EP3007594B1 - Glass element for a cabinet having a refrigerated chamber - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of glazed insulating elements for refrigerated cabinet furniture. These glazed elements can be used in all types of applications such as glazing for refrigerator doors, freezer doors, or utility glazing,

2. Solutions of the prior art

Refrigerated cabinet furniture, also known as refrigerated furniture, used in most commercial premises to offer for sale and / or for consumption products that must be kept at temperatures below 10 ° C, such as foodstuffs, is often equipped with glazed elements that turns it into a refrigerated sales cabinet. These furniture allow the visualization of the products by the consumer / customer and in particular a self-service use while keeping the products at a certain temperature ( GB2162228A ). Refrigerated furniture represents the last link in the chain of food cold before the product is in the possession of the consumer, The development of products and especially food is essential, but this should not be at the expense of the consumer. quality of their conservation. In other words, the refrigerated cabinet is used to present and / or expose the products in a useful volume at a specific storage temperature (generally less than 10 ° C).

Thus, the exposure of products and more particularly foodstuffs has a primary role in the sale of products. Good exposure includes good visual access to the products contained in the refrigerated cabinet without having to open it, however, during the exhibition, the refrigerated cabinet must maintain the temperature and ensure the conservation of products that need to be cooled or frozen. So, Due to the laws of thermodynamics and the opposite of the exposure function, furniture should at least protect products against thermal aggressions of all kinds, such as closing and opening doors. However, from a technical point of view, the roles of exposure and preservation of the products at a given temperature in refrigerated cabinet furniture are in total contradiction since the consumer must be able to dispose of the products contained in the refrigerated cabinet while benefiting from refrigerated loudspeaker cabinet with wide opening and strong lighting, and the trader must ensure a quality of product preservation with the imperative of closing or reducing the openings of the furniture to the maximum, the least possible lighting and more particularly the less d thermal exchanges with the atmosphere of the store.

Such thermal attack of a refrigerated enclosure is for example minimized by means of a glazed element as disclosed by DE 30 487 63 A .

Several solutions have been envisaged to improve the thermal insulation performance of these glazed elements used for refrigerated cabinet furniture, such as the use of vacuum glazing, the use of infrared reflecting layers or still triple glazing which one of the blades of gas can be krypton. However, the energy efficiency of such equipment remains to be improved and the use of such multiple glazing, because of their thickness and weight, generally requires the use of a support frame which gives them good mechanical strength but which creates a large footprint.

3. Objectives of the invention

The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

More specifically, an object of the invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is to provide a glazed opening element for refrigerated cabinet that is inexpensive while maintaining good thermal insulation properties and this more long as the glazed elements used conventionally.

Another object of the invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is to implement such an opening glazed element which offers a wide opening for refrigerated cabinet furniture while avoiding as much as possible the heat exchange with the outdoor atmosphere.

Another objective of the invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is to provide a glazed opening element for a refrigerated cabinet which makes it possible to ensure efficient preservation of the products contained in the refrigerated cabinet while reducing the energy consumption to maintain the required temperature inside the refrigerated cabinet.

The invention, in at least one of its embodiments, is also intended to provide such a glazed element that allows to optimize the energy efficiency of refrigerated furniture while maintaining the role of exposure of the products contained in the furniture refrigerated enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet that meets the sealing criteria of these types of furniture and that proposes an easy to implement and economically advantageous embodiment.

4. Presentation of the invention

1. a. au moins un vitrage isolant comprenant au moins une première et une seconde feuilles de verre associées ensemble par l'intermédiaire d'un espaceur qui les maintient à une certaine distance l'une de l'autre, ledit espaceur s'étendant le long des bords latéraux, supérieur et inférieur desdites au moins deux feuilles de verre et, entre lesdites au moins deux feuilles de verre, au moins un espace interne comprenant une lame d'un gaz isolant et fermé par un premier et un second joints périphériques disposés autour dudit espace interne,
2. b. au moins un châssis qui supporte ledit au moins un vitrage isolant, ledit châssis comprenant :
   1. i. un support fixe et
   2. ii. un support mobile articulé sur le support fixe qui permet l'ouverture et/ou la fermeture de l'élément vitré.

According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a glazed element comprising:

1. at. at least one insulating glazing unit comprising at least first and second glass sheets associated together via a spacer which holds them at a distance from each other, said spacer extending along the edges side, upper and lower of said at least two glass sheets and, said at least two sheets of glass, at least one internal space comprising a blade of an insulating gas and closed by a first and a second peripheral seals disposed around said internal space,
2. b. at least one frame which supports said at least one insulating glazing unit, said frame comprising:
   1. i. a fixed support and
   2. ii. a mobile support articulated on the fixed support which allows the opening and / or closing of the glazed element.

According to the invention, such a glazed element comprises a spacer (12), the first (13) and the second (14) peripheral joints extending along at least one of the lateral edges of said at least two sheets of glass are formed from a transparent resin, and said movable support is devoid of at least one lateral cross.

The general principle of the invention is based on the implementation in a glazed element of a spacer, of peripheral joints in a multiple glazing which are transparent as well as a movable support supporting the glazing which is devoid of at least one cross lateral while offering a powerful solution from a thermal insulation point of view.

