EP4230934A1

EP4230934A1 - Display cabinet for preserving food products and process for mounting said display cabinet

Info

Publication number: EP4230934A1
Application number: EP23158071.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco MIATTON
Original assignee: De Rigo Refrigeration Srl
Current assignee: De Rigo Refrigeration Srl
Priority date: 2022-02-22
Filing date: 2023-02-22
Publication date: 2023-08-23
Also published as: IT202200003296A1

Abstract

Display cabinet for preserving food products, which comprises a support frame (2) comprising two crosspieces (21) fixed to two corresponding uprights (22), an insulating structure (3) fixed to the support frame (2) and comprising an insulating base panel (31) fixed to the two crosspieces (21) of the support frame (2) and an insulating back panel (32) fixed to the two uprights (22) of the support frame (2). The display cabinet also comprises a connection element (4) placed as a mechanical connection between the insulating base panel (31) and the insulating back panel (32), and such connection element (4) comprises a first hinge element (41) mechanically connected to the insulating base panel (31), and a second hinge element (42) mechanically connected to the insulating back panel (32) and rotatably connected to the first hinge element (41) in order to vary the mutual tilt between the insulating base panel (31) and the insulating back panel (32).

Description

Field of application

The present invention regards a display cabinet for preserving food products and a process for mounting said display cabinet, according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.
The present display cabinet is advantageously intended to be employed in stores, supermarkets or other business premises for the display and sales of perishable food goods and otherwise. The display cabinet, object of the present invention, is advantageously intended to be cooled in order to be used for containing products which require a controlled temperature.
The present display cabinet and the relative mounting process are therefore inserted in the industrial field of production of display cabinets, e.g. refrigerators, foodstuffs, in particular in the field of production of counters and display cabinets for small, medium and large scale mass distribution.

