Refrigerator cabinet door, especially for low temperatures

Abstract

A door for a refrigerator cabinet (500) is described, comprising an infill panel (105) formed by at least a first, a second and a third slab (110, 115, 120), which are arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart, so as to define at least a first and a second gap (125, 130), characterised in that it further comprises an electric lighting device (150), which is arranged along a perimeter edge of said infill panel (105).

Description

[0001] REFRIGERATOR CABINET DOOR, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW TEMPERATURES

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention concerns a door for a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerator cabinet provided with said door. In particular, the present invention relates to a door and a refrigerator cabinet for low temperatures, i.e. primarily (though not exclusively) intended for applications in which a rather low temperature, for example down to about -25°C, must be maintained inside the refrigerator cabinet.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Like all refrigerator cabinets, refrigerator cabinets for low temperatures generally include a refrigerated compartment, which is made accessible through an opening that can be selectively closed and opened by one or more doors.

[0006] In refrigerator cabinets for low temperatures, each of these doors generally comprises at least three slabs, preferably made of transparent material, e.g. glass or polymer material (e.g. methacrylate), which are arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart so that at least three gaps remain defined between them, commonly called “double- glazing”, which can be filled with a thermally insulating gas, e.g. air or an inert gas (e.g. argon).

[0007] These refrigerator cabinets for low temperatures are often used as displays of frozen or deep-frozen products, e.g. in supermarkets or other commercial areas, to allow the products that are placed inside to be viewed.

[0008] However, the visibility of the products is not only dependent on the transparency of the doors, but also on the lighting conditions of the areas where the refrigerator cabinets are placed.

[0009] DISCLOSURE OF THE IN ENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is to make available a solution that allows the lighting of products contained in a refrigerator cabinet, primarily in a low-temperature refrigerator cabinet, to be improved independently of the external lighting.

[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. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention makes available a door for a refrigerator cabinet, preferably for a low-temperature refrigerator cabinet, comprising an infill panel formed by (i.e. comprising) at least a first, a second and a third slab, preferably transparent, e.g. made of glass or a polymer material (e.g. methacrylate), which are arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart, so as to define at least a first and a second gap (e.g., a first and a second double-glazed pane), and an electric lighting device, which is arranged along a perimeter edge of said infill panel.

[0013] In this way, the door is equipped with an integrated electric lighting device that effectively illuminates the surrounding space, e.g. the interior volume of the refrigerator cabinet and the products it contains, regardless of the external lighting.

[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, the electric lighting device can be interposed between the first and the second slab.

[0015] Thanks to this solution, the door is constructively more compact and less bulky.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the electric lighting device may comprise one or more LED sources, e.g. it may be an LED bar.

[0017] In this way, the electric lighting device emits a substantially zero level of heat or in any case so low as not to cause problems for the refrigeration of the refrigerator cabinet, has a low consumption of electricity and has a weight so light as not to create overload problems for the door.

[0018] A further aspect of the invention provides that said electric lighting device may be accommodated in a support profile arranged along said perimeter edge of the infill panel, preferably interposed between the first and second slabs and / or preferably extending along the full extension of the perimeter edge along which it is arranged.

[0019] Thanks to this solution, the electric lighting device is protected and subjected to less stress.

[0020] For example, the support profile can be a tubular member, i.e. a profile with a closed cross-section, within which the electric lighting device is housed.

[0021] In this way, the protection of the electric lighting device is complete, increasing safety. However, it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, the support profile may have an open cross-section.

[0022] According to an aspect of the invention, the electric lighting device can be accommodated in the support profile in a removable manner. Thus, in the event of a failure or malfunctioning, it is advantageously possible to remove the electric lighting device from the support profile in order to replace or repair it.

[0023] A different aspect of the invention provides that the support profile may be at least partially optically transparent, i.e. that the support profile, in its entirety or at least a portion thereof, allows light emitted by the electric lighting device or at least a fraction thereof to pass through.

[0024] Thanks to this solution, the light emitted by the electric lighting device can effectively pass through the support profile and illuminate the surrounding space.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the support profile may comprise 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 device 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.

[0026] In practice, the first portion of the support profile is able to reflect and / or absorb the light emitted by the electric lighting device 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] In this way, through the second portion, the lighting device associated with the door is effectively able to illuminate what is desired, for example the products that are contained in the refrigerator 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 refrigerator cabinet.

