Thermal frame for refrigeration doors

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal refrigeration frame (10) formed by a frame segment (20), a profile coupled to the front of the frame segment (20), which may be a double glazing profile (30) for double glazed doors, a triple glazing profile (40) for triple glazing or a lighting profile (50) for double glazed doors that require lighting. The thermal refrigeration frame also comprises a corner piece (60) for securing joints of the ends of the frame segments (20) by inserting the frame segment (20) into punctures in the corner piece (60).

Description

[0001] Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors

[0002] OBJECT AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention pertains to the technical field of mechanics, particularly to the field of frame profiles for refrigerated doors; specifically, it pertains to the field of thermal frame profiles and, more specifically, relates to assembly systems with profiles and corner pieces for double- and triple-insulated refrigerated frames.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Currently, there are a large number of products that require a controlled cooling temperature for preservation. Due to this demand for consumer products, primarily refrigerated food and beverages, and the desire to be available to consumers in stores or supermarkets, commercial refrigerators have been designed with different sizes and specific specifications.

[0006] Commercial refrigerators can be found, for example, in convenience stores or supermarkets. They come in different sizes and with different numbers of glass doors, which allow a view inside when closed, to display the products.

[0007] This type of refrigerator consists of three main elements: a main frame, dividing posts, and doors. Each of these elements has essential features and different assembly methods, always ensuring a thermal insulation system to prevent temperature leaks and save energy. It also provides precise temperature control to prevent the door glass from fogging up.Also, for the purpose of product display, commercial refrigerators have lighting in one of these three elements to illuminate the products displayed in front of the refrigerator, which is why a specific lighting system is also necessary. Finally, the assembly method for these three elements can differ depending on the type of construction of the frame, posts, and door. Hence, there is a great need to generate highly cost-effective solutions that save time in the assembly process.

[0008] In this particular invention, the proposed solution relates to the door frame of commercial refrigerators, its elements and the assembly method.

[0009] In the state of the art there are various solutions implemented for the assembly of frames with metal profiles for doors, for example, document PCT / US2001 / 040906, called “DISPLAY BOX DOOR AND FRAME” which refers to a refrigerated display box comprising: an enclosure with a frame defining an opening, the frame having a contact plate and configured to support and receive a door to close against the contact plate and seal the opening; a glass door having a first glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface; a low emission coating on the inner surface of the first glass panel; a second glass panel having an inner surface and an outer surface; a low emission coating on the inner surface of the second glass panel; an intermediate glass panel between the first and second glass panels;a first spacer assembly between the first and intermediate glass panels and a second spacer assembly between the intermediate and second glass panels, the first and second spacer assemblies being formed of separate hot-edge assemblies; and a frame extending around and supporting at least one of the glass panels and at least one hinge member for supporting the door relative to a support frame. However, this document does not disclose an assembly system for double- and triple-insulated glass doors having profile segments that are punched out at the corners for assembly and having a bead that is assembled to the profile segment and is designed to punch out the corners of the segments.

[0010] Likewise, document PCT / US1999 / 004855, entitled “MERCHANDISE CASE DOOR,” describes a refrigerator door for a refrigerated merchandiser case. The door includes a glass unit having first and second spaced-apart glass panels, the first panel having a forward-facing surface and the second panel having a rearward-facing surface. A spacer member extends between the first and second glass panels. The door member includes an external perimeter wall extending front to rear from a point adjacent the edge of the front glass panel to a point adjacent the rear glass panel. A second frame member wall extends between the first and second spaced-apart glass panels and extends externally away from the spaced-apart glass panels to the perimeter wall.The door track element also includes a rear wall portion extending inward toward the center of the door from the perimeter wall and over a portion of the rearward-facing surface of the second glass panel. However, this document also does not disclose an assembly system for double- and triple-paned insulated glass doors, which includes profile segments that are punched out at the corners for assembly and which includes a bead that is assembled into the profile segment and is designed to punch out the corners of the segments.

[0011] TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0012] The goal is to develop an assembly system that provides a solution for assembling refrigerated door frames. It features profile segments that are punched into the corners for assembly and also includes a bead that is assembled into the profile segment, specifically designed for punching into the corners of the profile segments. The goal is to develop a system that requires less assembly time than current systems and is versatile enough to be used on doors with double- or triple-paned glass.

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] Figure 1. Shows a perspective view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with a double insulated bead (30).

[0015] Figure 2. Shows a cross-sectional view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with a double-insulated bead (30).

