US 4,314,458 AGranted

Refrigerated display case

AssigneeDalcon Marketing Inc.

InventorsConrad Hade, Dale D. Robinson

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Abstract

A 360.degree. open circular refrigerated display case which features a plurality of horizontal circular display shelves, aligned in a vertical series one above the other. Unique cold and warmed air circulation patterns are provided by the configurations of the shelves and central foraminous ducts. Cascading air curtains flow from top to bottom in the refrigerated display case in a unique flow pattern, i.e. downwards from shelf to shelf and successively inwards and outwards below each shelf, guided by the shelf itself which acts as a baffle. A specific circular configuration of a refrigerated display case with horizontal trays and cold air flow about the trays, which are hollow, as well as a specific arrangement of two adjacent trays or a single hollow tray, as well as the baffles and flow arrangement, as disclosed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A refrigerated display case comprising:

(A) an upright vertically oriented rectilinear inner first duct,
(B) an upright vertically oriented rectilinear outer second duct, said second duct being disposed about and coaxial with said first duct, so that said first duct defines a central vertical passage for downwards flow of heated air, and so that the annular space between said first duct and said second duct defines an annular vertical passage for upwards flow of cold air,
(C) first and second spaced apart juxtaposed horizontal baffles, each baffle extending outwards from attachment to said outer duct, the first baffle being an upper baffle and the second baffle being a lower baffle,
(D) a middle horizontal baffle, said middle baffle being disposed between and spaced from said first and second baffles and extending outwards from attachment to said outer duct,
(E) said second duct having a first plurality of foramina spaced between the attachment of said first baffle and the attachment of said middle baffle, so as to permit lateral flow of cold air from the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct into and laterally outwards through the passage between said first baffle and said middle baffle,
(F) said second duct having a second plurality of foramina spaced between the attachment of said middle baffle and the attachment of said second baffle, so as to permit lateral flow of cold air from the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct into and laterally outwards through the passage between said middle baffle and said second baffle,
(G) a first plurality of tubular members, said first plurality of tubular members extending in the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct and above said first baffle, so as to provide a first through passage for warmed air above said first baffle and from external to said second duct to within said first duct,
(H) a second plurality of tubular members, said second plurality of tubular members extending in the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct and below said second baffle, so as to provide a second through passage for warmed air below said second baffle and from external to said second duct to within said first duct,
(I) air refrigeration means, said air refrigeration means being disposed below the lower ends of said first and second ducts,
(J) means to pass warm air downwards through said first duct and from the lower end of said first duct into and through said air refrigeration means, so that the warm air is cooled, and
(K) means to pass the resulting cold air from said air refrigeration means into and upwards through the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct.

8 more elements

A refrigerated display case comprising:

(A) An upright vertically oriented rectilinear inner first duct,
(B) an upright vertically oriented rectilinear outer second duct, said second duct being disposed about and coaxial with said first duct, so that said first duct defines a central vertical passage for downwards flow of heated air, and so that the annular space between said first duct and said second duct defines an annular vertical passage for upwards flow of cold air,
(C) first and second spaced apart juxtaposed horizontal baffles, each baffle extending outwards from attachment to said outer duct, the first baffle being an upper baffle and the second baffle being a lower baffle,
(D) a middle horizontal baffle, said middle baffle being disposed between and spaced from said first and second baffles and extending outwards from attachment to said outer duct,
(E) said second duct having a plurality of foramina spaced between the attachment of said middle baffle and the attachment of said second baffle, so as to permit lateral flow of cold air from the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct into and laterally outwards through the passage between said middle baffle and said second baffle,
(F) a plurality of tubular members, said plurality of tubular members extending in the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct, and from between said upper first baffle and said middle baffle to said first duct, so as to provide a through passage for warmed air from between said upper first baffle and said middle baffle, and from external to said second duct, to within said first duct,
(G) air refrigeration means, said air refrigeration means being disposed below the lower ends of said first and second ducts,
(H) means to pass warm air downwards through said first duct and from the lower end of said first duct into and through said air refrigeration means, so that the warm air is cooled, and
(I) means to pass the resulting cold air from said air refrigeration means into and upwards through the annular passage between said first duct and said second duct.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.