Supports: cabinet structure – Knockdown or setup type – Removable panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-05-22
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Supports: cabinet structure
Knockdown or setup type
Removable panel
C312S265500, C312S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234594
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a housing for a freezer cabinet, which is used, for example, for storing ice-cream or other frozen foodstuffs, e.g. in restaurants, kiosks or other sales locations, and to an associated housing system.
In the case of freezer cabinets, the trend is moving towards units of lower and lower weight, which facilitates handling of the freezer cabinet when it has to be transported or moved on site. Freezer cabinets and similar freezer installations which consist essentially of plastic parts, in which both inner load-bearing parts and outer parts, e.g. visible frame parts and side panelling, are produced from plastics, have therefore been developed. In addition to the lower weight, these plastic freezer cabinets also have greater elasticity than metallic freezer cabinets, as a result of which damage to the plastic freezer cabinet due to, for example, impact loading can be prevented in many cases. However, it has been shown that, in many cases, these plastic freezer cabinets have relatively poor efficiency and irregular heat distribution in the interior of the freezer cabinet.
In DE 297 16 713 which was published after the priority date of the present invention, a freezer cabinet is disclosed the peripheral wall of which is formed as a hollow cylinder with a circular basis.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,243 a merchandising cabinet, particularly a cabinet for storing and displaying containers of ice-cream, is disclosed which has a transparent window means and a curved transparent lid closing the upper front and top of the cabinet. This document is especially concerned with the construction and design of the transparent lid permitting both the customer and the server to view the merchandise in the cabinet with the lid open or closed.
It is the object of the present invention to specify a housing or a housing system for a freezer cabinet which is flexible and comfortable in use and easy to assemble.
Accordingly, the inventive housing for a freezer installation, in particular a freezer cabinet, for storing frozen foodstuffs comprises a base unit of rectangular outline, a top frame which consists of plastic, is rectangular, runs all the way round, is located opposite the base unit, encloses an access opening and bears a movable cover arrangement which closes or releases the access opening of the top frame, two mutually opposite side-part arrangements which are provided laterally on the housing, of essentially the same outline, extend from the base unit to the top frame of the housing and each have an opening or a cutout, metallic side panels, of which each is arranged on one side of the housing and of which surfaces are visible through the openings in the side-part arrangements, a rear-wall panel which is situated on a rear side of the housing, consists of metal and extends between the side-part arrangements and from the top frame to the base unit, and a front-wall panel which is situated on a front side of the housing, consists of metal, is located opposite the rear-wall panel and extends between the side-part arrangements and from the top frame to the base unit, it being the case that the side-part arrangements, the base unit, the top frame with cover arrangement, the front-wall panel and the rear-wall panel bound a housing volume.
Using a plastic frame and plastic top frame provides the inventive housing for a freezer cabinet with favourable properties as regards resistance to impact loading and damage to the known plastic freezer cabinets with relatively low weight. Furthermore, in comparison with the known plastic freezer cabinets, the housing according to the invention has better efficiency or better heat balance, which is attributed to the relatively large-surface-area, metallic sides or panelling, e.g. the side panels and/or the rear-wall panel and/or the front-wall panel, which contribute, for example, to more favourable interior heat transmission and/or distribution in the freezer cabinet.
The modular housing system according to the invention has housings which each comprise the following components: a base unit of rectangular outline, a top frame which consists of plastic, is rectangular, runs all the way round, is located opposite the base unit, encloses an access opening and bears a movable cover arrangement which closes or releases the access opening of the top frame, two mutually opposite side-part arrangements which are provided laterally on the housing and extend from the base unit to the top frame of the housing, a rear-wall panel which is situated on a rear side of the housing, consists of metal and extends between the side-part arrangements and from the top frame to the base unit, and a metallic front-wall panel which is situated on a front side of the housing, is located opposite the rear-wall panel and extends between the side-part arrangements and from the top frame to the base unit, it being the case that the side-part arrangements, the base unit, the top frame with cover arrangement, the front-wall panel and the rear-wall panel bound a housing volume. In this case, the side-part arrangements are of the same shape and the same dimensions for all volumes of the housings at least of one housing type.
Since the side-part arrangements and, for example, also the side panels are modular and standardized components which are of at least the same shape and dimensions, for all volumes, at least for the housings of one housing type or volume type, all that is then necessary is for the other components, e.g. the front-wall panel, the cover arrangement, the rear-wall panel, the top frame and the base unit, etc., of the modular housing system according to the invention to be adapted to the respective volume of the housing in terms of their length dimensions, in order to assemble housings with different volumes. As a result, the housings can be adapted to the respective specifications, such as volume size, illustrations, etc., without high outlay.
REFERENCES:
patent: 777895 (1904-12-01), Geraci
patent: 1387486 (1921-08-01), Gray
patent: 1896693 (1933-02-01), Battista
patent: 2598957 (1952-06-01), Wolfe
patent: 2741101 (1956-04-01), Trulaske
patent: 3729243 (1973-04-01), Musgrave et al.
patent: 4320933 (1982-03-01), Felix et al.
patent: 4449761 (1984-05-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5567026 (1996-10-01), Lacewell
patent: 5671991 (1997-09-01), Grant
patent: 5752624 (1998-05-01), Vinson et al.
patent: 6012790 (2000-01-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 3513202 (1986-10-01), None
patent: 297 16 713 U (1997-11-01), None
patent: 2 149 488 (1985-06-01), None
patent: 94 07097 (1994-03-01), None
Cuomo Peter M.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Tran Hanh V.
Unilever Patent Holdings BV
LandOfFree
Housing for freezer cabinets, and housing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Housing for freezer cabinets, and housing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Housing for freezer cabinets, and housing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476218