State of the art

The display cabinets, also known in the technical jargon with the expression refrigerated display cabinets or refrigerated counters, are used for the display of foodstuffs at a controlled temperature, so as to maintain unchanged over time the characteristics of the displayed food product. Known on the market are various display cabinets which are distinguished by shape and by mode of display of the produces to be preserved.
In particular, the display cabinets of known type can be of vertical type, e.g. with column or walls, or horizontal, of the type with counter, with tank or with well.
The display cabinets of known type usually comprise a metallic support frame and an insulating structure, made of thermal insulation material, fixed to the support frame and adapted to define, with the latter, a containment volume for the foods to be preserved.
The insulating structure comprises at least one base portion, placed parallel to the ground and which defines a support surface for an evaporator adapted to cool the aforesaid containment volume, as better described below, and at least one back portion, vertically extended with respect to the base portion and defining a rear wall of the display cabinet.
In a per se known manner, the base portion of the insulating structure is provided with at least one drain trap, placed in a usually central position of the base portion in order to allow the discharge of the condensate water created within the cooled chamber of the display cabinet and in particular present on the base portion of the insulating structure. For such purpose, the base portion of the insulating structure comprises at least one base wall, tilted with respect to a horizontal plane so as to define a tilted surface along which the condensate water can flow in order to be channeled to the drain trap.
As is known, the display cabinets are associated with a cooling unit, which as described above comprises at least one evaporator, placed within the display cabinet, a condenser, usually placed at a distance from the display cabinet, and at least one compressor, usually placed outside the building in which the display cabinet is placed.
The insulating structure of the display cabinets of known type is attained in an integral body, i.e. it comprises a single insulating panel, of sandwich type, which is composed, in a per se known manner, by two external containment plates, made of metallic material, e.g. galvanized steel, and by an internal insulating element, interposed between the two containment plates, which is usually attained by means of foaming of a polymer with reduced thermal conductivity, e.g. polyurethane or polystyrene.
In the cooled display cabinets of known type, the insulating structure in an integral body, in particular made with a single shaped insulating panel, defines the external shape of the same display cabinet and hence the base portion and the back portion are made in a single body/integral with each other.
The insulating structure with integral body of the display cabinets of known type is usually attained through a step of forming the two facing containment plates of the sandwich panel in order to form the external shape of the display cabinet that one wishes to make, and a step of foaming the insulating polymer between the two containment plates, e.g. by means of use of low-density polyurethane.
The step of forming the two plates of the sandwich panel can be attained by means of bending a single sheet or by means of fixing multiple separate sheets, e.g. through a process of welding, gluing or mechanical fixing, in order to obtain the final shape of the insulating structure.
One example of a display cabinet of the above-described type is described in the patent application EP 1288597 A1 .
The display cabinets of known type have in practice shown that they do not lack drawbacks.
A first drawback of such display cabinets of known type lies in the fact that the production of the insulating structure and the assembly of the display cabinet are particularly complicated, in particular in the case of display cabinets that provide for a rather complex shape, for example since it is defined by a plurality of curves or geometrically complex figures.
Such difficulty lies in the fact that the step of forming the two containment plates requires a plurality of complex and difficult operations of bending and/or mechanical fixing of multiple metallic plates.
A further drawback of the display cabinets of known type lies in the fact that the step of foaming of the chamber defined by the two shaped containment plates - in particular in the case of large-size display cabinets - results complicated to obtain through a single injection operation, since it must provide for multiple separate injections in order to reach the entire volume of the chamber subtended by the two containment plates.
A further drawback of the display cabinets of known type lies in the fact that the attainment of an insulating structure made of an integral body constituted by a single insulating panel does not allow varying the production in a flexible manner, with similar models that are different from each other (even only a little bit), for example by display size and spaces.
Finally, for each mode, it is necessary to modify the external containment shape, which involves modifying the settings of the cutting machines, the shaping and the mutual fixing of the sheet plates, as well as the settings of the machine arranged for the foaming of the insulating polymer.
For example, it is in fact known that the tilt of the base portion of the insulating structure with respect to the back portion of the latter depends on the depth of the display cabinet itself, and in particular increases with the increase of the latter. Indeed, in order to allow the correct draining of the condensate water towards the drain trap it is necessary to ensure a sufficient tilt adapted to allow an effective and quick downflow of the water.
For the same grounds as described above, a further drawback of the display cabinets of known type lies in the fact that these cannot be produced in an easy manner according to the requirements of the single client, which for example might regard the size of the display cabinet for reorganizing the premises.
The document WO 2014/189645 A1 describes a modular refrigerator of known type in which the adjacent walls can be connected by means of hinges. Nevertheless, in such solution of known type, the adjacent walls can be mounted in perpendicular position with respect to each other so as to allow the correct insulation of the internal space of the refrigerator.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the drawbacks shown by the above-described solutions of known type, by providing a display cabinet, which can be made in a versatile manner according to the client's shape and size requirements.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a display cabinet and a method of assembly thereof which is simple and inexpensive to attain.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a display cabinet and a method of assembly thereof that is entirely reliable in operation.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a display cabinet and a method of assembly thereof that require the use of a limited number of components employable for different models.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported contents and the advantages of the same will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent several embodiments of the invention that are merely exemplifying and non-limiting, in which:

