Open top refrigerated display case with storage section

An open top refrigerated display case comprising:

• a display portion for displaying products to be refrigerated;
• a storage portion of storing products to be refrigerated;
• a wall member separating said display and storage portions;
• cooling means for cooling both said display portion and said storage portion of said display case, said cooling means including means for establishing a first air band encircling said display portion, said means for establishing the first air band including a first air conduit passing around said display portion of said display case, said first air conduit having a first air outlet through which air can be expelled from said first air conduit and a first air inlet through which air can enter said first air conduit with said first air outlet and said first air inlet being located at opposite ends of said display case so as to direct air across the opening in the top of said display case and in alignment so that air leaving said first air outlet is directed towards and received by said first air inlet, first air circulating means for circulating air along said first air conduit during a refrigeration cycle such that air is expelled from said first air outlet and received by said first air inlet thereby establishing a first air curtain across the opening in the top of said display case, and refrigeration means for refrigerating air of the first air band passing along said first air conduit during a refrigeration cycle of operation of said display case so as to form a refrigerated air band;
• first means for diverting a portion of the refrigerated air band from said first air conduit before such air passes through said refrigeration means so as to prevent such portion of air from passing through said refrigeration means and enabling such air to pass from said first air conduit into said storage portion for cooling said storage portion;
• means for establishing a second air band around said display portion and said storage portion of said display case, said means for establishing the second air band including a second air conduit within said display case positioned outwardly of said first air conduit and encircling both said display portion and said storage portion, said second air conduit having a second air outlet opening at one end of the opening in the top of said display case and a second air inlet at the opposite end of the opening in the top of said display case, second air circulating means for circulating air along said second air conduit so that air is expelled from said second air outlet and received by said second air inlet thereby establishing a second air curtain across the opening in the top of said display case with said second air curtain being located outwardly of said first air curtain;
• and,
• control means for selectively switching said display case between a refrigeration cycle and a defrost cycle and controlling said first and second air circulating means and said refrigeration means so that during a refrigeration cycle air is circulated alone said first and second air conduits so as to form the respective said air bands with the air in said first air conduit being refrigerated by said refrigeration means, and during a defrost cycle said refrigeration means is turned off, the flow direction of air through one of said first and second conduits is reversed so that ambient air is drawn into such air conduit and at least a portion of such ambient air is fed through said first air conduit.