WO2009103294A2

WO2009103294A2 - Cooling furniture with external illumination means and single-pane construction

Info

Publication number: WO2009103294A2
Application number: PCT/DK2009/000042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ib Behr; Søren Lopdrup OLESEN
Original assignee: Behr Aktieselskab
Priority date: 2008-02-18
Filing date: 2009-02-18
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: WO2009103294A3

Abstract

The invention relates to cooling furniture (1) comprising at least one cooling unit, an internal storage compartment (11) for storing of products, and at least one vertically extending transparent door (2) facilitating access to said storage compartment, wherein the cooling furniture further comprises illumination means (3) for emitting light in the visible as well as in the infrared range, the illumination means (3) being arranged on the exterior of. said cooling furniture so that the main part of the light from said illumination means when in operation is emitted towards the transparent door, and in that said transparent door (2) is of a transparent single-pane construction (4), wherein a transparent layer (7) is applied on the internal pane surface of the transparent door, the transparent layer being at least partly infrared reflecting, and wherein means are provided for electrical heating of the transparent pane (4) so that said light emitted by the illumination means in the infrared range largely will prevent the formation of condensation on the single-pane construction.

Description

COOLING FURNITURE WITH EXTERNAL ILLUMINATION MEANS AND SINGLE-PANE CONSTRUCTION

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to cooling furniture with a transparent door according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a self-closing door hinge preferably made in a plastic material.

Description of the Related Art

Even though transparent doors for cooling furniture are well-known in the art, condensation on the panes of the doors still results in unwanted effects. The condensation results in a poor view to the products in the cooling furniture which results in falling sale of the products and a less inviting appearance of the products stored in the cooling furniture.

A typical transparent door construction for cooling furniture comprises a multi-pane construction. The same door construction can further comprise the use of infrared reflective layers at one of the pane surfaces, to reduce the influence of infrared radiation from the surroundings. Further, the door construction can comprise a separate electrically heated layer placed on a pane surface to heat one of the multi-pane surfaces. The multi-pane construction, the use of infrared reflective layers and the use of a separate electrically heated layer are all used to lower the risk of condensation on the transparent door to assure a good and clear view to the products in the cooler or freezer. The American patent US 4,382, 177 relates to a single pane with an insulation structure. The pane has a layer that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light to reduce the transmittance of infrared light from the warmer region to the colder region. The reflected infrared light heats the surface of the pane facing the warmer area to prevent the occurrence of condensation on the pane. An embodiment refers to the use of an additional conducting layer applied on the pane to facilitate heating of the pane.

The American patent US 4,035,608 relates to a multi-pane window structure for a refrigerator or a freezer. The pane facing the warmer region is heated by an electrically heated layer. The pane facing the colder region comprises an infrared reflective layer which prevents the infrared light from accessing the colder area. The infrared light reflected from the infrared reflective layer is heating the pane facing the warmer region.

The multi-pane door structure has naturally an improved thermal insulation characteristic over a single-pane structure, but is both more expensive and complex to manufacture and is heavier and requires stronger hinges for support on the cooling furniture body.

An object of the invention is to provide cooling furniture without the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The invention

The present invention relates to cooling furniture comprising at least one cooling unit, such as an evaporator with means for feeding a cooling liquid to it, an internal storage compartment for storing of products, and at least one vertically extending transparent door facilitating access to said storage compartment, wherein the cooling furniture further comprises illumination means for emitting light in the visible as well as in the infrared range, the illumination means being arranged on the exterior of said cooling furniture so that the main part of the light from said illumination means when in operation is emitted towards the transparent door, and that the transparent door is of a transparent single-pane construction, wherein a transparent layer is applied on the internal pane surface of the transparent door, the transparent layer being at least partly infrared reflecting, and wherein means are provided for electrical heating of the transparent pane so that said light emitted by the illumination means in the infrared range largely will prevent the formation of condensation on the single-pane construction.

By the term transparent is understood that visible light is transmitted so that a person can see the interior of the cooling furniture and thereby the products in the cooling furniture.

The single-pane construction of the door, which is advantageous, is made feasible by arranging the illumination means for illumination of the products in the storage compartment exterior to the storage compartment, whereby the inevitable heat and infrared radiation generated by such illumination means will be produced outside of the cooling furniture. Consequently, the cooling unit will not have to be designed for removal thereof from the storage compartment, and the energy consumption for operation of the cooling unit will therefore be limited. The formation of condensation on the pane of the door is largely prevented by the heating of the pane by direct infrared radiation from the illumination means on the transparent pane of the door and the reflection of the infrared light by the layer on the inside of the pane. The infrared reflecting layer prevents the infrared radiation from heating the interior of the cooling furniture and at the same time enhances the heating of the pane by making the infrared radiation pass the pane twice. As a supplement to the infrared heating of the pane, electric heating thereof is enabled, preferably by feeding an electric current to the layer for resistive heating thereof. However, due to the effective infrared heating, the supplement is in most operational modes of a minor magnitude.

As a result of the exterior illumination combined with the infrared reflecting layer, the single-pane construction of the door provides sufficient thermal insulation without demanding excessive cooling of the furniture.

In a preferred embodiment, the transparent layer is electrical conductive and said means for electrical heating of the transparent pane are arranged for feeding an electric current to said layer.

It is advantageous that the infrared reflective layer at the same time may function as the electrical heating layer of the single-pane door.

Furthermore, the means for feeding an electric current to said transparent layer might be arranged in pane mountings of the transparent door whereby an easy and reliable electrification of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means may be achieved.

The illumination means comprises in a preferred embodiment at least one light source which is an incandescent lamp or lamps, such as halogen lamps. Hereby, infrared light for heating the single pane is assured since such light sources emit a considerable amount of infrared light.