figure 1 shows a side view of a display cabinet, object of the present invention;
figure 2 shows a detail of the display cabinet of figure 1, relative to a connection element;
figures 3 and 4 respectively show a first and a second perspective view of the connection element of figure 2;
figures 5 and 6 show a first and a second side plan view of the connection element of figure 3, respectively in two separate angular adjustment positions;
figure 7 shows a perspective view of a detail of the connection element of figure 3, relative to a first hinge element;
figure 8 shows a side plan view of the first hinge element of figure 7;
figure 9 shows a perspective view of a detail of the connection element of figure 3, relative to a second hinge element;
figure 10 shows a side plan view of the second hinge element of figure 9;
figure 11 shows a perspective view in section of a detail of the display cabinet of figure 1, with several parts removed in order to better underline others, relative to a belt base panel and a condensate drain trap.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference number 1 overall indicates the display cabinet, object of the present invention.
The display cabinet 1 according to the present invention is advantageously intended to be cooled in order to be employed for preserving different foodstuffs at a controlled temperature, and simultaneously allow a display thereof, e.g. for sales purposes.
In particular, the present display cabinet 1 can be of the type employable for preserving foodstuffs at temperatures higher than that of freezing of the same foodstuffs, or at temperatures lower than the aforesaid freezing temperature.
Hereinbelow, reference will be made to a display cabinet of vertical type with glass, known in the technical jargon with the term "wall", nevertheless it being intended that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the display cabinet can also be of another type such as for example of semi-vertical type, horizontal type with counter, with tank or with well.
In accordance with the invention, the display cabinet 1 for preserving food products comprises a support frame 2, preferably made of metallic material, which comprises at least two crosspieces 21 and at least two uprights 22, and each of such uprights 22 is fixed to a corresponding crosspiece 21.
Preferably the support frame 2 comprises two lateral frameworks, each of which defined at least by a crosspiece 21 and by a corresponding upright 22 and each of such two lateral frameworks defines a corresponding lateral flank of the support frame 2. Of course, each lateral framework can also comprise two crosspieces 21 and an upright 22 interposed with respect to each other, for example in order to define a display cabinet of the type with tank or with well.
It is also evident that, as better set forth hereinbelow, the support frame 2 can advantageously comprise further crosspieces 21 and further uprights 22, which are fixed to each other and interposed between the two lateral frameworks of the support frame 2 in order to confer greater stability and rigidity to the latter.
The display cabinet 1 also comprises an insulating structure 3, fixed to the support frame 2 and comprising at least one insulating base panel 31, fixed to the crosspieces 21 of the support frame 2, and at least one insulating back panel 32 fixed to the uprights 22 of the support frame 2.
More in detail, the insulating panels 31, 32 of the insulating structure 3 are advantageously insulating panels of sandwich type and in particular comprise a central body, in panel form, made of insulating material (e.g. made of polystyrene or polyurethane), interposed between two sheetlike containment elements, usually two plates made of metal (e.g. galvanized steel or aluminum) in order to contain the insulating material and conferring high mechanical properties to the insulating panels. Such insulating panels are well-known to the man skilled in the art and can be designed differently from that set forth above, in particular varying the structure thereof and the materials employed without exiting from the protective scope of the present invention. The display cabinet 1 also comprises at least one connection element 4, placed as a mechanical connection between the insulating base panel 31 and the insulating back panel 32. In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention the connection element 4 comprises a first hinge element 41, mechanically connected to the insulating base panel 31, and a second hinge element 42, mechanically connected to the insulating back panel 32 and rotatably connected to the first hinge element 41 in order to vary the mutual tilt between the insulating base panel 31 and the insulating back panel 32.
In this manner, the insulating base panel 31 can be easily adjusted in the tilt thereof with respect to the insulating back panel 32 by a first angle α, as illustrated in figure 5, in particular before its fixing to the crosspieces 21 of the support frame 2, facilitating the mounting of the display cabinet 1 and simultaneously allowing the standardization of the insulating structure 3 for different models of cooled display cabinets 1 producing insulating panels 31, 32 that are equal to each other, being able to vary the tilt thereof directly during mounting.
