Thermal frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11864670-B2
Application number	US-202217816849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2022
Priority date	Nov 28, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

The invention features a refrigerator cabinet door frame. The frame includes a thermally conductive outer frame, a thermally insulating inner frame member, and a sealing plate. The outer frame member includes a forward end having an outer surface that is disposed outside of a refrigerated cabinet with the frame mounted, and a rearward end defining a joint. The inner frame member includes a first end retained in the joint, and a second end. The sealing plate includes a first edge coupled to the outer frame member at the rearward end, forward of the joint, a second edge supported by the second end of the inner frame member, and a thermally conductive sealing surface. The first edge of the sealing plate is coupled to the outer frame member such that the sealing surface and the outer surface of the outer frame member together form a continuous heat transfer path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid door frame for a refrigerator cabinet, the hybrid door frame comprising a metallic outer frame member coupled to a polymer inner frame member with a door sealing plate extending between the metallic outer frame member and the polymer inner frame member,
wherein a portion of the metallic outer frame member extends inward past a plane of the door sealing plate while the polymer inner frame member is arranged relative to the metallic outer frame member so as to be positioned entirely inward of a cabinet door with the hybrid frame mounted to the refrigerator cabinet, and
wherein the polymer inner frame member is coupled to the metallic outer frame member by a joint comprising a groove at a free end of the metallic outer frame member that extends along a majority of a length of the metallic outer frame member, and within which a portion of the polymer inner frame member fits.

2. The hybrid door frame of claim 1 , wherein a first edge of the door sealing plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member, and a second edge of the door sealing plate is supported by the polymer inner frame member.

3. The hybrid door frame of claim 2 , wherein the door sealing plate is in contact with a heating wire housed in the polymer inner frame member.

4. The hybrid door frame of claim 3 , wherein the first edge of the sealing door plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member forming a continuous heat transfer path between the door sealing plate and the metallic outer frame member.

5. The hybrid door frame of claim 4 , wherein the metallic outer frame member comprises an L-shape, and
wherein the polymer inner frame member comprises a channel extending through a central region of the polymer inner frame member.

6. The hybrid door frame of claim 5 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the metallic outer frame member is between 100 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 1500 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F., and
wherein a thermal conductivity of the polymer inner frame member is between 0.8 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 10 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F.

7. The hybrid door frame of claim 5 , wherein the joint places the metallic outer frame member and the polymer inner frame member in direct contact with one another.

8. A refrigerated display case comprising a hybrid door frame mounted to an opening of the refrigerated display case, the hybrid door frame comprising a metallic outer frame member coupled to, and in direct contact with, a polymer inner frame member with a door sealing plate extending between the metallic outer frame member and the polymer inner frame member,
wherein a portion of the metallic outer frame member extends inward past a plane of the door sealing plate while the polymer inner frame member is positioned entirely inward of a door mounted to the refrigerated display case, and
wherein the polymer inner frame member is coupled to the metallic outer frame member by a joint comprising a groove at a free end of the metallic outer frame member within which a portion of the polymer inner frame member fits.

9. The refrigerated display case of claim 8 , wherein a first edge of the door sealing plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member, and a second edge of the door sealing plate is supported by the polymer inner frame member.

10. The refrigerated display case of claim 9 , wherein the door sealing plate is in contact with a heating wire housed in the polymer inner frame member and spaced apart from the metallic outer frame member.

11. The refrigerated display case of claim 10 , wherein the first edge of the door sealing plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member forming a continuous heat transfer path between the door sealing plate and the metallic outer frame member.

12. The refrigerated display case of claim 11 , wherein the metallic outer frame member comprises an L-shape, and
wherein the polymer inner frame member comprises a channel extending through a central region of the polymer inner frame member.

13. The refrigerated display case of claim 12 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the metallic outer frame member is between 100 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 1500 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F., and
wherein a thermal conductivity of the polymer inner frame member is between 0.8 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 10 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F.

14. A hybrid door frame for a refrigerated display case, the hybrid door frame comprising a metallic outer frame member coupled to, and in direct contact with, a polymer inner frame member by a joint comprising a groove at a free end of the metallic outer frame member within which a portion of the polymer inner frame member is fit, wherein the hybrid door frame further comprises a door sealing plate, wherein a first edge of the door sealing plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member, and a second edge of the door sealing plate is supported by the polymer inner frame member.

15. The refrigerated display case of claim 14 , wherein the joint at which the metallic outer frame member couples to the polymer inner frame member is positioned inward of the door sealing plate.

16. The refrigerated display case of claim 14 , wherein the polymer inner frame member houses a heating wire that is spaced apart from the metallic outer frame member, and
wherein the door sealing plate is in contact with the heating wire.

17. The refrigerated display case of claim 16 , wherein the first edge of the door sealing plate is coupled to the metallic outer frame member forming a continuous heat transfer path between the door sealing plate and the metallic outer frame member.

18. The refrigerated display case of claim 17 , wherein the metallic outer frame member comprises an L-shape, and
wherein the polymer inner frame member comprises a channel extending through a central region of the polymer inner frame member.

19. The refrigerated display case of claim 18 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the metallic outer frame member is between 100 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 1500 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F., and
wherein a thermal conductivity of the polymer inner frame member is between 0.8 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F. and 10 BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F.

Assignees

• Anthony Inc

Inventors

• Artwohl Paul J
• Nicholson Jeffery W
• Rolek Matthew
• Baugh David Briggs

Classifications

• A47F3/0434 Primary

  Glass or transparent panels · CPC title

• A47F3/043 Primary

  Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F11/10

  Arrangements of light sources · CPC title

• E06B1/325

  comprising insulation between two metal section members · CPC title

• E06B1/524

  Mullions; Transoms · CPC title