The illumination means may in a further preferred embodiment comprise a combination of different types of light sources whereby it is possible to combine the benefits from different kinds of light sources, e.g. the infrared light generation of incandescent lamps, and the possibility of accentuation of different colours of fluorescent lamps. Further, it is well-known that light emitted by incandescent lamps is superior at reproducing colours.

Also, a protective layer might be applied on top of the at least partly infrared reflecting means in order to avoid wear on the at least partly infrared reflecting means.

In general, infrared light from common surroundings of cooling furniture is of an insufficient amount to assure an efficient heating of the pane by means of infrared light. This is caused by the fact that the amount of infrared light from common room illumination is abating rather quickly with the distance from the light source. Further, the infrared light from the surroundings is largely varying with the location of the cooling furniture. Common room illumination in stores and large rooms is fluorescent lamps since they have a relatively good coefficient of utilization for emitting visible light compared to incandescent lamps. Further, fluorescent lamps give the possibility of selecting advantageous colour spectres for illuminating different types of products. However, common fluorescent lamps do not emit nearly the same amount of infrared light as incandescent lamps which results in limited emitted infrared light for heating the pane of the cooling furniture.

Likewise, the cooling furniture may comprise control means such as a watch, a hygrometer and/or a temperature sensor adapted for regulating the illumination means and/or the means for electrical heating of the transparent pane. This facilitates advantageous control of the heating means and/ or the illumination means.

The illumination means may in an aspect of the invention be attached to the exterior of the cooling furniture to assure that the illumination means are installed close to the cooling furniture which may ease the wiring.

The invention further relates to a door hinge comprising a base part comprising a receiving part, a connection part adapted for interconnection with a back part of said door and said receiving part, wherein said base part and said connection part each comprises at least one inclining slant inclining in an angle compared to the horizontal plane, and wherein said at least one inclining slant of said base part comprises a connection surface configured for sliding against connection surfaces of said at least one slant of said connection part when received in the receiving part, so that a rotation of the connection part about a vertical axis will cause the sliding of the connection surfaces in abutment to provide a vertical displacement of the connection part.

The hinge, which is a self-closing hinge, hereby facilitates a cost efficient way to achieve self closing of the door, e.g. a door of the cooling furniture, which is advantageous. The door is self-closing by means of the gravity, thereby saving energy compared to electrical driven self-closing doors. The hinge is preferably made of a plastic material as described later on.

In an aspect of the invention, the base part comprises connection means configured for connection with a base panel comprising connection means, wherein said connection means of the base panel extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the base panel. The connection means of the base part and the connection means of the base panel are preferably adapted to be engaged to facilitate an easy connection of the base part to the cooling furniture. Since the connection means of the base panel extends substantially continuously in the longitudinal direction of the base panel, the base panel may be cut off in any length, and the base part, when interconnected with the base panel, may be displaced in the base panel in the longitudinal direction of the base panel. This allows fast and easy mounting of the base part. Further, the base panel may hereby be manufactured by extrusion.

In an aspect of the invention the connection means of the connection part and the connection means of the base part at least comprise at least one latch and at least one notch for receiving said latch. Hereby, easy and effective interconnection is achieved.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the base part is configured to be used in a top hinge configuration as well as in a bottom hinge configuration. This facilitates an advantageous and cost effective solution since only one base part type is needed to facilitate the mounting of the door. It is understood that the base panel facilitates connection with a base part in both the top hinge configuration and the bottom hinge configuration. The connection means of the base part and/or the base panel is preferably of a reversible configuration, i.e. the connection means of the base part and base panel may be interconnected in both a bottom hinge configuration and a top hinge configuration.

In an aspect of the invention, the base part comprises vertically oppositely arranged inclining slants. Hereby is achieved that the base part is reversible to allow that the hinge may be used for both left- hinged and right-hinged doors.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the door hinge comprises mechanical warning means causing increased opening resistance of the door and/or emits a sound when the door is opened over a predefined angle. Hereby is achieved that a person who opens the door may be warned not to open the door any further when the door reaches a predetermined angular position. The predefined angle is preferably an angular position between 70° and 120° , e.g. between 80° and 100°, such as substantially 90°.

In an aspect of the invention, the mechanical warning means comprises at least one resilient part arranged on said base part or said connection part, at least one elevating part arranged on the other one of said base part and said connection part, said elevating part being configured for displacing said resilient part during rotation of said connection part when the connection part has reached a predetermined angular position, thereby causing a increased opening resistance of the door. Hereby is achieved that the person opening the door is warned not to open the door any further. This is advantageous, e.g. when cooling furniture or doors of cooling furniture are arranged close to each other causing the opening of a door over a specified angle to prevent opening of a door arranged next to the cooling furniture which door is opened.

In an aspect of the invention, when said connection part has reached a predetermined angular position, said at least one resilient part is configured for returning to its starting position, thereby emitting a warning sound. Hereby, the person is further warned not to open the door any further. The warning sound is preferred in the form of a click-sound. The sound is e.g. generated by the resilient part striking the base panel (or connection part dependent on where the resilient part is arranged), striking the cooling furniture, or even without striking anything. Hereby, a person who opens the door can be warned that the door should not be opened any further.

It is understood that a further opening of the door after the mechanical warning means are activated is preferably not prevented. This may be advantageous e.g. when filling the storage compartment of the furniture with goods.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the base part comprises cover connection means configured for receiving a cover. Hereby is achieved that the hinge can be protected against outer forces, and at the same time optional wiring in the base panel may be hidden. Further, it is advantageous that the base part of the hinge comprises the cover connection means since the dimensions of the base part do not influence on which cover dimensions to choose. Further, additional connection means for connecting the cover may be spared. The door hinge may comprise a back part for a vertical door where the back part comprises door connection means for interconnection with door connection means on connection part. Hereby, easy interconnection of the connection part (and support parts in a top hinge configuration) is achieved. It is preferred that door connection means of the back part comprises vertical extending holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the back part, preferably comprising plane surfaces adapted for abutment with plane surfaces of door connection means on support parts/connection parts.

