WO2012142393A1

WO2012142393A1 - Shelve apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012142393A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/033493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Strupp
Original assignee: Carrier Corporation
Priority date: 2011-04-15
Filing date: 2012-04-13
Publication date: 2012-10-18
Also published as: EP2696727B1; EP2696727A1

Abstract

A shelve apparatus is provided and includes a cabinet, rails disposed on opposite sides of the cabinet, a case to be fastened to the rails at various locations and having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body and a wall module having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to be fastened to the rails at various locations relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

Description

SHELVE APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a shelve apparatus.

[0002] In markets today, merchandise on cooling shelves is cooled with a cold air curtain, which separates the merchandise stored in the furniture from the warm ambient air. In this instance, the cold air curtain flows downwardly in front of the display shelves along the full height of the merchandise space, where warm ambient air is mixed in. The cold air is also blown onto the merchandise from the rear through a perforation in the air-guidance wall behind the display shelves.

[0003] With this construction, air distribution and thus the achievement of required temperatures are dependent on the perforation pattern in the air-guidance wall. Indeed, if the display shelves are cooled by means of a continuous air curtain and it is understood that the temperature of the air curtain rises significantly between the merchandise area entrance up to the inlet point due to mixing with the ambient air, significant cooling must be provided through the perforation in the air-guidance wall. If the perforation pattern is ill-conceived, insufficient cooling may be provided.

[0004] As such, there is often a need for multiple types of air-guidance walls to be available on site for different types of furniture and installation designs since a change in the arrangement without a change in the air- guidance wall could result in an excessive increase in temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a shelve apparatus is provided and includes a cabinet, rails disposed on opposite sides of the cabinet, a case to be fastened to the rails at various locations and having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body and a wall module having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to be fastened to the rails at various locations relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, a shelve apparatus is provided and includes a cabinet, rails disposed on opposite sides of the cabinet with receiving units formed therein at various, regular locations, one or more cases to be fastened to the receiving units of the rails at the various locations, each having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body and one or more wall modules, each having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to be fastened to the receiving units of the rails at the various locations and at various heights relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of various lengths associated with the various heights along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

[0007] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a shelve apparatus is provided and includes fastening a case to rails disposed on opposite sides of a cabinet at various, regular locations, the case having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body, fastening a wall module having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to the rails at a first location relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of a first length along which air flows into the body interior of the case and unfastening and refastening one or both of the case and the wall module to the rails such that the wall module is disposed at a second location relative to the case and such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of a second length along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

[0008] These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shelve apparatus;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a plan view of rails and ledges of the shelve apparatus;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of a display case of the shelve apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 4A is a side view of an air-guidance wall module of the shelve apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0014] FIG. 4B is a front view of the air-guidance wall module.

[0015] The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A and 4B, a shelve apparatus 10 is provided as cabinet 11 and includes rails 20 at opposite sides of the cabinet 11, a display case 40 and an air-guidance wall module 60. The cabinet 11 may be a wall unit extending in a height- wise or vertical direction, H, and a width-wise or horizontal direction, W. The rails 20 are provided on the opposite sides of the cabinet 11 and have receiving units, such as slots, holes or ledges 21 formed therein (hereinafter referred to as "ledges 21"). The ledges 21 are defined at various and possibly regular height locations along the vertical lengths of each of the rails 20 with corresponding ledges at the same height at both rails 20. The cabinet 11 may also include a surface disposed at a side of the cabinet 11 to which the display case 40 is attached that may be perforated or formed of permeable material, such as mesh.

[0017] The display case 40 may be plural in number with each display case 40 being configured to be fastened to each of the rails 20 by way of the ledges 21 at various ones of the height locations. The display case 40 has a body 45 and an upper and a lower flange 50. The body 45 defines an interior 46. The flanges 50 extend vertically from the body 45 along its width- wise extent. The air-guidance wall module 60 may be plural in number and each air- guidance wall module 60 has a body from which an upper and a lower wing 70 extend vertically or substantially vertically along its width-wise extent. The body of the air-guidance wall module 60 may be perforated with perforations 651.

[0018] The wings 70 should be slightly elastic and may be bowed slightly towards the cabinet 11 in order to allow for tolerances thus ensuring tight fitting with the flanges 50 of the display case 40. The wings 70 may be made of metallic material with a small thickness or another elastic or compliant material.

[0019] Each air- guidance wall module 60 is configured to be fastened to the rails 20 by way of the ledges 21 at various ones of the height locations relative to the display case 40 such that the wing 70 and the flange 50 overlappingly define a pathway, P, with a rear surface 111 of the cabinet 11.