Advantageously, the uprights 22 are extended along corresponding first extension directions Z, substantially parallel to each other, and the two crosspieces 21 are extended along corresponding second extension directions X, substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the first extension directions Z of the uprights 22.
The insulating base panel 31 is extended preferably along the entire depth of the crosspieces 21, parallel to the second extension directions X, as illustrated in figure 1, but alternatively it can also be extended only partially along the crosspieces 21 and be side-by-side another insulating panel in order to define a base portion of the insulating structure 3.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulating base panel 31 is made in a single body, and its internal face 310 directed towards the internal volume is provided with a depressed deformation, for the downflow of the condensate water.
More in detail, the insulating base panel 31 is extended in a single body, without interruption, between a rear edge 311, preferably fixed to the connection element 4, in particular to the first hinge element 41, and an opposite front edge 312, preferably fixed to a containment step 313, placed substantially vertical as illustrated in figure 11. Advantageously, the aforesaid front and rear edges 311, 312 of the insulating base panel 31 delimit the latter in its depth, and preferably are extended parallel to the second extension directions X along the entire insulating base panel 31 in order to delimit it for the entire width thereof.
Advantageously the depressed deformation is extended parallel to the second extension directions X, along the entire width of the insulating base panel 31, in a manner such to prevent the formation of condensate stagnation zones.
Advantageously, the depressed deformation is delimited by at least one first portion 33 and by a second portion 34 descending towards a common drain bottom 45, as illustrated in figure 11.
Advantageously the first portion 33 is extended tilted, descending between the rear edge 311 and the common drain bottom 45, while the second portion 34 is extended tilted, descending between the front edge 312 and the common drain bottom 45. Advantageously the first portion and the second portion 33, 34 define the concavity of the insulating base panel 31, whose section preferably has a V-shaped form.
Preferably, the extension of the first portion 33 between the rear edge 311 and the common drain bottom 45 is greater than the extension of the second portion 34 between the front edge 312 and the common drain bottom 45. In particular, the ratio between the extension of the first portion 33 and the extension of the second portion 34 is preferably comprised between 1.5 and 2.5 and still more preferably equal to 2.
In this manner, it is preferable to place the cooling components, such as in particular the evaporator, on the first portion 33 of the insulating base panel 31, next to the insulating back panel 32.
According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in the event in which one or more of the cooling components, in particular the evaporator, is installed on the insulating back panel 32, most of the condensate is formed next to the aforesaid insulating back panel 32 itself, and the drain bottom 45 for collecting the condensate water is advantageously positioned closer to the aforesaid insulating back panel 32.
In this manner, the extension of the first portion 33 between the rear edge 311 and the common drain bottom 45 is advantageously smaller than the extension of the second portion 34 between the front edge 312 and the common drain bottom 45. Advantageously, the first and second portions 33, 34 are extended along respective lying planes, which between them define a second angle β comprised between 160° and 179°.
Preferably, the second angle β is comprised between 170° and 178°, e.g. 175°.
Advantageously, the insulating base panel 31, at at least the depressed deformation has at least one through hole 46, and the display cabinet 1 is provided with at least one drain trap 49, inserted in the at least one through hole 46 for the downflow of the condensate water.
Preferably, the through hole 46 is obtained at a point of the drain bottom 45. Advantageously, the insulating back panel 32 can be extended along the entire height of the uprights 22, parallel to the first extension directions Z or, preferably, as is more visible in figure 1 of the enclosed figures, can be extended only partially along the height of the uprights 22 and be surmounted by a further insulating panel in order to jointly define a back portion of the insulating structure 3. In this manner it is possible to standardize the production since the insulating back panel 32 will not be affected by possible variations of height or shape of the display cabinet 1.
Advantageously the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are extended along corresponding third extension directions Y, preferably parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to the first extension directions Z and to the second extension directions X.
Preferably the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are extended (along the corresponding third extension directions Y) between the two lateral frameworks of the support frame 2.