Such a glazed element has the advantage of providing a larger transparent surface due to the absence of at least one lateral cross member on the movable support and the presence of a spacer and transparent peripheral seals while allowing a reduction of the energy consumption.

The use of multiple glazing for refrigerated furniture is already known. However, glazing is included in a frame in order to maintain sufficient thermal insulation (U values). Thermal insulation is usually determined by the overall performance of a glazed element in multiple glazing, defined by the thermal insulation coefficient. Several factors influence this coefficient. For example, the thermal bridges bonded to the glass as such, the fixing points of the glazing on the support structure, the joints distributed over the entire surface of the glazed element and finally the peripheral connection joints between each glazing commonly called spacers . In the prior art, the thermal improvement remains generally insufficient and the use of such multiple glazing, because of their thickness and their weight, requires the use of a complete support frame, extending over the entire periphery of the glazing, which gives them good mechanical strength and better insulates the glazing. Nevertheless, the presence of a support frame creates a large footprint.

In addition, new energy saving regulations and policies require the manufacture of glazed refrigerated cabinet units with improved thermal insulation performance.

Thus, the invention proposes to substitute conventional insulating glazing elements included in a support frame, a glazed element comprising at least one insulating glazing consisting of at least two sheets of glass supported by a movable support devoid of lateral cross over at least one lateral edges, thus having a lower thickness while giving it good thermal insulation and a larger transparent surface.

According to the invention, the glazed element comprises at least two insulating glass units. Thus, when the glazed element is used to close a larger surface, such as a refrigerated cabinet of large capacity or a linear offering at least two openings, the two multiple glazing being adjacent, the consumer is not visually impeded by the presence of side rails. The consumer then has the impression that the refrigerated cabinet is devoid of glazing opening elements.

The term "mobile or opening support" means the movable part of the frame which supports the glazing and which makes it possible to open and close the glazed element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the opening mobile support comprises horizontal profiles (also called smooth or bead) extending over at least one of the upper and / or lower edges of the glazing, which create with the support profiles. sets watertight and airtight barriers.

According to the invention, the spacer, the first and the second peripheral seal extending along the lateral edges of the at least two sheets of glass included in the glazed element according to the invention are formed from a transparent resin .

According to the invention, the spacer, the first and the second peripheral seal extending along the lateral edge of a glazing which is adjacent to the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing are formed from a transparent resin and the movable support. separating two neighboring glazings is devoid of lateral cross on the adjoining side edge of the side edge of the neighboring glazing.

This has a greater advantage if the glazed elements according to the invention are used for a refrigerated furniture linear. The term "linear" means a set of refrigerated furniture that can be aligned, placed in L, Z, ...

The term "transparent resin", a chemical substance used for the manufacture of a plastic material or the plastic itself, which lets light through and allows to see through.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spacer is formed from a transparent resin chosen from polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chlorine PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS, nylon or a mixture of these compounds.

Such a spacer has the advantage of opposing the possible exchange of gas, moisture and dust between the external environment and the gas blade of the glazing while being transparent, allowing to see through the products contained in the refrigerated cabinet without the view of the consumer being obstructed by the presence of frame or more particularly side rails. In the prior art, the spacers used in the multiple insulating glazings are generally a metallic hollow profile, extruded or formed, or organic material or a profile with angle brackets or an angled section, in this case the The spacer consists of a continuous profile bent at the corners.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first peripheral seal is implemented between the spacer and each of the glass sheet constituting the glazing. The first peripheral seal commonly known as the sealing barrier is formed from a transparent resin selected from a double-sided acrylic, modified acrylic, rubber or silicone strip, more commonly known as a double sticky tape. pressure-sensitive adhesive-PSA type face or transfer tape ", or a hot-melt adhesive (butyl) transparent, a structural adhesive of acrylic type, epoxy, crosslinkable or otherwise under the action of UV.

These materials, in addition to being transparent, have a good performance in terms of water vapor and gas tightness and also have a good adhesion to glass while resisting ozone, oxygen, ultraviolet.

Conventionally, the peripheral seal is a mastic bead generally based on polyisobutylene, more commonly known as butyl particularly effective in terms of water vapor tightness and gases but whose mechanical performance is insufficient to hold the glass sheets together.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second peripheral seal, also called an external sealing barrier which makes it possible to seal the glass sheets together, is formed from a resin chosen from an adhesive comprising silicone, hybrid sealant comprising silicone and polyurethane, hot melt hot melt or a mixture of these different compounds.

These compounds have good adhesion to the glass sheets and mechanical properties enabling them to maintain the glass components on the spacer. These compounds are elastomers which, after crosslinking, have elastic properties. They have good resistance to oxidation and have a low permeability to water vapor. Silicones, which are elastomers with one or two components, are particularly preferred because of their adhesion to glass, their resistance to external agents and their aging. Butyls of "hot melt" type are hot melt rubbers with good resistance to penetration of moisture. Their firm consistency at normal temperatures makes them good candidates as sealants.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spacer, the first and the second peripheral joints extending along the lateral edge of a first glazing which juxtaposes the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing are formed from a transparent resin.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spacer is discontinuous and formed of several parts that can be bonded together by a material capable of ensuring the adhesion of the different parts together and the sealing of said glazing. Then a junction piece, sealed with caulking, can be added to ensure continuity of sealing. The tightness of the joints can be reinforced by injection of a caulking product at the four corners.

