Door of a refrigeration cabinet

Abstract

Door (100) for a refrigeration cabinet (500) comprising: a panel (105), electric lighting means (140), and a support profile (135) arranged parallel along a perimeter edge of said panel (105) and defining a longitudinal channel (145) in which said electric lighting means (140) are accommodated, wherein said support profile (135) comprises at least a first portion (175) and a second portion (180), wherein the first portion (175) has a greater degree of opacity to the emitted light of the electric lighting means (140) with respect to the second portion (180).

Description

[0001] DOOR OF A REFRIGERATION CABINET

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention concerns a door for a refrigeration cabinet and a refrigeration cabinet provided with said door.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Refrigeration cabinets are known to comprise a refrigerated compartment, which is made accessible through an opening that can be selectively closed by one or more openable doors.

[0006] Each of these doors generally comprises a panel, conventionally also called an infill panel, made of thermally insulating and optically transparent material, e.g. glass or polymeric material (e.g. methacrylate), which allows the products contained inside the refrigeration cabinet to be view.

[0007] To improve the visibility of the products, the owner has recently filed a patent application, currently secret, which envisages to integrate lighting means into the doors of the refrigeration cabinet.

[0008] While providing excellent results, this solution has the disadvantage that the lighting means, emitting light in substantially every direction, can also illuminate people who are outside the refrigeration cabinet, with the risk of dazzling them or in any case being annoying.

[0009] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is therefore to make available a solution that allows the light to be directed only where desired, for example only towards the products contained in the refrigeration cabinet and shielding it from the outside.

[0011] Another object is to achieve the aforesaid objective within the context of a simple, rational and relatively cost effective solution.

[0012] These objects are achieved by the features of the invention set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0013] In particular, an embodiment of the invention makes available a door for a refrigeration cabinet, which comprises:

[0014] - a panel, conventionally also called an infill panel, preferably at least partially transparent and / or thermally insulating, - electric lighting means, and

[0015] - a support profile arranged parallel along a perimeter edge of said infill panel and defining a longitudinal channel in which said electric lighting means are accommodated, wherein the support profile comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the electric lighting means with respect to the second portion, or, equivalently, wherein the transparency coefficient of the first portion of the support profile is lower than the transparency coefficient of the second portion.

[0016] In practice, the first portion of the support profile is able to reflect and / or absorb the light emitted by the electric lighting means more than the second portion of the support profile, so that the intensity of the light flux passing through the second portion of the profile is greater than that which may possibly pass through the first portion.

[0017] Therefore, while the second portion of the support profile allows light to pass through and thus illuminate the surroundings, the first portion acts as a screen.

[0018] In this way, through the second portion, the lighting means associated with the door are effectively able to illuminate what is desired, for example the products that are contained in the refrigeration cabinet, while the first portion prevents light from being diffused where it is not useful and / or where it can be bothersome, e.g. towards users who are outside the refrigeration cabinet.

[0019] In this context, it is preferable for the first portion of the support profile to be substantially opaque with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means, i.e. that it is able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting means that strikes it, or even that it is completely opaque with respect to said light, i.e. that it is able to reflect / absorb all (or almost all) of it.

[0020] Conversely, it is preferable for the second portion of the support profile to substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the lighting means that strikes it, or even that it is completely transparent with respect to said light, i.e. that it is able to let through all (or almost all) of it.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support profile can be a tubular, i.e. a profile with a closed cross section, inside which the electric lighting means are housed.

[0022] In this way, the electric lighting means are more protected, also increasing safety.

[0023] However, it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, the support profile may have an open cross-section.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the first and the second portion may be two strips of the support profile, each extending the entire length of the support profile itself.

[0025] In this way, it is advantageously possible to create, and at the same time shield where necessary, light blades that can improve the achievable illumination.

[0026] For example, the support profile may comprise an outer side surface formed by a plurality of rectangular flat faces, at least a first one of which is defined by the first portion and at least a second one of which is defined by the second portion.