[0016] Figure 3. Shows a perspective view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with a triple insulated bead (40).

[0017] Figure 4. Shows a cross-sectional view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with a triple-insulated bead (40).

[0018] Figure 5. Shows a perspective view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with lighting bead (50).

[0019] Figure 6. Shows a cross-sectional view of a segment of a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) with lighting bead (50).

[0020] Figure 7. Shows a perspective view of a Frame Segment (20).

[0021] Figure 8. Shows a cross-sectional view of a Frame Segment (20).

[0022] Figure 9. Shows a perspective view of a double insulated bead (30).

[0023] Figure 10. Shows a cross-sectional view of a double insulated bead (30). Figure 11. Shows a perspective view of a triple insulated bead (40).

[0024] Figure 12. Shows a cross-sectional view of a triple insulated bead (40).

[0025] Figure 13. Shows a perspective view of a lighting bead (50).

[0026] Figure 14. Shows a cross-sectional view of a lighting bead (50).

[0027] Figure 15. Shows a perspective view of a frame segment (20) with a double insulated bead (30).

[0028] Figure 16. Shows a cross-sectional view of a frame segment (20) with a double insulated bead (30).

[0029] Figure 17. Shows a perspective view of a corner (60).

[0030] Figure 18. Shows a side view of a corner (60).

[0031] Figure 19. Shows a perspective view of the union of two frame segments (20) fixed and held by means of a corner (60), where each frame segment (20) is punched into the corner (60).

[0032] Figure 20. Shows a cross-sectional view of a frame segment (20) with corner piece (60).

[0033] Figure 21. Shows a perspective view of a frame segment (20) with corner (60).

[0034] Figure 22. Shows a perspective view of a frame segment (20) with internal side wall (22a) and with a double insulated bead (30) inserted.

[0035] Figure 23. Shows a cross-sectional view of a frame segment (20) with an internal side wall (22a) and with a double insulated bead (30) inserted. Figure 24. Shows a perspective view of a frame segment (20) with an internal side wall (22a) and with a triple insulated bead (40) inserted.

[0036] Figure 25. Shows a cross-sectional view of a frame segment (20) with internal side wall (22a) and with a triple insulated bead (40) inserted.

[0037] Figure 26. Shows a perspective view of a frame segment (20) with internal side wall (22a) and with a lighting bead (50) inserted.

[0038] Figure 27. Shows a cross-sectional view of a frame segment (20) with internal side wall (22a) and with a lighting bead (50) inserted.

[0039] Below is a list of the parts indicated in the figures:

[0040] - Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10)

[0041] - Frame segment (20).

[0042] - Front wall (21 ).

[0043] - Side wall (22).

[0044] - Internal side wall (22a).

[0045] - Back wall (23).

[0046] - has a pair of walls (24).

[0047] - Channel for insulation (25).

[0048] - First assembly element (26).

[0049] - Second assembly element (26a).

[0050] - Front Punching Element (27).

[0051] - Rear punching element (27a).

[0052] - Corner duct (28).

[0053] - Double insulated bead (30).

[0054] - Exterior side wall (31).

[0055] - Interior side wall (32).

[0056] - Coupling system (33). - First crossbar (34).

[0057] - Second crossbar (34a).

[0058] - Coupling wall (35).

[0059] - Assembly elements (36).

[0060] - Rails for seal (37).

[0061] - Support wall (38).

[0062] - Concavity (39).

[0063] - Triple insulated bead (40).

[0064] - Lighting bead (50).

[0065] - Corner (60).

[0066] - Concavities (61 ).

[0067] - Refrigerator (11 ).

[0068] - Magnetic seal (70).

[0069] - Insulated glass (80).

[0070] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0071] Referring in more detail to the drawings, as shown in Figure 1 through Figure 21, a Thermal Frame for Refrigeration Doors (10) is described and it is to be expressly understood that this exemplary embodiment is provided for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to unduly limit the scope of the present inventive concept. Other embodiments and variations of the present invention entitled Thermal Cooling Frame (10) are contemplated within the present inventive concept as set forth in the claims herein.

[0072] The Thermal Cooling Frame (10) is made up of a frame segment (20), a bead that is coupled to the front of the frame segment (20), which can be a double insulated bead (30) for doors with double insulated glass, a triple insulated bead (40) for triple insulated, or a lighting bead (50) for doors with double insulated glass that use lighting; in addition, the Thermal Cooling Frame has a Corner (60) to fix the joints of the ends of the frame segments (20), by means of a punching of the frame segment (20) with the corner (30).