This has the advantage of being able to use different materials for the different parts of the spacer depending on whether the portion of said spacer disposed on the lateral or lower and upper edges of the glass sheets.

In order to reduce the production costs and according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, only the spacer, the first and the second peripheral seal extending along the lateral edges of the said at least two sheets of glass included in FIG. glazed element according to the invention are formed from a transparent resin while the spacer and the peripheral seals placed on the upper and lower edges are those conventionally used for double or triple glazing namely butyl as the first seal peripheral, a sealant as a second peripheral seal and a metal spacer. These different materials are not transparent and are visible to the consumer. When they are used, these elements are then masked by the elements of the mobile support and in particular by rails

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one insulating glass of the glazed element has a thermal coefficient U of between 1.6 and 1.8 W / m ² . The thermal coefficient U corresponds to the amount of heat that passes through the material. This type of glass provides high insulation performance and therefore saves energy and meet new regulations in terms of energy savings.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the at least one insulating glazing unit comprises at least a first and a second glass sheet associated together via a spacer, said sheets being of different sizes and can therefore be shifted on the whole periphery of the glazing. This is called asymmetrical glazing. This difference in size between the at least first and second glass sheets has the advantage of being able to easily implement on this part the mechanical assembly of the smooth on the lower and upper edges of a multiple glazing or to place a heating network that could be deposited on the part of the shifted glass to prevent the appearance of condensation at the edge of glazing.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the at least one insulating glazing unit comprises at least one sheet of safety glass.

The term "safety glass sheet", thermally tempered glasses or laminated glasses.

This type of glass allows the protection of people against the risk of injury in case of broken glass

The invention also relates to the use of an insulating glass element according to the invention as a door of a refrigerated cabinet furniture.

The invention also relates to a refrigerated cabinet furniture comprising at least one glazed element as described above.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the refrigerated cabinet comprises at least one glazed element which comprises at least two insulating glass units. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the refrigerated cabinet comprises at least one glazed element which comprises at least two insulating glass units and whose sealing between the at least two insulating glazings is achieved by means of a transparent sealing element positioned on at least the lateral edge adjoining the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing unit.

The advantages of this refrigerated cabinet furniture are the same as those of glazed elements, they are not detailed further.

5. List of figures

• la figure 1 illustre un vitrage isolant selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 illustre un élément vitré selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 3 illustre la partie mobile d'un élément vitré selon l'invention,
• la figure 4a présente un exemple dans lequel l'élément vitré selon l'invention est intégré dans un meuble d'enceinte réfrigérée;
• la figure 4b représente une vue de haut d'un élément vitré dont les parties mobiles sont ouvertes.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 illustrates an insulating glazing unit according to the invention,
• the figure 2 illustrates a glazed element according to one embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 3 illustrates the mobile part of a glazed element according to the invention,
• the figure 4a shows an example in which the glazed element according to the invention is integrated in a refrigerated cabinet furniture;
• the figure 4b represents a top view of a glazed element whose moving parts are open.

6. Description of an embodiment of the invention

When products must be kept at a certain temperature in a refrigerated cabinet, they must remain visible to the consumer. For this reason, refrigerated cabinets, also known as refrigerated or refrigerated cabinets used in most commercial premises to offer for sale and / or for consumption products which must be kept at specified temperatures, are often equipped with glazed elements that turn them into refrigerated sales furniture. Thus, these furniture allow the visualization of products by the consumer / customer and a self-service use, while ensuring the maintenance of the temperature in the cabinet of the furniture.

The exposure of commodities has a key role in the sale of products. Good exposure includes good visibility of products contained in the refrigerated cabinet. However, during the exhibition, the refrigerated cabinet must maintain a certain temperature and ensure the preservation of products that must be cooled or deep-frozen.

Refrigerated furniture generally consists of four parts, namely, the supporting structure of the cabinet, the refrigerating elements, the useful space of sale, in other words the container and preferably glazed doors to allow the supply refrigerated furniture and access by the consumer to the products offered for sale.

The load-bearing structure of the furniture consists mainly of an insulated envelope in the form of sandwich panels of the "steel-insulating-steel" type. The quality of the implementation and the thickness of the insulation will determine the energy performance of the furniture in terms of penetrations (or negative loss). Today, refrigerated furniture tends to be more and more aesthetic including a glass carrying structure. Then comes the question of energy performance. Thus, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the glazed elements such as for example shown by the figure 2 may be used to form the doors of the refrigerated cabinet unit or form the refrigerated cabinet unit itself.

The refrigerating elements are generally inside the furniture.

The invention will be described more particularly for refrigerated cabinet furniture or sales cabinet refrigerators, but the invention is not limited to this type of furniture. Indeed, there are several variants of these refrigerated sales furniture. Some are cabinet-shaped and then the door itself is a transparent glazed element, others are chests and it is the horizontal cover that is glazed to allow observation of the contents and still others are shop counters and this is the part that separates the public from the goods that is glazed. Whatever the variant of these refrigerated sales furniture, it is It is also possible to create glazed walls so that all the contents are visible from the outside.

