# US 10,477,986 B2 · Fan plenum assembly and attachment in a merchandiser

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- Number: US 10,477,986 B2
- Document ID: US10477986B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/992,632
- Filed: 2016-01-11
- Published: 2017-07-13
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-11
- Assignees: Hussmann Corporation
- Applicants: Hussmann Corporation
- Inventors: Larry N. Leonard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477986B2

## CPC

- A47F 3/0447: {with air curtains}
- A47F 3/0469: {Details, e.g. night covers}
- A47F 3/0482: {Details common to both closed and open types}
- F04D 19/002: {Axial flow fans}
- F04D 29/522: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F04D 29/545: {Ducts}
- F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F25D 2317/0681: Details thereof
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)

## Abstract

A fan plenum assembly for a merchandiser. The fan plenum assembly includes a plenum housing that defines an opening configured to receive a fan, and that has a side wall with a slot and a slot extension continuous with the slot. The slot has a major axis extending through a center of the slot. A bearing is configured to rotationally support a hinge pin and is coupled to the side wall. The bearing includes a positioning element that is disposed in the slot and in the slot extension. The positioning element is movable within the slot and the slot extension such that the bearing is movable along the major axis to permit axial adjustment of a position of the bearing relative to the plenum housing and the bearing is immovable rotationally relative to the plenum housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A merchandiser comprising
a case defining a product display area, the case including a base and an air passageway extending from the base and in fluid communication with the product display area;
a plenum housing coupled to the case and substantially enclosing an end of the air passageway, the plenum housing defining an opening configured to receive a fan to direct air into the air passageway, and the plenum housing including a side wall having an elongated aperture with a major axis, the side wall having an edge oriented to engage a surface of the base;
a bearing coupled to the side wall and defining a pivot for the plenum housing, the bearing including a positioning element disposed within the aperture; and
a hinge pin rotatably coupled to the bearing and defining a pivot about which the plenum housing is rotatable,
wherein engagement of the positioning element with the aperture permits movement of the plenum housing relative to the bearing along the major axis to provide axial adjustment of the plenum housing while inhibiting rotational movement of the bearing relative to the plenum housing, and
wherein axial adjustment of the plenum housing along the major axis is configured to alter a position of the plenum housing relative to the surface such that the edge of the plenum housing engages the base to limit air infiltration from adjacent the surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the position of the plenum housing relative to the bearing is configured to alter the angle of orientation of the edge relative to the surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The merchandiser of claim 2, wherein the positioning element has a detent engaged with an inner surface of the side wall to retain the bearing within the aperture.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The merchandiser of claim 1, wherein the aperture is defined by a slot and a slot extension, and wherein the positioning element is disposed in the slot and the slot extension.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The merchandiser of claim 4, wherein the bearing includes a base plate, and wherein the positioning element includes a first protrusion extending from the base plate into the slot and a second protrusion extending from the base plate into the slot extension, and wherein the second protrusion inhibits rotation of the bearing relative to the plenum housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The merchandiser of claim 4, wherein the bearing has a first position relative to the plenum housing when the positioning element is engaged with a first axial extent of the slot, and a second position relative to the housing when the positioning element is engaged with a second axial extent of the slot opposite the first axial extent, and wherein the bearing has a plurality of axial positions relative to the plenum housing between and including the first and second positions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The merchandiser of claim 6, wherein the positioning element includes a first protrusion disposed in the slot and a second protrusion disposed in the slot extension, and wherein the second protrusion is coupled to the side wall within the slot extension in each of the plurality of axial positions of the bearing.