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, a frame segment (20) is made of metal, namely aluminum; a corner piece (60) is made of metal; and a bead is made of PVC, however, in other embodiments, the frame segment (20), the corner piece (60) and the bead can be made of PVC material or any other thermoplastic material, plastic, metal or alloys thereof.

[0074] The Thermal Refrigeration Frame (10) allows for quick assembly without the need for screws. It is known to any technician in the field that the frames of the refrigeration doors are made up of 4 frame segments (20), two lateral, one upper and one lower, which are joined and assembled at the corners. It is also widely known that one of the most efficient ways to join the ends of each segment is by making 45° cuts, which, when joining the segments, form the 90° angle and give the perpendicular and consequently square or rectangular shape of the refrigerated door frame.

[0075] The Thermal Cooling Frame (10) and the Assembly Method presented in this innovation are preferably intended for frame segments (20) that have their ends cut substantially at 45°, although in other embodiments there may be combinations of angle cuts between the frame segments (20) that form, in the same way, 90° degrees and that their union is perpendicular.

[0076] In this assembly method of the Thermal Cooling Frame (10), the frame segments (20) have a corner (60) that has an “L” shape, where its ends have a 90 ° angle, so one end of the corner (60) is inserted into a frame segment (20) and the other end of the corner (60) is inserted into the other end of the frame (20), such that the ends of the segments are coupled forming the 90 ° angle. The ends of the corner (60) that form an “L”, can have the same or different lengths, one from the other. The corner (60) is an element that is also known in the state of the art, however, in this innovation a previously undisclosed variant is presented consisting of a plurality of concavities (61) oriented towards the interior of the Thermal Cooling Frame (10). The concavities (61) are perpendicular to the end-to-end length of the corner piece (60).The corner piece (60) preferably has a concavity (61) at each of its ends, however, in other embodiments, the corner piece may have a greater and different number of concavities (61) at each end of the corner piece. The concavities (61) are the spaces where the frame segments (20) will be punched to fix and immobilize them. This punching process is carried out at each of the corners of the Thermal Cooling Frame (10), such that the four frame segments (20) are joined and punched at the corners, forming and stabilizing a Thermal Cooling Frame (10) with sufficient rigidity for the assembly of a door with double or triple insulated glass.

[0077] Refrigeration frames are also widely known for incorporating two essential elements to form the refrigerated door. The first element is a glass that can be double or triple insulated, which are of the insulating type and maintain the temperature inside the refrigerator, usually consisting of the union of two or more glasses separated by a hermetically sealed air chamber, forming a unit that is placed in the door frames; The second element is a magnetic seal (70), which is inserted into the frame and can be replaced for maintenance or replacement if necessary; the magnetic seals (70) have a magnet that is attracted to the metal frame of the refrigerator when the door is closed to keep it closed and airtight.

[0078] Therefore, this invention proposes the use of a bead that is assembled to the frame formed by the 4 frame segments (20) previously joined with the corner pieces (60) and that in addition said bead allows, on the one hand, the placement of double insulated glass and, on the other hand, the placement of the magnetic seal (70) towards the front of the refrigerated door. The use of a bead that fulfills these 2 essential functions and with vahantes that consist of the following 3 embodiments is proposed: a bead for double insulation (30) for double insulated glass; a bead for triple insulated (40) for triple insulated glass, and; a lighting bead (50) for double insulated glass with lighting; where any of these embodiments have the functionality of being able to adapt a magnetic seal (70) towards the internal part of the refrigerated door.Understanding that the inner part of the refrigerated door is the part that comes into contact with the refrigerator.

[0079] The frame segment (20) is an element consisting of an element with 3 walls, a front wall (21); a side wall (22) that is located at one end of the front wall (21) and that is arranged substantially perpendicular to the front wall (21), where the ends of both walls join, and; a rear wall (23) that is located at the other end of the front wall (21) and that is arranged substantially perpendicular to the side wall (22). It is understood from the above that the front wall (21) is the one that will be oriented towards the front of the refrigerator once the door is placed, while the rear wall (23) is the one that will remain in contact with the frame of the refrigerator.

