FR2907202A1 - FURNITURE REFRIGERATED EXHIBITION OF PRODUCTS AND ELEMENTS FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulating element (22) for the construction of a refrigerated cabinet, which comprises a plurality of insulating walls (28, 29, 30) hinged together and a section of air transport duct.

Description

1 Display cabinet of products and elements for its construction

  The present invention relates to a product display cabinet and elements for its construction. The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of refrigerated display cabinets for food products. The present invention is intended to provide improvements to refrigerated furniture described in WO94 / 17698, WO97 / 01977 and WO97 / 30910. WO94 / 17698 relates to a refrigerated product display cabinet on several superposed shelves; the cabinet comprises a base comprising a refrigeration unit, and a removable structure placed on the base and having fresh air guide walls to the shelves; the shelves and / or cladding panels are made of cardboard material.

  The document WO97 / 01977 describes such a piece of furniture which comprises several stacked air guide ducts from the base containing the refrigeration unit to a roof panel providing air guidance and the formation of an air curtain. downward vertical; bunk trays receive the products to be exposed and the fresh air distributed by the ducts. This furniture is movable by a forklift, and include corrugated board. An object of the invention is to provide such furniture that is easier to manufacture, assemble, and / or transport, especially when empty.

  Another object of the invention is to propose elements or organs which by their mutual assembly, the construction and erection of a product display cabinet at a point of sale, simply and quickly.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an insulating element or module for presenting products (fresh), for the construction of a refrigerated piece of furniture, which comprises several insulating walls hinged together and a (section of ) air transport duct.

The articulation of the insulating walls makes it possible to easily pass the element or module of a (first) folded / collapsed configuration in which the element or module has a first bulk, to a (second) deployed configuration in which the element or module has a second footprint greater than the first footprint, 10 during assembly of the refrigerated cabinet. The articulated walls of the module are preferably rigid enough for the module to contribute to forming the frame of the piece of furniture. The collapsed / collapsed configuration facilitates the transport of the empty element or module, while the expanded configuration makes it possible to dispose the products to be kept fresh within the element or module. Thanks to the integration of a section of air transport duct within the element or module of storage / exposure of products, the assembly of the refrigerated furniture is faster; furthermore, the air distribution is not conditioned by a correct relative positioning of the air transport duct and the product exposure module, as is the case in WO97 / 01977. Preferably, the insulating walls have two substantially plane and parallel bearing faces so that two such elements or modules can be stacked one on the other, with the possible interposition of a substantially plane separation element, with faces parallel, such as a plate. Preferably, the element or presentation module comprises an air guide and distribution wall contributing to delimit, with one of the insulating walls, the air transport duct section; this wall 2907202 3 guiding and distribution of air is perforated to allow passage of the air transported in the conduit, through the wall, to ensure the distribution of air to the space (presentation of products) delimited, in part, by the insulating walls.

Each insulating wall preferably has a honeycomb structure whose constitution and thickness are adapted to the desired level of thermal insulation. The insulating walls are preferably made of one (or more) material (s) based on cardboard and / or plastics material. The thickness of these walls is generally of the order of 10 to 50 millimeters approximately, in particular of the order of 20, 30 or 40 mm approximately. Each guide wall and air distribution wall may also be made in one (or more) material (s) based on cardboard and / or plastic, and may have a thickness of the order of 0.5 to 5 millimeters approximately.

