Door for a refrigerated merchandiser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9955803-B2
Application number	US-201414570723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area. The door includes a door frame that is attachable to the case, and a glass panel assembly that is coupled to the door frame. The glass panel assembly includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel that is spaced apart from the first glass panel by a gap. The glass panel assembly further includes a conductive coating that is applied to the first glass panel, and a heater element that is coupled to the first glass panel and that is in electrical communication with the conductive coating. The door also includes a connector that extends through the first glass panel and the second glass panel and securable to the glass panel assembly, and the connector is configured to electrically connect the heater element to a power source.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, the door comprising:
a door frame attachable to the case;
a glass panel assembly coupled to the door frame and including a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced apart from the first glass panel by a gap, the glass panel assembly further including a conductive coating applied to the first glass panel and a heater element coupled to the first glass panel and in electrical communication with the conductive coating; and
a connector extending through the first glass panel and the second glass panel and securable to the glass panel assembly,
wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect the heater element to a power source.

2. The door of claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a bolt and a cap, and wherein the electrical connection between the heater element and the power source is made by tightening the cap on the bolt.

3. The door of claim 2 , further comprising an electrical connector bushing electrically coupled to the heater element and an insulation bushing disposed between the electrical connector bushing and the connector to electrically isolate from the connector from the electrical connector bushing.

4. The door of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector bushing coupled to the connector and in direct communication with the heater element, wherein the electrical connector bushing extends from within the gap through the first glass panel.

5. The door of claim 4 , further comprising an insulation bushing at least partially enclosing an end of the electrical connector bushing exposed through the first glass panel.

6. The door of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge coupled to the door frame to facilitate pivotal movement of the door between a closed position and an open position, wherein the hinge is at least partially coupled to the first glass panel by the connector.

7. The door of claim 6 , wherein the hinge includes a base that supports a hinge pin and a hinge housing that encloses a portion of the connector.

8. The door of claim 1 , further comprising a first insulation bushing coupled to the connector and at least partially disposed in the gap, and a second insulation bushing coupled to the connector, wherein the first and second insulation bushings are positioned to cooperatively seal the gap.

9. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, the door comprising:
a door frame attachable to the case;
a glass panel assembly coupled to the door frame and including a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced apart from the first glass panel by a gap, the glass panel assembly further including a conductive coating applied to the first glass panel and a heater element coupled to the first glass panel and in electrical communication with the conductive coating; and
a connector extending through the first glass panel and securable to the glass panel assembly; and
a connector bushing coupled to the connector and positioned between the connector and the heater element,
wherein the connector bushing defines a seal configured to at least partially compress in response to a vacuum applied to the gap to seal the gap.

10. The door of claim 9 , wherein the connector bushing is configured to electrically connect the connector to the heater element.

11. The door of claim 9 , wherein the connector is encapsulated by the second glass panel and the connector is coupled to a power source adjacent an end of the connector exposed through the first glass panel, and wherein the connector is electrically coupled to the heater element via the connector bushing.

12. The door of claim 9 , wherein the connector includes a bolt and a cap, and wherein the electrical connection between the heater element and the power source is made by tightening the cap on the bolt.

13. The door of claim 12 , wherein the connector bushing is disposed entirely within the gap.

14. The door of claim 9 , further comprising a hinge coupled to the door frame to facilitate pivotal movement of the door between a closed position and an open position, wherein the hinge is at least partially coupled to the first glass panel by the connector.

15. A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, the door comprising:
a glass panel assembly including a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced apart from the first glass panel by a gap, the glass panel assembly further including a conductive coating applied to the first glass panel and a heater element coupled to the first glass panel and in electrical communication with the conductive coating; and
a connector extending through the first glass panel and securable to the glass panel assembly to electrically connect the heater element to a power source; and
a hinge attached to the glass panel assembly by the connector to facilitate movement of the door between an open position and a closed position.

16. The door of claim 15 , wherein the connector includes a fastener and a cap, and wherein tightening the cap on the fastener secures the hinge to the glass panel assembly and electrically engages the fastener with the heater element.

17. The door of claim 16 , further comprising a seal positioned between the fastener and the heater element, wherein the seal is compressible in response to tightening of the cap.

18. The door of claim 15 , wherein the connector extends through the first glass panel and the second glass panel.

19. The door of claim 15 , further comprising an electrical connector bushing positioned between the connector and the heater element, and wherein the connector bushing is at least partially disposed within the gap.

Assignees

• Hussmann Corp

Inventors

• Twohy Raymond P

Classifications

• A47F3/001

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

• G07F9/105 Primary

  Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage (dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064) · CPC title

• A47F3/125

  Doors for show cases · CPC title

• A47F3/0434 Primary

  Glass or transparent panels · CPC title

• A47B2220/0072

  Hinges for furniture · CPC title