(51) Int Cl.: E06B 7/28 ( ) E06B 3/02 ( ) A47F 3/04 ( ) F25D 23/02 ( )

Transcription

1 (19) TEPZZ_647_B_T (11) EP B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: Bulletin 2013/1 (1) Int Cl.: E06B 7/28 ( ) E06B 3/02 ( ) A47F 3/04 ( ) F2D 23/02 ( ) (21) Application number: (22) Date of filing: (4) Luminous door for display units, in particular for refrigerators Beleuchtete Tür für Schaukästen, insbesondere für Kühlschränke Porte lumineuse pour vitrines, en particulier pour réfrigérateurs (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: IT MI (43) Date of publication of application: Bulletin 2006/1 (73) Proprietor: Thermo Glass Door S.P.A Milano MI (IT) (72) Inventor: Cremaschi, Alessandro Pavia (PV) (IT) (74) Representative: La Ciura, Salvatore Via Francesco Sforza Milano (IT) (6) References cited: EP-A DE-A US-A EP B1 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)

2 1 EP B1 2 Description any limitation thereto, in which: [0001] This invention proposes a transparent door, consisting of a double-glazing unit, designed in particular for display units and/ or refrigerators, wherein, inside the said double-glazing unit, a transparent panel is fitted, on the surface of which there appears a writing or a figure made by a plurality of slight superficial engravings and which is lightened by a series of LEDs placed on at least one inside edge of the perimetral gasket of the said double-glazing unit. [0002] Illuminated transparent glazing units are disclosed in EP , DE A1 and US A. [0003] The light produced by the LEDs, while striking the said engravings, is diffused and creates an image which is visible in transparency. [0004] As everybody knows, the food display units, and in particular the refrigerated display units, as the ones installed in bars, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. usually show on the top of the front side the brand name of manufacturer of the products displayed on sale, stuck by an adhesive film or other means on a back-lighted surface. [000] The said wording is therefore placed above the refrigerator door, which door is equipped with a transparent door made in such a way as to allow the user to see from the outside the products on sale. [0006] Even though such visualisation system of the brand name on a back-lighted surface appears to be very popular in most of the refrigerators and display units of the prior art, it has some disadvantages: - anyone can easily remove the film bearing the supplier s brand name and replace it with another brand name, in order to display products of competitors, thus exploiting without any efforts or expenses and successfully a display unit of a firm already well-established in the relevant market segment; - the back-lighted part needs a lighting system with all the relevant disadvantages related to the presence of a line voltage electrical system, such as problems of insulation, protection, safety, compliance with the regulations and certification, as well as waste of the space required to lodge all the said components. [0007] This invention falls into this sector, which invention aims at removing the above-mentioned disadvantages, by proposing a transparent door according to the present claim 1 and a refrigerator according to the present claim 2. A transparent plastic material e.g. Plexiglas (Trademark) is inserted into the hollow space of the door double-glazing unit, being the said panel engraved with the supplier s brand name and the said engraving lighted by a plurality of LEDs fitted on at least one inside edge of the perimetral gasket of the double-glazing unit. Further advantages and features will made clear by the following description and by the drawings annexed hereto, which are here provided by way of example but without figure 1 is the view of a refrigerated display unit with a door according to this invention; figure 2 is the sectional view of the door according to this invention. [0008] With reference to the said figures, 1 shows, as a whole, a door the transparent part of which consists of a double-glazing unit 2, of the kind composed of two or more sheets of glass or other transparent material 3, with a perimetral insulating layer fitted thereinto, which borders, between the two sheets of glass, a double-glazing unit which can be kept vacuumised, or filled up with inert gas in order to improve the thermal insulation capacity. [0009] On at least one inside edge of the perimetral gasket 8 of the double-glazing unit 2, and therefore inside the glass as a whole, a plurality of LEDs 6 is fitted, made in such a way as to lighten a figure or a wording 7 composed of a series of slight superficial engravings made on a panel 9 of Plexiglas or other transparent material, also fitted inside the double-glazing unit 2, parallel to the two sheets of glass. The LEDs 6 are fitted along at least one edge of the Plexiglas (Trademark) or transparent plastic panel in such a way as to lead their luminous flux along the main plane of the panel 9. [0010] The luminous rays, passing through the panel along its main axis, strike with light the engravings which are therefore lightened, diffusing part of the light, without interfering with the visibility through the panel. [0011] The light diffused by the engraving reproduces the brand name outline which is thus visible also from afar, superimposed to the products contained in the refrigerator. [0012] As a result of the foregoing, an overall attractive image of a luminous brand name is produced, visible on the door glass, with the products on sale displayed and well-lightened visible in transparency. [0013] Among the different tested materials, Plexiglas (Trademark) is the one which gave the best results, as far as the visibility both of the brand name and the displayed product is concerned. [0014] It is also possible to use other materials, such as glass or different types of transparent plastic for the same results, even though with less brilliant performances. [001] This solution makes the replacement of the brand name difficult by the user, since the change of the brand name would require the replacement of the doubleglazing unit with another one having a panel engraved with a different logo, which operation would be possible only for the refrigerators manufacturers, thus deterring any possible attempts of counterfeiting. [0016] A further advantage deriving from the use of a door according to this invention is represented by the possibility to avoid the installation of lighting electric equipment of the front side of the device for the lighting of the brand name. 2

