GB2157236A - Cold cabinet having a peripheral strip with a replaceable insert - Google Patents

Abstract

A peripheral strip (5) attached to the outer walls (4) of a cold cabinet has a sheet-like insert (11) which is easily replaceable since it is fitted releasably in seats (9a, 9b) formed along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECFICATION Cold cabinet having a peripheral strip with a re placeable insert The present invention relates to a cold cabinet having a peripheral strip with a replaceable insert, more particularly of the type having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest.

Cold cabinets of the so-called island type generally used in frozen-food stores and supermarkets are known which, for decorative purposes and for protection against any bumps which are inevitable considering the direct accessibility of the cabinets to the customers, have a peripheral strip at a predetermined height.

This strip is fixed directly during manufacture of the cold cabinet by attachement to the outer walls of the refrigerating chest.

There is, however, a need to replace the peripheral strip either because of excessive damage from the bumps suffered or, owing to display criteria, to render the cold cabinet distinctive with colours, wording or other elements characteristics of the shop in which it is installed.

According to the present state of the art, the first case required laborious dismantling of the strip, when possible, to effect its replacement; this may result in damage to the walls of the refrigerating chest and add the difficult task of restoring the original condition of the chest to the replacement operation.

In the second case, the type of perpiheral strip must be chosen when the cold cabinet is purchased and it is usually difficult to change the colour or wording if required.

The main object of the present invention is to make the parts of a peripheral strip of a cold cabinet which are liable to wear or which are decorative easy to replace.

This object is achieved by a cold cabinet having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest, in which it includes at least one sheet-like insert fitted releasably in seats formed in the strip.

To advantage, the seats are defined by facing and opposing recesses formed along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cold cabinet according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the wall of the cold cabinet of Figure 1 in correspondence with the peripheral trip.

With reference to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, a cold cabinet 1 consists of a refrigerated chest 2 supported by a case 3.

The chest 2 is open upwardly and is closed peripherally by outer walls 4 to which a strip 5 that surrounds the cabinet 1 peripherally is fixed at a predetermined height.

The strip 5 consists of a flat portion 6 which is used to anchor it to the walls of the chest and is rigid with a pair of projections 7 and 8 respectively, extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of the anchoring portion 6.

A respective recess 9a, 9b is formed in each of the projections; these recesses face each other and extend in parallel along the projections so as to define a seat for releasably housing an insert 11.

The insert 11 is constituted by a flexible sheet of metal or laminated plastics, or even a strip of flexible plastics material, which can be replaced easily by virtue of its releasable engagement in the recessess 9a and 9b.

The projections 7 8 protrude beyond the insert 11 so as to protect it and, as far as possible, prevent damage from bumps.

Preferably, both the projections 7, 8 and the flat portion 6 are made of a relatively soft, resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastics.

As shown in Figure 1, each insert 11, which corresponds to one of the walls of the cold cabinet 1, is shorter than the respective strip 5. The replacement of the insert 11 is thus extremely simple since it suffices to withdraw it from the corresponding seat formed by the recesses 9a, 9b in the strip 5. It is then possible to replace the damaged insert without the need for skilled personel and without risk of damage to the walls of the cold cabinet.

This is particularly advantageous in uses in which direct access of the public to the cold cabinet is allowed; furthermore, it is posible to change the colour of the insert for aesthetic reasons simply by replacing it with one of the desired colour.

1. Cold cabinet having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest, in which it includes at least one sheet-like insert fitted releasably in seats formed in the strip.

2. Cold cabinet according to Claim 1, in which the seats are defined by facing and opposing recesses formed along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip.

3. Cold cabinet according to Claim 2, in which the recesses are formed in projections provided on and extending longitudinally of the opposing edges of the strip 4. Cold cabinet according to Claim 3, in which the recesses extend longitudinally of the projections.

5. Cold cabinet according to Claim 2, in which the strip is formed of a resiliently deformable soft material, and the insert is a flexiable sheet of a laminated plastics, metal or similar material.