More in detail, the first hinge element 41 is extended (along the corresponding third extension direction Y) between a first end 41', preferably fixed to a crosspiece 21, and a second end 41", preferably fixed to the other crosspiece 21. The second hinge element 42 is extended (along the corresponding third extension direction Y) advantageously between a first end 42', preferably fixed to an upright 22, and a second end 42", preferably fixed to the other upright 22.
In particular, the first hinge element 41 is fixed to the crosspieces 21 by means of the insulating base panel 31, and the second hinge element 42 is fixed to the uprights 22 by means of the insulating back panel 32.
Advantageously, the first and the second hinge element 41, 42 are extended (along the corresponding third extension directions Y) without interruption between the two lateral frameworks of the support frame 2. In particular, each hinge element 41, 42 is made of a single body, or, if each of them is formed by multiple parts (placed in succession along the third extension direction Y), the latter are joined together in a manner such to ensure the continuity (without openings) of the hinge element 41, 42 between the two lateral frameworks.
Of course, in the event in which the support frame 2 comprises more than two uprights 22 and/or more than two crosspieces 21 the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 will preferably be fixed at least to the corresponding crosspieces 21 and to the more external corresponding uprights 22, i.e. placed at the flanks of the support frame 2 and defining the lateral frameworks of the latter.
Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 comprises a convex portion 410, provided with an at least partially circular extension in section, and defining a rotation center C, and a first guide seat 411, extended along a first extension line T, extended circumferentially with respect to the rotation center C.
More in detail, with the expression "extended circumferentially" it will be intended hereinbelow that the first extension line T is extended, preferably maintaining a constant distance with respect to the rotation center C.
Advantageously the convex portion 410, and preferably also the first guide seat 411, are extended along the entire extension of the first hinge element 41 along a corresponding third extension direction Z.
Advantageously, the second hinge element 42 also comprises a concave seat 420, provided with an at least partially circular extension in section, in which the convex portion 410 is at least partially housed, and a first engagement portion 421, slidably engaged with the first guide seat 411 in order to allow the mutual rotation of the second hinge element 42 and the first hinge element 41 around the rotation center C.
Advantageously, the concave seat 420 and the first engagement portion 421 are extended along the entire extension of the second hinge element 42 along a corresponding third extension direction Z.
In this manner it is possible to increase the coupling surface between the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42, and such coupling surface is defined at least by the coupling between the convex portion 410 with the concave seat 420 and between the first engagement portion 421 with the first guide seat 411.
More in detail, the convex portion 410 and the concave seat 420 are engaged with each other, actually making an at least partially spherical articulation (in particular rotoidal or cylindrical), in which the convex portion is susceptible of rotating around a rotation axis R parallel to the third extension directions Y and passing through the rotation center C. Advantageously, the convex portion 410 is extended for an arc of circumference preferably comprised between 240° and 300° and preferably the convex portion 410 is a substantially semicylindrical portion.
Advantageously, the concave seat 420 is extended along an arc of circumference with width preferably comprised between 150° and 210° and the concave seat 420 is a substantially semicylindrical seat.
Advantageously, the first guide seat 411 is delimited between a first external wall 411', preferably convex, and a first internal wall 411", preferably concave, which are connected to each other by a first abutment wall 4110, preferably concave. Advantageously, the first guide seat 411 is placed adjacent to the convex portion 410. More in detail, the convex portion 410 comprises a convex surface and preferably the first internal wall of the first guide seat 411 comprises at least part of the convex surface of the convex portion 410.
Advantageously, the first engagement portion 421 is delimited between a second external wall 421', preferably concave, and a second internal wall 421", preferably convex, which are connected to each other by a first abutment wall 4210, preferably convex, which is in particular susceptible of abutting against the first abutment wall 4110 of the first guide seat 411 in order to stop the relative rotation of the first hinge element 41 and of the second hinge element 42 in a first rotation sense. Preferably, when the first abutment wall 4210 is placed in abutment against the first abutment wall 4110, the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are situated at a mutual angle of about 90°.
Advantageously the first internal wall 411' of the first guide seat 411 is placed facing the second internal wall 421' of the first engagement portion 421, while the second internal wall 411" is placed facing the second external wall 421" and in particular the aforesaid internal walls 411', 421' and the aforesaid external walls 411", 421" are placed in abutment with respect to each other in order to guide the mutual sliding of the first hinge element 41 and of the second hinge element 42.