In this type of display, it is necessary that the goods remain perfectly visible to the customer so that it is possible to preselect the goods without opening the furniture and unnecessarily avoid any loss of energy and thus lead to an overconsumption of energy. Overconsumption of energy is often also linked to the use of glazed elements that are not sufficiently insulating. Thus, the glazed part, more particularly the opening glass part of the refrigerated cabinet still called opening or door of the refrigerated furniture of sale must preferably not be delimited by a frame or at least on its lateral edges to give the impression to the customer that the furniture is devoid of opening while ensuring its role of thermal insulation. It should also be avoided that the glass parts of the furniture and particularly the doors are not covered with condensation and which resist the pressures due to frequent opening / closing of these openings by the customers or the employees responsible for supplying the refrigerated furniture.

Conventionally refrigerated furniture doors include a double or triple glazing that require the use of a support frame that extends over the entire periphery of the glazing to give it a good mechanical strength. Unfortunately, this frame, more commonly called chassis, in addition to creating a large footprint, does not always have good thermal insulation and is not aesthetic.

It is thus presented, in relation with the figure 1 , an insulating glazing unit 100 which will be used to manufacture the glazed element 200 according to the invention.

The insulating glazing unit 100 is a double glazing unit comprising a first and a second glass sheet 10, 11 (for example 4 mm thick sodo-silico-calcic glass sheets) associated together by means of a spacer 12 which keeps them at a distance from each other.

Between the two glass sheets 10, 11, an internal space 15 comprising a blade of an insulating gas and closed by a first and a second peripheral seals 13, 14 disposed around said internal space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the glass sheets may be of different sizes.

According to the invention, the spacer 12 extending along at least one of the edges of said at least two glass sheets is formed from a transparent resin. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer formed in a transparent resin is positioned at least on the lateral edge of a glazing unit which is adjacent to the lateral edge of a neighboring glazing unit in order to ensure linearity, a continuity of the cabinet of the refrigerated enclosure comprising at least two openings. Thus, the customer or the employee facing the refrigerated cabinet has the impression that the refrigerated cabinet furniture is devoid of glazed element and its view is not hindered by the presence of frame or side rails, then that the glazed element is present and ensures its role of thermal insulation.

The spacer used according to a preferred embodiment of the invention may be hollow or solid. It can be hexagonal. In the case where the spacer is hollow, the load with the chambers of the multiple glazing must be balanced. The spacer 12 may in particular comprise a transverse hollow section which has, for example, the shape of a square. This section is partially open towards the internal space 15 comprising the insulating gas. A desiccant material can then be disposed inside the spacer 12.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the spacer 12 can be formed of several parts that can be linked together. Thus, the different parts can be made of different materials.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer 12 placed on the lateral edges of the multiple glazing is formed from a transparent resin while the spacer placed on the lower and upper edges of the glazing may be non-transparent. The spacer 12 made in a transparent resin is then preferably made of a material chosen from polymethylmetacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chlorine PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon or a mixture of these compounds. and the spacers placed on the lower and upper edges see on the side edge which is not adjacent to the side edge of a neighboring glazing is a galvanized steel profile, aluminum, stainless steel, or composites ....

According to the invention, the first peripheral seal (13) extending along at least one of the lateral edges of the at least two glass sheets is formed from a transparent resin. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first peripheral seal 13 formed in a transparent resin is positioned at least on the lateral edge of a glazing unit which is adjacent to the lateral edge of a neighboring glazing this to ensure a linearity, a continuity of the cabinet of the refrigerated enclosure comprising at least two openings. Thus, the customer or the employee facing the refrigerated cabinet has the impression that the refrigerated cabinet furniture is devoid of glazed element. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first peripheral seal (13) can be positioned in front of or after the peripheral seal (14). Such a seal is preferably made of a sealing material chosen from a double-sided acrylic, modified acrylic, rubber or silicone tape, also called "pressure-sensitive adhesive-PSA" tape, or a transparent hot-melt (butyl) adhesive or an acrylic-type, epoxy, cross-linkable or non-UV-permeable structural adhesive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second peripheral seal (14) can be positioned in front of or after the peripheral seal (13). The peripheral seal present on at least the side edge of an opening which is adjacent to the lateral edge of another opening is made of a transparent resin. Such a seal is preferably made of a sealing material is an adhesive comprising silicone, hybrid sealant comprising silicone and polyurethane, hot melt hot melt or a mixture of these various compounds.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a desiccant may be disposed within the multiple glazing. It can be placed inside the spacer or at different places in the glazing, for example in the bead. Preferably, the desiccant is incorporated in the spacer. The dehydration of air or gas trapped between the glass sheets can be obtained by a desiccant (or desiccant) contained in the tubular spacer. This spacer is then provided with an orifice (slots or holes) so that the desiccant is in communication with the air or the internal gas. This is usually molecular sieve, sometimes silica gel. The absorption capacity of these desiccants is greater than 20% of their weight. After dewatering, in a new insulating glass, the moisture content is low enough that there is no condensation between the glasses for temperatures below -60 ° C. When a part of the spacer is not formed from a transparent resin, then the peripheral seals 13, 14 may comprise polyisobutylene sealing layers 13 disposed respectively between the spacer 12 and each of the first and second glass sheets 10, 11. The peripheral seal 14 may also comprise a bead of polysulfide or silicone resin disposed in contact with the sealing layers 13 between each of the glass sheets 10, 11 and the spacer 12.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the internal space 15 comprises a blade of an insulating gas comprising at least 85% Argon or Krypton or any other inert gas capable of optimally isolating the glazing. Adequate gases must be colorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable, insensitive to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, denser than air and have a lower thermal conductivity. Argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe) are examples of such gases that are commonly substituted for air in insulating glass panels. It is understood that the internal space 15 can be filled with air.