[0029] 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 electric lighting device, i.e. that it is able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the electric lighting device 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.

[0030] Conversely, it is preferable for the second portion of the support profile to be substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the electric lighting device, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the electric lighting device 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] In this context, it may then be preferable for the support profile to be oriented so that its first and second flat faces are parallel to the first and second slabs.

[0035] 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.

[0036] In particular, to increase the directionality of the lighting, 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] In particular, it is possible to envisage that the support profile can be entirely made, for example by extrusion, of a material, for example glass or a polymer material, substantially transparent to the light emitted by the electric lighting device, 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 electric lighting device.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] More preferably, however, the support profile can be made as a single body by a coextrusion process of said first and second material.

[0042] In this way, production process steps are advantageously reduced with favourable economic effects.

[0043] According to another aspect of the invention, the door may comprise first spacer elements, interposed between said first and second slabs, and second spacer elements, interposed between said second and third slabs, which are adapted to delimit said first and second gaps perimetrically.

[0044] This advantageously increases the thermal insulation capacity of the door.

[0045] Preferably, said first spacer elements include the aforementioned support profile for the electric lighting device.

[0046] Thanks to this solution, the support profile fulfils a dual function, helping to reduce the size of the door and, in particular, its perimeter.

[0047] 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 refrigerator cabinet).

[0048] 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 in which a further electric lighting device is accommodated, for example of the same type as the previous one.

[0049] Thanks to this solution, the lighting capacity integrated in the door is actually doubled.

[0050] Naturally, the invention also makes available a refrigerator cabinet, e.g. a low- temperature refrigerator cabinet, comprising:

[0051] - a refrigerated compartment,

[0052] - an access opening to the refrigerated compartment, and

[0053] - at least one door as outlined above, adapted to selectively occlude and at least partially disengage the access opening.

[0054] 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.

[0055] In this way, it is advantageously possible to illuminate the products contained within the refrigerator cabinet, protecting users who are outside.

[0056] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] 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 accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet.

[0059] Figure 2 is the section ll-ll indicated in Figure 1.

[0060] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a door for a refrigerator cabinet according to the invention, belonging to the cabinet of Figure 1 .

[0061] Figure 4 is detail IV indicated in Figure 2, shown in enlarged scale and in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[0062] Figure 5 is the section of Figure 4 relating to the infill panel only and shown to an enlarged scale.

[0063] Figure 6 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 5.

[0064] Figure 7 is the section of Figure 4, relative to an infill panel in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

[0065] Figure 8 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 7.

[0066] Figure 9 is the section of Figure 4, relative to an infill panel in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

[0067] Figure 10 is an axonometric view of one end of the support profile illustrated in Figure 9. BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0068] With particular reference to the first two figures, a door for a refrigerator cabinet 500, preferably but not necessarily for a low-temperature refrigerator cabinet, i.e. a refrigerator cabinet inside which very low temperatures, e.g. down to -25°C, must be maintained, has been indicated as 100.

[0069] The refrigerator cabinet 500 generally comprises an outer body 505 that delimits at least one refrigerated compartment 510 inside which the products to be preserved can be stored.

[0070] 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.

[0071] The door 100 is adapted to selectively occlude and disengage, at least partially, the access opening 515 to the refrigerated compartment 510.

[0072] 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.

[0073] In the illustrated exemplary case, in which the refrigerator 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.

[0074] 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).

[0075] In the case (not illustrated) where the refrigerator cabinet 500 comprises only one door 100, when the latter is in the closed position, it would entirely occlude the access opening 515.

[0076] To move from the closed position to the open position, each door 100 can be hinged to the outer body 505 of the refrigerator cabinet 500 according to a prefixed hinge axis, configuring itself as a so-called hinged door.

[0077] The hinge axis may be vertical and positioned at one of the two vertical edges of each door 100.

[0078] In particular, each door 100 can be associated with a pair 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 about the hinge axis, which is adapted to be fixed to the outer body 505 of the refrigerator cabinet 500, for example to one of the two horizontal edges that delimit the access opening 515.

[0079] 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.

[0080] Going into detail, each door 100 comprises an infill panel 105, having for example a rectangular shape, which may be thermally insulating and / or at least partially transparent.

[0081] 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).

[0082] These two major faces are separated by a distance representing the thickness of the infill panel 105.

[0083] 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.

[0084] If the infill panel 105 is polygon-shaped, this side perimeter comprises a plurality of straight edges consecutive to one other.