3 3 EP B1 4 [0017] Since the LEDs are powered by current at lower voltage, generally ranging between and 24 volts in direct current, the general safety of the refrigerator is improved and the risks of accidents due to malfunctions or failures or aging of the electric system are considerably reduced. [0018] As a result of the foregoing, also the current consumptions for lighting will be reduced and the complex certifications which guarantee the compliance with strict safety regulations will not be necessary. [0019] As it will be clear from the description above, a refrigerator equipped with doors with luminous and transparent panel and brand name according to this invention turns out to be safer, less expensive as regards the electricity consumption and will prevent the owner of the premises wherein the equipment is installed from replacing the brand name with another one. Claims 1. Transparent door (1) for luminous displays units and refrigerators, comprising: - a double-glazing unit (2) composed of two or more sheets of glass (3) or other transparent material and of a perimetral gasket (8), and - a panel (9), provided in the hollow space of said double-glazing unit (2), made of transparent material and lightened by a side source of light fitted just close an edge of said panel (9), wherein, on at least a surface of said panel, there is a figure (7) made by a series of small superficial engravings on one side of said panel (9), in such a way that these engravings, stricken by the light coming from the panel edge (), create a luminous image, wherein said source of light consists of a plurality of LEDs (6), and said panel (9) is made of transparent plastic material or of glass, and wherein said LEDs (6) are fitted, inside the hollow space of said double glazing unit (2), on at least one inside edge () of the perimetral gasket (8) of the double-glazing unit (2) and along at least one edge of the transparent panel (9) provided in the hollow space of the same doubleglazing unit (2), in such a way as to face the thickness of said one edge of the transparent panel (9) and lead their luminous flux along the main plane of the same transparent panel (9), whereby the luminous rays, passing through the panel along its main axis, strike with light the engravings which are therefore lightened, diffusing part of the light, and create said luminous image, without interfering with the visibility through the panel (9) Refrigerator provided with a transparent door (1) according to claim 1. Patentansprüche 1. Transparente Tür (1) für leuchtende Auslageneinheiten und Kühlschränke, umfassend: - eine Doppelverglasung Einheit (2), aufgebaut aus zwei oder mehr Platten aus Glas (3) oder anderem transparenten Material und einer perimetrischen Dichtung (8), und - eine Platte (9), die in dem hohlen Raum der besagten Doppelverglasung Einheit (2) vorgesehen ist, hergestellt aus einem transparenten Material und beleuchtet durch eine seitliche Lichtquelle, eingebaut angemessen nahe einem Rand der besagten Platte (9), wobei auf mindestens einer Oberfläche der besagten Platte eine Figur (7) ist, hergestellt durch eine Serie von kleinen oberflächlichen Gravuren auf einer Seite der besagten Platte (9), in so einer Weise, dass diese Gravuren, getroffen von dem Licht, das von dem Plattenrand () kommt, ein leuchtendes Bild erzeugen, wobei die besagte Lichtquelle aus einer Mehrzahl von LEDs (6) besteht und die besagte Platte (9) aus einem transparenten Plastikmaterial oder aus Glas besteht, und wobei die besagten LEDs (6) in dem hohlen Raum der besagten Doppelverglasung Einheit (2) auf mindestens einer Innenkante () der perimetrischen Dichtung (8) der Doppelverglasung Einheit (2) und entlang mindestens einer Kante der transparenten Platte (9), die in dem hohlen Raum derselben Doppelverglasung Einheit (2) vorgesehen ist, derart angebracht sind, dass sie der Dicke der besagten einen Kante der transparenten Platte (9) gegenüberliegen und ihren Lichtstrom entlang der Hauptebene der gleichen transparenten Platte (9) leiten, wobei die Lichtstrahlen, die durch die Platte entlang ihrer Hauptachse durchtreten, mit Licht treffen, wobei die Gravuren, die dadurch erhellt werden, einen Teil des Lichts streuen und besagtes leuchtendes Bild erzeugen, ohne mit der Sicht durch die Platte (9) wechselzuwirken. 2. Kühlschrank, ausgestattet mit einer transparenten Tür (1) gemäß Anspruch 1. Revendications 1. Porte transparente (1) pour des unités d affichage lumineux et des réfrigérateurs, comprenant: - une unité a double vitrage (2) composée de 3

4 EP B1 6 deux ou plusieurs feuilles de verre (3) ou d une autre matière transparente et d un joint d étanchéité périphérique (8), et - un panneau (9) prévu dans l intercalaire de ladite unité a double vitrage (2), réalisé en matière transparente et éclairé par une source de lumière latérale, tout près d un bord dudit panneau (9), dans laquelle, sur au moins une surface dudit panneau, une figure (7) est formée par une série de petites gravures superficielles sur un côté dudit panneau (9), de manière à ce que ces gravures, frappées par la lumière provenant du bord du panneau (), créent une image lumineuse, dans laquelle cette source de lumière est constituée d une pluralité de LEDs (6), et ledit panneau (9) est réalisé en matière plastique transparente ou en verre, et dans laquelle lesdits LEDs (6) sont montés à l intérieur dudit intercalaire de ladite unité à double vitrage (2), sur au moins un bord intérieur () du joint d étanchéité périphérique (8) de l unité à double vitrage (2) et le long d au moins un bord du panneau transparent (9) prévu dans l intercalaire de la même unité à double vitrage (2), de manière à faire face à l épaisseur dudit au moins un bord du panneau transparent (9) et à conduire leur flux lumineux le long du plan principal du même panneau transparent (9), moyennant quoi les rayons lumineux qui passent à travers le panneau le long de son axe principal, frappent par leur lumière les gravures, qui en sont éclairées, diffusent une partie de la lumière, et crée ladite image lumineuse, sans interférer avec la visibilité à travers le panneau (9). 2. Réfrigérateur ayant une porte transparente (1) selon la revendication

5 EP B1

6 EP B1 REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard. Patent documents cited in the description EP A [0002] DE A1 [0002] US A [0002] 6