In an aspect of the invention, the back part comprises slide-lock connection means adapted for interconnection with a slide-lock part facilitating, when the slide-lock part and the back part is connected, a temporary locking function of the door in a predetermined open position by displacing the slide-lock part in the longitudinal direction of the back part to a locking position. Hereby, it is possible to keep the door in an open position when filling the storage compartment(s) of the furniture. It is preferred that the slide-lock is activated after the mechanical warning means has been activated. The locking position is preferably substantially at a location at the top or the bottom of the back part of the door where the slide-lock part may interact with a surface of the base part. The connection between the slide-lock part and the back part preferably comprises a connection with a certain degree of friction to assure that the slide-lock part does not slide unintentionally.

The slide-lock part may be manually displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the back part when connected with the back part. In an aspect of the invention, the back part comprises an impact surface configured for being in abutment with a front edge part of another door. This is advantageous, especially when the cooling furniture comprises a plurality of storage compartments accessible by different doors. The use of space is hereby optimized and the doors may easily be adjusted.

A further advantage of the door hinge may be that if the cooling furniture comprises a plurality of horizontally arranged storage compartments, it is possible to adapt the doors by horizontally displacing the base part(s) along the longitudinal direction of the base panel, thereby adapting the doors to the storage compartments of the cooling furniture. It is thereby possible to adjust where the openings of the doors should be.

In an aspect of the invention, the cooling furniture according to any of the claims 1-8 comprises a door hinge according to any of the claims 9-21 wherein at least the base part and connection part is made of a polymer such as a plastic material. This is advantageous since the pane of the cooling furniture is of a single-pane construction. The weight of the pane is thereby significantly reduced, almost reduced by half compared to conventional double pane constructions. Thereby, the wear on the lower door hinge is significantly reduced, facilitating that the hinge may be made of materials such as polymer, preferably a plastic material, e.g. (but not in any way limited to) POM (polyoxymethylene), and/or a polyamide material, which may be advantageous in relation to the manufacturing and material costs of the hinge, and at the same time has advantageous material properties. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the hinge and/or the base is at least partly manufactured by injection moulding.

Brief description of the figures

An embodiment of the invention will for illustration thereof be described in the following with reference to the figures in which

fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cooling furniture according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cooling furniture according to another embodiment of the invention,

fig. 3 illustrates illumination means according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 4 illustrates a single-pane construction of the door in the cooling furniture according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cooling furniture according to a further embodiment of the invention.

fig. 6, 6a illustrates an embodiment of a door hinge according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the door hinge comprising a base panel fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the door hinge comprising a cover,

fig. 9 and 9a illustrates an embodiment of the door hinge comprising a slide-lock, and

fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the door hinge with a base part in bottom hinge configuration and a top hinge configuration.

Detailed description

Fig.1 illustrates cooling furniture 1 comprising a storage compartment 11, at least one cooling unit (not illustrated) a transparent door 2 comprising handle means 10, and illumination means 3 mounted on the exterior of the cooling furniture 1.

It is understood that the illumination means 3 may be attached on the exterior of the cooling furniture 1 as illustrated, or it may be arranged/mounted at other locations in the surroundings of the cooling furniture 1, e.g. at the ceiling of the room in which the cooling furniture 1 is placed as illustrated in fig Ia, on a shelf opposite to the cooling furniture 1 or the like. The light generated by the illumination means is pointed at/ concentrated at the single pane 4 of the transparent door 2. This is advantageous since the existing light in stores is not sufficient for heating the pane 4 of the transparent door caused by the extensive use of fluorescent light sources (which only emit very limited infrared radiation), and the fact that this light is mainly emitted from the ceiling to the floor, i.e. in a vertical direction, substantially without any reflectors for focusing the light. By arranging the illumination means 3 at the ceiling, attached to the exterior of the cooling furniture or the like, concentrating the emitted light at the single pane, it is possible to obtain enough infrared radiation to facilitate advantageous heating of the pane 4, and at the same time illuminate the storage compartment 11 of the cooling furniture 1.

The illumination means (preferably incandescent lamps) facilitates that the temperature of the outer surface of the pane 4 may be raised by 4-5°C, thereby largely preventing occurrence of condensation.

As an example of the arrangement of the illumination means, the illumination means may be one, two or even more halogen lamps each with a rated power of 1OW to IOOW preferably between 2OW and 6OW (both 2OW and 60Winclusive). The illumination means may be placed 1.5 to 3 meters above the floor attached to the ceiling, and 0.5 to 3 meters such as 1 to 1.5 meters from the pane emitting the light towards the pane of the cooling furniture. The illumination means may be focusing the light at one pane of the furniture 1 , or at more than one pane of the cooling furniture 1. It is understood that the cooling furniture may comprise a plurality of illumination means for illuminating different panes and storage compartments of the cooling furniture 1.

The transparent door 2 can be opened as a common door as illustrated in fig. 1, but it is also possible that the cooling furniture comprises one or more vertically positioned transparent doors which each is horizontal slideable to facilitate access to the products inside the cooling furniture 1, and at the same time minimize the use of space.

The storage compartment 11 in this embodiment of the invention is a casing comprising means for mounting a plurality of supporting means such as shelves, vertical supporting means for bottles or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment could be several casings, which in a further embodiment of this invention could comprise air of different temperatures such as e.g.

÷ 17-÷21 °C like a common freezer, 3-6 "C like a common refrigerator,

8-12°C like a common chiller or the like. Each casing can in this embodiment of the invention of course comprise different types of supporting means.

