EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED ILLUMINATED BOX

The present invention refers to a vertical refrigerated displaying case comprising at least one door equipped with integrated illuminated box.

Refrigerated windows or displaying cases are known in the art, usually aimed to store and display to the public foodstuff at positive or negative temperatures, such as for example beverages, ice-creams, frozen foods, etc., composed of a cabinet structure equipped with at least one door adapted to be opened, such displaying cases further comprising an illuminated box integral with such structure and usually arranged above such door. Generally, such boxes are composed of a backlighted translucent plate (commonly called "opalina") , such plate being adapted to be graphically customised in order to usually advertise a brand of beverage contained inside the displaying case. Obviously, since such illuminated box is integral with the structure of the displaying case, it remains fixed during the door opening and closing operations, thereby limiting the global surface that can be aimed to superimposed thereto the advertising messages.

Moreover, the displaying cases of the above described type are typically equipped with a refrigerating plant with condensers with fins: this requires the presence of wide air sucking grids arranged on the front side of the structure of the displaying case, further reducing the global surface that can be aimed to superimpose advertising messages.

Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a vertical refrigerated displaying case comprising at least one door equipped with an integrated illuminated box, so that, once having opened the door, this brings together its own integrated box, uncovering a surface of the structure of such displaying case, usually on the back side and covered by the integrated box when the door is in its closed position, that in turn can be customised with an advertising message.

Another object of the present invention is providing a vertical refrigerated displaying case equipped with a refrigerating plant comprising at least one condenser without fins refrigerated by at least one pressing fan, in such a way as to allow the use of a suction grid with reduced sizes and obtain further surfaces that can be used for superimposing advertising messages.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a vertical refrigerated displaying case comprising at least one door equipped with integrated illuminated box as claimed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described without departing from the scope of the invention as appears in the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figures la and lb show top perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the refrigerated displaying case according to the present invention;

Figures 2a and 2b show top perspective views of another preferred embodiment of the refrigerated displaying case according to the present invention;

Figures 3a and 3b show top perspective views of a further preferred embodiment of the refrigerated displaying case according to the present invention;

Figures 4a and 4b show top perspective views of a still further preferred embodiment of the refrigerated displaying case according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the refrigerated displaying case according to the present invention.

In order to simplify the description, herein below the descriptions related to parts and components common with other refrigerated displaying cases and necessary for the basic operation of the displaying case will obviously not be performed, since they are anyway deemed widely known in the art, such as for example electric supplying systems, air-conditioning systems, systems for compressing and channelling the refrigerating gases, etc., in order to describe in particular detail the aspects and the components characterising the displaying case 1 according to the present invention.

With reference then to the Figures, it is possible to note that the refrigerated displaying case 1 according to the present invention is composed of at least one cabinet structure 2 containing therein at least one refrigerating cell 3, such refrigerating cell 3 being obviously closed by at least one insulating door 5 and typically equipped therein with a plurality of shelves (not show) aimed to support the displayed products. Advantageously, it is further possible to note that the insulating door 5 is at least one door with one leaf hinged to such structure 2 equipped with at least one stopper surface 9 of a type substantially known in the art, for example made as a double glass with chamber, and with at least one illuminated box 11, such stopper surface 9 and such illuminated box 11 being enclosed by a carrier frame composed of at least one perimeter rim 7 and of at least one separating cross member 13 adapted to make an assembling and insulating interface interposed between the stopper surface 9 and the illuminated box 11. Obviously, the perimeter rim 7 of the insulating door 5 is adapted to be equipped with the classical insulating means in the field of refrigerators, such as gaskets and calamites.