[0085] For example, in the rectangular infill panel 105 illustrated herein, the side perimeter comprises two transverse (or horizontal) edges individually parallel and adjacent to the short sides of the infill panel 105, and two longitudinal (or vertical) edges individually parallel and adjacent to the long sides of the infill panel 105.

[0086] Going into more detail, the infill panel 105 consists of (i.e. comprises) at least three slabs, a first slab 110, a second slab 115 and a third slab 120.

[0087] Each of these slabs 110, 115 and 120 may be made of glass, a polymer material (e.g. methacrylate), a combination of both or any other material that may possibly be transparent and / or thermally insulating.

[0088] The three slabs 110, 115 and 120 are arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart (perpendicular to their lying planes), e.g. with the second slab 115 being placed between the first and third slabs 110 and 120, so that a first and second gap 125 and 130 remain defined between them.

[0089] In particular, the first gap 125 can be defined between the first and second slabs 110 and 115, while the second gap 130 can be defined between the second and third slabs 115 and 120.

[0090] The first gap 125, i.e. the first slab 110, may be arranged towards the inside of the refrigerated compartment 510, while the second gap 130, i.e. the third slab 120, may be arranged towards the outside.

[0091] The first and second slabs 110 and 115 may both have a rectangular shape, preferably with sides parallel to each other, and substantially the same dimensions, in this case substantially the same width, substantially the same length (height) and possibly substantially the same thickness.

[0092] The third slab 120 may also have a rectangular shape with sides parallel to the sides of the first and second slabs 110 and 115, it may have substantially the same thickness as them, but it may have slightly larger dimensions (e.g. width and / or length).

[0093] The first and second slabs 110 and 115 can be joined with the interposition of a set of first spacer profiles 135 (one of which can be seen in Figure 4), i.e., rod-like bodies (e.g., bars) that extend along the sides of the slabs so as to define a closed frame that laterally delimits the first gap 125.

[0094] In particular, these first spacer profiles 135 may include a pair of transverse (or horizontal) profiles, not visible in the figures, individually parallel and adjacent to a respective short side of the first and second slabs 110 and 115, and a pair of longitudinal (or vertical) profiles, one of which is visible in Figure 4, orthogonal to the transverse profiles and individually parallel to a respective long side of the first and second slabs 110 and 115.

[0095] At least one or each of the aforementioned longitudinal (or vertical) profiles, in this case precisely the one visible in Figure 4, can coincide with a support profile 145 discussed below.

[0096] Similarly, the second and third slabs 115 and 120 can be joined with the interposition of a set of second spacer profiles 140 (one of which can be seen in Figure 4), i.e., rod-like bodies (e.g., bars) that extend along the sides of the slabs so as to define a closed frame that laterally delimits the second gap 130.

[0097] These second spacer profiles 140 may also include, in particular, a pair of transverse (or horizontal) profiles, not visible in the figures, individually parallel and adjacent to a respective short side of the second and third slabs 115 and 120, and a pair of longitudinal (or vertical) profiles, one of which is visible in Figure 4, orthogonal to the transverse profiles and individually parallel to a respective long side of the second and third slabs 115 and 120.

[0098] In general, both the first and second 135 and 140 spacer profiles can be made of metal, such as aluminium, or preferably of an optically transparent polymer, such as methacrylate.

[0099] By using adhesives (e.g. silicone glue or double-sided adhesive tape), these first and second spacer profiles 135 and 140 can be fixed to the respective slabs and can make the respective gap a sealed chamber.

[0100] This sealed chamber may be empty or may contain a gas, such as air or an inert gas (e.g. argon).

[0101] In the embodiment illustrated, the infill panel 105 comprises, as mentioned above, three slabs 110, 115 and 120 and two gaps 125 and 130, but it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, it may comprise a higher number of slabs and / or gaps.

[0102] In accordance with the present invention, a support profile 145 for a lighting device 150 is arranged along at least one of the edges of the infill panel 105.

[0103] This support profile 145 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.

[0104] In particular, it is preferable that the support profile 145 is arranged parallel to and along one of the longitudinal (vertical) edges of the infill panel 105.

[0105] Even more preferably, the door 100 could comprise two or more of said support profiles 145, each arranged to support respective lighting devices 150.

[0106] For example, the door 100 could comprise two support profiles 145 with respective lighting devices 150, each of which is arranged parallel to and along a respective one of the longitudinal (vertical) edges of the infill panel 105.

