration cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop comprises a retaining ring that is received in the peripheral annular groove.

6. The refrigerated cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining ring comprises an external shaft ring having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, wherein the length of the external shaft ring extends in a loop around the axis of the threaded shaft such that the first end portion is adjacent to the second end portion and is where the leg can be moved relative to the support to a higher position in which a lower portion of the leg is above a lower portion of the floor slider, to a lower position in which the lower portion of the leg is below the lower portion of the floor slider.

20. The cabinet according to claim 19,characterized in that the floor slider is configured to allow the cabinet to slide along a support surface to a deployed position and the leg is configured to be lowered after the cabinet is in the deployed position to support the cabinet in the deployed position on the leg.

21. A support assembly for a refrigerated cabinet, characterized in that it comprises: a support bracket including at least one threaded opening; and an adjustable leg for each of the at least one threaded opening, wherein each adjustable leg includes a threaded shaft that is threaded into the threaded opening, wherein the threaded shaft has an upper end portion and a lower end portion separated along an axis of the threaded shaft, wherein the upper end portion of the threaded shaft includes a peripheral annular groove,Each adjustable leg further includes a retaining ring received in the peripheral annular groove, where the retaining ring is sized and arranged to engage an upper portion of the support bracket when the adjustable leg is threaded down to a lower position of the adjustable leg, whereby the retaining ring forms a stop that limits the downward movement of the adjustable leg relative to the support bracket.