The articulation between two insulating walls is preferably in the form of a thin wall such as a sheet - or other laminated / laminated structure -, a ribbon, or a film; this joint can in particular be obtained by local deformation of a weakened or thin wall, made of cardboard and / or plastic, forming part of one (or two) insulating walls considered; alternatively or in addition, this articulation may for example be obtained by deformation of an adhesive tape connecting the two insulating walls. Preferably, the element or module comprises at least three insulating walls articulated in pairs (by two members or articulation structures), in particular four insulating walls articulated in pairs (by three hinge members); these articulation members allow a relative pivoting of the walls that they connect along axes of pivoting, i.e. articulation, which are substantially parallel. Preferably, each of the articulation members substantially makes it possible to obtain, in the picked up / folded configuration, the contact 2907202 4 and / or the overlap of the articulated walls and / or folded parts of the module. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a construction element of a display cabinet (of products) which comprises: a first insulating wall (substantially flat); a second insulating wall (substantially flat); ) which is connected to the first insulating wall by a first joint, and - a third wall (substantially flat) integral with (connected to) the first wall, which extends away from the first wall to delimit with it a first (section of) air transport duct, which is perforated to allow the distribution of air. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the construction element further comprises: a fourth substantially insulating insulating wall, a fifth substantially flat insulating wall, which is connected to the fourth insulating wall by a second articulation, a sixth wall substantially flat and integral with (connected to) the fourth wall, which extends away from the fourth wall to delimit therewith a second air transport duct, and which is perforated to allow the air distribution, and - a third joint connecting the third wall to the sixth wall. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for assembling a refrigerated furniture and a piece of furniture made by assembling the elements of the kit which comprises an air cooling unit, a a product display unit or module which is arranged to rest directly or indirectly on the air cooling unit and which incorporates an air transport duct delivered by the air cooling unit; an air deflection element or module delivered by the air transport duct, arranged to (re) direct the air towards the product display element or module and / or to the air cooling unit and 10 - a connecting member arranged to connect the element or product presentation module to the element or air deflection module, ensuring on the one hand aeraulic continuity and on the other hand a correct relative positioning of these two elements. Preferably, the connection member comprises for this purpose a hollow air transport structure, such as a connection sleeve, arranged to fit partly into the air transport duct of the presentation module of and partly in the air deflector module, and a support member such as a flange protruding out of the hollow structure and arranged to rest on the product display module. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly kit for a refrigerated cabinet which comprises at least two elements or modules for presenting products that can be insulating and provided with an air transport duct, which are stackable on an air cooling unit, as well as a substantially planar separator (modules) and receiving member (of exposed products) and arranged to be interposed between the two product presentation modules, to ensure where appropriate a ventilation continuity between the respective ducts of the presentation modules, and to support products arranged in the presentation modules which is based on the other module.

Preferably, the separating member comprises a thin plate pierced with an opening allowing the passage of air from one conduit to the other. In one embodiment, the shape of this member corresponds substantially to that of the contour of one of the support faces of a presentation module, in the deployed configuration of the module. In another embodiment, the separating member extends, in insertion position between two deployed exposure modules, protruding beyond the walls of the modules; in this case, by way of example, the deployed modules having a rectangle-shaped base, the separating member may have an at least partially curvilinear outline, in particular a circle-shaped outline, in which enter the rectangle. Preferably, the kit (and the cabinet) further comprises at least one reinforcing member arranged to rest on a (first) exposure module and to support the separating member interposed between the first module. exposure module and a second exposure module based on the first exposure module. This reinforcement member is preferably arranged to maintain a determined spacing between two side walls of the module on which it rests, in particular between two substantially parallel insulating walls 20 of the presentation module. The reinforcing member may have a form of bar, angle or profile, in particular a bar or profile whose cross section is T-shaped or L-shaped. In this particular case, each of the two opposite insulating walls of the exposure module supporting this member 25 may have a depression, such as a notch, arranged to receive one end of the reinforcing member. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an element or kit for the construction of a display cabinet (of products) which comprises: at least one (or two) product exposure modules 30 comprising, where appropriate an air transport duct, at least two (or three) substantially planar walls arranged to support products to be exposed, and at least two connecting units connecting each pair of adjacent walls, the connecting units being deformable to allow the element or kit to adopt either a collapsed configuration in which the walls are closely spaced from each other, or an expanded configuration in which the spacing of the two adjacent walls substantially corresponds to the height of a module so that this module can be inserted and / or deployed between the two adjacent walls. According to one embodiment, each connecting unit comprises two mutually articulated connecting elements, each connecting element being further articulated to one of the walls, the pivot axes of these three joints being substantially parallel and equidistant.