The use of multiple glazings for refrigerated cabinets is already known. However, glazing is included in a frame in order to maintain a sufficient thermal insulation (U values), but the thermal improvement generally remains insufficient. In addition, the use of such multiple glazing, because of their thickness and weight, requires the use of complete support frame over the entire periphery of the glazing which gives them good mechanical strength, but which creates a large footprint.

Thus, the inventors propose a multiple glazing that can be used in a glazed element able to serve as a door, openings for refrigerated cabinet furniture without requiring the presence of a movable support extending over the entire periphery of the glazing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the glass sheet (10 °) and (11) respectively in the outer and inner position can be a single soda-lime type glass sheet, a toughened glass or a laminated glass , an extra-white glass to improve the light transmission, a glass tinted or not in the mass, for the aesthetic appearance, a glass on which can be deposited an anti-scratch or hydrophobic film. Moreover, more and more functions are added to these windows by depositing on their surface thin layers intended to give them a particular property according to the intended application. Thus, the glass sheets may be covered on their outer and / or inner faces with one or more layers chosen from the following list: an anti-fog layer, an antibacterial layer, a hydrophobic layer in order to avoid stagnation of the condensation water or an easy-to-clean layer, a semi-reflective or reflective layer, a low emissive layer or a pyrolytic layer. Thus, there are optical function layers, such as so-called anti-reflective layers composed of a stack of layers alternately with high and low refractive indices. For an anti-static or heating function of the anti-icing type, it is also possible to provide electrically conductive thin layers, for example based on metal or doped metal oxide. For a thermal function, low-emissivity or anti-solar for example, we can turn to thin metal layers of the silver type or nitride or metal oxide. To avoid condensation, the insulation performance of the glazing has been increased thanks to in particular the use of a double or triple glazing to form the glass parts of the refrigerating cabinet but also the presence of low-emissivity layers on at least one of the faces of the glass sheets included in the glazing, thin layers reflecting the infrared radiation or the use of triple glazing which one of the gas blades can be Krypton. It is also possible to heat at least faces of the glazing.

The insulating glazing unit 100 is thus used to manufacture a glazed element 200 as represented by the Figures 2 to 4 .

Generally speaking, in multiple glazings, comprising two or even three or more glass sheets, the spacer is fixed inside the insulating glazing unit by its lateral faces to the internal faces of the glass sheets by butyl rubber which has the role of to seal the interior of the glazing with water vapor. The spacer is set back inside the glazing and close to the edges of said glass sheets, so as to provide a peripheral groove in which are injected the sealing means of the sealant type, such as a polysulfide or polyurethane . The mastic confirms the mechanical assembly of the two glass sheets and ensures the sealing with liquid water and solvents. This colored spacer and the sealing means are not aesthetic and are usually masked by an outer frame in which the glazing rests. However, this visible frame represents a visual barrier, a barrier to access to the goods contained in the refrigerated cabinet. This frame has not only an aesthetic role but also a role of thermal insulation. He must generally be weak conductor.

• le support fixe, encore appelé cadre dormant, qui est un élément constitutif de base du châssis, représente la partie du châssis fixée sur la structure porteuse du meuble réfrigéré. Il comprend généralement la parclose de fixation du vitrage,
• le support mobile, encore appelé cadre ouvrant, qui est la partie mobile du châssis. Il comporte en général les joints d'étanchéité à l'air. Le support fixe comporte alors des profilés créant avec ceux de l'ouvrant des barrières à l'eau et à l'air. Des logements pour la quincailleries y sont également prévus.

Conventionally, the chassis comprises various parts including:

• the fixed support, also called frame, which is a basic component of the frame, represents the part of the frame fixed on the carrying structure of the refrigerated cabinet. It generally includes glazing fixing bead,
• the mobile support, also called opening frame, which is the moving part of the frame. It usually includes air seals. The fixed support then has profiles creating with those of the opening barriers to water and air. Housing for hardware stores are also planned.

In general, the fixed and movable supports are composed of upper and lower edges and lateral crosspieces (right and left). This configuration makes it possible to support the insulating glazing but also to contribute to the thermal insulation

The frames are usually made of different materials such as wood, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), aluminum or composite materials.

The invention therefore proposes a glazed element 200 comprising at least one multiple glazing unit 100 supported by at least one frame whose movable support or opening frame, also called the opening leaf, is devoid of lateral crosspieces covering at least the lateral edge of the glazing adjoining the edge. lateral of the neighboring glazing.

