CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of CN Application No. 201910734175.8, filed on August 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present application belongs to the field of refrigeration, and specifically relates to a glass assembly for a refrigeration device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Refrigerated and frozen goods are placed in refrigeration devices such as display cabinets for sales and display. In general, display cabinets are equipped with glass doors to provide consumers with a visible area so that the consumers can access the products. Due to a temperature difference between the refrigeration device and the outside, hot air moisture gathers on a glass surface of the cold glass door to produce condensation, which prevents the consumers from seeing the products in the display cabinet. For this reason, a heating film is added to the glass door to eliminate the above phenomenon.

[003] FIGS. 1-2 show the structure and embodiment of an existing glass door on which a heating film is arranged. The glass door includes a double-layer glass 1', and an opaque frame 2' disposed along the side of the double-layer glass 1'. The frame 2’ may be made of materials such as aluminum and plastics, e.g., PVC. A conductive film 3' is provided on the surface of one piece of glass, and cables 6', 7' are connected to two electrodes 4', 5' of the conductive film 3'. As can be seen from the figures, the cable 7' connected to the bottom electrode 5' passes through one side of the frame 2'. Since the frame 2' is opaque, the inside of the frame 2' provides space for cables to pass through.

[004] Nowadays, there emerges a glass door equipped with a transparent frame. When this glass door is provided with a heating film to prevent condensation, the wiring of cables becomes a problem, since the cables will be seen if they are arranged inside the frame, which is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide a glass assembly for a refrigeration device equipped with a transparent frame. [006] The glass assembly for the refrigeration device includes;

[007] at least a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet that are spaced apart from each other, the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet each having a first edge and an opposed second edge;

[008] a first conductive heating film attached to the first glass sheet and a second conductive heating film attached to the second glass sheet; and

[009] first and second terminals disposed at one of the first edge and the second edge, the first and second terminals being respectively connected to the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film, and the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film being connected to each other at the other one of the first edge and the second edge.

[010] The first and second conductive heating films function after being powered to eliminate condensation on the glass assembly. Cables can be led out from the terminals, and the cables do not pass through the frame. Herein, the term "terminal" is used to connect the cable to power the conductive heating film. As to the first terminal and the second terminal, the former may be a current input terminal, and the latter may be a current output terminal; or the former may be the current output terminal, and the latter may be the current input terminal.

[011] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, a frame is disposed along the sides of the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet and the frame includes at least one transparent side.

[012] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film are located within a separation space defined by the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet. Optionally, the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film are disposed on a corresponding surface of the first glass sheet that faces the separation space and a corresponding surface of the second glass sheet that faces the separation space. Optionally, the first conductive heating film is disposed on an inner surface of the first glass sheet, and the second conductive heating film is disposed on an inner surface of the second glass sheet

[013] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the frame has two mutually parallel first sides and two mutually parallel second sides, the first edge and the second edge are arranged along the first sides, and the at least one transparent side is arranged along the second sides. [014] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, it further includes a conductive structure fixed on the frame, and the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film are connected to each other through the conductive structure.

[015] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the number of the at least one transparent side is two, and the two transparent sides are arranged in a vertical direction.

[016] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the first conductive heating film and the second conductive heating film each have a pair of current bars. The first conductive heating film is provided with a first current bar at the first edge for connecting with the second conductive heating film, and is provided with a second current bar at the second edge for connecting with one of the first and second terminals; the second conductive heating film is provided at the first edge with a third current bar having the same connection mode as the first current bar, and is provided at the second edge with a fourth current bar having the same connection mode as the second current bar; wherein the third current bar is used to connect with the first conductive heating film, and the fourth current bar is used to connect with the other one of the first and second terminals.