According to one embodiment, the element further comprises a return member, such as a spring, tending to move two walls adjacent to each other, or tending on the contrary to bring them closer, which can be associated to each link unit. The connecting member, the separating member, the reinforcing member, and the linking units / elements may be made of one or more material (s) based on paper or plastic, by the techniques usual processing and assembly of these materials, molding, or extrusion including. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention appear in the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings and which illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an insulating module for producing a refrigerated piece of furniture, according to one embodiment of the invention, the walls of the module being deployed. Figure 2 is a schematic view from above - in the direction 5 indicated by the arrow I Figure 1 - of the module of Figure 1, after folding the walls one over the other. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating in perspective another embodiment of an insulating module according to the invention, in deployed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the module of FIG. 3 in a collapsed configuration. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a connection member according to one embodiment of the invention. Figures 6 to 8 illustrate in perspective three stages of mounting 15 a refrigerated cabinet according to the invention incorporating two superposed insulating modules. Figure 9 illustrates in perspective a product receiving member to be exposed according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 illustrates in perspective - with detachment - an assembly 20 comprising an insulating module inserted into a product receiving element as illustrated in FIG. 9, as well as two connecting members nested in the air transport ducts of the insulating module. . Figure 11 illustrates in perspective - with tearing - the upper part of a piece of furniture comprising the assembly illustrated in Figure 10 and a deflection module fitted into the connecting members. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate respectively in simplified perspective view and exploded (Figure 12) or partially exploded (Figure 13), two examples of embodiments of a refrigerated cabinet from a kit according to the invention. Figure 14 illustrates in perspective a reinforcing member of a kit / furniture according to the invention.

Figures 15 and 18 relate to an embodiment of a piece of furniture according to the invention which has a casing generally cylindrical surmounted by a truncated cone; Figure 15 illustrates the furniture in perspective, while Figure 18 illustrates in plan view, a separating member for conforming (maintain the shape) of the outer cylindrical casing 10 of the furniture. Figure 16 schematically illustrates in perspective, an embodiment of a deployable element (accordion) for receiving and separating two insulating modules, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of another embodiment of an insulating module according to the invention, the walls of which are folded against each other. Figures 19 and 20 illustrate, in diagrammatic perspective view, two other embodiments of the invention in which the air cooling unit comprises two elements connected by a deformable refrigerant transport structure. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 19, the product presentation structure is suspended against a wall. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 20, in a partially exploded view, the two elements of the cooling unit are further connected by a structure supporting the product presentation structure. Figure 21 illustrates in diagrammatic perspective view an air cooling unit equipped with two feet and two rollers, as well as 2907202 10 a handling structure can further support a product presentation structure. The invention facilitates the assembly and disassembly of a refrigerated cabinet as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 15 in particular, from a set 5 or kit 21 (FIGS. 6, 12, 13 in particular) grouping together one or more insulating modules. 22 surmount (s) of a module 23 deflection / air referral, and based on an air cooling module 24 which rests on the ground. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 in particular, the kit - and the piece of furniture obtained by assembling the elements of the kit - furthermore comprises members 10 25 for connecting two superposed elements, members 26 and 27 for reinforcing the product reception planes. thus generally an outer casing and shaping members of the outer casing. According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly of a complete piece of furniture can be obtained manually, by a simple interlocking - total or partial - of the different elements into each other, and by a simple deformation of the deployable elements - in particular insulating elements -. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular, the insulating module 22 comprises two lateral insulating walls 28 and 29 as well as a rear insulating wall 30; these flat rectangular shaped walls may be formed of a layer 31 of plastic foam of appropriate thickness 34, which is coated on both sides with a sheet 32, 33 of paper or cardboard.

The module 22 has substantially, in the deployed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular, a symmetry with respect to a median plane 35 which, when the module is integrated into a piece of furniture, is generally a vertical anteroposterior plane.

Thus, the walls 28, 29 are identical and parallel to this plane, while the wall 30 is perpendicular to this plane. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the outer sheet 32 of the side wall 28 is extended by a portion 32a of sheet, up to the rear side edge 36 of the wall 30, said ridge extending according to an axis 37 parallel to the plane 35, and the portion 32a extends forming - or part of - the outer sheet 32 (rear) of the wall 30. Due to the flexibility of the sheet 32, 32a, the wall 28 and the portion 32a can pivot relative to the wall 30, along the axis of pivoting, 10 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by the arrow 38. In the same way, the wall 29 and the portion 32a of sheet can rotate relative to the wall 30, along an axis 39 substantially coinciding with the edge 40 of the wall 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the arrow 41. By these pivoting movements, the module 22 can pass from the deployed configuration illustrated in FIG. the walls 28, 29 face each other, with the folded configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the walls 28, 29 overlap partially, the wall 29 extending against the outer face 32 of the wall 30. The insulating module 22 further comprises a wall 42 pierced with orifices 43, which extends opposite and at a distance from the inner (forward) face 33 of the wall 30, which is connected to this wall by connecting portions 44, and which delimits with the wall 30 a space 45. This space 45 serves, when the The module is integrated into the cabinet, a rising vertical fresh air transport duct, which has an inlet section 47 46 of air and an outlet section 49 49 of air. The insulating module illustrated in Figure 17 is intended to be used in pairs for each floor of the furniture; the module comprises a single side wall 28, a rear wall half 30, a distribution wall half 42 connected to the wall 30 by portions 44 and forming with it a half duct 45 for conveying air, the walls 28 and 30 being hinged (arrow 38) along the hinge axis 37. In this embodiment, the walls 28 and 30 each comprise an edge or slice 50, 51 chamfered (e 45 (for example); after complete deployment of this module, the walls 28, 30 extend along two substantially perpendicular planes, their respective chamfered edges facing each other and / or leaning against each other. In this embodiment, two such modules are deployed and abutted by their respective planar interface 52, and a structure similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is thus obtained. The module illustrated in FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIGS. and 2; however, its insulating wall 30 and its distribution wall 42 are made in two parts or half walls 30a, 30b, 42a, 42b which are separated by the median plane 35 of symmetry.