In particular, the illuminated box 11 is composed of at least one translucent plate ("opalina") 15 back-lighted through suitable lighting sources (not shown) supported by a rear wall 17, such translucent plate 15 and rear wall 17 being suitably fastened to the portions pertaining to the perimeter rim 7 and the separating cross member 13. Obviously, the translucent plate ("opalina") 15 is adapted to be graphically customised in order to include drawings and/or messages, for example by superimposing thereto adhesives, for advertising purposes. Preferably, the lighting sources of the illuminated box 11 are supplied by electric current through at least one electric cable passing through at least one hinge 19 and connected to the traditional electric supply system of the displaying case 1. Advantageously, the cabinet structure 2 of the displaying case 1 according to the present invention is further equipped with at least one displaying surface 21 on the back side and corresponding to its respective illuminated box 11, and in particular to its own rear wall 17, such displaying surface 21 being covered by the illuminated box 11 when the insulating door 5 is in its closed position and being visible when the insulating door 5 is in its opened position: such displaying surface 21 can in turn be customised with an advertising message, in order to repeat, for example, the message included in the translucent plate ("opalina") 15 (that with an opened door 5 becomes scarcely visible) . In order to increase the visibility of the products displayed inside the refrigerating cell 3, it is possible to provide that such insulating door 5 is further internally equipped, and preferably along at least one side of such perimeter rim 7, with lighting sources (not shown) adapted to light the inside of such refrigerating cell 3. Also the electric supply of such lighting sources could be demanded to a suitable electric cable passing through the hinge 19 and connected to the traditional electric supply system of the displaying case 1.

Obviously, the displaying case 1 according to the present invention is further equipped with at least one technical room 23, preferably arranged on the base of the cabinet structure 2, adapted to contain therein the components of the refrigerating plant, such as condenser, compressor, etc., such room 23 communicating with the external environment by interposing at least one suction grid 25.

Obviously, as clearly appears to the skilled technician in the art, the possible variations of embodiments of the displaying case 1 according to the present invention are numerous. In fact, merely as a non-limiting example, it is possible to note, in Figure la to 4b, some possible preferred embodiments of such displaying case 1.

In particular, with reference to Figures la and lb, it is possible to note a displaying case 1 according to the present invention equipped with a single insulating door 5 comprising on its top the illuminated box 11 corresponding to a related displaying surface 21.

Instead, with reference to Figures 2a and 2b, it is possible to note a displaying case 1 according to the present invention equipped with a single insulating door 5 comprising on its top the illuminated box 11 corresponding to a related displaying surface 21, and further having a second illuminated box 27 substantially known in the art, also obviously adapted to be graphically customised, integral with the cabinet structure 2 and arranged in a position below such insulating door 5.

Instead, with reference to Figures 3a e 3b, it is possible to note a displaying case 1 according to the present invention equipped with a single insulating door 5 comprising two illuminated boxes 11, respectively arranged on the top and bottom sides in such perimeter rim 7, such insulating door 5 obviously comprising a second separating cross member 13 interposed between the stopper surface 9 and the lower illuminated box 11. Obviously, both illuminated boxes 11 correspond to a related displaying surface 21.

Instead, with reference to Figures 4a and 4b, it is possible to note a displaying case 1 according to the present invention equipped with two overlapped insulating doors 5, each one of such doors 5 being equipped with a respective illuminated box 11 corresponding to a related displaying surface 21. In such embodiment, it is possible to provide that, next to the separating line between the insulating doors 5, the refrigerating cell 3 is divided therein by at least one separating panel 29 suitable to define two different rooms, each one of which is accessible through its own respective door 5, in such a way as to optimise the maintenance of the desired temperatures inside the refrigerating cell 3. Preferably, at least the side oriented towards the outside of such separating panel 29 can be equipped with lighting sources (not shown) , also adapted to light the inside of the refrigerating cell 3.

Advantageously, in order to allow the recovery of space on the cabinet structure 2 to allow the arrangement of the second illuminated box 27 of the displaying case of Figures la, lb, or the lower displaying surfaces 21 of the displaying cases of Figures 3a to 4b without having to sacrifice and reduce the internal volume of the refrigerating cell 3, with particular reference to Figure 5, it is possible to note that the displaying case 1 according to the present invention is equipped with a refrigerating plant 31 comprising in cascade at least one pressing fan 33, at least one condenser without fins 35 and at least one compressor 37 contained inside such technical room 23: this configuration of components, and in particular the reduced exchange surface of the condenser without fins 35, allows using a pressing fan 33 with reduced sizes with respect to the traditional refrigerating plants with air suction against the condenser, and consequently to be able to use a suction grid 25 with reduced sizes and obtain the necessary spaces to arrange the second illuminated box 27 of the displaying case or the lower displaying surfaces 21.