[017] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the glass assembly is used to a door of a refrigerating display cabinet

[018] The present application adopts the technical solution of two conductive heating films, in which cables are directly led out from terminals of the conductive heating films, and the cables do not pass through the transparent frame. The first terminal and the second terminal are disposed at the same edge, the cables are led out from the same side, which is convenient for wiring, and the two conductive heating films are connected on the other side. The solution of the present application thus eliminates the need to dispose cables inside the frame. The present application not only adds the heating films to the transparent glass assembly to solve the problem of condensation, but also improves the aesthetics of the glass assembly. Consumers can see the products displayed inside the refrigeration device through a larger field of view. The solution of the present application also saves wiring work and improves the assembly efficiency of the glass assembly.

[019] The glass assembly involved in the present application has a wider range of application, especially under environmental conditions with high humidity. For example, the refrigeration device equipped with the glass assembly involved in the present application can be used in an environment with a temperature of 27°C and a humidity of 70%.

[020] Another aspect of the present application is to provide a glass assembly for a refrigeration device, which includes: [021] a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet that are spaced apart from each other and at least one intermediate glass sheet spaced between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet, the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet each having opposed edges; and

[022] a plurality of conductive heating films attached to the first glass sheet, the second glass sheet, and the intermediate glass sheet, and two terminals disposed at the edges, wherein the plurality of conductive heating films are sequentially connected in series at the edges, and form a loop with a power supply through the two terminals.

[023] In an embodiment of the glass assembly, the conductive heating film is di sposed on one side or both sides of the intermediate glass sheet.

[024] The present application adopts the technical solution of a plurality of conductive heating films, in which cables are directly led out from terminals of the conductive heating films, and the cables do not pass through the transparent frame

[025] Other aspects and features of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are intended for purposes of illustration only, rather than defining the scope of the present application, whiich should be determined with reference to the appended claims. It should also be understood that the drawings are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structure and flowchart described herein, and it is not necessary' to draw the figures to the scale, unless otherwise specified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[026] The present application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which identical elements are denoted by identical reference signs throughout the drawings, in which:

[027] FIGS. 1-2 show schematic structural views of a glass assembly in the existing art, w'herein FIG. 1 is a side view and FIG. 2 is a front view;

[028] FIGS. 3-4 show schematic structural view's of an embodiment of a glass assembly according to the present application, wherein FIG. 3 is a side view' and FIG. 4 is a front view';

[029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the glass assembly according to the present application; and

[030] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view' of yet another embodiment of the glass assembly according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE IN VENTION

[031] To help those skilled in the art precisely understand the subject matter of the present application, specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[032] The glass assembly according to the present application is used for glass doors of refrigeration devices such as refrigeration cabinets, display cabinets and the like. Herein, the refrigeration cabinets and the display cabinets may be vertical or horizontal. The glass door may be a rotatable door or a sliding door.

[033] FIGS. 3-4 show schematic views of an embodiment of a glass assembly according to the present application. The glass assembly includes a first glass sheet 12 and a second glass sheet 14. The first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 are spaced apart, and a separation space 16 is defined between the first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14. The first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 are both rectangular, each having four sides, and the frame 20 is arranged along these sides, whereby the frame 20 constitutes a support for the glass assembly. The frame 20 includes two opposed first sides 22 and two opposed second sides 24. The first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 each have a first edge 13 and a second edge 15 that are parallel to the first sides 22

[034] A first conductive heating film 42 and a second conductive heating film 43 are provided on a surface of the first glass sheet 12 that faces the separation space 16 and a surface of the second glass sheet 14 that faces the separation space 16, respectively. The first conductive heating film 42 and the second conductive heating film 43 may be prepared and plated onto the corresponding glass sheets through a known process. The films are thin films with certain conductivity, high visible-light transmittance, high mechanical hardness and good chemical stability. When energized, the films can emit heat to generate thermal energy.