The structure of the glazing used for the glazed parts and in particular the openings of the refrigerated cabinet according to the invention has the advantage of conferring a rigidity and strength equivalent to that of a single glazing even if said glazing is devoid of support movable over the entire periphery of the glazing or more particularly lateral crosspieces extending along at least the side edges while ensuring good thermal insulation. Thus, the size is greatly reduced thus providing greater visibility of the contents of the refrigerated cabinet. The use of an opening without a mobile support is all the more surprising that the main role of a mobile support of a door or a window or generally an opening, is to maintain the glazing in place and allow for opening, maintenance and ventilation. Especially since the structure of the support frame takes up the weight of elements constituting glazing, climatic loads and maintenance, as well as some accessories and the report on the side walls of the refrigerated cabinet, to which the support frame must be properly anchored to take / support the pressure forces. In addition, it is not enough that the movable support has the necessary resistance to constitute an effective support for the glazing, it is still necessary that the weight of it is carried to carefully chosen places to avoid excessive deformation of the opening frames and fixed sleepers. In general, a weakly conductive support frame made of wood, aluminum or PVC is used to support multiple glazing.

However, the use of such an insulating glass without a movable support on the entire periphery of the glazing is not without consequences as to the structure itself of the refrigerated cabinet, particularly when it is a question of furniture whose internal ambient temperature is significantly different from the external ambient temperature. Thus, in order to ensure optimum thermal insulation, the glazing 100 has a value of thermal transmission coefficient U of between 1.6 and 1.8.

By thermal transmission coefficient U is meant the quantity of heat passing through the glazing, in steady state, per unit area, for a difference of one degree Celsius between the ambiances, for example outside and inside. These values of U are notably achieved thanks to a low-emissivity layer (low-E layer). For example, the glass sheets used may be glass sheets of Thermobel TopN or TopT type of AGC. The glass sheet can thus be covered with thin layers of metal of the silver type or based on nitride or metal oxide. Thus, the glazing used 100 has a high performance U coefficient while presenting aesthetic qualities.

Then, the use of insulating glazing according to the invention makes it possible to achieve better thermal insulation than the usual insulating glazings, for a lower thickness and weight and consequently a saving in terms of energy consumption.

The invention relates more particularly to a refrigerated cabinet furniture in which are exposed fresh, chilled or frozen products whose common name is "refrigerated furniture sales".

The invention also relates to a refrigerated cabinet cabinet overcomes the various disadvantages of the prior art, and meeting the sealing criteria of this type of furniture and providing a piece of furniture easy to implement and economically advantageous.

The refrigerated cabinet of the invention has the advantage of providing the client with increased visibility of the sound content since the openings have no support frame on at least one of the side edges of the glazing panel, while ensuring good insulation thermal.

The glazed element for producing such a refrigerated piece of furniture is described above and represented by way of example by the figures 2 and 3 .

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the seal between the two openings is formed by means of a transparent sealing element 31 fixed on the glazing. Sealing is for example provided on the side edges without side cross by a lip seal or transparent coil or broom or felt on the lower and upper edges of the glazing. Preferably, the insulating glazing is provided on at least one of its edges with a transparent sealing element such as a glued profile, in particular of plastic. The term "profile" means all types of prefabricated profiles having a shape adapted to the function of said profile. Preferably, the profile is a plastic profile in order to marry without significant constraints the deformation of the glazing. Such a profile glued on at least one of the edges of the glazing can perform various functions such as the protection of the edges of the glazing, the attachment of various elements such as hinges or handles or the aesthetics of the opening. In addition, the use of a profile is advantageous for the realization of the magnetic contacts between the opening and the furniture and / or the neighboring opening.

Thus, the vertical elements for receiving the lateral edges of the at least two openings, the lateral edges being those which are not fixed along the edges to the walls of the furniture, are eliminated with respect to the conventional refrigerated cabinets furniture. The vertical elements on which the opening came into abutment so that the sealing and locking of the openings are provided. The absence of vertical elements simplifies the structure of the furniture while improving its aesthetics.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said sealing element placed on the lateral edges of the glazing is a lip seal or transparent coil which has the advantage of not creating resistance stresses at the glazing and not not create a risk of leakage along the entire length.

Preferably, the lower and upper corners of the glazing are equipped with an element capable of receiving a magnetic piece in order to ensure contact with the furniture and / or the edge of the neighboring opening. Thus, it achieves a good contact and a good stop between the amount and furniture and the neighboring amount while allowing a hermetic and aesthetic closure of said opening.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the seal between the opening and the upper and lower edges of the cabinet is made by means of compressible magnetic seals disposed on said edges of the cabinet so that the contact is made on the outskirts of the opening.

In this way, the inner surface of the opening is lightened and the compressible magnetic seal allows a hermetic contact which absorbs the small deformation that can appear on this contact length. Indeed, this contact length being smaller than that at the ends side of the cabinet, the deformation arrow is much smaller and the contact can be made on the periphery of the opening without risk of sealing rupture.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the axis of articulation is eccentric with respect to the plane of said opening and the articulation element is glued to the opening.

According to a variant of the invention, the insulating glazing has glass sheets of different sizes over the entire periphery of the glazing. The asymmetry of the two sheets of glass facilitates the mechanical assembly of the rail on the lower and upper edges of a multiple glazing and in particular the double glazing included in the opening.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the opening is provided with a spring-type return element. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous from an aesthetic point of view. Indeed, it eliminates the use of the torsion bars usually used, these bars being generally arranged in the support frame because of their significant volume.