[0080] At the end of the lower wall (21), opposite the end where the side wall (22) is located, there are a pair of walls for insulation (24) separated from each other, which form an insulation channel (25) in which a thermal insulator can be placed to maintain the temperature inside the refrigerator. The thermal insulator can be a thermal tape or some insulating material. Likewise, in the lower wall (21) there is a first assembly element (26) in which it is inserted under pressure at the base of any of the bulges presented in the embodiments described in this invention; said first assembly element (26) projects perpendicularly from the side wall (22).

[0081] The frame segment (20) has two elements, one front and one rear, which will be punched into the corner (60), as previously described. The front punching element (27) is located on the front wall (21), it projects perpendicularly from the front wall, between the first assembly element (26) and the side wall (22). For its part, the rear punching element (27a) is located at the end of the rear wall (23), opposite to the end where the side wall (22) is located.

[0082] The front punching element (27), the rear punching element (27a), the side wall (22) and a segment of the front wall (21) will form a corner duct (28), which has the dimensions so that one of the ends of the corner (60) can be freely introduced.

[0083] In another embodiment of the present invention, the frame segment (20) may have an internal side wall (22a) consisting of the front punching element (27) and the rear punching element (27a) joining together to form a wall substantially parallel to the side wall (22). See Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

[0084] The frame segment (20), in addition to the first assembly element (26), has a second assembly element (26a) for holding the bead. The second assembly element (26a) is located on the rear wall (23), in an opposite orientation to the rear punching (27a) and consists of a pair of eyebrows where the bead is stuck and anchored. The second assembly element (26a) is located between the side wall (22) and the rear punching element (27a).

[0085] The first assembly element (26) and the second assembly element (26a) consist of male connectors that are inserted into the bead, however, in other embodiments, these elements can be assembled into the bead by means of other types of connectors, namely, fasteners, joints, eyebrows, clips, glues or tongue and groove connectors.

[0086] For reference, the double insulated bead (30) is described below, it should be expressly understood that this exemplary embodiment is provided for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to unduly limit the scope of the present inventive concept, which also includes the embodiments of the triple insulated bead (40) and the lighting bead (50). The double insulated bead (30) has two central walls consisting of an outer side wall (31) and an inner side wall (32), the reference being understood that the inner wall will be in contact with the side of the insulated glass. At the front end of the outer side wall (31) and the inner side wall (32) there is a coupling system (33) that allows the insertion of the first assembly element (26) of the frame segment (20).However, the lower part of the outer side wall (31) and the inner side wall (32) may be arranged to have another shape that allows coupling by means of another type of connectors, namely, fasteners, joints, eyebrows, clips, glues or tongue and groove connectors.

[0087] The double insulated bead (30) has a pair of crossbars that join the outer side wall (31) and the inner side wall (32): first crossbar (34) and second crossbar (34a). The first crossbar (34) is preferably arranged perpendicular to the outer side wall (31) and to the inner side wall (32), said crossbar is joined to the outer side wall (31), crosses the inner side wall (32), and also has a crossbar projection (34b), which consists of a projection of the length of the crossbar that extends into the interior of the frame.The crossbar projection (34b) can be a projection of the first crossbar (34) or of the second crossbar (34a), this means that the distance from the crossbar projection (34b) to the end of the coupling system (33) is smaller when the crossbar projection (34b) is the projection of the first crossbar (34), and greater when the crossbar projection (34b) is the projection of the second crossbar (34a). This modality allows the coupling of double or triple insulated glass.

[0088] Once the double insulated bead (30) is inserted into the frame segment (20), the crossbar projection (34), the inner side wall (32) of the bead and the front wall (21) of the frame segment (20) form a 3-walled space for installing the edge of the double insulated or triple insulated glass. In this order of ideas and as can be seen in the figures, in the double insulated bead (30) and in the lighting bead (50), the crossbar projection (34b) is the projection of the first crossbar (34), generating the space for the insertion of double insulated glass. While in the triple insulated bead (40) the crossbar projection (34b) is the projection of the second crossbar (34a), generating a wider space for the insertion of triple insulated glass.

[0089] The second cross member (34a) projects to the opposite side of the projection of the cross member (34b) to create a coupling wall (35). The coupling wall (35) has assembly elements (36) to join and assemble with the second assembly element (26a) of the frame segment (20). The assembly elements (36) are located on the front face of the coupling wall (35).

[0090] On the rear face of the coupling wall (35) and the second crossbar (34a) there are seal rails (37) consisting of concavities for the insertion of the magnetic seal (70), which is inserted into the 4 segments of the frame so that the Thermal Refrigeration Frame (10) allows the door to close hermetically and the refrigerator frame to adhere magnetically.