In an embodiment of the invention, only a part of the door 2 is transparent to facilitate storage of cooled products, which is not visible from the outside of the cooling furniture 1 , and thereby do not need time-consuming arrangement to look inviting. Hereby, only the products stored in the storage compartment 11 in the transparent area of the door 2 are visible to the surroundings and need to be invitingly arranged. A way to make a part of the door 2 non- transparent could be by means of a non-transparent film, a non- transparent painting, electromagnetic polarisation means or the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, the transparent door 2 comprises electromagnetic polarisation means added to one of the pane surfaces to minimize reflections from the surroundings of the cooling furniture, hereby improving the view to the products in the cooling furniture.

In fig. 1, the illumination means 3 are mounted at the top of the exterior of the storage compartment 11 , but in another embodiment of the invention the illumination means 3 are mounted on at least one of the exterior sides of the storage compartment 11, at the exterior bottom of the storage compartment 11 , or any combination thereof. It is noted that the illumination means 3 emits the main part of the light towards the transparent door 2.

Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where the illumination means 3 are mounted on the exterior of the transparent door. In this embodiment, the illumination means are mounted on each of the sides of the transparent door 3, but in another embodiment of the invention the illumination means 3 could be mounted at just one side of the transparent door 2, at the top of the transparent door 2, at the bottom of the transparent door, or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment of the invention, the handle means 10 for opening and closing the transparent door 2 is incorporated in the illumination means 3.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example of the illumination means 3 comprising multiple light sources 12. In this example, the illumination means 3 comprises both fluorescent lamps 13 and incandescent lamps 14 as light sources, but it is also possible that multiple illumination means 3 is mounted on the exterior of the cooling furniture, and each illumination means 3 comprises different types or the same types of light sources 12.

By using different types of light sources for illumination of the products inside the cooling furniture 1, it is possible to make use of the different advantages that the different light sources provide. For example, by using both incandescent lamps 14 and fluorescent lamps 13 as illustrated in figure 3, it is possible to use the large amount of infrared light generated by the incandescent lamps 14 for heating the single pane 4 of the transparent door 2, and at the same time it is possible to choose fluorescent lamps 13 for accentuation of different colours of the products stored in the storage compartment 11 of the cooling furniture 1.

Possible light sources for illumination and/ or generation of infrared light could be incandescent lamps such as halogen lamps, carbon thread lamps, common incandescent lamps with e.g. tungsten thread or the like, as well as other types of light sources such as Short Arc lamps, LEDs, fluorescent lamps or the like.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the illumination means at least comprises halogen lamps as light source.

In another embodiment of the invention, the illumination means further comprises reflector means (not illustrated) for guiding the light from the light source(s) 12. The reflector means could be made of any material known to the person skilled in the art of reflectors for light. Fig. 4 illustrates a part of the transparent door 2. The transparent door 2 comprises a single pane 4, whereon transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 are applied. The pane mountings 8 fix the single pane 4 and at the same time comprise means for interaction with hinge means (not illustrated) of the transparent door 2.

When infrared light 9, e.g. from the illumination means 3 (not illustrated in fig. 4), strikes the pane surface facing the warmer region 6, some of the infrared light 9 is absorbed by the single pane 4, hereby heating the single pane 4, and some of the infrared light is transmitted through the single pane 4. When the infrared light 9 transmitted through the single pane 4 reaches the pane surface facing the colder region 5, it is reflected by the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7. The reflected infrared light 9 further heats the single pane, hereby enhancing the prevention of condensation. The transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 are further electrical heatable to enhance the prevention of condensation on the single pane 4.

In an embodiment of the invention, the electrical heating of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 is controllable by means of e.g. at least one thermostat, temperature measuring means, control means and/or the like, to save energy. The temperature of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 could e.g. be measured by means of measuring the resistance of at least a part of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7.

The control means may likewise comprise a watch which turns on (and of) the illumination means 3 and /or the electrical heating means at specific times of the day e.g. to ensure that the illumination means 3 and the means for electrical heating are only active when the store is open, thereby saving energy. It is of course understood that the watch may turn on a predetermined time before the store opens to ensure that condensation on the pane is removed when the store opens.

Likewise, the control means may comprise regulation means for regulating/varying the electricity supplied to the electrical heating means, thereby facilitating that the heating by the electrical heating means may be varied and hence adapted to only supply the electrical heating means with energy enough to prevent condensation on the pane, thereby saving energy compared to non-variable electrical heating means.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the control means comprises a hygrometer and a temperature sensor which measure the present conditions (relative humidity and temperature) of the surroundings of the cooling furniture 1. The control means may hereby calculate when to turn on the electrical heating means, and/or facilitate a temperature regulation of the electrical heating means and or the illumination means to avoid condensation and at the same time reduce the necessary energy for heating the pane 4.

It is of course understood that the control means may comprise combinations of the above-mentioned. As an example hereof, the control means may comprise a watch for turning the electrical heating means (and e.g. also the illumination means 3) on when (or before) the store opens, and off when the store is closed, and a hygrometer and a temperature sensor to facilitate that the control means may calculate the necessary temperature of the pane 4 and/or electrical heating means for preventing condensation on the pane 4.

The illumination means 3 and/or the electrical heating means may in a further embodiment of the invention be connected to the store's control for controlling the light in the store/room wherein the cooling furniture 1 is placed, thereby facilitating that the illumination means

3 and/or the electrical heating means may be turned on and off together with the light in the store/room wherein the cooling furniture 1 is placed.

In a preferred embodiment, the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7, which also are electrically heatable, are made of a thin layer of an electrical conduction material such as metal, a composition of different types of metal, a composition of different types of material or the like, known to a person skilled in the art.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 are made of metal sulphate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the single pane 4 is flat, but in another embodiment of the invention the single pane 4 is curved and comprises a larger surface for the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7.