An additional spacer 55a or 55b, respectively, connects the wall 42a (respectively 42b) to the wall 30a (respectively 30b), and extends along the contact plane 35 between the half walls. In addition, a third hinge 54 is provided, the hinge axis 53 is parallel to the axes 37 and 39 and included in the plane 35 and 20 in the plane of the walls 42a, 42b. The hinge 54 can for example be obtained by folding the thin wall 42 along this axis 53, or by deformation of an adhesive tape 165 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3) overlapping the two half-walls 42a, 42b.

In this embodiment, the folding of the module 22 (with a view to its transport for example) is obtained by pivoting the walls 28, 29 along the axes 37, 39 towards the outside, by an angle close to 270.degree. , and by pivoting the walls 30a, 42a on the one hand and 30b, 42b on the other hand, by an angle 2907202 13 close to 180, until joining them as in the configuration shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. in particular, each module 22 is substantially in the deployed state, in a rectangular parallelepiped, and has a lower bearing surface 56 and a bearing surface 57 substantially flat, parallel, and of the same dimensions. With reference to FIG. 5, the connection member 25 is in the form of a tubular sleeve (cylindrical) with an axis 58 and a rectangular section, and a projecting flat wall 59 with respect to the sleeve and the circumference like a bridle. Each of the lower 60 and upper 61 parts of the sleeve is provided to engage substantially without play in an air-carrying conduit - or in a complementary-shaped air-passage opening respectively provided in an insulating module 22 , a deflection module 23 or a separating element. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 in particular, in which the ascending vertical fresh air transport duct is divided into two parallel veins (45a, 45b) separated by the spacers (55a). , 55b), two sleeves 25 serve to connect these two veins of a module 22 to the two veins of the upper module or to the inlet of the deflector 23. The flat wall 59 is thin and serves as a stop to limit the depression of the sleeve in one or the other of the two modules or elements that the sleeve connects. Thus, when two superposed elements or modules are connected by the member 25, their relative positioning in translation in a plane parallel to the wall 59 is fixed, that is to say blocked, because of the stiffness of the sleeve. . The refrigerated unit illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 comprises a unit 24 for cooling air, for example for vapor compression of a refrigerant fluid undergoing a compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation cycle. The unit 24 receives two insulation modules 22 (identical) superimposed and surmounted by a module 23 of air deflection.

Two pairs of (separable) connecting members ensure the limitation of fresh air leaks propelled by the unit 24 into the modules 22, at the junction between these modules and that between the upper module 22 and the baffle. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower module 22 is positioned on the unit 24 while the upper module 22 is not correctly positioned on the lower module 22. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, the two modules 22 have been coupled by the members 25; it is the same for the diffuser 23 which redirects the fresh air that it receives from the ducts of the modules 22, which has not been distributed by the perforated walls of these modules, towards the front and the bottom of the furniture, to promote the recovery of air through a suction opening provided on the front of the cooling unit 24, and thus avoid losses of fresh air and energy-. For the same purpose, FIG. 7 shows that a vertical wall 62 extends behind the front face of the unit 24, between the side walls of the lower insulating module. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, the unit 24 and the modules 22 have been encircled by an envelope 63 whose front wall 64 has a notch 65 in its upper part.