[0107] Regardless of their number, each support profile 145 may extend the full length of the respective edge.

[0108] Each support profile 145 can also be shaped so as to have a longitudinal channel 155, preferably extending the full length of the support profile 145 itself, and adapted to completely or at least partially accommodate the respective lighting means 150.

[0109] To define said longitudinal channel 155, the support profile 145 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.

[0110] 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).

[0111] In this way, the support profile 145 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.

[0112] In the illustrated embodiment, the support profile 145 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.

[0113] More precisely, the cross section of the support profile 145 illustrated herein has a rec- tangular (or square) shape, which consequently corresponds to an outer side surface formed by a first pair of flat rectangular faces 160 and 165, parallel and opposite to each other, and by a second pair of flat rectangular faces 170 and 175, parallel and opposite to each other but orthogonal to the previous ones.

[0114] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, each support profile 145 can be integrated into the infill panel 105, for example interposed between the first and second slabs 110 and 115.

[0115] In the event that the support profile 145 has the square shape outlined above, it is also preferable that the flat rectangular faces 160 and 165 are parallel and adjacent (for example substantially in contact) with the first slab 110 and the second slab 115, respectively.

[0116] The support profile 145 may also be fixed to the first and second slabs 110 and 115, for example by means of a strip of adhesive material (double-sided adhesive) interposed between it and each of said first and second slabs 110 and 115, which may be replaced by a layer of silicone glue or other adhesives.

[0117] It is also preferable, although not strictly necessary, that the support profile 145 does not protrude laterally with respect to the first and second slabs 110 and 115, for example that its outermost surface is substantially flush with the sides of said first and second slabs 110 and 115 or, as illustrated, slightly offset inwards.

[0118] As anticipated, the lighting device 150 associated with each support profile 145 is accommodated in the longitudinal channel 155, which can extend the full length of the support profile 145 itself.

[0119] This lighting device 150 may comprise one or more LED (Light Emitting Diode) sources. For example, the lighting device 150 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.

[0120] In order to appropriately direct the light emitted by the lighting device 150, an important aspect of the present invention provides that the support profile 145 comprises at least two portions, of which at least a first portion 185 and a second portion 190, where the first portion 185 has a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the lighting device 150 with respect to the second portion 190. In other words, the transparency coefficient of the first portion 185 of the support profile 145 is lower than the transparency coefficient of the second portion 190.

[0121] In practice, the first portion 185 of the support profile 145 is able to reflect and / or absorb the light emitted by the lighting device 150 more than the second portion 190, so that the intensity of the light flux passing through the second portion 190 is greater than that which may possibly pass through the first portion 185.

[0122] Ultimately, while the second portion 190 of the support profile 145 allows the light to pass and therefore the lighting of the surrounding environment, the first portion 185 acts as a screen capable of at least attenuating the light emitted.

[0123] In this regard, it is therefore preferable that the first portion 185 of the support profile 145 is substantially opaque with respect to the light emitted by the lighting device 150, i.e. that it is able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting device 150 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.

[0124] Conversely, it is preferable that the second portion 190 of the support profile 145 is substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the lighting device 150, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the lighting device 150 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.

[0125] In this way, light is effectively diffused only in some directions and prevented in others.

[0126] In consideration of the conformation of the support profile 145, in order to improve this directionality, it is preferable that each of said first and second portions 185 and 190 is a strip of the support profile 145 extending the entire length of the support profile 145 itself.

[0127] In particular, in the case where the outer side surface of the support profile 145 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 185 and that one or more of the remaining flat faces are defined by the second portion 190.

[0128] 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 185 of the support profile 145 may be arranged to define the face 165, i.e. the one facing outwards, as well as possibly the flat faces 170 and / or 175, while the second (trans- parent) portion 190 may be arranged to define at least (or only) the face 160, i.e. the one facing inside the refrigerated compartment 510.

[0129] From a constructional point of view, each support profile 145 can be entirely made of a given material having the degree of transparency it is wished to obtain in the second portion 190, for example of glass or more preferably of a polymeric material (e.g. methacrylate or PMMA).

[0130] In particular, the support profile 145 can be made by means of an extrusion process.

[0131] To opacify the first portion 185 of this support profile 145, 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 155), 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.

[0132] The presence of the obscuring paint is indicated with a thick line in Figure 5 and with dashes in Figure 6.

