# US 9,962,014 B2 · Holder for a refrigerated case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,962,014 B2 - Document ID: US9962014B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/088,875 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2018-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Zero Zone, Inc. - Applicants: Zero Zone, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Sparks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9962014B2 ## CPC - A47F 3/0482: {Details common to both closed and open types} - A47F 3/0408: {with forced air circulation} - A47F 3/0443: {with forced air circulation} - A47F 3/0447: {with air curtains} - B01D 46/0005: {Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames (B01D46/2422 takes precedence)} - B01D 46/2418: {Honeycomb filters (used for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine F01N3/022; ceramic honeycomb structures per se C04B38/0006)} - F25D 17/06: by forced circulation - F25D 23/023: {Air curtain closures} - F25D 23/08: Parts formed wholly or mainly of plastics materials - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - F25D 2317/067: characterised by air ducts - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - 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 refrigerated case includes a case body including a top panel, a rear panel, and a bottom that cooperate to define a display space, a portion of a refrigeration system disposed in the case and operable to cool a flow of air, and a first air passage positioned to direct the flow of air near the top panel from the rear panel generally toward a front of the case. A one piece holder is positioned to receive the flow of air adjacent the front of the case, the one piece holder formed as a unitary component using a PVC foam material and arranged to accelerate and redirect the flow of air in a downward direction toward the bottom, and a filter member is at least partially supported by the holder and positioned to receive the flow of air in the downward direction and to redirect that flow into the display space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerated case comprising: a case body including a top panel, a rear panel, and a bottom that cooperate to define a display space; a portion of a refrigeration system disposed in the case and operable to cool a flow of air; a first air passage positioned to direct the flow of air near the top panel from the rear panel generally toward a front of the case; a one piece holder positioned to receive the flow of air adjacent the front of the case, the one piece holder formed as a unitary component using a polymeric foam material and providing an air wedge arranged to accelerate and redirect the flow of air in a downward direction toward the bottom; and an air flow straightener at least partially supported by the holder and positioned to receive the flow of air in the downward direction from the air wedge and to redirect that flow into the display space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, wherein the portion of the refrigeration system includes an evaporator and a fan operable to move the flow of air through the evaporator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerated case of claim 2, wherein the rear panel defines a second air passage that receives the flow of air from the evaporator and directs the flow of air to the first air passage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of beams adjacent the top panel and that cooperate to at least partially define the first air passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The refrigerated case of claim 4, wherein the top panel, the plurality of beams, the one piece holder, and the air flow straightener cooperate to define the air wedge that accelerates and redirects the flow of air in the downward direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, wherein the air flow straightener is a honeycomb member. ### Claim 7 A refrigerated case comprising: a case body including a top panel, a rear panel, and a bottom that cooperate to define a display space; a portion of a refrigeration system disposed in the case and operable to cool a flow of air; a first air passage positioned to direct the flow of air near the top panel from the rear panel generally toward a front of the case; a polymeric foam holder member formed as a single unitary member and including a pocket portion, a substantially vertical surface and an angled surface arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the substantially vertical surface, the angled surface arranged to accelerate and redirect the flow of air in a downward direction toward the pocket portion; and an air flow straightener at least partially disposed within the pocket portion and partially supported by the holder, the air flow straightener positioned to receive the flow of air in the downward direction and to redirect that flow into the display space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, wherein the portion of the refrigeration system includes an evaporator and a fan operable to move the flow of air through the evaporator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerated case of claim 8, wherein the rear panel defines a second air passage that receives the flow of air from the evaporator and directs the flow of air to the first air passage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of beams adjacent the top panel and that cooperate to at least partially define the first air passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerated case of claim 10, wherein the top panel, the plurality of beams, the one piece holder, and the an air flow straightener cooperate to define an air wedge that accelerates and redirects the flow of air in the downward direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, wherein the an air flow straightener is a honeycomb member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, wherein the holder member includes a surface oriented on an incline away from the first air passage toward a forward edge of the air flow straightener. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, wherein the air flow straightener also filters the flow of air. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The refrigerated case of claim 7, holder member provides a passage having a reduced cross-sectional area adjacent the first passage, and an increased cross-sectional area proximate the air flow straightener. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, wherein the one piece holder includes a surface oriented on an incline away from the first air passage toward a forward edge of the air flow straightener. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, wherein the air flow straightener also filters the flow of air. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The refrigerated case of claim 1, one piece holder provides a passage having a reduced cross-sectional area adjacent the first passage, and an increased cross-sectional area proximate the air flow straightener.