In one embodiment, the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 is applied to the single pane 4 during the manufacturing of the single pane 4 in a float glass process where the float glass is applied on a metal bath to ensure a flat glass pane. The transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 is applied to the surface of the metal bath to assure an equal distribution of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7. In another embodiment, the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 is applied on the upper surface of the glass during manufacturing.

Examples of applying a coating to the pane surface during manufacturing are disclosed in, but not limited to, e.g. the American patent application US 2006/0263610 and the International patent application WO 90/15783.

A preferred solution for the pane surface is the Pilkington TEC (Transparent Electrical Conducting) Glass, which is a pyrolytic (hard coat) glass which may be heated by resistance heating by conducting an electric current in the coating of tin oxide.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the single pane 4 is a type of low emission glass with an emission value of maximum 0,2.

To further enhance the heating of the single pane 4, it would be possible to apply transparent infrared absorbing means (not illustrated) at one of the pane surfaces.

In an embodiment of the invention, the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 are further provided with a protective layer (not illustrated) to protect the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 against wear and other destructive influences.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least a part of the pane mountings 8 are electrically conducting to facilitate electrification of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7. However, in another embodiment, the pane mountings 8 are holding and/or hiding the means for electrification of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means, the power supply means for the illumination means 3 if these are mounted in the transparent door 2, wires for measuring the temperature of the transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means 7 and/or the like.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, where the illumination means 3 are mounted on the cooling furniture by holding means for the illumination means 15. The holding means for the illumination means 15 are constituted by one or more rods of metal, composite, plastics or the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, the holding means for the illumination means 15 are partially feathering when the illumination means 3 are influenced by outer forces such as blows. Hereby, the illumination means 3 are protected against these blows.

In another embodiment, the holding means for the illumination means 15 are tiltably connected to the cooling furniture 1 to facilitate raising and lowering of the illumination means 3. In a further embodiment of the invention, the holding means 15, and hereby also the illumination means 3, are tilted upwards automatically when the door (or doors) 2 is opened.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling furniture 1 comprises a door hinge 20 facilitating self-closing of a door 2. It is, however, understood that the hinge 20 may be considered as an independent invention. The door hinge 20 is described in more details in the following.

Fig. 6 illustrates the door hinge 20 in a bottom hinge configuration seen from the front. The hinge 20 comprises a base part 21 and a connection part 23. The base part 21 comprises a receiving part 22 extending from the base part 21 and is adapted for receiving the connection part 23, preferably by means of a substantial vertically extending inner hole 38b (not illustrated in fig. 6) wherein the connection part 23 may be rotatable mounted by means of base part connection means 38a. The base part connection means 38a may comprise latch(es) 34 as illustrated, and/or notch(es) for keeping the connection part 23 horizontally rotatable (and e.g. also releasable) mounted in the receiving part 22 (it is of course understood that the receiving means 22 in case comprises suitable means for receiving the latch(es) 34, and/or notch(es)

The connection part 23 further comprises door connection means 36a for connecting the connection part 23 to the back part 31 of a door 2 (not illustrated in fig. 6).

The base part 21 comprises at least one inclining slant 24a, 24b inclining in an angle compared to the horizontal plane, preferably in an angle between 5° and 70° such as between 15° and 35°. Each of the inclining slants on the base part 21 comprises a connection surface 26a. The connection part 23 likewise comprises at least one inclining slant 25a, 25b each comprising a connection surface 26b. It is understood that even though the base part 21 (and connection part 23) illustrated in the drawings comprises two inclining slants 24a, 24b (which is preferred to achieve an even load distribution on the hinge and door), the base part 21 and/or connection part 23 may in other embodiments comprise only one slant 24a and/or 24c dependent on if the base part is of a reversible configuration). Likewise, the connection part 23 and the base part 21 may in other embodiments of the invention comprise more that two inclining slants.

The hinge 20 and the base panel 27, which is described later on, are preferably made of a polymer such as a plastic material, e.g. (but not in any way limited to) POM (polyoxymethylene), a polyamide material or the like which is advantageous in relation to the manufacturing and material costs of the hinge 20, and at the same time has advantageous material properties, e.g. being low friction materials which is advantageous in connection to the sliding movement between the connection surfaces 26a, 26b described below. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge 20 is at least partly manufactured by injection moulding which is an efficient and cost- effective method.

Now, since the pane 4 of the cooling furniture is of a single-pane construction, the weight of the pane 4 is significantly reduced, almost reduced by half. This facilitates that the hinge 20 (and the base panel 27) may be made of materials as mentioned above, since the wear on the hinge 20 is significantly reduced.

It is, however, understood that parts of the hinge 20 in other embodiments of the invention may also at least partly be made of a metal such as, e.g. iron, cast iron, steel, brass etc., or any other suitable material, e.g. a composite material as carbon fibre, or the like. When the connection part 23 and the base part 21 are interconnected, the slants 24a, 25a and 24b, 25b are arranged so the connection surfaces 26a, 26b of the slants touches to be in abutment. It is preferred that the connection surfaces are substantially low-friction surfaces. In an embodiment of the invention, the connection surfaces 26a, 26b may be covered with a low friction material such as polytetrafluoroetylene, a silicon material or the like.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection surfaces 26a, 26b are made of the same material as the hinge 20 as described earlier.