6. Cold cabinet substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECFICATION Cold cabinet having a peripheral strip with a re placeable insert The present invention relates to a cold cabinet having a peripheral strip with a replaceable insert, more particularly of the type having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest. Cold cabinets of the so-called island type generally used in frozen-food stores and supermarkets are known which, for decorative purposes and for protection against any bumps which are inevitable considering the direct accessibility of the cabinets to the customers, have a peripheral strip at a predetermined height. This strip is fixed directly during manufacture of the cold cabinet by attachement to the outer walls of the refrigerating chest. There is, however, a need to replace the peripheral strip either because of excessive damage from the bumps suffered or, owing to display criteria, to render the cold cabinet distinctive with colours, wording or other elements characteristics of the shop in which it is installed. According to the present state of the art, the first case required laborious dismantling of the strip, when possible, to effect its replacement; this may result in damage to the walls of the refrigerating chest and add the difficult task of restoring the original condition of the chest to the replacement operation. In the second case, the type of perpiheral strip must be chosen when the cold cabinet is purchased and it is usually difficult to change the colour or wording if required. The main object of the present invention is to make the parts of a peripheral strip of a cold cabinet which are liable to wear or which are decorative easy to replace. This object is achieved by a cold cabinet having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest, in which it includes at least one sheet-like insert fitted releasably in seats formed in the strip. To advantage, the seats are defined by facing and opposing recesses formed along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cold cabinet according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the wall of the cold cabinet of Figure 1 in correspondence with the peripheral trip. With reference to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, a cold cabinet 1 consists of a refrigerated chest 2 supported by a case 3. The chest 2 is open upwardly and is closed peripherally by outer walls 4 to which a strip 5 that surrounds the cabinet 1 peripherally is fixed at a predetermined height. The strip 5 consists of a flat portion 6 which is used to anchor it to the walls of the chest and is rigid with a pair of projections 7 and 8 respectively, extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of the anchoring portion 6. A respective recess 9a, 9b is formed in each of the projections; these recesses face each other and extend in parallel along the projections so as to define a seat for releasably housing an insert 11. The insert 11 is constituted by a flexible sheet of metal or laminated plastics, or even a strip of flexible plastics material, which can be replaced easily by virtue of its releasable engagement in the recessess 9a and 9b. The projections 7 8 protrude beyond the insert 11 so as to protect it and, as far as possible, prevent damage from bumps. Preferably, both the projections 7, 8 and the flat portion 6 are made of a relatively soft, resiliently deformable material such as rubber or plastics. As shown in Figure 1, each insert 11, which corresponds to one of the walls of the cold cabinet 1, is shorter than the respective strip 5. The replacement of the insert 11 is thus extremely simple since it suffices to withdraw it from the corresponding seat formed by the recesses 9a, 9b in the strip 5. It is then possible to replace the damaged insert without the need for skilled personel and without risk of damage to the walls of the cold cabinet. This is particularly advantageous in uses in which direct access of the public to the cold cabinet is allowed; furthermore, it is posible to change the colour of the insert for aesthetic reasons simply by replacing it with one of the desired colour. CLAIMS

1. Cold cabinet having a refrigerating chest and a strip fixed peripherally to the cabinet on the outer walls of the chest, in which it includes at least one sheet-like insert fitted releasably in seats formed in the strip.

2. Cold cabinet according to Claim 1, in which the seats are defined by facing and opposing recesses formed along opposite longitudinal edges of the strip.

3. Cold cabinet according to Claim 2, in which the recesses are formed in projections provided on and extending longitudinally of the opposing edges of the strip

4. Cold cabinet according to Claim 3, in which the recesses extend longitudinally of the projections.

5. Cold cabinet according to Claim 2, in which the strip is formed of a resiliently deformable soft material, and the insert is a flexiable sheet of a laminated plastics, metal or similar material.

6. Cold cabinet substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.