[0133] 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 device 150, preferably completely opaque, i.e. able to reflect / absorb all said light.

[0134] In the illustrated example, the obscuring paint may therefore be applied to the flat face 165 and possibly to the flat faces 170 and 175, leaving the (only) flat face 160 uncovered.

[0135] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 7 and 8, the first portion 185 and the second portion 190 of the support profile 145 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.

[0136] 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.

[0137] In this case, the first portion 185 and the second portion 190 of the support profile 145 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 145.

[0138] More preferably, however, the support profile 145 can be made as a single body by a co-extrusion process of said first and second material. In this way, although made of different materials, the first portion 185 and the second portion 190 of the support profile 145 would be inseparable portions of a single monolithic body.

[0139] According to another possible embodiment, illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the support profile 145 can comprise one or more further portions, for example a third portion 200 and a fourth portion 205, where each of said further portions has, similarly to the first portion 185, a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the lighting device 150 with respect to the second portion 190.

[0140] In particular, it is preferable that each of said further portions, for example each of said third and fourth portions 200 and 205, may be substantially opaque with respect to the light emitted by the lighting device 150, i.e. that it may be able to reflect and / or absorb most of the light emitted by the lighting device 150 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.

[0141] Each of these further portions, for example 200 and 205, may be a strip of the support profile 145 extending the full length of the support profile 145 itself.

[0142] For example, while the first portion 185 may be arranged to define the flat face 165, the third portion 200 may be arranged to define the flat face 170 (except for the thickness of the first portion 185), and the fourth portion 205 may be arranged to define the flat face 175 (except for the thickness of the first portion 185).

[0143] Each of the further portions, for example each of the portions 200 and 205, may be made of the same material as the first portion 185 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 190 is made.

[0144] In the event that there are more than one, as in the case illustrated herein, the further portions, for example portions 200 and 205, can in turn be made of materials different from each other or, more preferably, can all be made of the same material.

[0145] For example, both portions 200 and 205 may both be made of a third material different from the first material of which the first portion 185 is made (e.g., of a different colour).

[0146] 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. Also in this case, the further portions, e.g. 200 and 205, 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 145.

[0147] More preferably, however, the support profile 145 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.

[0148] In this way, although made of different materials, all the portions of the support profile 145 would be inseparable portions of a single monolithic body.

[0149] Still with reference to Figures 9 and 10, other embodiments could provide that the portion 200 and / or 205, which defines the face 170 and / or 175, is also substantially transparent with respect to the light emitted by the lighting device 150, i.e. that it is able to let through most of the light emitted by the lighting means 150 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.

[0150] For example, the portion 200 and / or 205 could be made of the same material of which the second portion 190 is made, which defines the face 160, actually forming with it, in the case of using a co-extrusion process, a single portion of the support profile 145.

[0151] Similarly, it is not excluded that the portion 200 and / or 205, defining the face 170 and / or 175, may be made of the same material (e.g. opaque and of the same colour) as the first portion 185, defining the face 165, also forming in this case, if a co-extrusion process is used, a single portion of the support profile 145.

[0152] Returning to the lighting device 150, it can be accommodated in the respective support profile 145 in a removable (or detachable) manner.

[0153] To this end, the longitudinal channel 155 of the support profile 145 can be closed at the ends by caps 210 which can be removed for the extraction and reinsertion of the lighting device 150.

[0154] Each cap 210 can be provided with at least two holes, communicating with the longitudinal channel 155, for the passage of power supply plugs of the lighting means.

[0155] These plugs can then be connected by electric wires to a power supply source external to the door 100 (not visible in the figures), for example by passing the same electric wires inside a perforated pin of the hinge with which the door 100 can be articulated of the refrigerator cabinet 500, until reaching the power supply source. As illustrated in Figures 5, 7 and 9, the lighting device 150, e.g. the LED bar (i.e. the LEDs of such a bar), is preferably oriented so as to emit one or more light beams passing through the first slab 110.

[0156] In the embodiments illustrated, the median axes of these light beams (which generally spread in a conical fashion) are also substantially perpendicular to the first slab 110.

[0157] However, it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, the median axes of the light beams emitted by the lighting device 150 may be inclined with respect to the first slab 110, for example towards the inside of the infill panel 105, or towards the first gap 125.

[0158] The door 100 may also comprise a support frame that supports the infill panel 105 and to which the hinges can be associated to enable its movement.