These types of arrangements have many advantages. First of all, because of the rigidity and the mechanical content of the insulating glazing, it is not necessary to associate the insulating glazing with a support frame on the entire periphery of the glazing as on the usual multiple glazings, support frame which substantially increases the overall size of the openings and therefore the furniture.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a lower and upper rail 22 are positioned on the lower and upper edges of the multiple glazing in order to be able to maintain and fix the opening to the dormant part, that is to say the fixed support for the opening of the refrigerated cabinet.

The smooth 22 may be aluminum, PVC, steel, stainless steel or any material capable of performing this function of maintaining and fixing the glazing to the dormant part. The beam must have the lowest possible U-value to avoid heat loss. Thanks to the rails, the transfer of the mechanical load by the glass is done between the lower and upper parts of the multiple glazing but also by the frame. Such a smooth is presented in the figure 3 .

Glass glazing beads can be used along the lower and upper edges to maintain the multiple glazing at the smooth.

The bead can be fixed by gluing, clipping or screwing.

"Smooth or bead" means a profile of small section used to fix, maintain, shift the weight of the glazing on the fixed support and refrigerated cabinet and place the glazing. Its height usually falls off that of the glass sheets. It must be disassembled to allow replacement of the glazing if it must be replaced. The fastening systems of the glazing beads are multiple. It can be fixed by pointing or screwing, by clipping on buttons, by clipping on springs or grooves or by screwing on the inside of the glazing to facilitate the installation and removal of the latter, on a dormant profile or opening. The glazing bead usually takes the form of a wooden dimension fillet, a metal profile or PVC used to hold the glazing in the grooves of a frame.

The presence of smooth on the lower and upper edges of the multiple glazing allows the integration of at least a portion of the mechanism intended to allow the opening and closing of the opening, and in particular the fixing of two, three or four points of support or pivot, which are mainly anchor points of opening and closing movements of the sashes. The mechanism intended to allow the opening and closing of the opening is according to a particular embodiment of the invention composed of several parts which make it possible to connect the opening to the refrigerated cabinet and more particularly connect it to the fixed support.

It is understood that the fixed support can be the frame of the cabinet of the refrigerated enclosure.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a closure damping stop system and / or open position of the opening can be placed on or in at least one of the rails.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention a desiccant material can be integrated in at least one of the smooth.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of the stringers may comprise a sealing barrier abutting the door when in the closed position. The sealing barrier may especially be a lip squeeze joint, brooms or felt.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the refrigerated cabinet is adapted to receive the fixed support of the glazed element according to the invention.

By "fixed support" is meant that part of the frame which is fixed to the cabinet of the refrigerated enclosure and which will support the opening both when it is in the open position and closed. The fixed fixed support can be made of aluminum, PVC, steel or even wood. The fixed frame will include a part of the mechanism intended to allow the opening and closing of the opening, the other part being fixed on the opening and according to a particular embodiment of the invention, on the other part of the opening and closing mechanism of the opening placed on at least one of the two rails. Thus, the fixed fixed frame can include 2, 3 or 4 points of support or pivot, the mechanism of electric or pneumatic movement control type screw jack with or without rods.

The fixed fixed support can in particular comprise a damping stop for closing and holding open the open position. Preferably, a sealing barrier is placed on the periphery of the fixed frame. Such a barrier may be of the type lip seal, brush or felt at the end of the door in the closed position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the openings of the refrigerated furniture can be opened in different ways. Thus, the opening can be opened by simply pivoting from the inside to the outside. The doors can also be opened by sliding the doors from right to left or from left to right by horizontal translation with or without recovery of one of the opening on the other. The opening can also open accordion.

When the glazed element is used as a door for refrigerated furniture, the doors opening from the inside to the outside, then the furniture is preferably free of vertical inner intermediate amounts extending over the height of the furniture on which the opening would abut so that the seal is achieved.

The opening and closing of the mobile part of the glazed element according to the invention is preferably automated that is to say managed by an electrical system.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the refrigerated cabinet can be equipped with an interior lighting system of the multiple glazing. Lighting can be done in particular by LEDs arranged at least one of the lower or upper edges of the glazing, a light can also be projected in the field of the glass panel or panels constituting the multiple glazing.

Video or fixed advertising screens can be integrated inside the multiple glazing and in particular double or triple glazing. of the Electric or mechanical blinds can be added to the refrigerated cabinet.

This type of refrigerated cabinet speaker as described is easy to make and ask because does not require a lot of parts. It provides unquestionable thermal insulation and a very good seal while being aesthetic.