[0027] Of course, depending on the applications, it is also possible to provide that the faces defined by the first portion and / or the faces defined by the second portion are more than one.

[0028] In particular, to increase the directionality of the illumination, it is possible to provide that the second portion defines only one of the faces of the support profile and that all the other faces are defined by the first portion.

[0029] From a constructional point of view, one aspect of the invention provides that the first portion of the support profile can be painted with an obscuring paint.

[0030] In particular, it is possible to envisage that the support profile can be entirely made, for example by extrusion, with a material, for example glass or a polymeric material, substantially transparent to the light emitted by the lighting means, and that at least a part of its outer (or inner) surface, for example at one or more of its rectangular faces, is painted with an obscuring paint substantially opaque to the light emitted by the lighting means.

[0031] In addition or alternatively, another aspect of the invention provides that the first portion of the support profile may be made of a first material having different optical properties, typically more opaque, with respect to a second material of which the second portion is made.

[0032] In this case, the first and second portions of the support profile could be made separately, i.e. as separate bodies, for example by respective extrusion processes, and subse- quently assembled together to form the support profile.

[0033] More preferably, however, the support profile could be made as a single body by a coextrusion process of said first and second materials.

[0034] In this way, production process steps are advantageously reduced with favourable economic effects.

[0035] According to a different aspect of the invention, the infill panel (which can be of the frameless type) can comprise at least two plates, for example two plates of glass or other transparent material, parallel and mutually facing each other, and the support profile can be interposed (completely or at least partially) between said plates.

[0036] In this way, the door is more compact since the support profile and, consequently, the respective lighting means, are arranged at least partially within the overall dimensions of the infill panel.

[0037] In the event that the outer side surface of the support profile comprises the aforementioned rectangular flat faces, it is also preferable that the support profile is oriented so that the first and second flat faces thereof are parallel to the plates.

[0038] It is also preferable that the infill panel also comprises spacer elements interposed between said plates, so as to delimit with the latter a hermetically closed cavity, and that the support profile is positioned externally to said cavity.

[0039] In this way, without sacrificing integrated lighting, the infill panel is essentially formed by a so-called "double glazing" that increases its thermal insulation capabilities.

[0040] According to a different aspect of the invention, the electric lighting means may comprise one or more LED sources, for example at least one LED bar or strip.

[0041] In this way, the lighting means emit a substantially zero level of heat or in any case so low as not to cause problems for the refrigeration of the refrigeration cabinet, have a low consumption of electricity and have a weight so light as not to create overload problems for the door.

[0042] Regardless of this, the electric lighting means can be removably housed in the support profile, thus being easily replaceable in the event of a malfunction.

[0043] Another aspect of the invention provides that the support profile can extend the full extension of the perimeter edge of the infill panel along which it is arranged.

[0044] Thanks to this solution it is advantageously possible to increase the illumination extent. Going into more detail, the infill panel can have a generally rectangular shape and the perimeter edge, along which the support profile is arranged, can be a first of the major edges of said infill panel having a rectangular shape (i.e. one of the edges that are normally intended to be oriented vertically, when the door is applied to a refrigeration cabinet).

[0045] In this context, it is also envisaged that the door can comprise a second support profile, having the same characteristics as the one previously outlined, which is arranged in parallel along a second major edge of said rectangular-shaped infill panel and defines a longitudinal channel in which further electric lighting means, for example of the same type as the previous ones, are accommodated.

[0046] Thanks to this solution, the lighting capacity integrated in the door is actually doubled.

[0047] The invention naturally also makes available a refrigeration cabinet comprising:

[0048] - a refrigerated compartment,

[0049] - an access opening to the refrigerated compartment, and

[0050] - at least one door as outlined above, adapted to selectively occlude and at least partially disengage the access opening.

[0051] In particular, a preferred aspect of this embodiment provides that the first portion of the support profile may face the outside of the refrigerated compartment and the second portion of the support profile may face the inside of the refrigerated compartment.