25 This notch increases visibility and accessibility to the products contained in the furniture. The walls 64 and 62 delimit an air intake duct to the entry of which the deflector 23 directs the air that it receives from the modules 22.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, each insulating module 22 is respectively inserted into an envelope illustrated in FIG. 9. The envelope 70 comprises four thin flat walls 71 to 74 parallel in pairs forming a tube or cylinder of section. rectangular 5 and horizontal axis 75 in integrating position of the module in a piece of furniture. The height 76, width 77, and depth 78 of the envelope 70 substantially correspond to the height 79, width 80, and depth 81 (see Figure 3) of the corresponding insulating module 22, so that this module is housed substantially without play or outgrowth inside the envelope.

Each of the horizontal main walls 72 and 74 of the casing 70 has openings 82, 83 whose number, position and dimensions are respectively adapted (identical or substantially identical), to the position and the dimensions of the transport ducts. insulation module corresponding to the envelope, so as to ensure continuity of the air veins and allow insertion of a portion (60 or 61, FIG. 5) of a connection sleeve, through these openings 82, 83 and into the duct 45 for air transport integrated module 22 housed in the casing, as shown in Figures 10 and 11 in particular. In order to facilitate the stacking and correct relative positioning of two modules 22 inserted in their respective (identical) envelopes 70, each side wall 71, 73 of the envelopes has a cavity 84 and a projection 85 extending vertically from the cavity. and having a shape complementary to that of the cavity, so that the mutual engagement of the projections 85 in the cavities maintains a correct stacking of the modules.

Furthermore, each of the main walls 72 and 74 has a notch 86, 87 in its front part, so that when a module 22 and its envelope are housed in a second (outer) envelope such as the envelope 63 FIG. or 120 Figure 15, these indentations may delimit with the front wall of the second casing a well of ducting the air sucked by the cooling unit.

It will also be seen from FIGS. 9 to 11 that each lower main wall 74 of the envelope, which receives the fresh products to be exposed, has a rib 88 at the front, which makes it possible, on the one hand, to reinforce this wall, and on the other hand to retain the products exposed within the space delimited by the module. Referring to Figure 11, the deflector module 23 comprises a horizontal insulating wall 89 forming a roof for the furniture, and an inner wall 90 extending opposite and at a distance from the wall 89 with which it delimits a conduit 93 transport horizontal (arrow 94) of the air 10 delivered in the upper part of the duct 45 of the upper module 22 supporting the deflector 23. For this purpose, as described above, the rear portion of the wall 90 is pierced with two openings through which respectively extend the upper portions of two sleeves 25 connecting the baffle to the conduit 45 of the upper module 22. The wall 90 is also pierced with an opening in its front part, through which extends an air diffuser 92 having a honeycomb structure. A front wall 91 of the module 23 contributes to delimiting the duct 93. FIG. 11 shows that the deflector 23 rests with its wall 90 on the wall 72 of the upper module 22, and that the diffuser 92 points downwards (arrow 95 ) the air leaving the duct 93, towards an air intake opening of the cooling unit.

With reference to FIG. 12, a lower insulating module 22 can be inserted (arrow 96) inside an envelope 70 as illustrated in FIG. 9, along axis 75 thereof, up to placing the ducts of the module 22 in register with the openings 82, 83 of the envelope.

The module 22 is equipped with a reinforcing bar 26 which, as illustrated in FIG. 14, has a T-shaped cross-section, consisting of a first plane wing 97 and a second plane wing 98 perpendicular to the plane. wing 97 and having two opposite longitudinal ends 99. The length 103 of the bar 26 is close to the width (reference 80 Figure 3) of the module 22 deployed. Each side wall of the module 22, in particular the wall 28, has two cavities 100 opening on the upper edge 101 of the wall 28, 10 and whose shape is adapted to that of one end 99 of the bar, so that each end 99 of a bar 26 can be housed substantially without play in two such cavities respectively provided in the walls 28 and 29 of the module 22, the first flange 97 of the bar being substantially flush with the upper bearing faces of the walls 28 and 29, so that the bar 15 can be inserted into the casing 70 with the module 22. Several bars 26 can be used for a module 22, making it possible to reinforce all the upper wall of the casing 70 receiving the module, and allowing also maintain a determined spacing between the walls 28 and 29 of the module.

Each bar may have another type of transverse profile; in particular, each bar may be an L-profile angle. In this particular case, such a bar 27 may be used to form the rib identified 88 Figures 9 to 11; for this purpose, two cavities or notches 100 are further provided on the walls 28, 29, which open on the lower edge 102 of the walls 28 and 29. It can be seen from FIG. 12 that the kit allows the assembly of a refrigerated unit comprising two superimposed modules 22, between which extend two respective main walls (pins 72 and 74, FIG. 9) of the two envelopes 70 receiving the modules 22.