[0020] Air, such as cooling air or refrigeration air, is pumped from a cooling unit and flows at first upwardly through the pathway, P, and then into the interior 46 of the body 45 of the display case 40. The air is then output toward items to be displayed on the display case 40 in order to maintain their temperatures below a predefined temperature for safe keeping. More particularly, part of the air continues to flow, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, through interior 46 of the body 45 to a further air-outlet 57 at the distal end 451 of the body 45 and then down toward a display case 40 below to form a supplementary air curtain that eases and/or ensures the cooling of the goods situated on the lower display case 40 and, ultimately, toward a base section 80 where the air proceeds through an evaporator 81, where it is cooled. A fan 82 is disposed within the base section 80 and serves to re-circulate the cooled air through the circuit.

[0021] With this construction, the one or more display cases 40 and the one or more air-guidance wall modules 60 can be placed at various heights on each of the rails 20 relative to one another by way of the ledges 21. In this way, multiple types of items having multiple sizes can be displayed on the one or more display cases 40. For example, the display cases 40A, 40B and 40C may be fastened to the rails 20 by way of the ledges 21 at first, second and third heights with air guidance wall modules 60A, 60B, 60C and 60D positioned in between them such that the respective wings 70 and flanges 50 overlap. In this way, display areas 100A, 100B, lOOC and 100D are defined with respective heights, HI, H2, H3 and H4.

[0022] In the above example, the air guidance wall modules 60A, 60B, 60C and 60D each have sufficient vertical heights to maintain the respective overlaps with the flanges 50 of the display cases 40A, 40B and 40C but are short enough to fit between the display cases 40A, 40B and 40C. Moreover, the display cases 40A, 40B and 40C may be repositioned in the height-wise direction as deemed necessary such that the display areas 100A, 100B, lOOC and 100D are defined with different respective heights, HI, H2, H3 and H4. In this case, the air guidance wall modules 60A, 60B, 60C and 60D are again fitted with sufficient vertical heights to maintain the overlaps but are short enough to fit between the display cases 40A, 40B and 40C.

[0023] The display case 40 and the air-guidance wall module 60 each extend in the width- wise or horizontal direction, W, and respectively include fasteners on their respective opposite sides. These fasteners may be formed as hooks to mate with any of the ledges 21 of the rails 20. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the fasteners can be fastened to the ledges 21 by angled insertion and then rotation as is well known or by similar methods. To increase stability, the number of the fasteners for each display case 40 may be increased and the placement of each fastener may be varied.

[0024] The body 45 of the display case 40 provides a stable surface on which to display items. The upper and lower flanges 50 extend vertically from the body 45. The body of the air-guidance wall module 60 is substantially planar in the vertical direction with the upper and lower wings 70 extending vertically from the body.

[0025] The body 45 of the display case 40 may include a lower surface 47 and an upper surface 48 on which items can be displayed. The lower surface 47 may be aerated with through-holes defined therein through which the air flows out of the interior 46 of the body 45. Thus, in an example, the air output through the lower surface 47 of display case 40B may refrigerate and cool the items displayed on the upper surface 48 of the display case 40A.

[0026] The body 45 of the display case 40 and the interior 46 extend away from the cabinet 11 such that a distal end 451 of the body 45 is defined at a distance from the cabinet 11. An illumination unit 55 may be disposed at the lower surface 47 at the distal end 451 to emit light and to illuminate items to be displayed below. The aerated surface and the illumination unit 55 may both be disposed on an underside of the body 45. In order to maintain pressurized airflow throughout the interior 46, a cross-sectional area of the interior 46 may be reduced with increasing distance from the cabinet 11. As a consequence, pressurized airflow is maintained and, in addition, space is gained to allow for the installation of the illumination unit 55 at the distal end 451 of the body. The reduction of cross-sectional area of the interior 46 may be incremental, gradual but limited to a portion of the interior 46 as shown in FIG. 1 or gradual across the length of the interior 46. Of course, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible as well.

[0027] Since the emitted light adds heat to the system, a portion 56 of the aerated lower surface 47, which is proximate to the illumination unit 55 is oriented to direct air toward the illumination unit 55. In accordance with embodiments, the portion 56 of the aerated lower surface 47 is angled toward the illumination unit 55. Again, it is to be understood that the direction of air toward the illumination unit 55 may be accomplished in this or other manners. For example, a baffle may be used to re-direct air from one direction to another without the need to angle the portion 56 of the aerated surface 47.