[0052] In this way, it is advantageously possible to illuminate the products contained within the refrigeration cabinet, protecting users who are outside.

[0053] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent after reading the following description provided by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Figure 1 is a front view of a refrigeration cabinet.

[0056] Figure 2 is the section ll-ll indicated in Figure 1.

[0057] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a door for a refrigeration cabinet according to the invention, belonging to the cabinet of Figure 1 .

[0058] Figure 4 is detail IV indicated in Figure 2, shown in enlarged scale and in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[0059] Figure 5 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 4.

[0060] Figure 6 is detail IV indicated in Figure 2, shown in enlarged scale and in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

[0061] Figure 7 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 6.

[0062] Figure 8 is detail IV indicated in Figure 2, shown in enlarged scale and in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

[0063] Figure 9 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 8.

[0064] BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0065] With particular reference to the first two figures, a door for a refrigeration cabinet 500, which comprises an outer body 505 that delimits at least one refrigerated compartment 510 inside which the products to be preserved can be stored has been indicated overall with 100.

[0066] The outer body 505 also has an access opening 515, for example of rectangular shape and preferably oriented vertically, through which it is possible to access the refrigerated compartment 510 from the outside.

[0067] The door 100 is adapted to selectively occlude and disengage, at least partially, the access opening 515 to the refrigerated compartment 510.

[0068] In particular, the door 100 is movable with respect to the outer body 505 between a closed position (shown in the figures), in which it at least partially occludes the access opening 515, and an open position, in which it allows access to the refrigerated compartment 510.

[0069] In the illustrated exemplary case, in which the refrigeration cabinet 500 comprises a plurality of doors 100, in this case two doors 100, each of them occludes a respective portion of the access opening 515, selectively allowing it to be opened.

[0070] The access opening 515 is fully closed when all the doors 100 are in the closed position (in which moreover the doors can be coplanar to each other).

[0071] In the case (not illustrated) where the refrigeration cabinet 500 comprises only one door 100, when the latter is in the closed position, it would entirely occlude the access opening 515.

[0072] To move from the closed position to the open position, each door 100 can be hinged to the outer body 505 of the refrigeration cabinet 500 according to a prefixed hinge axis, configuring itself as a so-called hinged door.

[0073] The hinge axis may be vertical and positioned at one of the two vertical edges of the access opening 515. In particular, each door 100 can be associated with a copy of hinges individually provided with a first portion integral with the door 100 itself and with a second portion, movable with respect to the first portion around the hinge axis, which is adapted to be fixed to the outer body 505 of the refrigeration cabinet 500, for example to one of the two horizontal edges that delimit the access opening 515.

[0074] However, it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, the doors 100 may be of a sliding type or in any case provided with a different opening and closing movement.

[0075] Going into detail, each door 100 comprises a panel (conventionally also called an infill panel) 105, having for example a rectangular shape, which may be thermally insulating and / or at least partially transparent.

[0076] The infill panel 105 generally has two major faces (i.e. of greater extension), which are intended to face respectively inwards and outwards of the refrigerated compartment 510 (at least when the door 100 is closed).

[0077] These two major faces are separated by a distance representing the thickness of the infill panel 105.

[0078] The infill panel 105 also has a side perimeter that surrounds the major faces and that has a constant width equal to the thickness of the infill panel 105 itself.

[0079] If the infill panel 105 has the shape of a polygon, this side perimeter comprises a plurality of straight edges consecutive to each other.

[0080] For example, in the rectangular infill panel 105 illustrated herein, the side perimeter comprises two transverse (or horizontal) edges singularly parallel and adjacent to the short sides of the infill panel 105, and two longitudinal (or vertical) edges singularly parallel and adjacent to the long sides of the infill panel 105.

[0081] Going into even more detail, the infill panel 105 can be made up of a single plate.

[0082] This plate can be made of glass, a polymeric material, a combination of both or any other material that may possibly be transparent and / or thermally insulating.