In the kit / furniture illustrated in FIG. 13 and comprising four superimposed insulation modules, each insulating module is also inserted into a thin envelope 70 such as that illustrated in FIG. 9. Each assembly comprising the envelope and the insulating module that it receives. , is separated from the adjacent envelope / insulation module assembly (on which it rests) by a plate 104 to 108 separation. The structure illustrated in FIG. 16 comprises three insulating module separation plates 109 to 111, whereas the furniture illustrated in FIG. 15 comprises a plurality of separation and conformation plates 112, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 18. The plates 104 to 108 and 112 make it possible to stiffen the main wall (reference 74, Figure 9) of the envelope 70 that they support; they thus make it possible to receive and support the products (not shown) which are exposed to the sale in the furniture.

The separator plates 109 to 111 can provide this function integrally when an insulating module is inserted between each pair of adjacent plates without being inserted into an individual envelope such as that illustrated in FIG. 9. In the same manner and for the same purpose as for the walls 72 and 74 of the envelope 70 (FIG. 9), each of the separating walls 104 to 112 comprises, in the rear part, one or more openings 113, 114 for the passage of fresh (ascending) air transported by the ducts of the corresponding insulation modules, and a frontal notch 115 air passage (downward) to the cooling unit.

Generally, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 18, the separator plate comprises two lateral parts 116, 117 and a rear (back) portion 118 which extend outside the contour 119 of the rectangular base of the insulating module 22 and / or the envelope 70 that it supports.

These protruding portions serve in particular to maintain the conformation of an outer envelope 120 surrounding all of the insulating modules. This makes it possible to produce furniture whose outer casing may have various shapes, such as the cylindrical shell 120 of vertical axis 121 illustrated in FIG. 15. For this purpose, the parts 116 to 118 of the plates 112 (FIG. 18) may have an outline in an arc. With reference to FIG. 16, between each pair (109, 110) or (110, 111) of adjacent plates are provided two pairs of arms or flaps, such as flaps 122 to 125 which connect the plates 110 and 111, which are of identical shape and dimensions, the assembly being symmetrical relative to the median plane 35 which is normally vertical. The flaps 122 and 124 are connected to the panel 111 by two respective axis hinges 126 and 128, along the two lateral edges 132, 133 of the panel 111. In the same way, the flaps 123 and 125 are hinged to the panel respectively. plate 110 along two axes 127 and 129, along the lateral edges 132, 133 of this plate. In addition, the flaps 122 and 123 are hinged together along the axis 130, while the flaps 124 and 125 are hinged together along the axis 131. The six axes 126 to 131 are equidistant and parallel to the median plane 35 ; thus, the hinged flaps allow the approximation - and conversely the mutual distance - of the plates 110 and 111.

It is the same with regard to the plates 109 and 110. The assembly illustrated in FIG. 16 is thus accordionally deformable between a configuration in which the three plates 109 and 111 are substantially in contact with each other - two by two. and a configuration where an insulating member may be inserted (arrow 134) and / or deployed between two adjacent plates. For this purpose, the distance between two joints of a flap - such as between the axes 129 and 131 - is close to half the height of the module to be inserted. An elastic strap 135 is engaged on the one hand around a projection 136 of the flap 125 and on the other hand around a projection 137 arranged on the edge of the plate 110. Such a return structure being provided for each flap, the tension of the bracelets may tend to move the walls 109-111 away from each other. According to a particular embodiment, the two flaps 122 and 123 may be respectively formed by the upper and lower halves of the side wall 71 of the casing 70 illustrated in FIG. 9, whereas the two flaps 124 and 125 may be formed respectively. by the upper and lower halves of the side wall 73 of the casing 70. In this case, the hinge pins 126 to 129 may extend along the edges of the casing 70 which connect the side walls 71, 73 to horizontal walls 72, 74, while the hinge pins 130 and 131 extend along a median fold line of each of the side walls 71, 73. With reference to Figure 19, the cabinet 20 has a structure 70 product exposure 200 which is leaned against a vertical receiving wall 140 such as a wall of a shop; the wall 140 forms an angle with a horizontal wall 141 of the magazine which overcomes the wall 140; the structure 70 comprises a lower portion 701 supporting one or more insulating modules 22 receiving the exposed products, and an upper portion 702 capping the insulating modules. A stem structure 142, which rests on the wall 141, serves to suspend the exposure structure 70 against the wall 140. To this effect, the structure 142 has a portion 143 in the form of an open loop, which rests on the wall 141, and two parallel tubular beams 144 which extend down the portion 143, extend along the wall 140, and support the structure 70 and the products it contains.

