# US 9,901,189 B2 · Air duct for refrigeration case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,901,189 B2 - Document ID: US9901189B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/476,190 - Filed: 2014-09-03 - Published: 2015-03-05 - Granted: 2018-02-27 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-04 - Assignees: Zero Zone, Inc. - Applicants: Zero Zone, Inc. - Inventors: Bruce R. Hierlmeier; William R. Geisness - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9901189B2 ## CPC - A47F 3/0408: {with forced air circulation} - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract A refrigeration case includes a housing having a top and a rear wall and defining an interior chamber, a door pivotably coupled to the housing opposite the rear wall and operable to selectively open and close the interior chamber, a first shelf positioned proximate a lower portion of the interior chamber, a second shelf positioned above the first shelf, a duct wall, a fan, and a diverter. The duct wall at least partially defines a flow channel extending between the first shelf and the second shelf. The duct wall includes a first opening above the first shelf and a second opening above the second shelf. The fan provides cool air flow and is in fluid communication with the flow channel. The diverter is positioned in the flow channel proximate the second shelf and directs air flow through the second opening and over the second shelf. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigeration case comprising: a housing including a top wall and a rear wall, the housing defining an interior chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion; a door movably coupled to the housing opposite the rear wall, the door operable to selectively open and close the interior chamber; a first shelf positioned proximate the lower portion of the interior chamber; a second shelf positioned above the first shelf; and a substantially planer duct wall positioned proximate the rear wall and extending between the upper portion of the interior chamber and the lower portion of the interior chamber, the duct wall at least partially defining a flow channel extending between at least the first shelf and the second shelf, the duct wall including a first opening above the first shelf and a second opening above the second shelf; a fan for providing cool air flow, the fan in fluid communication with the flow channel; and a diverter positioned in the flow channel proximate the second shelf and downstream of the second opening, the diverter directing air flow through the second opening and over the second shelf, wherein the diverter is coupled to the rear wall opposite the duct wall wherein a gap is defined between the substantially planar duct wall and the diverter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigeration case of claim 1, wherein the fan is positioned proximate the top wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigeration case of claim 1, wherein the diverter is a parabolic diffuser. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigeration case of claim 1, wherein the diverter constricts the air flow just above the second shelf, thereby forcing a portion of the air flow through the second opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigeration case of claim 1, wherein the diverter includes a surface facing toward an inlet of the flow channel, the surface forming an acute angle with respect to the duct wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigeration case of claim 1, further comprising a return duct including a first return opening in fluid communication with the fan and a second return opening in fluid communication with the fan, the second return opening positioned closer to the rear wall than the first return opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigeration case of claim 6, wherein the first return opening is positioned proximate the top wall, and the second return opening is positioned below the first return opening. ### Claim 8 A refrigeration case comprising: a housing including a top wall and a rear wall, the housing defining an interior chamber; a door movably coupled to the housing opposite the rear wall, the door operable to selectively open and close the interior chamber; a fan for providing cool air flow; a shelf positioned within the interior chamber proximate the top wall, the shelf including a front end proximate the door and a rear end positioned away from the door; a flow channel having an inlet in fluid communication with the fan, the flow channel circulating air flow within the interior chamber; a return duct positioned above the shelf and including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a first return opening in fluid communication with the fan and positioned proximate the front end of the shelf, the second portion including a second opening in fluid communication with the fan and positioned proximate the rear end of the shelf, the first return opening and the second return opening providing fluid communication between the flow channel and the return duct, wherein the first portion forms an acute angle relative to the top wall of the interior chamber, and wherein the second portion is substantially perpendicular to the top wall a substantially planar duct wall positioned proximate the rear wall, said duct wall at least partially extending between a first shelf and a second shelf above the first shelf, said duct wall including a first opening above the first shelf and a second opening above the second shelf, a diverter positioned in the flow channel proximate the second shelf and downstream of the second opening, the diverter directing airflow through the second opening and over the second shelf, wherein the diverter is coupled to the rear wall opposite the duct wall, wherein a gap is defined between the substantially planer duct wall and the diverter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigeration case of claim 8, wherein the second return opening is positioned below the first return opening to facilitate air flow over the shelf. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The refrigeration case of claim 8, wherein the flow channel directs flow toward a bottom wall of the interior chamber, and wherein the flow channel includes a diverter for directing flow over a second shelf positioned above the bottom wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigeration case of claim 10, wherein the diverter constricts the air flow just above the second shelf, thereby forcing a portion of the air flow over the second shelf. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The refrigeration case of claim 10, wherein the diverter includes a surface facing toward an inlet of the flow channel and the surface forms an acute angle with respect to the rear wall. ### Claim 13 A refrigeration case comprising: a housing including a top wall and a rear wall, the housing defining an interior chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion; a door movably coupled to the housing opposite the rear wall, the door operable to selectively open and close the interior chamber; a first shelf positioned proximate the lower portion of the interior chamber; a second shelf positioned above the first shelf; a third shelf positioned above the second shelf; a fan for providing cool air flow, the fan positioned proximate the top wall; a substantially planer duct wall positioned proximate the rear wall and at least partially defining a flow channel extending between at least the first shelf and the second shelf, the duct wall including a first opening above the first shelf and a second opening proximate the second shelf; a diverter positioned in the flow channel above the second shelf, the diverter directing air flow through the second opening and over the second shelf, the diverter coupled to the rear wall opposite the duct wall; and wherein a gap is defined between the substantially planer duct wall and the diverter a return duct positioned above the third shelf, the return duct including a first return opening and a second return opening, the first return opening in fluid communication with the fan and positioned proximate a front end of the shelf, the second return opening in fluid communication with the fan and positioned proximate the rear end of the shelf, wherein the first return opening and the second return opening provide fluid communication between the flow channel and the return duct. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The refrigeration case of claim 13, wherein the second return opening is positioned below the first return opening to facilitate air flow over the third shelf. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The refrigeration case of claim 13, wherein the diverter is downstream of the second opening and constricts the air flow just above the second shelf, thereby forcing a portion of the air flow over the second shelf. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The refrigeration case of claim 13, wherein the diverter includes a surface facing toward an inlet of the flow channel and the surface forms an acute angle with respect to the rear wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The refrigeration case of claim 13, wherein the return duct includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including the first return opening and the second portion including the second return opening, the first portion forming an acute angle relative to the top wall, the second portion being substantially perpendicular to the top wall.