[0083] More preferably, the infill panel 105 can however be formed by at least one pair of said plates, which can be arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart, so as to define a cavity between them.

[0084] For example, the plates of each pair can be joined with interposition of a set of spacer profiles, i.e. rod-like bodies (e.g. bars) that develop along the sides of the plates so as to define a closed frame that laterally delimits the cavity. The spacer profiles may be made of metal, such as for example aluminium, or preferably an optically transparent polymer, such as for example methacrylate.

[0085] Thanks to the use of adhesives (e.g. silicone glues or double-sided adhesive tapes), these spacer profiles can be fixed to the plates and can make the cavity a sealed chamber.

[0086] This sealed chamber may be empty or may contain a gas, such as air or a refractory gas.

[0087] In the illustrated embodiment, the infill panel 105 comprises only one pair of said parallel and facing plates, indicated respectively with 110 and 115.

[0088] While the plate 110 may be arranged inwardly of the refrigerated compartment 510, the plate 115 may be arranged outwardly.

[0089] The plates 110 and 115 can both have a rectangular shape and substantially the same dimensions, in this case substantially the same width, substantially the same length (height) and possibly also substantially the same thickness.

[0090] A plurality of the aforementioned spacer profiles can be interposed between the plates 110 and 115, of which a pair of transverse (or horizontal) profiles 120 individually parallel and adjacent to a respective short side of the plates 110 and 115, and a pair of longitudinal (or vertical) profiles individually parallel to a respective long side of the plates 110 and 115, so as to define a rectangular frame that delimits, between the plates 110 and 115, a cavity 130 of the type mentioned above.

[0091] At least one or each of the aforementioned longitudinal (or vertical) profiles may coincide with a support profile 135 which will be discussed below.

[0092] In accordance with the present invention, a support profile 135 for lighting means 140 is arranged along at least one of the edges of the infill panel 105.

[0093] This support profile 135 can be shaped essentially as a straight bar with a constant cross section, which is oriented parallel and arranged along (i.e. at and / or adjacent to) one of the edges of the infill panel 105.

[0094] In particular, it is preferable that the support profile 135 is arranged parallel to and along one of the longitudinal (vertical) edges of the infill panel 105.

[0095] Even more preferably, the door 100 may comprise two or more of said support profiles 135, each arranged to support respective lighting means 140.

[0096] For example, the door 100 may comprise two support profiles 135 with respective light- ing means 140, each of which is arranged parallel to and along a respective one of the longitudinal (vertical) edges of the infill panel 105.

[0097] Regardless of their number, each support profile 135 may extend the full length of the respective edge.

[0098] Each support profile 135 can also be shaped so as to have a longitudinal channel 145, preferably extending the full length of the support profile 135 itself, and adapted to completely or at least partially accommodate the respective lighting means 140.

[0099] To define said longitudinal channel 145, the support profile 135 can have an open cross-sectional shape (or profile), for example a "C"-shaped, but more preferably it has a closed cross-sectional shape that makes it in fact a tubular.

[0100] Regardless of whether the cross-section is open or closed, the shape of said crosssection may be that of a curved line or, more preferably, of a broken line (or polyline).

[0101] In this way, the support profile 135 may respectively have a rounded outer side surface, for example cylindrical, or more preferably, a square outer side surface, i.e. formed by a plurality of flat and mutually consecutive rectangular faces.

[0102] In the illustrated embodiment, the support profile 135 is shaped, for example, as a tubular, whose cross-section has the shape of a simple polygon (i.e. a closed broken line), so that its outer side surface has a number of flat rectangular faces equal to the number of sides of the polygon to which said faces correspond.

[0103] More precisely, the cross section of the support profile 135 illustrated herein has a rectangular (or square) shape, which consequently corresponds to an outer side surface formed by a first pair of flat rectangular faces 150 and 155, parallel and opposite to each other, and by a second pair of flat rectangular faces 160 and 165, parallel and opposite to each other but orthogonal to the previous ones.

[0104] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, each support profile 135 can be integrated into the infill panel 105, for example interposed between the two plates 110 and 115.