[0091] Finally, the inner side wall (32) is projected beyond the second crossbar (34a) and is joined to the crossbar projection (34b) by means of a support wall (38), which may preferably have a diagonal shape, however, in other embodiments it may have another shape; in the case of the triple insulated bead (40) it has a circular shape that forms a concavity (39) for the placement of a lighting strip, for example, of the LED type.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A Thermal Cooling Frame (10) comprising a frame segment (20), a bead that engages the front of the frame segment (20), a Corner (60) for securing the joints of the ends of the frame segments (20), characterised in that the frame segment (20) is an element consisting of a 3-walled element, a front wall (21); a side wall (22) that is located at one end of the front wall (21) and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the front wall (21), the ends of both walls being joined, and; a rear wall (23) that is located at the other end of the front wall (21) and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the side wall (22);the frame segment (20) has a front punching element (27) that is located on the front wall (21) and projects perpendicularly from the front wall, between the first assembly element (26) and the side wall (22), and a rear punching element (27a) that is located at the end of the rear wall (23), opposite to the end where the side wall is located (22); the frame segment (20) has an assembly system formed by a first assembly element (26) projected from the lower wall (21) and a second assembly element (26a) located on the rear wall (23); the double insulated bead (30) has an outer side wall (31) and an inner side wall (32) that have at their front end a coupling system (33) that allows the insertion of the first assembly element (26) of the frame segment (20);The double insulated bead (30) has a pair of crossbars that join the outer side wall (31) and the inner side wall (32), where the first crossbar (34) is preferably arranged perpendicular to the outer side wall (31) and to the inner side wall; (32) and is attached to the outer side wall (31), crosses the inner side wall (32), in addition there is a crossbar projection (34b), which consists of a projection of the length of the crossbar that extends towards the interior of the frame. The crossbar projection (34b) can be a projection of the first crossbar (34) or of the second crossbar (34-); the double insulated bead (30) has seal rails (37) consisting of concavities for the insertion of the magnetic seal (70), located on the rear face of the coupling wall (35) and of the second crossbar (34a); the corner (60) has a plurality of concavities (61) oriented towards the interior of the Thermal Cooling Frame (10), where said concavities (61) are perpendicular to the end-to-end length of the corner (60).

2. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at the end of the lower wall (21), opposite to the end where the side wall (22) is located, there are a pair of walls for insulation (24) separated from each other, which form a channel for insulation (25) for the placement of a thermal insulator, where the thermal insulator can be a thermal tape or some insulating material.

3. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bead can be double insulated (30) for doors with double insulated glass or the bead for triple insulated (40) for triple insulated or the lighting bead (50) for doors with double insulated glass that use lighting; 4. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the frame segments (20) have their ends with cuts substantially at 45°, although in other embodiments there may be combinations of cuts of angles between the frame segments (20) that form, in the same way, 90° degrees and that their union is perpendicular.

5. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the corner (60) that form an “L”, may have the same or different lengths.

6. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the corner (60) preferably has a concavity (61) at each of its ends, however, in other embodiments, the corner may have a greater and different number of concavities (61) at each end of the corner.

7. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the assembly system formed by the first assembly element (26) and the second assembly element (26a) can be presented by means of connectors, fasteners, joints, eyebrows, clips, glues or tongue and groove connectors.

8. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inner side wall (32) is projected beyond the second cross member (34a) and is joined to the cross member projection (34b) by means of a support wall (38), which may preferably have a diagonal shape, however, in other embodiments it may have another shape; in the case of the triple insulated bead (40) it has a circular shape that forms a concavity (39) for the placement of a lighting strip, for example of the LED type.

9. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the punching process is performed at each of the corners of the Thermal Cooling Frame. (10), in such a way that the four frame segments (20) are joined and punched in the corners, forming and stabilizing a Thermal Cooling Frame (10), however, this system can be used in some of the corners and use some other assembly system to reinforce the frame.

10. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the frame segment (20) and the Corner (60) are made of metal while the bead is made of PVC, however, in other embodiments, the frame segment (20), the Corner (60) and the bead can be made of PVC material or any other thermoplastic material, plastic, metal or alloys thereof. 1 1. The Thermal Cooling Frame (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the frame segment (20) may have an internal side wall (22a) consisting of the front punching element (27) and the rear punching element (27a) joining together to form a wall substantially parallel to the side wall (22).

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