Mullion frame for a refrigerated chamber

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mullion frame for a refrigerated chamber, said frame comprising an inner profile segment and an outer profile segment. The inner profile segment is a U-shaped profile that is known in the industry, with a rear wall and two side walls, and it is considered that the rear part is the part that is exposed towards the inside of the refrigerated chamber. This type of profile has securing elements on its side walls that serve, on the one hand, to secure supports where heating cables are placed and, on the other hand, to secure elements that hold the contact plate in position. This type of profile is known in the prior art and is used in many applications to fasten mullion segments in refrigerated chambers.

Description

[0001] Mullion Frame for Refrigerated Chamber

[0002] OBJECT AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention pertains to the technical field of mechanics, particularly to the field of posts or mullions; specifically, it pertains to the field of mullions for cold storage chambers that divide cold storage chamber 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 foods and beverages that are intended to be available to consumers in stores or supermarkets, commercial refrigerators have been designed in various sizes and with specific features.

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

[0007] This type of refrigerator consists of three main elements: a main frame, dividing posts or mullions, and doors. Each of these elements has essential characteristics and different assembly methods, always seeking to create a thermal insulation system to prevent temperature leaks and save energy, in addition to precise temperature control to prevent the door glass from fogging up. In this particular invention, the proposed solution relates to the dividing posts or mullions used vertically to divide the refrigerated chamber frames.

[0008] In the state of the art, various solutions have been implemented for assembling mullions with metal profiles and that have thermal insulation, for example, document ES2657367T3 entitled "FRAME WITH THERMAL INSULATION FOR A REFRIGERATED ENCLOSURE" discloses a thermal frame that includes a mounting bracket configured to secure the vacuum panel to the mullion frame segment, which includes a mullion frame segment, a mounting bracket, a vacuum panel and a lid, a contact plate, retaining clips and brackets, where the mounting bracket and the lid are configured to join the vacuum panel to the mullion frame segment to have a chamber; in addition, the retaining clips are used to fix and hold the contact plate in place next to the mullion frame segment; and the brackets are configured to fix a heating cable.However, this system is not practical due to the number of elements used in the assembly and does not disclose an embodiment where a single element is presented that has the function of adapting to the mullion frame segment, and holding and immobilizing the contact plate.

[0009] TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0010] A solution is sought that provides faster assembly and uses fewer elements for the assembly of a mullion frame, using only two pieces to form said mullion frame and attached to the contact plate and a support for a heating cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] Figure 1. Shows a perspective view of a portion of a mullion frame for a cold room (10).

[0012] Figure 2. Shows a cross-sectional view of a mullion frame for a cold room (10).

[0013] Figure 3. Shows a perspective view of an internal Profile Segment (20).

[0014] Figure 4. Shows a cross-sectional view of an internal Profile Segment (20).

[0015] Figure 5. Shows a perspective view of an external Profile Segment (30).

[0016] Figure 6. Shows a cross-sectional view of an external Profile Segment (30).

[0017] Figure 7. Shows a perspective view of an external Profile Segment (30) assembled in an internal Profile Segment (20).

[0018] Figure 8. Shows a cross-sectional view of an external Profile Segment (30) assembled into an internal Profile Segment (20).

[0019] Figure 9. Shows a perspective view of a portion of a mullion frame for a refrigerated chamber (10) with contact plate (50).

[0020] Figure 10. Shows a cross-sectional view of a mullion frame for a cold room (10) with contact plate (50).

[0021] Below is a list of the parts indicated in the figures:

[0022] - Mullion frame for refrigerated chamber (10).

[0023] - Internal Profile Segment (20).

[0024] - External Profile Segment (30).

[0025] - Back wall (31 ).

[0026] - Side wall (32). - Profile holder (33).

[0027] - Plate holder (34).

[0028] - Lighting holder (35).

[0029] - Cable support (40).

[0030] - Contact plate (50).

[0031] - Heating cable (60).

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Referring in more detail to the drawings, as shown in Figure 1 through Figure 10, a refrigerated walk-in mullion frame (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 refrigerated walk-in mullion frame (10) are contemplated within the present inventive concept as set forth in the claims herein.

[0034] The mullion frame for cold storage (10) is an element that can be used for dividing cold storage frames and its length depends on the height of the frame to be divided. This division provides different sections for a cold storage room and requires the subsequent installation of a door for each section. The installation and fixing of the mullion frame for cold storage (10) at its top and bottom is also required to make this division, where the assembly method of the mullion frame for cold storage (10) in the cold storage room may differ according to the type of cold storage room.

