# US 10,368,658 B2 · Display case door assembly with vacuum panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,658 B2 - Document ID: US10368658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/429,366 - Filed: 2017-02-10 - Published: 2017-06-01 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-11 - Assignees: Anthony, Inc. - Applicants: Anthony, Inc. - Inventors: Paul J. Artwohl; Jeffery W. Nicholson; Matthew Rolek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368658B2 ## CPC - A47F 3/0434: {Glass or transparent panels} - A47F 3/002: {Devices for protection against sunlight or theft} - A47F 3/005: {with glass panels} - A47F 3/043: {Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence)} - E04B 1/803: {with vacuum spaces included in the slab} - E05F 1/061: {with cams or helical tracks} - E06B 3/025: {consisting of multiple glazing units (units per se E06B3/66)} - E06B 3/6612: {Evacuated glazing units} - E06B 3/6617: {one of the panes being larger than another} - E06B 3/66304: {Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units} - E05F 1/02: gravity-actuated {, e.g. by use of counterweights} - E05Y 2900/31: for refrigerators - E06B 3/663: Elements for spacing panes - E06B 3/66366: {specially adapted for units comprising more than two panes or for attaching intermediate sheets} - E06B 3/6715: {specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light (E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00)} - Y02A 30/249: Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing - Y02B 80/22: Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing - Y10T 428/231: Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a frame defining an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device and a transparent unit coupled to the frame. The transparent unit includes a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap has a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit. The transparent unit further includes a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum-insulated refrigerated display case door, comprising: a hinge rail comprising a channel portion and a hinge receiving portion, the hinge receiving portion defining two openings configured to receive hinge pins for mounting the door to a refrigerated case; a vacuum-insulated glass (VIG) panel assembly having a front surface arranged to face away from a refrigerated display case with the door mounted, and a rear surface arranged to face into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted, the VIG panel assembly comprising two panes of glass bounding a sealed evacuated space between the panes; and an additional pane of tempered glass laminated to one of the two panes, one of the two panes of glass comprising a low emissivity layer, wherein a first edge of the VIG panel assembly is disposed within the channel portion of the hinge rail and the VIG panel assembly is arranged such that the additional pane of glass is at the front surface of the VIG panel assembly; a handle secured to a front surface of the VIG panel assembly without penetrating the additional pane of glass, the handle arranged to extend away from the refrigerated display case with the door mounted; edge guards coupled to each of a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge of the VIG panel assembly, wherein one of the edge guards comprises a wiper configured to seal the door when the door is in a closed position; and an anti-condensate coating at the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein an adhesive is disposed between the first edge of the VIG panel and the channel portion of the rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the handle has an arched shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises aluminum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the rail comprises extruded aluminum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the edge guards are substantially transparent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the edge guards are bonded to the respective ones of the first, second, and third edges of the VIG panel assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the panes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the handle is secured to the VIG panel assembly by an adhesive bond. ### Claim 10 A refrigerated display case comprising: a frame; and a first vacuum-insulated door and a second vacuum-insulated door mounted to the frame, each of the first vacuum-insulated door and the second vacuum-insulated door comprising: a hinge rail comprising a channel portion and a hinge receiving portion, the hinge receiving portion defining two openings configured to receive hinge pins for mounting the door to a refrigerated case; a vacuum-insulated glass (VIG) panel assembly having a front surface arranged to face away from a refrigerated display case with the door mounted, and a rear surface arranged to face into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted, the VIG panel assembly comprising two panes of glass bounding a sealed evacuated space between the panes; and an additional pane of tempered glass laminated to one of the two panes, one of the two panes of glass comprising a low emissivity layer, wherein a first edge of the VIG panel assembly is disposed within the channel portion of the hinge rail and the VIG panel assembly is arranged such that the additional pane of glass is at the front surface of the VIG panel assembly; a handle secured to a front surface of the VIG panel assembly without penetrating the additional pane of glass, the handle arranged to extend away from the refrigerated display case with the door mounted; edge guards coupled to each of a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge of the VIG panel assembly, wherein one of the edge guards comprises a wiper configured to seal the door when the door is in a closed position; and an anti-condensate coating at the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerated display case of claim 10, wherein the wiper of the first vacuum-insulated door cooperates with the wiper of the second vacuum-insulated door to seal the display case when both the first vacuum-insulated door and the second vacuum-insulated door are in the closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein an adhesive is disposed between the first edge of the VIG panel and the channel portion of the rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle has an arched shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle comprises aluminum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the rail comprises extruded aluminum. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the edge guards are substantially transparent. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the edge guards are bonded to the respective ones of the first, second, and third edges of the VIG panel assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a plurality of spacers disposed between the panes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The display case of claim 10, wherein the handle is secured to the VIG panel assembly by an adhesive bond. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The door of claim 1, wherein the VIG panel assembly comprises a vacuum port passing through the rear surface of the VIG panel assembly, and wherein the VIG panel assembly is arranged in the hinge rail such that the vacuum port faces into the refrigerated display case with the door mounted when the door is in a closed position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The door of claim 20, wherein the VIG panel assembly is arranged in the hinge rail such that the vacuum port is positioned adjacent a corner formed between the first edge and the second edge, the second edge forming a top edge of the door.