[0105] In the event that the support profile 135 has the square shape outlined above, it is also preferable that the flat rectangular faces 150 and 155 are parallel and adjacent (for example substantially in contact) respectively with the plate 110 and with the plate 115.

[0106] The support profile 135 can also be fixed to the plates 110 and 115, for example by means of a strip of adhesive material (double-sided adhesive) interposed between it and each plate 110 and 115, possibly replaceable with a layer of silicone glue or other adhesives.

[0107] It is also preferable, although not strictly necessary, that the support profile 135 does not protrude laterally with respect to the plates 110 and 115, for example that its outermost surface is substantially flush with the sides of said plates 110 and 115.

[0108] As anticipated, the lighting means 140 associated with each support profile 135 are accommodated in the longitudinal channel 145, which can extend the full length of the support profile 135 itself.

[0109] These lighting means 140 may comprise one or more LED (Light Emitting Diode) sources.

[0110] For example, the lighting means 140 may comprise (or consist of) at least one LED bar or strip, i.e. a (rigid) bar or a (flexible) ribbon, typically of plastic material, carrying a plurality of LEDs arranged in succession one after the other and preferably electrically connected to a single input for the power supply.

[0111] In order to appropriately direct the light emitted by the lighting means, an important aspect of the present invention provides that the support profile 135 comprises at least two portions, of which at least a first portion 175 and a second portion 180, where the first portion 175 has a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the lighting means 140 with respect to the second portion 180.

[0112] In other words, the transparency coefficient of the first portion 175 of the support profile 135 is lower than the transparency coefficient of the second portion 180.

[0113] In practice, the first portion 175 of the support profile 135 is able to reflect and / or absorb the light emitted by the lighting means 140 more than the second portion 180, so that the intensity of the light flux passing through the second portion 180 is greater than that which may possibly pass through the first portion 175.

[0114] Ultimately, while the second portion 180 of the support profile 135 allows the light to pass and therefore the illumination of the surrounding environment, the first portion 175 acts as a screen capable of at least attenuating the light emitted.

[0115] In this regard, it is therefore preferable that the first portion 175 of the support profile 135 is substantially opaque with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means 140, i.e. that it is able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting means 140 that strikes it, or even that it is completely opaque with respect to said light, i.e. that it is able to reflect / absorb all (or almost all) of it.

[0116] Conversely, it is preferable that the second portion 180 of the support profile 135 is substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means 140, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the lighting means 140 that strikes it, or even that it is completely transparent with respect to said light, i.e. that it is able to let through all (or almost) of it.

[0117] In this way, light is effectively diffused only in some directions and prevented in others.

[0118] In consideration of the conformation of the support profile 135, in order to improve this directionality, it is preferable that each of said first and second portions 175 and 180 is a strip of the support profile 135 extending the entire length of the support profile 135 itself.

[0119] In particular, in the case where the outer side surface of the support profile 135 is formed, as illustrated herein, by a plurality of rectangular flat faces, it is preferable that one or more of said flat faces are defined by the first portion 175 and that one or more of the remaining flat faces are defined by the second portion 180.

[0120] For example, assuming that the products contained in the refrigerated compartment 510 are to be illuminated, without bothering users standing outside, the first (opaque) portion 175 of the support profile 135 may be arranged to define the face 155, i.e. the one facing outwards, as well as possibly the flat faces 160 and / or 165, while the second (transparent) portion 180 may be arranged to define at least (or only) the face 150, i.e. the one facing inside the refrigerated compartment 510.

[0121] From a constructional point of view, each support profile 135 can be entirely made of a given material having the degree of transparency it is wished to obtain in the second portion 180, for example of glass or more preferably of a polymeric material (e.g. methacrylate or PMMA).

[0122] In particular, the support profile 135 can be made by means of an extrusion process.