The slants 25a, 25b of the connection part 23 and the slants 24a, 24b of the base part 21 incline (when mounted) substantially upwardly in the opening direction of the door. Thereby, when the receiving part 22 and the connection part 23 are interconnected, the connection surfaces 26a, 26b are arranged to be in abutment as explained above. Thereby, when a horizontal rotation of the connection part 23 around a vertical axis (when the door 2 is opened), the connection surfaces 26a, 26b slide towards each other causing a vertical upwardly displacement of the connection part 23 and thereby the door 2 connected to the connection part 23. Thereby, the hinge 20 facilitates that the door 2 may automatically be closed when the door 2 is released in open position since the gravity forces the door 2 back towards the starting position when released, and since the lower part of the slants 25a, 25b of the connection part 23 is now located/rests substantially at the top of the slants 24a, 24b of the base part 21. Fig. 6 further illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the base part 21 comprises vertically, oppositely inclining slants 24a, 24b and 24c, 24d. This facilitates that the same base part 21 may be used for both right-hinged doors and left-hinged doors.

Fig. 6a illustrates the hinge 20 of fig. 6 seen in perspective and illustrates the connection part 23, comprising door connection means 36a as mentioned earlier for connecting the connection part 23 to door connection means 36b of the back part 31 of the vertical door 2. The door connection means 36a preferably comprise one or more substantially plane surfaces 41 adapted for (preferably releasable) interconnection with the door connection means 36b of the back part 31 which also comprises corresponding plane surfaces. When the door connection means 36a, 36b are interconnected, the plane surface(s) are substantially in abutment causing an opening of the vertical door 2 to horizontally rotate the connection part 23 about a vertical axis, thereby vertically displacing the connection part 23 and thereby also the door as described earlier.

Fig 6 and 6a further illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the hinge 20 comprises mechanical warning means. The mechanical warning means are configured to cause a resistance when the door reaches a predetermined opening angle e.g. between 65° - 120°, preferred about 90° such as 85° - 95°. When the door reaches this predetermined opening angle, the mechanical warning means generates a mechanical resistance, thereby indicating that the door should not be opened any further. If the user/ customer still tries to open the door over the predetermined angle, the mechanical warning means may generate a sound when the connection part/door has been rotated over the predetermined opening position.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 6 and 6a, the mechanical warning means comprises at least one resilient part 29 (in this example arranged at the base part 21) and an elevating part 30 (in this example arranged at the connection part 23). The elevating part 30 is configured for displacing the at least one resilient part 29 during the rotation of the connection part 23 until the connection part 23 has reached the predetermined rotation position/opening angle as explained above. When the connection part 23 has reached the mentioned predetermined rotation position, the resilient part 29 is displaced by the elevating part 30, thereby generating the mechanical resistance when opening the door further. The mechanical resistance is preferably gradually increased by gradually increasing the displacement of the resilient part 29, which may be achieved by the elevating part 30 that may comprise a gradually increasing elevation.

If the door is nevertheless opened further, causing a further rotation of the connection part 23, the resilient part 29 may be configured for returning to its starting position thereby emitting a sound which will inform the person who opens the door not to open the door any further.

The sound and/or resistance is preferably emitted at an opening position /angular position of the door where the door does not block for the opening of a neighbouring door (e.g. substantially 90°) which is advantageous e.g. when cooling furniture are arranged closely side by side or when the furniture comprises more than one door. It is understood that the door may still be opened further after reaching the predetermined rotation position and the mechanical resistance and/or sound has been generated. It is likewise understood that the resilient part 29 may in other embodiments of the invention be arranged at the connection part 23 and the elevating part 30 may be arranged at the base part 21, and that the connection part 23 and base part 21 may comprise a plurality of mechanical warning means.

As illustrated, the resilient part 29 may also comprise an elevation with slanting sides to facilitate that the displacement of the resilient part is easily performed, also when the door is closed again after the sound is emitted.

The elevating part 30 may as illustrated in fig. 6 also comprise slanting sides, e.g. to facilitate the above-mentioned gradually increasing displacement of the resilient part 29.

Fig. 7 illustrates the base part 21 seen in perspective. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in fig. 7, the base part 21 comprises connection means 28a incorporated in the base part for connection of the base part 21 to a base panel 27 by interconnecting the connection means 28a of the base part 21 with the connection means 28b of the base panel 27. The connection means 28b preferably extends substantially continuous in the longitudinal direction of the base panel 27, thereby facilitating that the base panel 27 may be cut off in any length. The base panel is preferably manufactured by means of extrusion.

As illustrated in fig 7, the connection means 28a, 28b preferably comprise latch and notch adapted for receiving said latch to facilitate that the base part 21 may easily be exchanged when worn out. Further, the base part 21 may thereby be slideable connected (due to the longitudinal extending connection means) to the base panel 27 to facilitate that the base part 21 may be displaced horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the base panel 27 when interconnected to the base panel 27 by means of the connection means 28a, 28b. This facilitates an easy installation and fine-adjustment of the base part 21. When the base part 21 has been fine-adjusted, it is preferably fixed to the cooling furniture by fastening means e.g. screws such as self- tapping screws, blind rivets or the like preferably through holes 37a, 37b in the base part 21. The optional oblong holes 37a facilitate that the fastening means may be partly mounted and the base part 21 may still be fine-adjusted.

The connection means 28a of the base part 21 and connection means 28b of the base panel are preferably adapted so as to facilitate that the base part may be of a reversible configuration to allow the base part 21 to be used for both left- hinged doors and right-hinged doors.