[0159] As shown in Figure 4, this support frame may comprise, for example, uprights (or longitudinal members) 300, each of which is fixed along one of the longitudinal (e.g. vertical) edges of the infill panel 105, e.g. externally alongside the first and second slabs 110 and 115, and behind the projecting portion of the third slab 120.

[0160] If desired, the support frame may also comprise (non-visible) cross members, each of which may be fixed along one of the transverse (horizontal) edges of the infill panel 105, so as to define with said uprights or longitudinal members 300 a substantially rectangular frame surrounding the infill panel 105 itself.

[0161] Gaskets 305 can also be fixed to the support frame to improve the closing of the refrigerator cabinet 500 when the door 100 is closed.

[0162] The door 100 may also comprise a handle, which may be glued directly in contact with infill panel 105 or otherwise fixed to the support frame.

[0163] However, it cannot be ruled out that, in other embodiments, the door 100 may be of the frameless type, i.e. without the support frame.

[0164] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variants, all falling within the same inventive concept. Furthermore, all of the details can be replaced with 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 refrigerator cabinet (500), comprising an infill panel (105) formed by at least a first, a second and a third slab (110, 115, 120), which are arranged mutually parallel, facing and spaced apart, so as to define at least a first and a second gap (125, 130), characterised in that it further comprises an electric lighting device (150), which is arranged along a perimeter edge of said infill panel (105).

2. A door (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said electric lighting device (150) is interposed between the first and second slab (110, 115).

3. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electric lighting device (150) comprises one or more LED sources, for example it is an LED bar.

4. A door (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said electric lighting device (150) is housed in a support profile (145) arranged along said perimeter edge.

5. A door (100) according to claim 4, wherein the support profile (145) is a tubular member within which said electric lighting device (150) is housed.

6. A door (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said support profile (145) is interposed between the first and second slab (110, 115).

7. A door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the support profile (145) extends the full extension of the perimeter edge of the infill panel (105) along which it is arranged.

8. A door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said electric lighting device (150) is removably housed in the support profile (145).

9. A door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the support profile (145) is at least partially optically transparent.

10. A door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein said support profile (145) comprises at least a first portion (185) and a second portion (190), wherein the first portion (185) has a greater degree of opacity to the light emitted by the electric lighting device (150) than the second portion (190).

11. A door (100) according to claim 10, wherein the first portion (185) is substantially opaque relative to the light emitted by the electric lighting device (150) and the second portion (190) is substantially transparent to the light emitted by the electric lighting device (150).

12. A door (100) according to claim 10, wherein said first and said second portions (185, 190) are two strips of the support profile (145), each extending the entire length of the support profile (145) itself.

13. A door (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the support profile (145) comprises an outer side surface formed by a plurality of flat rectangular-shaped faces, at least a first one (165) of which is defined by the first portion (185) and at least a second one (160) of which is defined by the second portion (190).

14. A door (100) according to any one of the claims 10 to 13, wherein the first portion (185) of the support profile (145) is painted with an obscuring paint.

15. A door (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said first portion (185) of the support profile (145) consists of a first material having different optical properties with respect to a second material which the second portion (190) is made of.

16. A door (100) according to claim 15, wherein the support profile (145) is made as a single body by a co-extrusion process of said first and second materials.

17. A door (100) according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the first and second flat faces (165, 160) of the support profile (145) are parallel to the first and second slabs (110, 115).

18. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising first spacer elements (135), interposed between said first and second slabs (110, 115), and second spacer elements (140), interposed between said second and third slabs (115, 120), which are adapted to delimit said first and second gaps (125, 130) perimetrically.

19. A door (100) according to claim 4 and 18, wherein said first spacer elements (135) include said support profile (145).

20. A door (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 19, wherein the infill panel (105) has a rectangular shape and the perimeter edge, along which the support profile (145) is arranged, is a first of the major edges of said infill panel (105) having a rectangular shape.

21. A door (100) according to claim 20, comprising a second support profile (145), which is arranged in parallel along a second major edge of said rectangular shaped infill panel (105) and in which a further electric lighting device (150) is accommodated.

22. A door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slabs (110, 115, 120) are transparent, e.g. made of glass or polymeric material.

23. A refrigerator 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).

24. A refrigerator cabinet (500) according to claim 23, wherein the first portion (185) of the support profile (145) faces the outside of the refrigerated compartment (510) and the second portion (190) of the support profile (145) faces the inside of the refrigerated compartment (510).

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