[0123] To opacify the first portion 175 of this support profile 135, it is therefore possible to paint a part of its outer side surface and / or (possibly) of its inner side surface (the one delimiting the longitudinal channel 145), with an appropriate obscuring paint, i.e. with a paint capable of reflecting and / or absorbing at least part of the light emitted by the lighting means.

[0124] The presence of the obscuring paint is indicated with a thick line in Figure 4 and with dashes in Figure 5.

[0125] This paint can be substantially opaque, i.e. it can be able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting means 140, preferably completely opaque, i.e. able to reflect / absorb all said light.

[0126] In the illustrated example, the obscuring paint may therefore be applied to the flat face 155 and possibly to the flat faces 160 and 165, leaving the (only) flat face 150 uncovered.

[0127] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 6 and 7, the first portion 175 and the second portion 180 of the support profile 135 could be made of a first and a second material respectively, wherein the first material has a higher degree of opacity than the second material.

[0128] Both the first and the second material can be of polymeric type, for example of methacrylate or PMMA, where the second material can be substantially transparent while the first material can be coloured with mass pigments.

[0129] In this case, the first portion 175 and the second portion 180 of the support profile 135 could be made separately, i.e. as separate bodies, for example by respective extrusion processes, and subsequently assembled together to form the complete support profile 135.

[0130] More preferably, however, the support profile 135 can be made as a single body by a co-extrusion process of said first and second material.

[0131] In this way, although made of different materials, the first portion 175 and the second portion 180 of the support profile 135 would be inseparable portions of a single monolithic body.

[0132] According to another possible embodiment, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the support profile 135 can comprise one or more further portions, for example a third portion 190 and a fourth portion 195, where each of said further portions has, similarly to the first portion 175, a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted from the lighting means 140 with respect to the second portion 180.

[0133] In particular, it is preferable that each of said further portions, for example each of said third and fourth portions 190 and 195, may be substantially opaque with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means 140, i.e. that it may be able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting means 140 that strikes it, or even that it may be completely opaque with respect to said light, i.e. that it may be able to reflect / absorb all (or almost all) of it.

[0134] Each of these further portions, for example 190 and 195, may be a strip of the support profile 135 extending the full length of the support profile 135 itself.

[0135] For example, while the first portion 175 may be arranged to define the flat face 155, the third portion 190 may be arranged to define the flat face 160 (except for the thickness of the first portion 175), and the fourth portion 195 may be arranged to define the flat face 165 (except for the thickness of the first portion 175).

[0136] Each of the further portions, for example each of the portions 190 and 195, may be made of the same material as the first portion 175 or, more preferably, of a different material (for example of a different colour) but still having a greater degree of opacity than the second material of which the second portion 180 is made.

[0137] In the event that there are more than one, as in the case illustrated herein, the further portions, for example portions 190 and 195, can in turn be made of materials different from each other or, more preferably, can all be made of the same material.

[0138] For example, both portions 190 and 195 may both be made of a third material different from the first material of which the first portion 175 is made (e.g., of a different colour).

[0139] Both the first and the third material may be of polymeric type, for example of methacrylate or PMMA, but the first material may be coloured with mass pigments of different colour with respect to the pigments with which the third material is coloured.

[0140] Also in this case, the further portions, e.g. 190 and 195, could be made separately, i.e. as separate bodies, e.g. by respective extrusion processes, and subsequently assembled to the other portions to form the support profile 135.

[0141] More preferably, however, the support profile 135 can also be made in this case as a single body by a co-extrusion process of all the materials of which it is made, for example of said first, second and third materials.

[0142] In this way, although made of different materials, all the portions of the support profile 135 would be inseparable portions of a single monolithic body.

[0143] Still with reference to Figures 8 and 9, other embodiments could provide that the portion 195, which defines the surface 165, is also substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the lighting means 140, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the lighting means 140 that strikes it, or even that it is completely transparent with respect to said light, i.e. that it is able to let through all (or almost) of it. For example, the portion 165 could be made of the same material with which the portion 180 is made, which defines the surface 150, actually forming with it, in the case of using a co-extrusion process, a single portion of the support profile 135.