The air cooling unit consists of two elements 240 and 241 movable relative to each other and connected by a deformable and / or flexible structure. The element 240, which rests on the wall 141 by its feet and wheels, contains a refrigerant compressor and a condensing unit (condenser and fan) associated. The element 241, which is housed inside the base 701 of the structure 70, contains an evaporation unit (evaporator and fan). The flexible structure 242 has two flexible refrigerant conveying conduits between the elements 240 and 241 and one or more conductors for supplying the fan of the element 241 which provides air circulation in the structure. for exposing products, and / or for connecting sensor (s) housed in the element 241 to a regulator contained in the element 240. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20, the tubular beams 144 which extend vertically from the element 240 of the air cooling unit, support the air cooling element 241 as well as the product exposure structure 70 overcoming the element 241. The beams or hollow bars 144 may have a deployable structure of adjustable length, in particular a telescopic structure 25 having a plurality of rectilinear tubular sections of respective diameters adapted to slide in one another. s others. The beams 144 integral with the structure 142 (or 147 Figure 21) can be secured to the group 24 and disengaged from the group, so as to rest on the ground by the 142/147 portion as illustrated 30 Figure 20, supporting the load fixed on the beams 144.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the tubular beams 144 which extend vertically from the air cooling unit 24 equipped with rollers 145 and feet 146, support a console 147 consisting essentially of a horizontal tubular frame. This structure 144, 147 facilitates the displacement of the unit 24 by rolling on the floor, in an inclined position, a portion of the tubular frame 147 forming a handle. The console 147 may be arranged to interlockably receive the air cooling element 241, for mounting an exhibition stand such as that illustrated in FIG. 20, in which a free space 10 extends between the two superimposed elements. 240, 241 of the air cooling group 24. The free space between these two elements and the protruding separating plates facilitate the production of a piece of furniture whose outer envelope has a complex shape, in particular a non-cylindrical shape, in particular a shape having characteristics common to the packaging of exposed products, or a form of an object that can be associated with the products on display. By way of example, the invention makes it possible to produce a piece of furniture comprising a blender-shaped envelope (blender) for fruit or vegetables, and that of a piece of furniture comprising a bag-shaped envelope for packaging food products. solid, liquid, or pasty, part of these envelopes can be provided between the elements 240 and 241. The (or) envelope wall (s) 70, 120 can be made in one (or more) material (x ) based on cardboard and / or plastic, and may have a thickness of about 0.05 millimeter to about 1, 2 or 5 millimeters. The invention also allows the realization of non-refrigerated furniture; in this case, the walls of the exposed product receiving and display modules do not have a particular thermal insulating capacity and their thickness is less than that indicated above. It is sufficient that these walls serving as frame for the furniture support the load corresponding to the number of superposed modules of the furniture. In this case, furthermore, the product reception / presentation modules may not have air transport ducts, the separator plates may not have air passage openings, and the furniture may not have said air transport duct connection members, or the air cooling unit.

Claims (18)