It is generally understood that by the term connection means, e.g. the connection means 28a, 28b, 32a, 32b, 38a, 38b (or other connection means of the hinge 20, base panel 27, back part 31 etc.) even if they preferably comprise latch(es) and/or notch(es), may also or as an alternative in other embodiments of the invention comprise barbs e.g. for connection with a substantially plane surface (the barb causing/ cutting recesses in the plane surface during interconnection causing a holding function), screws and/or any other suitable connection means. Further, it is understood that by the term latch is to be understood a mechanical fastener that is used to join two (or more) objects or surfaces together, preferably while allowing regular or eventual separation of the objects or surfaces. The latch engages another piece of hardware (i.e. the notch) on another mounting surface. The latch is preferred at least partly resilient to allow a temporarily displacement of the latch during mounting, but the notch (preferably a recess or another surface adapted for intersection with the notch) may instead or also be arranged to be resilient and displaceable.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the base part 21 comprising cover connection means 32a, preferably arranged at the receiving part 22, but it may also be located at other locations of the base part 21, where the cover connection means 32a are configured for being interconnected with a cover 33 (comprising cover connection means 32b) for covering the hinge 20, base panel 27 and the like, and for protecting the hinge connection part 21, base part 27 etc. against outer physical forces. Further, the base panel 37 may hereby be used for wiring, e.g. for the heating means of the door 2, wiring for the control means and/or the like.

As illustrated in fig. 8, the cover connection means 32a of the base part 21 may in an embodiment comprise two oppositely arranged cover connection means 32a_l 32a_2 to facilitate that the base part may be used both in a bottom hinge configuration and a top hinge configuration and at the same time facilitate connection of the cover 33.

In an embodiment of the invention, the base panel 27 likewise comprises cover connection means 32c for interconnection with cover connection means 32d on the cover 33, hereby facilitating a more firm holding function. It is generally understood that the cover connection means 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d preferably comprise latch(es) and/or notch(es), but it may also comprise other connection means as explained earlier.

Fig 9 and 9a illustrates a further embodiment of the hinge 20. The hinge in this embodiment comprises a slide-lock part 39 facilitating a temporary locking function of the door 2 in an open position to achieve easy fill up of the cooling furniture on which the hinge 20 is installed. The slide-lock part 39 is adapted to be interconnected to the back part 31 of a door by slide-lock connection means 40a on the slide-lock part 39 and slide-lock connection means 40b on the back part 31 of the vertical door 2.

When the slide-lock part 39 is mounted on the back part 31 of the vertical door by means of the slide-lock connection means 40a, 40b, the slide-lock part 39 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the back part 31 of the vertical door. The connection between the slide-lock connection means 40a, 40b has a certain degree of friction, allowing a vertical displacement of the slide-lock part 39 upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction of the back part 31 when actuated by an outer force (e.g. manually such as by hand).

The function of the slide-lock is as follows: When it is wished to keep the door in an open position, e.g. when filling the storage compartment of the furniture, the door is opened to an angle at substantially 90°, or slightly over this angle, to achieve that the mechanical warning means (if present) are activated (causing the increased resistance and/or emitting a sound as described above). Then the slide-lock part 39 is displaced downwards (or upwards dependent of if the slide-lock part should interact with the upper or lower base panel) manually, thereby interacting/ engaging with a base panel 27 to facilitate that the door cannot be automatically closed, since the slide-lock part 39 is in the way for closing the door. Fig. 9b illustrates the slide-lock part in a locking position. Then, when the filling of the storage compartment is finished, the slide-lock part 39 is displaced upwards (or downwards) again either by hand or automatically by slightly pushing the door to close.

If the slide-lock part 39 is displaced automatically when slightly pushing the door to close, it is preferred that the slide-lock part 39 comprises a slanting part 45 to facilitate automatically upward (or downward) displacement when closing the door. The slant 45 on the slide-lock part 39 facilitates that the slide-lock part 39 slides against the base part 27 and displaces the slide-lock part.

Fig 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein the back part 31 of the door preferably comprises a pane connection surface 43 for connecting the pane 4 to the back part 31, e.g. by an adhesive. Further, the pane connection surface 43 may be adapted to provide a wiring connection for heating means on a vertical pane of the cooling furniture.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the back part 31 of the door further comprises an impact surface 44. This impact surface 44 facilitates that the front edge part of another door (not illustrated) of a neighbouring furniture, preferably cooling furniture, or a neighbouring door of the same cooling furniture may, when closing, impact on the impact surface 44 and be in abutment with the impact surface.

The base part 21 may in a preferred embodiment of the invention (as mentioned earlier) also be used in a top hinge configuration as illustrated in fig 10. In this embodiment, the connection part 23 is exchanged with a substantially slick support part 42 (i.e. without inclining slants). The support part 42 preferably also comprises door connection means 36a as the connection part 23 and facilitates a horizontal rotation around a vertical axis. It is understood that the support part 42 is substantially identical with the connection part 23, however without inclining slants.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention.

List

1. Cooling furniture.

2. Transparent door.

3. Illumination means.

4. Single pane.

5. Pane surface facing the colder region.

6. Pane surface facing the warmer region.

7. Transparent at least partly infrared reflecting means.

8. Pane mountings.

9. Infrared light.

10. Handle means.

11. Storage compartment.

12. Light source.

13. Fluorescent lamp.

14. Incandescent lamp.

15. Holding means for illumination means.

20. Door hinge.

21. Base part.

22. Receiving part of base part.

23. Connection part.

24a, 24b,

24c, 24d. Inclining slants of base part.

25a, 25b. Inclining slants of connection part.

26a. Connection surfaces of inclining slants on bε part.

26b. Connection surfaces of inclining slants on connection part.

27. Base panel. 28a, Connection means on base part for connection of base part and base panel. 28b. Connection means on base panel for interconnection of base part and base panel. 29. Resilient part.

30. Elevating part for displacing resilient part.

31. Back part of vertical door.

32a. Cover connection means on base part configured for interconnection with cover connection means on cover.

32b. Cover connection means on cover configured for interconnection with cover connection means on base part.

32c. Cover connection means on base panel configured for interconnection with cover connection means on base part.

32d. Cover connection means on cover configured for interconnection with cover connection means on base panel. 33. Cover for covering hinge and base panel.

34. Latches on connection part for facilitating a horizontal rotatable connection with the receiving part of the base part.