[0144] Likewise, it is not excluded that the portions 175 and 190, which respectively define the surfaces 155 and 160, can also be made of the same material (for example opaque and of the same colour), also forming in this case, if a co-extrusion process is used, a single portion of the support profile 135.

[0145] Returning to the lighting means 140, they can be accommodated in the respective support profile 135 in a removable (or detachable) manner.

[0146] To this end, the longitudinal channel 145 of the support profile 135 can be closed at the ends by caps 185 which can be removed for the extraction and reinsertion of the lighting means 140.

[0147] Each cap 185 can be provided with at least two holes, communicating with the longitudinal channel 145, for the passage of power supply plugs of the lighting means.

[0148] These plugs can then be connected by electrical wires to a power supply source external to the door 100 (not visible in the figures), for example by passing the same electrical wires inside a perforated pin of the hinge with which the door 100 can be articulated of the refrigeration cabinet 500, until reaching the power supply source.

[0149] The door 100 may also comprise a handle glued directly in contact with the infill panel 105.

[0150] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variants, all falling within the same inventive concept. Moreover, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A door (100) for a refrigeration cabinet (500), comprising:- a panel (105),- electric lighting means (140), and- a support profile (135) arranged parallel along a perimeter edge of said panel (105) and defining a longitudinal channel (145) in which said electric lighting means (140) are accommodated, characterised in that said support profile (135) comprises at least a first portion (175) and a second portion (180), wherein the first portion (175) has a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the electric lighting means (140) with respect to the second portion (180).

2. A door (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion (175) is substantially opaque to the light emitted by the electric lighting means (140) and the second portion (180) is substantially transparent to the light emitted by the electric lighting means (140).

3. A door (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and said second portions (175, 180) are two strips of the support profile (135), each extending the entire length of the support profile (135) itself.

4. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support profile (135) comprises an outer side surface formed by a plurality of flat rectangularshaped faces, at least a first one (155) of which is defined by the first portion (175) and at least a second one (150) of which is defined by the second portion (180).

5. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support profile (135) is a tubular inside which the electric lighting means (140) are housed.

6. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (175) of the support profile (135) is painted with an obscuring paint.

7. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first portion (175) of the support profile (135) is made of a first material having different optical properties with respect to a second material of which the second portion (180) is made.

8. A door (100) according to claim 7, wherein the support profile (135) is made as a single body by a co-extrusion process of said first and second materials.

9. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said panel (105) comprises at least two plates (110, 115), parallel and mutually facing each other,and wherein the support profile (60) is interposed between said plates (110, 115).

10. A door (100) according to claims 4 and 9, wherein the first and second flat faces (155, 150) of the support profile (135) are parallel to the plates (110, 115).

11. A door (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said panel (105) comprises spacer elements (120, 125) interposed between said plates (110, 115) so as to delimit with said plates a hermetically closed cavity (130), and wherein said support profile (135) is positioned externally to said cavity (130).

12. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electric lighting means (140) comprise one or more LED sources, for example an LED bar.

13. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support profile (135) extends the full extension of the perimeter edge of the panel (105) along which it is arranged.

14. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel (30) has a rectangular shape and the perimeter edge, along which the support profile (60) is arranged, is a first of the major edges of said panel (30) having a rectangular shape.

15. A door (100) according to claim 14, comprising a second support profile (135) arranged in parallel along a second major edge of said rectangular shaped panel (105) defining a longitudinal channel (145) in which further electric lighting means are accommodated (140).

16. A refrigeration cabinet (500) comprising:- a refrigerated compartment (510),- an access opening (515) to the refrigerated compartment (510), and- at least one door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to selectively occlude and at least partially disengage the access opening (515).

17. A refrigerated cabinet (500) according to claim 16, wherein the first portion (175) of the support profile (135) faces the outside of the refrigerated compartment (510) and the second portion (180) of the support profile (135) faces the inside of the refrigerated compartment (510).

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