[035] Terminals are provided at one of the first and second edges 13, 15 to connect with the first conductive heating film 42 and the second conductive heating film 43 respectively. As shown, the terminals include a first terminal 18 and a second terminal 19, both of which are provided at the second edge 15 The first terminal 18 is connected with the first conductive heating film 42, and the second terminal 19 is connected with the second conductive heating film 43. At the first edge 13, the first conductive heating film 42 and the second conductive heating film 43 are connected. In the illustrated embodiment, the first conductive heating film 42 is provided with a set of current bars at the first edge 13 and the second edge 15 to realize the above connection. The set of current bars includes a first current bar 31 and a second current bar 32. The first current bar 31 is used to connect with the second conductive heating film 43 near the first edge 13, and the second current bar 32 is used to connect with the first terminal 18 near the second edge 15. The same connection mode applies to the second conductive heating film 43. The current bars of the second conductive heating film 43 include a third current bar 33 and a fourth current bar 34. The third current bar 33 is used to connect with the first conductive heating film 42 near the first edge 13, and the fourth current bar 34 is used to connect with the second terminal 19 near the second edge 15.

[036] The first terminal 18 and the second terminal 19 are used to connect with cables, wherein one of them may be a current input terminal, and the other one may be a current output terminal, or one of them may be the current output terminal, and the other one may be the current input terminal. For alternate current, the input and output terminals can be connected to live wire and neutral wire; and for direct current, the input and output terminals are positive and negative electrodes

[037] The first conductive heating film 42 and the second conductive heating film 43 are connected in series at the first edge 13, such as by a conductive structure 39 as shown, which is fixed on the frame 20. The conductive structure 39 may be in various known forms of electrical connection. At the second edge 15, the first conductive heating film 42 is connected to the cable such as a first cable 51 through the first terminal 18, and the second conductive heating film 43 is connected to the cable such as a second cable 52 through the second terminal 19, respectively. Therefore, the current from the second cable 52 flows through the second conductive heating film 43, the conductive structure 39 and the first conductive heating film 42 in sequence, and flows out of the first cable 51. Since the cables 51 and 52 are both disposed at the same edge, a power supply may be disposed nearby at the second edge 15 for facilitating connection.

[038] The frame 20 has at least one transparent side 25. As shown, the two second sides 24 of the frame 20 are transparent, so the transparent area is increased on the basis of the transparent area defined by the first and second glass sheets 12, 14. That is, the area of the visible field that can be seen through the glass assembly is the total area covered by the first/second glass sheet 12 (14) and the two second sides 24. The transparent side 25 may be made of polymethyl methacrylate material (PMMA), for example. The cables 51, 52 are led out from the first and second terminals 18, 19 at the second edge 15 without passing through the transparent second sides 24.

[039] When the surface temperature of the glass is lower than the dew point temperature of the air in contact with the surface, condensed mist is formed on the glass surface. The condensed mist is a product of the combination of the surface temperature and moisture from the surrounding air. Providing the conductive heating films on the glass sheet can eliminate this phenomenon. When the second sides 24 of the frame are made transparent, the cable has nowhere to hide since if the cables pass through the interior of the second sides 24, they will affect the field of view of the observer and the aesthetics of the glass assembly. According to the concept of the present application, the cables are all provided at the edges, thereby avoiding the use of cables inside the frame 20.

[040] In the illustrated embodiment, the first sides 22 of the frame are horizontal and opaque, the second sides 24 are vertical and transparent, and the cables 51, 52 are led out at the second edge 15 which is along the first side 22; or the first sides 22 of the frame are transparent, the second sides 24 are opaque, and the cabl es 51 , 52 are 1 ed out at an other edge which i s along the second side 24.

[041] In the illustrated embodiment, the glass assembly is double glass sheets, and the two conductive heating films 42, 43 are disposed on the inner surfaces of the two glass sheets 12, 14 respectively. Of course, the glass assembly may also be composed of more glass sheets. Condensed mist appears on the outermost glass sheet and the innermost glass sheet, such as the first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 in the illustrated embodiment (when the door is opened, the innermost glass sheet has a chance to contact the outside at a higher temperature, so there may be condensed mist on the innermost glass sheet). The conductive heating film may be applied to the glass sheet where condensed mist may appear. For example, without limitation, in the case of three glass sheets, two conductive heating films are disposed on the outermost glass sheet and the innermost glass sheet respectively.