  1. insulating element (22) for the construction of a refrigerated furniture (20), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of walls (28, 29, 30) insulating hinged together and a conduit (45) for transporting 'air.   2. Element according to claim 1 wherein the insulating walls have two bearing faces (101, 102) substantially flat and parallel so that two such elements can be stacked, and which further comprises a wall (42) perforated contributing to delimit, with one of the insulating walls, the air transport duct.   3. Element according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each insulating wall has a honeycomb structure and a thickness (34) of the order of 10, 20 or 30 mm, and is made of one or more material (s) based on cardboard and / or plastic material.   4. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hinge (38, 41) between two of the walls is made, at least in part, in the form of a wall or structure (42, 42a) making part of at least one of the two walls, which is sufficiently weakened or thin to be easily deformed and allows the relative pivoting of the walls, and / or in which the joint is obtained, at least in part, by deformation of a ribbon adhesive (165) connecting the two walls.   5. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each hinge member substantially allows to obtain, in a collated / folded configuration, the contact and the overlap of the articulated walls or the relevant parts of the element. insulating.   6. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises three insulating walls articulated two by two by two hinge members, or four insulating walls articulated two by two by three hinge members, the organs of articulation allowing a relative pivoting of the walls that they connect along axes (37, 39, 53) of substantially parallel pivoting.   7. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises: - a first substantially planar insulating wall (30a); - a second, substantially planar insulating wall (28) which is connected to the first insulating wall by a first hinge (38), and - a third wall (42a) substantially flat, integral with (connected to) the first wall, which extends away from the first wall to delimit therewith a first duct (45a) for air distribution, a fourth substantially insulating wall (30b), a fifth substantially insulating wall (29) which is connected to the fourth insulating wall by second articulation (41), 15 - a sixth wall (42b) substantially flat and integral with (connected to) the fourth wall, which extends away from the fourth wall to define therewith a second conduit (45b) of air transport, and which is perforated for allow the distribution of air, and a third hinge (54) connecting the third wall to the sixth wall.   8. Kit (21) for assembling a piece of furniture (20) comprising an air cooling unit (24), characterized in that it comprises: a product presentation element (22, 70) which comprises an air duct (45) which is arranged to rest, directly or indirectly, on the air cooling unit, and which is in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, 2907202 26 - an air deflection member (23) provided by the air transport duct, arranged to (re) direct air to the product display element and / or to the air cooling unit and 5 - a connecting member (25) arranged to connect the product presentation element to the air deflection element, ensuring on the one hand a ventilation continuity and on the other hand a correct relative positioning of these two elements.   9. Kit according to claim 8 wherein the connection member 10 comprises a hollow structure (61, 62) air transport arranged to be inserted partly into the air transport duct of the presentation element. of products and partly in the air deflection member, and a support member (59) projecting outside the hollow structure and arranged to rest on the product display element. 15   10. A furniture assembly kit which comprises at least two product presenting elements (22) which are in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, which are stackable, as well as an element (72, 74 , 104 to 112) substantially flat separation and reception and arranged to be interposed between the two product presentation elements, to ensure where appropriate aeraulic continuity between respective conduits of the elements (22), and to support products disposed in that of the elements (22) which rests on the other element (22).   11. Kit according to claim 10 wherein the separating member comprises a thin plate (104 to 112) pierced with an opening for the passage of air from one conduit to the other, the shape of this corresponding member. substantially to that of the contour (119) of one of the bearing faces of a presentation element (22), in the deployed configuration of the element, or in which the separating member extends, in position insertion between two exposure elements deployed protruding beyond the walls of the elements, the separating member having a contour at least partially curvilinear. 2907202 27   12. The kit of claim 10 or 11 which further comprises at least one reinforcing member (26, 27) arranged to rest on an exposure element and to support the separating member interposed between the first element of exposure and a second exposure element, the reinforcing member 5 being preferably arranged to maintain a determined spacing between two walls (28, 29) substantially parallel side of the element (22) on which it rests.   13. Kit according to claim 12 wherein the reinforcing member has a shape of bar, angle or profile, in particular a bar 10 or profile whose cross section is T-shaped or L, and wherein each of two opposed insulating walls of the exposure member supporting this member has a depression (100), such as a notch, arranged to receive an end (99) of the strong ren member. 15   14. Furniture construction kit, which is according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and which comprises - an articulated frame module (22) optionally comprising an air transport duct (45). an envelope member comprising two substantially planar walls (109 to 111) arranged to support products to be exposed, and two connecting units (122 to 125) connecting the two walls, the connecting units being deformable to allow the casing member to move from a collapsed configuration in which the walls are closely spaced from each other, to an expanded configuration in which the spacing of the two walls substantially corresponds to the height of the articulated module deployed so that this module can be inserted and / or deployed between the two adjacent walls.   15. Kit according to claim 14 wherein each connecting unit 30 comprises two mutually articulated connecting elements, each connecting element 287 being further articulated to one of the walls, the axes (126 to 131) of pivoting of these three joints. being substantially parallel and equidistant.   16. A kit according to claim 14 or 15 which further comprises a return member (135) tending to move the two walls away from each other, or on the contrary to bring them together, which is associated with each connecting unit. .   17. Refrigerated cabinet (20) comprising an insulating element (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and / or obtainable by assembling the elements of a kit (21) according to any one of the Claims 8 to 16.   18. Kit or furniture according to any one of claims 8 to 17 wherein the air cooling unit comprises two elements (240, 241) movable relative to each other and connected by a structure (242). ) deformable having refrigerant transport conduits.