[0028] A method of assembling a shelve apparatus 10 is provided and includes the following operations. Initially, one or more display cases 40 is/are fastened to the rails 20 by way of the ledges 21 with the ledges 21 being at any of various and regular height/width locations with each of the display case(s) 40 having a body 45 defining an interior 46 and two flanges 50 extending from the body 45. Next, one or more air- guidance wall modules 60 is/are fastened to the rails 20 by way of the ledges 21 with each air-guidance wall module 60 having a body, from which two wings 70 extend. Each of the one or more air-guidance wall modules 60 is fastened to the rails 20 at first location(s) relative to the display case(s) 40 such that the wings 70 and the flanges 50 overlappingly form a pathway, P, of a first length along which air flows into the interior(s) 46.

[0029] As described above, the assembled shelve apparatus 10 can accommodate an item to be displayed having a height that can be accommodated between the upper surface 48 of a lower one of the display cases 40 and a lower surface 47 of an upper one of the display cases 40. The item will be cooled and refrigerated by the air emitted by the upper one of the display cases 40 (additionally the item will be cooled by contact to the cold upper surface 48 of the lower display case 40) and illuminated by the illumination unit of the upper one of the display cases 40. The portion 56 of the upper one of the display cases 40 will cool the air in and around the illumination unit 55 such that the illumination does not inhibit the cooling and refrigeration of the item to be displayed.

[0030] The method may further include unfastening and refastening one or more of the display case(s) 40 and the air-guidance wall module(s) 60 to/from each of the rails 20 such that the air-guidance wall module(s) 60 is/are disposable at a second height/width location relative to the display case(s) 40 and such that wings and the flanges continue to overlappingly form a pathway, P, of for example a second length along which the air flows into the body interiors ) 46.

[0031] The display cases 40 may be mounted to the ledges 21 as described above, but in one or two different angles, so that the end with the illumination unit 55 is lower than the end hooked into the ledges 21. Therefore, the flanges 50 of the cases 40 need to be changed to versions, which compensate for the resulting angle. This means that the upper and the lower flanges 50 are different in order to build a planar surface with the air-guidance wall modules 60.

[0032] While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shelve apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet;

rails disposed on opposite sides of the cabinet;

a case to be fastened to the rails at various locations and having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body; and

a wall module having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extend, to be fastened to the rails at various locations relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

2. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rails each have receiving units formed therein at regular height locations.

3. The shelve apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving units are arrayed vertically in-line with one another.

4. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the case is plural in number.

5. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall module is plural in number.

6. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body of the case comprises:

an aerated surface having through-holes defined therein through which the air flows out of the body interior; and

an illumination unit to emit light.

7. The shelve apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the aerated surface and the illumination unit are disposed on an underside of the body.

8. The shelve apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the aerated surface proximate to the illumination unit directs the air toward the illumination unit.

9. The shelve apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the aerated surface is angled toward the illumination unit.

10. The shelve apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the illumination unit is disposed at an end of the body.

11. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall module body comprises perforations.

12. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air is cooling air.

13. The shelve apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air flows upwardly along the pathway, through the interior of the body and downwardly to form an air curtain.

14. A shelve apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet;

rails disposed on opposite sides of the cabinet with receiving units formed therein at various, regular locations;

one or more cases to be fastened to the receiving units of the rails at the various locations, each having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body; and

one or more wall modules, each having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to be fastened to the receiving units of the rails at the various locations and at various heights relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of various lengths associated with the various heights along which air flows into the body interior of the case.

15. The shelve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the body of each of the one or more cases comprises:

an illumination unit to emit light.

16. The shelve apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the aerated surface and the illumination unit are disposed on an underside of the body.

17. The shelve apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the aerated surface proximate to the illumination unit directs the air toward the illumination unit.

18. The shelve apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the portion of the aerated surface is angled toward the illumination unit.

19. The shelve apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the air flows upwardly along the pathway, through the respective interiors of each of the bodies and downwardly to form an air curtain.

20. A method of assembling a shelve apparatus, comprising:

fastening a case to rails disposed on opposite sides of a cabinet at various, regular locations, the case having a body defining an interior and an upper and a lower flange extending from the body;

fastening a wall module having a body, from which an upper and a lower wing extends, to the rails at a first location relative to the case such that the wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of a first length along which air flows into the body interior of the case; and

unfastening and refastening one or both of the case and the wall module to the rails such that the wall module is disposed at a second location relative to the case and such that wings and the flanges overlappingly form a pathway of a second length along which air flows into the body interior of the case.