For example, Figures 2 to 4 represent a glazed element according to the invention. In particular, the figure 2 shows a glazed element comprising 4 insulating double glazings 100, numbered from 1 to 4 starting from the left to the right, fixed on the fixed support by means of pivot on hinges positioned on the lateral edges of the glazings 1 and 4. The glazings are interconnected by double pivots positioned on the upper and lower corners of the glazings. The opening of the moving parts is an accordion opening ( Figures 4a and 4b ). A translation / rotation system is placed respectively on the upper right and left edges of the glazings Nos. 2 and 3 thus allowing the opening parts to be opened, the opening parts being formed of two insulating glazings 100. The glazings 1 and 4 comprise two sheets soda-lime type soda-lined tempered glass, whereas glazing panels No. 2 and 4 comprise two tempered glass sheets of identical size. The glass sheets are coated on their inner side with a low-emissivity layer of AGC TopNT type. The internal space between the two glass sheets comprises argon as an insulating gas. The insulating glazings 100 are fixed on their upper edge to the upper and lower part of the fixed support by means of rails for upper translation and smooth 22 positioned on the upper and lower edges of the glazing 100. The opening of the doors is automated . The sealing between the insulating glazings between them and the glazing and the fixed support is ensured by transparent beads joints. The spacer 12 separating the two glass sheets from each glazing unit 100 and placed along the lateral edges of the glazings is a transparent polycarbonate rod bonded to the glass sheets by means of a peripheral seal 13 which is a strip transparent double-sided adhesive type PSA. The gas tightness between the glass sheets is provided by a transparent silicone adhesive 14 disposed along the spacer. The portion of the spacer 12 placed on the upper and lower edges of the insulating glass units 100 is an aluminum rod comprising a molecular sieve such as silica gel.

The refrigerated cabinet furniture according to the invention also makes it possible to improve the exterior aesthetics of these pieces of furniture. Thus the face of the cabinet comprising the opening can be almost in glass due to the absence of support frames on the entire periphery of the glazing and it is possible to provide a small space between the opening without hindering the visibility of the contents of inside these furniture and for the opening and closing of the furniture.

The refrigerated cabinet furniture according to the invention can meet the sealing criteria required for these types of furniture, are easy to achieve and without increasing or even decreasing the cost of furniture.

The invention is not limited to this particular type of embodiment and must be interpreted in a nonlimiting manner and encompassing all types of refrigerated cabinet furniture comprising at least two openings comprising at least one insulating glazing unit composed of at least a first and a second sheet of glass. Furthermore, the skilled person may provide any variant in the insulating glass without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, the insulating glazing may comprise several internal spaces each comprising a blade of an insulating gas (eg triple glazing), the glass sheets of the insulating glazing panels according to the invention may consist of any type of glass, may be surface-textured, may include any type of coating intended to perform any function, or may themselves consist of glazing panels laminated by means of plastic interleaves. The insulating glazing may also be glazing type VIG that is to say a glazing obtained by applying a vacuum between the glass sheets. A glazed element according to the invention can be implemented in any type of application such as refrigerated furniture doors, freezers bay windows (eg verandas, roof elements, ...).

Claims (15)

1. Glazed element comprising:

   a. at least one insulating glazing comprising at least a first glass sheet (10) and a second glass sheet (11) joined together by means of a spacer (12) which keeps them at a certain distance from one another, said spacer extending along the lateral, upper and lower edges of said at least two glass sheets and, between said at least two glass sheets, at least one internal space (15) that comprises a cavity filled with an insulating gas and that is closed by a first peripheral seal (13) and a second peripheral seal (14) that are positioned around said internal space,

   b. at least one frame (201) that supports said at least one insulating glazing, said frame comprising:

   i. a fixed support (21) and

   ii. a mobile support (22) hinged to the fixed support that enables the opening and/or closing of the glazed element,

   such that

   - the spacer (12), the first peripheral seal (13) and the second peripheral seal (14) extending along at least one of the lateral edges of said at least two glass sheets are formed from a transparent resin, and

   - said mobile support lacks at least one lateral crosspiece.
2. Glazed element (200) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two insulating glazings.
3. Glazed element (200) according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the spacer (12), the first peripheral seal (13) and the second peripheral seal (14) extending along the lateral edges of said at least two glass sheets are formed from a transparent resin.
4. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer (12), the first peripheral seal (13) and the second peripheral seal (14) extending along the lateral edge of a first glazing which juxtaposes the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing are formed from a transparent resin and in that the opening frame separating two neighboring glazings lacks a lateral crosspiece on the lateral edge adjoining the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing.
5. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer is discontinuous and formed of several portions that may be linked together by a material suitable for ensuring the adhesion of said portions to one another and the tightness of said glazing.
6. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer (12) is formed from a transparent resin, selected from polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride PVC, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), nylon or a mixture of these compounds.
7. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first peripheral seal (13) is a tightness seal selected from an acrylic, a modified acrylic, a rubber or a silicone double-sided tape, or a transparent hot-melt adhesive or a structural adhesive of acrylic or epoxy type, optionally crosslinkable under the action of UV rays.
8. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second peripheral seal (15) is a glue comprising silicone, hybrid mastic comprising silicone and polyurethane, hot-melt or a mixture of these various compounds.
9. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glazing has a thermal U-value of between 1.6 and 1.8 W/m2.
10. Glazed element (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating glazing comprises at least a first glass sheet (10) and a second glass sheet (11) joined together by means of a spacer (12), said sheets being of different sizes.
11. Glazed element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating glazing comprises at least one tempered or safety glass sheet.
12. Use of a glazed element (200) according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 as a door of a refrigerated chamber cabinet.
13. Refrigerated chamber cabinet comprising at least one glazed element according to any one of Claims 1 to 11.
14. Refrigerated chamber cabinet according to Claim 13, characterized in that the glazed element comprises at least two insulating glazings.
15. Refrigerated chamber cabinet according to Claim 14, characterized in that the tightness between the at least two insulating glazings is achieved by means of a transparent sealing element (31) positioned on at least the lateral edge adjoining the lateral edge of the neighboring glazing.

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