[0035] The mullion frame for a cold room (10) is made up of an internal profile segment (20) and an external profile segment (30) that is assembled to the internal profile segment (20). The internal profile segment (20) is a type of profile known in the industry that have a "U" shape, with a rear wall and 2 side walls; considering that the rear part is the one that is exposed to the interior of the cold room (figures 3 and 4). This type of profile has fastening elements in its side walls that have the function, on the one hand, of holding supports where heating cables are placed and, on the other hand, of holding elements that keep the contact plate in place. This type of profile is known in the state of the art and is used in many applications for fixing mullion segments in cold rooms.

[0036] For its part, the external profile segment (30) is a differentiating element in this proposed invention, which essentially presents a "U" shape that embraces and is assembled in the internal profile segment (20). The external profile segment (30) fulfills the functions of holding onto the internal profile segment (20) and in turn keeping the contact plate (50) in place.

[0037] In this invention, an internal profile segment (20) is made of aluminum and the external profile segment (30) is made of PVC, however, in other embodiments, the internal profile segment (20) and the external profile segment (30) can both be made of PVC material or any other thermoplastic material, plastic, metal or alloys thereof.

[0038] The outer profile segment (30) has a rear wall (31) and two side walls (32) projecting from the ends of the rear wall (31). The walls of the outer profile segment can each have a different length, as long as the outer profile segment (30) embraces and assembles into the inner profile segment (20) to hold the contact plate (50) in place.

[0039] The side walls (32) of the external profile segment (30) preferably have the same length, although in other embodiments they can have a different length that allows their assembly in the internal profile segment (20). At the end of each side wall (32), opposite the end that has contact with the rear wall (31), fastening elements are presented: a Profile fastener (33) and a plate fastener (34). The Profile fastener (33) is a first element that projects from the end of the wall to be assembled into the fastening elements of the internal frame segment; likewise, the Plate fastener (34) is a second element that projects from the end of the wall to establish a barrier that will keep the contact plate (50) in place when it is placed in the mullion frame for cold storage (10).

[0040] In some embodiments, the mullion frame for the refrigerated chamber (10) may be required to have a lighting system that illuminates the interior of the refrigerated chamber, which is why, in some embodiments, the external profile segment (30) is presented with lighting fasteners (35), on the rear face of the rear wall (31), in which lamps or LEDs can be installed.

[0041] When the External Profile Segment (30) is assembled to the Internal Profile Segment (20) the rest of the elements that make up the Mullion Frame for Cold Room (10) can be placed immediately, first the Cable Support (40) is assembled to the Internal Profile Segment (20), then the Heating Cable (60) is placed in the Cable Support (40) and finally the Contact Plate (50) is introduced into the space between the Cable Support (40) and the Plate Holder (34), allowing the Contact Plate (50) to remain in contact with the Heating Cable (60) to induce heat to heat the contact plate (50). The heat induced in the contact plate (50) allows to maintain a temperature that prevents condensation on the door glass.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. The mullion frame for a refrigerated chamber (10) formed by an internal profile segment (20) and an external profile segment (30) that is assembled to the internal profile segment (20) where the external profile segment (30) essentially has a “U” shape characterized in that the external profile segment (30) embraces and is assembled in the internal profile segment (20); the external profile segment (30) has a rear wall (31) and two side walls (32) that project from the ends of the rear wall (31);at the end of each side wall (32), opposite the end that has contact with the rear wall (31), there is a Profile Holder (33) that projects from the end of the wall to be assembled in the fastening elements of the internal frame segment and a Plate Holder (34) that projects from the end of the wall to establish a barrier that will keep the contact plate (50) in place when it is placed in the Mullion Frame for Refrigerated Chamber (10).; 2. The mullion frame for cold storage (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the walls of the external profile segment (30) can each have a different length, as long as the external profile segment (30) embraces and is assembled in the internal profile segment (20) to keep the contact plate (50) in place.

3. The mullion frame for a cold room (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the external profile segment (30) has lighting fasteners (35), on the rear face of the rear wall (31).

4. The mullion frame for a cold room (10), as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the internal profile segment (20) is made of aluminum and the external profile segment (30) is made of PVC, however, in other embodiments, the internal profile segment (20) and the external profile segment (30) can both be made of PVC material or any other thermoplastic material, plastic, metal or alloys thereof.

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