Discharge air straightener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10765231-B2
Application number	US-201615041860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A temperature controlled case includes a number of shelves, an air-curtain, and a number of air-straighteners. The number of shelves individually support a displayed product. The number of shelves are mounted to the temperature controlled case. The air-curtain originates at an air-curtain discharge and terminates an air-curtain return. The number of air-straighteners is equal to the number of shelves. The number of air straighteners individually include a flow guide and are individually coupled to one of the number of shelves. The flow guides are located at locations within the air-curtain. The flow guides are configured to control the air-curtain. The flow guides individually include a luminaire comprising a number of LEDs coupled to a number of PCBs. The luminaires are configured to illuminate a number of illumination targets. The number of illumination targets correspond to at least one of the displayed products.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A temperature controlled case comprising:
a frame having a rear section, an upper section extending away from the rear section, and a lower section extending away from the rear section and spaced apart from the upper section to define a cavity therein, the cavity defining a product location configured to receive a product;
an air-curtain extending across the cavity, originating at an air-curtain discharge coupled to the upper section of the frame, and terminating at an air-curtain return coupled to the lower section of the frame;
a first shelf;
a second shelf located below the first shelf;
an air straightener coupled to and extending downwardly away from the first shelf, the air straightener comprising:
a flow guide comprising:
an upper channel;
a lower channel; and
a stop;

a luminaire coupled to the lower channel, the luminaire comprising a LED and a PCB; and
a support arm coupled to the upper channel and the first shelf; and

a cam-track mechanism coupled to the support arm, the cam-track mechanism comprising a track with a first slot configured to receive the stop and a second slot contiguous with the first slot and configured to receive the stop;
wherein the flow guide is located at a location within the air-curtain;
wherein the flow guide is configured to control the air-curtain;
wherein the luminaire is configured to illuminate an illumination target; and
wherein the stop and the track are configured to facilitate selective repositioning of the illumination target relative to the second shelf by adjusting an angular position of the flow guide relative to the first shelf.

2. The temperature controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the flow guide is selectively repositionable between a number of angular positions including a position substantially parallel to a primary direction of the air-curtain.

3. The temperature controlled case of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gravity orientation mechanism coupled to the air straightener;
wherein the gravity orientation mechanism is configured to facilitate a constant orientation of the flow guide within the air-curtain.

4. The temperature controlled case of claim 1 , wherein the flow guide comprises a lens coupled to the lower channel;
wherein the lens includes a first leg configured to be received in the lower channel and a second leg configured to be received in the lower channel; and
wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to bias at least one of the LED or the PCB against the inner surface within the lower channel.

5. The temperature controlled case of claim 1 , wherein:
the air straightener is coupled to the upper section of the frame using wires coupled to the upper section of the frame.

6. The temperature controlled case of claim 1 , wherein: the air straightener is selectively rotatable from a first position within the air-curtain to a second position outside the air-curtain.

7. A temperature controlled case comprising:
an air-curtain originating at an air-curtain discharge and terminating at an air-curtain return;
a first shelf defined by a first length and having a first flow guide coupled to a distal end of the first shelf, positioned proximate an inner wall of the air-curtain, and extending downwardly away from the first shelf, the first flow guide comprising a stop;
a second shelf below the first shelf defined by a second length that is different than the first length; and
an air straightener formed integrally within the second shelf and comprising a second flow guide laterally offset from the first flow guide toward an outer wall of the air-curtain, the air straightener disposed within the air-curtain at a location between, and separate from, the air-curtain discharge and the air-curtain return;
a cam-track mechanism formed integrally within the distal end of the first shelf, the cam-track mechanism comprising a track with a first slot configured to receive the stop and a second slot contiguous with the first slot and configured to receive the stop;
wherein the first flow guide comprises a luminaire;
wherein the luminaire comprises a number of LEDs coupled to a number of PCBs;
wherein the luminaire has an illumination target where light produced by the number of LEDs is directed;
wherein the illumination target is located on the second shelf; and
wherein the stop and the track are configured to facilitate selective repositioning of the illumination target along the second shelf by adjusting an angular position of the first flow guide relative to the first shelf.

8. The temperature controlled case of claim 7 , wherein the second flow guide is selectively repositionable between a number of angular positions including a position substantially parallel to a primary direction of the air-curtain.

9. The temperature controlled case of claim 7 , wherein the air straightener further includes:
at least one support arm formed integrally within the second shelf;
wherein the support arms, along with the second flow guide, define a number of air channels configured to facilitate passage of the air-curtain through the air straightener.

10. The temperature controlled case of claim 7 , further comprising:
a gravity orientation mechanism coupled to the air straightener;
wherein the gravity orientation mechanism is configured to facilitate a constant orientation of the second flow guide within the air-curtain.

11. The temperature controlled case of claim 7 , wherein the first flow guide further comprises a lens;
wherein the lens includes a first leg and a second leg; and
wherein the first leg and the second leg are configured to bias the number of PCBs against the flow guide.

12. An air straightener for a temperature controlled case, the air straightener comprising:
a flow guide disposed within an air-curtain and comprising a stop;
a cam-track mechanism comprising a track having a first slot and a second slot; and
a number of support arms each individually comprising a telescoping mechanism having a sliding track and a sliding insert movable relative to one another to adjust a length of each support arm;
wherein the flow guide comprises:
a lower channel;
an upper channel separate from the lower channel;
a bottom retaining edge;
a top retaining edge;
a luminaire having a number of LEDs coupled to a number of PCBs; and
a lens comprising a lower leg, an upper leg, a lower edge, and an upper edge; and

wherein the cam-track mechanism is configured to facilitate selective angular repositioning of the illumination target of the luminaire via movement of the stop within at least one of the first slot or the second slot.

13. The air straightener of claim 12 , further comprising the temperature controlled case;
wherein the support arms are coupled to the temperature controlled case;
wherein the luminaire is configured to have an illumination target;
wherein the illumination target is a concentration of light emitted from the number of LEDs; and
wherein the illumination target is configured to be located on at least one displayed product of the temperature controlled case.

14. The air straightener of claim 12 , further comprising the temperature controlled case;
wherein support arms are coupled to a first shelf of the temperature controlled case;
wherein the luminaire is configured to have an illumination target;
wherein the illumination target is a concentration of light emitted from the number of LEDs; and
wherein the illumination target is configured to be located on a second shelf of the temperature controlled case directly below the first shelf.

15. The air str

Assignees

• Hill Phoenix Inc

Inventors

• Eget Lawrence William
• Swofford T Dean
• Bates Roy

Classifications

• A47F3/0469

  Details, e.g. night covers · CPC title

• A47F3/001

  Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation · CPC title

• F25D2317/063

  with air guides · CPC title

• A47F3/0447 Primary

  with air curtains · CPC title

• F25D23/023

  Air curtain closures · CPC title