[042] According to the concept of the present application, a plurality of conductive heating films are provided, and the current flow's through these conductive heating films sequentially to supply power to them, thereby avoiding the arrangement of cables inside the frame FIG. 5 show's another embodiment of the glass assembly according to the present application. The glass assembly includes a first glass sheet 12, a second glass sheet 14, and an intermediate glass sheet 13. The first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 are spaced apart from each other, and the intermediate glass sheet 13 is disposed in the separation space 16 between the first and second glass sheets 12 and 14, and is also spaced apart from the first glass sheet 12 and the second glass sheet 14 respectively A total of three conductive heating films are provided, namely, the first conductive heating film 42 on a surface of the first glass sheet 12 that faces the separation space 16, the second conductive heating film 43 on a surface of the second glass sheet 14 that faces the separation space 16, and a third conductive heating film 44 facing the second conductive heating film 43 on the intermediate glass sheet 13. The first conductive heating film 42 is connected to the first terminal 18 through the first current bar 31 at the first edge 13, and the second conductive heating film 43 is connected to the second terminal 19 through the fourth current bar 34 at the second edge 15. The first conductive heating film 42 is connected to the third conductive heating film 44 through the second current bar 32 and a sixth current bar 36 at the second edge 15, and the second conductive heating film 43 is connected to the third conductive heating film 44 through the third current bar 33 and a fifth current bar 35 at the first edge 13. Therefore, the first conductive heating film 42, the third conductive heating film 44 and the second conductive heating film 43 are connected sequentially in series, and constitute a loop with an external power supply (not shown) through the first terminal 18 and the second terminal 19

[043] The series connection may be achieved by a conductive structure. That is, a first conductive structure 391 is disposed between the second current bar 32 and the sixth current bar 36 at the second edge 15, and a second conductive structure 392 is disposed between the fifth current bar 35 and the third current bar 33 at the first edge 13.

[044] In the illustrated embodiment, there is still no need to arrange the cables inside the frame. At the outside, the cables 51, 52 are connected to the first terminal 18 and the second terminal 19 only, and at the inside, several conductive heating films 42, 44 and 43 are connected to each other.

[045] The intermediate glass sheet 13 may be provided with a conductive heating film on one side as shown in FIG. 5, or may be provided with conductive heating films on both sides as shown in FIG. 6, which illustrates yet another embodiment of the glass assembly according to the present application.

[046] As shown in FIG. 6, a fourth conductive heating film 45 is added. The first conductive heating film 42 and the second conductive heating film 43 are connected with the first terminal 18 and the second terminal 19 respectively so as to be further connected to an external power supply (not shown). Internally, the first conductive heating film 42 is connected with the fourth conductive heating film 45, the fourth conductive heating film 45 is additionally connected with the third conductive heating film 44, and the third conductive heating film 44 is additionally connected with the second conductive heating film 43. The conductive structure includes a first conductive structure 391 connecting the first current bar 31 and a seventh current bar 37, a second conductive structure 392 connecting an eighth current bar 38 and the sixth current bar 36, and a third conductive structure 393 connecting the fifth current bar 35 and the third current bar 33. [047] The second conductive structure 392 connecting the third and fourth conductive heating films 44 and 45 on the intermediate glass sheet 13 may also be replaced by other series connection methods. For example, without limitation, cables may be led out from the sixth current bar 36 and the eighth current bar 38 respectively and may be connected to each other. The advantage of this type of connection is that it is not necessary to provide holes in the intermediate glass sheet 13 to implement serial connection

[048] According to the concept of the present application, by analogy, more glass intermediate sheets and more conductive heating films may be disposed in the glass assembly [049] While the specific embodiments of the present application have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the principles of the present application, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in other ways without departing from the principles.