35. Door connection means. 36a. Door connection means on connection part (or support part) for connecting the connection part (or support part) to the back part of the door. 36b. Door connection means on back part of vertical door for connecting the connection part to the back part of the door.

37a, 37b. Holes for fastening means to securely fastening the base part to the cooling furniture/base panel. 38a. Base part connection means on connection part (or support part).

38b. Connection means on receiving part of base part for receiving connection part/ support part.

39. Slide-lock part facilitating a temporarily locking function of the door in an open position.

40a. Slide-lock connection means on slide-lock part.

40b. Slide-lock connection means on back part of vertical door.

41. Substantially plane surface on the door connection means of the connection part/support part.

42. Substantially slick support part. 43. Pane connection surface.

44. Impact surface on back part.

45. Slanting part of slide-lock part to facilitate automatically upward displacement when closing the door.

Claims

1. Cooling furniture (1) comprising at least one cooling unit, an internal storage compartment (11) for storing of products, and at least one vertically extending transparent door (2) facilitating access to said storage compartment (11), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cooling furniture further comprises illumination means (3) for emitting light in the visible as well as in the infrared range, the illumination means (3) being arranged on the exterior of said cooling furniture (1) so that that the main part of the light from said illumination means (3) when in operation is emitted towards the transparent door (2), and in that said transparent door (2) is of a transparent single-pane construction (4), wherein a transparent layer (7) is applied on the internal pane surface of the transparent door (2), the transparent layer (7) being at least partly infrared reflecting, and wherein means are provided for electrical heating of the transparent pane (4) so that said light emitted by the illumination means (3) in the infrared range largely will prevent the formation of condensation on the single-pane construction (4).

2. Cooling furniture according to claim 1, wherein said transparent layer (7) is electrical conductive and said means for electrical heating of the transparent pane are arranged for feeding an electric current to said layer (7).

3. Cooling furniture according to claim 2, wherein said means for feeding an electric current to said transparent layer (7) are arranged in pane mountings (8) of the transparent door (2).

4. Cooling furniture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination means (3) comprises at least one light source (12) which is incandescent lamps such as halogen lamps.

5. Cooling furniture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination means (3) comprises a combination of different types of light sources (12).

6. Cooling furniture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a protective layer is applied on top of the at least partly infrared reflecting means (7).

7. Cooling furniture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cooling furniture comprises control means such as a watch, a hygrometer and /or a temperature sensor adapted for regulating the illumination means and/or the means for electrical heating of the transparent pane (4).

8. Cooling furniture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination means (3) are attached to the exterior of the cooling furniture (1)

9. A door hinge (20) comprising:

a base part (21) comprising a receiving part (22), a connection part (23) adapted for interconnection with a back part (31) of said door (2) and said receiving part (22),

wherein said base part (21) and said connection part (23) each comprises at least one inclining slant (24a, 24b, 25a, 25b) inclining in an angle compared to the horizontal plane, and

wherein said at least one inclining slant (24a, 24b) of said base part (21) comprises a connection surface (26a) configured for sliding against connection surfaces (26b) of said at least one slant (25a, 25b) of said connection part (23) when received in the receiving part (22), so that a rotation of the connection part (23) about a vertical axis will cause the sliding of the connection surfaces (26a, 26b) in abutment to provide a vertical displacement of the connection part (23).

10. A door hinge (20) according to claim 9 wherein said base part (21) comprises connection means (28a) configured for connection with a base panel (27) comprising connection means (28b), wherein said connection means (28b) of the base panel (27) extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the base panel.

11. A door hinge (20) according to claim 10 wherein said connection means (28a, 28b) at least comprise at least one latch and at least one notch for receiving said latch.

12. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-11, wherein said base part (21) is configured to be used in a top hinge configuration as well as in a bottom hinge configuration.

13. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-13, wherein said base part (21) comprises vertically oppositely arranged inclining slants (24a, 24c).

14. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-13, wherein said door hinge comprises mechanical warning means causing increased opening resistance of the door 2 and/or emits a sound when the door 2 is opened over a predefined angle.

15. A door hinge (20) according to claim 14, wherein said mechanical warning means comprises:

at least one resilient part (29) arranged on said base part (21) or said connection part (23),

at least one elevating part (30) arranged on the other one of said base part (21) and said connection part (23), said elevating part (30) being configured for displacing said resilient part (29) during rotation of said connection part (23) when the connection part (23) has reached a predetermined angular position, thereby causing an increased opening resistance of the door.

16. A door hinge (20) according to claim 15 wherein, when said connection part (23) has reached a predetermined angular position, said at least one resilient part (29) is configured for returning to its starting position thereby emitting a warning sound.

17. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-16, wherein said base part (21) comprises cover connection means (32a, 32a_l, 32a_2) configured for receiving a cover (33).

18. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-17, wherein said door hinge (20) comprises a back part (31) for a vertical door, where the back part (31) comprises door connection means (36b) for interconnection with door connection means (36a) on connection part (23).

19. A door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-18, wherein said back part (31) comprises slide-lock connection means (40b) adapted for interconnection with a slide-lock part (39) facilitating, when the slide-lock part (39) and the back part (31) is connected, a temporary locking function of the door in a predetermined open position by displacing the slide-lock part (39) in the longitudinal direction of the back part (31) to a locking position.

20. A door hinge (20) according to claim 19, wherein said slide-lock part (39) is manually displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the back part (31) when connected with the back part (31).

21. A door hinge (20) according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said back part (31) comprises an impact surface (44) configured for being in abutment with a front edge part of another door.

22. Cooling furniture (1) according to any of the claims 1-8 comprising a door hinge (20) according to any of the claims 9-21 wherein at least the base part (21) and connection part (23) are made of a polymer such as a plastic material.