Advantageously, the first engagement portion 421 is placed adjacent to the concave portion 420.
More in detail, the concave portion 420 comprises a concave surface and preferably the internal wall of the first engagement portion 421 comprises at least part of the concave surface of the concave portion 420.
Advantageously the convex surface of the convex portion 410 is placed facing and preferably in abutment against the concave surface of the concave portion 420, in order to guide the mutual sliding of the first hinge element 41 and of the second hinge element 42.
Advantageously, the second hinge element 42 comprises a second guide seat 422, extended along a second extension line T', extended circumferentially with respect to the rotation center C, and the first hinge element 41 comprises at least one second engagement portion 412, slidably engaged with the second guide seat 422.
More in detail, with the expression "extended circumferentially" it is intended hereinbelow that the second extension line T' is extended preferably by maintaining a constant distance with respect to the rotation center C.
Advantageously the second guide seat 422 and the second engagement portion 412 are extended along the entire extension of the first hinge element 41.
Advantageously, the first guide seat 411 is interposed between the convex portion 410 and the second engagement portion 412 and the first engagement portion 421 is interposed between the concave portion 420 and the second guide seat 422. Advantageously, the second guide seat 422 is adjacent to the first engagement portion 421 and is in particular delimited between the second external wall 421' of the first engagement portion 421 and a first containment wall 422', preferably concave. Advantageously, the second engagement portion 412 is adjacent to the first guide seat 411 and is in particular delimited between the first external wall 411' of the first guide seat 411 and a second containment wall 412', preferably convex.
Advantageously, the second guide seat 422 comprises a second abutment wall 422" and the second engagement portion 412 comprises a second abutment wall 412", which is susceptible of abutting against the second abutment wall 422" of the second guide seat 422 in order to stop the relative rotation of the first hinge element 41 and of the second hinge element 42 in the first rotation sense.
Preferably, when the second abutment wall 422" is placed in abutment against the first abutment wall 412" the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 is situated at a mutual angle of about 90°.
Advantageously the first containment wall 422' of the second guide seat 422 and the second containment wall 412' of the second engagement portion 412 are arranged facing each other and preferably in abutment in order to guide the mutual sliding of the first hinge element 41 and of the second hinge element 42.
Advantageously, the first engagement portion 421 is placed adjacent to the concave portion 420.
Advantageously, the second guide seat 422 is extended along an arc of circumference with width comprised between 30° and 60°.
Advantageously, the first guide seat 411 is extended along an arc of circumference with width comprised between 60° and 90°.
Preferably the first guide seat 411 and the second guide seat 422 are extended along corresponding arcs of circumference of the same width and the first engagement portion 421 and the second engagement portion 412 are also provided with the same circumferential extension in a manner such that when the first abutment wall 4210 is placed in abutment against the first abutment wall 4110 also the second abutment wall 412" is placed in abutment against the second abutment wall 422".
Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 is provided with a first internal face, directed towards an internal volume of the display cabinet 1, and the second hinge element 42 is provided with a second internal face, directed towards the internal volume of the display cabinet.
Advantageously, at least one between the first internal face and the second internal face is provided with a slide surface 40, placed tilted with respect to the insulating base panel 31 and adapted to convey at least condensate water towards a central portion of the insulating base panel 31.
Advantageously the slide surface 40 is made on the first internal face of the first hinge element 41, and preferably the slide surface 40 is made on the second engagement portion 412.
In particular, the slide surface 40 is made on the second containment wall 412' of the second engagement portion 412, which as stated above is preferably convex so as to allow the at least partial drain of the condensate water towards a central portion of the insulating base panel 31.
