Display cabinet for preserving food products and process for mounting said display cabinet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display cabinets face challenges in production complexity, assembly difficulty, inflexibility, and inability to easily accommodate client-specific size and shape requirements due to the use of integral insulating structures and complex geometric designs.

Innovation Solution

A display cabinet design featuring a support frame with adjustable insulating panels connected by hinge elements that allow for variable tilt angles, enabling standardized production of different models and simplified assembly, while ensuring effective condensate drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If an integral insulating structure is used to define the external shape of the display cabinet, then the structural integrity and thermal insulation are improved, but the production complexity and assembly difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the integral insulating structure into separate modular panels (front panel, back panel, side panels, base panel) that can be produced independently and assembled together. Each panel is a complete insulating unit with standardized dimensions, allowing parallel production and simplified assembly while maintaining the thermal insulation performance of the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If an integral insulating structure with complex geometric shapes is used, then the display cabinet can accommodate diverse design requirements, but the manufacturing flexibility and adaptability to client specifications decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric design capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the structure into standardized panels, the patent enables easy reconfiguration and adaptation to different client requirements. Panels can be arranged in various configurations (different sizes, shapes, and layouts) without requiring custom tooling or complex manufacturing processes, thus maintaining manufacturing flexibility while achieving design diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized panels are designed to be universal components that can serve multiple functions and configurations. The same panel types can be used across different display cabinet models by varying the arrangement and combination, allowing a single production line to serve multiple client specifications without retooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If an integral insulating structure is used, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the assembly time and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The modular panel system maintains continuous thermal insulation through standardized joining mechanisms (gaskets, sealants, or interlocking features) between panels. Each panel is pre-insulated as a complete unit, and the assembly process simply requires connecting these pre-fabricated units, significantly reducing on-site assembly time compared to constructing a single large integral structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Shape

If complex geometric designs are implemented in the insulating structure, then the display cabinet aesthetic and functional requirements are met, but the ease of manufacture and assembly deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric designVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Complex geometric designs are achieved through the arrangement and combination of simpler standardized panels rather than by making each panel geometrically complex. This allows manufacturers to produce simple, easy-to-manufacture panels using standard tools and processes, while the overall complex geometry emerges from the modular assembly configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates versatile and cost-effective production of display cabinets that can be tailored to client specifications with reduced component complexity and improved operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the insulating base panel (31) is tilted with respect to the insulating back panel (32) so as to define a tilted surface along which at least some condensate water can flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4230934B1Display cabinet for preserving food products and process for mounting said display cabinet
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 DE RIGO REFRIGERATION SRL
  • EP4230934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4230934B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4230934B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Display cabinet for preserving food products, which comprises a support frame (2) comprising two crosspieces (21) fixed to two corresponding uprights (22), an insulating structure (3) fixed to the support frame (2) and comprising an insulating base panel (31) fixed to the two crosspieces (21) of the support frame (2) and an insulating back panel (32) fixed to the two uprights (22) of the support frame (2). The display cabinet also comprises a connection element (4) placed as a mechanical connection between the insulating base panel (31) and the insulating back panel (32), and such connection element (4) comprises a first hinge element (41) mechanically connected to the insulating base panel (31), and a second hinge element (42) mechanically connected to the insulating back panel (32) and rotatably connected to the first hinge element (41) in order to vary the mutual tilt between the insulating base panel (31) and the insulating back panel (32).