Of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is also possible to obtain the slide surface 40 on the second internal face of the second hinge element 42, and in particular on the first containment wall 422' of the second guide seat 422. Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 is fixed to a rear end of the insulating base panel 31 (preferably extended as a continuation of the latter) and the second hinge element 42 is fixed to a lower end of the back panel 32 (preferably extended as a continuation of the latter). In particular, the two hinge elements 41, 42 are coupled together in a manner such to close the internal volume of the display cabinet 1 (separating it from the exterior) at the connection element 4 between the rear end of the insulating base panel 31 and the lower end of the insulating back panel 32. Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 each comprise a pair of retention tabs 413, 423, spaced from each other and defining a housing seat. Advantageously the insulating base panel 31 and the insulating back panel 32 are at least partially inserted in the housing seats of the corresponding hinge element 41, 42.
Advantageously, the retention tabs 413 of the first hinge element 41 between them define a first housing seat, which is provided with an extension, measured along a direction parallel to the first extension directions Z of the uprights 22, substantially equal to the thickness of the insulating base panel 31, in a manner such that the latter can be inserted substantially to size within the aforesaid first housing seat.
More in detail, the retention tabs 423 of the second hinge element 42 between them define a second housing seat, which is provided with an extension, measured along a direction parallel to the second extension directions X of the crosspieces 21, substantially equal to the thickness of the insulating back panel 32, in a manner such that the latter can be inserted substantially to size within the aforesaid second housing seat.
Preferably, the display cabinet 1 also comprises fixing means, not illustrated in the enclosed figures, which are interposed between the first hinge element 41 and the insulating base panel 31 and between the second hinge element 42 and the insulating back panel 32, in order to fix them together in the most secure and stable manner possible. Advantageously such fixing means comprise screws and bolts and are preferably placed at the retention tabs 413, 423 of the hinge elements 41, 42. Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are made of an insulating material, so as to ensure a good insulation of the display cabinet, and for such purpose the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are attained in a plastic material, such as for example ABS.
Advantageously, the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are attained by means of extrusion of plastic material and preferably the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are at least partially internally hollow. In this manner it is simultaneously possible to increase the thermal insulation properties of the connection element 4, reducing the quantity of material employed for the attainment thereof, cutting the production cost and the total weight of the connection element 4 itself.
In particular, the first and the second hinge elements 41, 42 have an internal cavity in which multiple reinforcement septa are attained, preferably placed perpendicular from each other, in order to increase the mechanical rigidity of the hinge elements 41, 42, in particular due to their longitudinal extension along the third extension direction Y. Also forming the object of the present invention is a process for mounting a display cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a first step of arranging the support frame 2, in which each crosspiece 21 is fixed to a corresponding upright 22, a second step of arranging the insulating structure 3, and a fixing step, in which the insulating structure 3 is fixed to the support frame 2.
In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention, the second arrangement step comprises a connection step, in which the first hinge element 41 is rotatably connected to the second hinge element 42, and an adjustment step, in which the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are adjusted in the mutual tilt thereof.
The fixing step is advantageously carried out after the step of connecting the hinge elements 41, 42, so as to allow first the connection of the hinge elements 41, 42 to each other and to the corresponding insulating panels 31, 32 in order to be able to subsequently fix, in the easiest possible manner, the latter to the support frame 2. Nevertheless, it is also possible to first fix the insulating panels 31, 32 to the support frame 2 and subsequently connect them together by means of the connection element 4. Advantageously the adjustment step provides for mutually rotating together the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 by means of the rotation of the convex portion 410 on the concave seat 420 and by means of the sliding of the first guide portion 421 along the first guide seat 411.
Preferably, in addition, during such adjustment step, provision is also made for sliding the second guide portion 412 along the second guide seat 422, so as to improve the stability and the seal of the connection element 4.
Finally, advantageously, at the end of the adjustment step, a treatment operation is provided for, in which the first hinge element 41 and the second hinge element 42 are retained together in the desired position. Such retention operation can be made by means of perforation and insertion of a screw, a pin or a rivet, or alternatively by means of glue or other elements suitable for such purpose.
The display cabinet 1 and the process for mounting the latter therefore reach the preestablished objects.

Claims

Display cabinet (1) for preserving food products, which comprises:
- a support frame (2), comprising at least two crosspieces (21) and at least two uprights (22), each fixed to a corresponding crosspiece (21);

- an insulating structure (3), fixed to said support frame (2) and comprising at least one insulating base panel (31), fixed to said at least two crosspieces (21) of said support frame (2), and at least one insulating back panel (32) fixed to said at least two uprights (22) of said support frame (2);

- at least one connection element (4), placed as a mechanical connection between said insulating base panel (31) and said insulating back panel (32);
said support frame (2) comprising two lateral frameworks, each of which is defined at least by a corresponding said crosspiece (21) and by a corresponding said upright (22) and each of said two lateral frameworks defines a corresponding lateral flank of said support frame (2);

said display cabinet (1) being characterized in that said connection element (4) comprises a first hinge element (41), mechanically connected to said insulating base panel (31), and a second hinge element (42), mechanically connected to said insulating back panel (32) and rotatably connected to said first hinge element (41) in order to vary the mutual tilt between said insulating base panel (31) and said insulating back panel (32);

said first hinge element (41) comprising:
- a convex portion (410), provided with an at least partially circular extension in section, and defining a rotation center (C), and

- a first guide seat (411), extended along a first extension line (T) that is circumferential with respect to said rotation center (C); said second hinge element (42) comprising:

- a concave seat (420), provided with at least partially circular extension in section, in which said convex portion (410) is at least partially housed, and

- a first engagement portion (421), slidably engaged with said first guide seat (411) in order to allow the mutual rotation of said second hinge element (42) and said first hinge element (41) around said rotation center (C);

wherein said first hinge element (41) is provided with a first internal face, directed towards an internal volume of said display cabinet (1), and said second hinge element (42) is provided with a second internal face, directed towards said internal volume; wherein said first hinge element (41) and said second hinge element (42) are extended between the two lateral frameworks of said support frame (2).
Display cabinet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first hinge element (41) is extended between a first end (41'), fixed to the crosspiece (21) of one said lateral framework, and a second end (41"), fixed to the crosspiece (21) of the other said lateral framework; wherein said second hinge element (42) is extended between a first end (42'), fixed to the upright (22) of one said lateral framework, and a second end (42"), fixed to the upright (22) of the other said lateral framework.
Display cabinet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second hinge element (42) comprises a second guide seat (422), extended along a second extension line (T') that is circumferential with respect to said rotation center (C), and said first hinge element (41) comprises at least one second engagement portion (412), slidably engaged with said second guide seat (422).
Display cabinet (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said second guide seat (422) is extended along an arc of circumference with width comprised between 30° and 60°.
Display cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first guide seat (411) is extended along an arc of circumference with width comprised between 60° and 90°.
Display cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one between said first internal face and said second internal face is provided with a slide surface (40), placed tilted with respect to said insulating base panel (31) and adapted to convey at least condensate water towards a central portion of said insulating base panel (31).
Display cabinet (1) according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that said slide surface (40) is made on said second engagement portion (412).
Display cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first hinge element (41) and said second hinge element (42) each comprise a pair of retention tabs (413, 423), spaced from each other and defining a housing seat; said insulating base panel (31) and said insulating back panel (32) being at least partially inserted in the housing seats of the corresponding hinge elements (41, 42).
Display cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first hinge element (41) and said second hinge element (42) are attained by means of extrusion of plastic material.
Process for mounting a display cabinet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:
- a first step of arranging said support frame (2), in which each crosspiece (21) is fixed to a corresponding upright (22);

- a second step of arranging said insulating structure (3);

- a fixing step, in which said insulating structure (3) is fixed to said support frame (2);
said mounting process being characterized in that said second arranging step comprises a connection step, in which said first hinge element (41) is rotatably connected to said second hinge element (42), and an adjustment step, in which said first hinge element (41) and said second hinge element (42) are adjusted in their mutual tilt.