The invention relates to a frigorific sales furniture comprising a lower refrigerating or freezing chest, an upper refrigerating or freezing chest and a refrigerating or freezing cabinet.

A conventional frigorific sales furniture comprises a freezer having a goods access portion in its upper side and a freezing cabinet disposed above the freezer and having a goods access portion in its front. With such frigorific sales furnitures, a customer has to bend down deeply into the freezer, especially when the goods filling height in the freezer is low and there are not many goods to be sold left. Therefore such frigorific sales furnitures are ergonomically disadvantageous, and short and elderly people cannot grasp goods at the bottom of the freezer. Furthermore, there are no goods accessible at middle height of the frigorific sales furniture, especially when the goods filling height in the freezer is low.

EP 0 439 815 A1 shows a refrigerated vending cabinet which has a lower, chest-type merchandise space and, above it, an upper cabinet-type merchandise space.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a user-friendly frigorific sales furniture providing a better access to the goods to be sold.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a frigorific sales furniture comprising a lower refrigerating or freezing chest, an upper refrigerating or freezing chest being disposed above the lower refrigerating or freezing chest and having substantially the same shape and size as the lower refrigerating or freezing chest, and a refrigerating or freezing cabinet disposed at a higher level than the upper refrigerating or freezing chest. Both of the refrigerating or freezing chests comprise a goods access portion in their upper side, and the refrigerating or freezing cabinet comprises a goods access portion in its front. These goods access portions

The upper refrigerating or freezing chest has a set back position in relation to the lower refrigerating or freezing chest, and the front of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet has a set back position in relation to the front of the upper refrigerating or freezing chest.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1

shows a cross-sectional view of a first frigorific sales furniture according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2

shows a cross sectional view of a second frigorific sales furniture according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3

shows a cross sectional view of a third frigorific sales furniture according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4

shows a cross sectional view of a fourth frigorific sales furniture according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5

shows a cross sectional view of a fifth frigorific sales furniture according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6

shows a cross sectional view of a sixth frigorific sales furniture according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

In this specification the term "frigorific" is to be understood as an umbrella term comprising cooling/refrigerating temperatures above zero degrees Celsius and/or freezing/deep-freezing temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.

Figure 1 shows a first frigorific sales furniture 2 comprising, from bottom to top, a lower freezing chest 4, an upper freezing chest 20, and a first freezing cabinet 36.

The lower and the upper freezing chests 4 and 20 have approximately the same shape and size. They comprise a respective bottom 6, 22, the front portion of which extends upwardly from back to front including an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a horizontal plane, a respective vertical rear side 10, 26, a respective transparent front side 8, 24 extending backwardly from top to bottom including an angle of approximately 15° with respect to a vertical plane, and a respective upper side having a sliding glass door 14, 30 being slanted downwardly from rear to front including an angle of approximately 10° with respect to a horizontal plane, and a rear portion 12, 28 being slanted downwardly from front to back including an angle of approximately 20° with respect to a horizontal plane.

In the interiors of the freezing chests 4 and 20, there are inserted respective cages 19, 35 for receiving and carrying goods to be sold. In the rear portion of the interiors of the freezing chests 4 and 20, there are arranged respective evaporators 16, 32 and respective fans 18, 34 of a vapor compression cycle.

In order to allow for good air circulation in the freezing chests 4 and 20, the cages 19 and 35 are spaced apart from the respective bottom 6, 22 and the respective transparent front side 8, 24. The air circulation in the interiors of the freezing chests 4, 20 is illustrated in Figure 1 by means of arrows.

The first freezing cabinet 36 comprises a vertical rear wall 42, a horizontal upper side 44, and a bottom 38, the rear portion of which is horizontal and the front portion of which extends upwardly from back to front including an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a horizontal plane.

In its front, the first freezing cabinet 36 comprises a pivotable glass door 40 having a handle providing access to its interior. In the interior of the first freezing cabinet 36, there are arranged three decks 46 approximately equidistantly over the height of the pivotable glass door 40. Below the lowest deck 46, there are disposed an evaporator 48 and a fan 50 of a vapor compression cycle. In particular, the evaporator 48 is arranged above the vertical portion of the bottom 38 and the fan 50 is arranged adjacent thereto and before it.

Furthermore, there are arranged in the interior of the first freezing cabinet 36 a vertical intermediate wall 45 and a horizontal intermediate ceiling 47 spaced apart from the rear wall 42 and the upper side 44, respectively. In the front portion of the lower deck 46 and in the front portion of the intermediate ceiling 47 there is at least one respective opening.

Cooling air circulates through the gap between the intermediate wall 45 and the rear wall 42, through the gap between the intermediate ceiling 47 and the upper side 44 and through the openings in the intermediate ceiling 47 and the lower deck 46, and thus sufficient air circulation for cooling the whole interior of the first freezing cabinet 36 is provided.

At the upper side 44 there is arranged a light for illuminating the interiors of the first freezing cabinet 36 and the freezing chests 4 and 20.

The lower freezing chest 4 is positioned on a base and extends partly into the sales room. The upper freezing chest 20 is disposed above the lower freezing chest 4 in a setback position in regard to the lower freezing chest 4 such that the front portion of the bottom 22 rests on the rear portion 12 of the upper side of the lower freezing chest 4. The first freezing cabinet 36 is disposed above and horizontally behind the upper freezing chest 20 such that the front portion of the bottom 38 rests on the rear portion 28 on the upper side of the upper freezing chest 20.

By this arrangement of the three units 4, 20, and 36 of the first frigorific sales furniture 2, a machinery space 52 is formed behind the freezing chests 4 and 20, the larger portion of which is situated behind the lower freezing chest 4. In this machinery space 52, a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, and electrical equipment of the vapor compression cycle can be disposed (not shown).

Figure 2 shows a second frigorific sales furniture 54 comprising, from bottom to top, the lower freezing chest 4 and the upper freezing chest 20, as described with reference to Figure 1, as well as a second freezing cabinet 56.

In the second freezing cabinet 56, an evaporator 58 and a fan 60 are disposed differently than the evaporator 48 and the fan 50 of the first freezing cabinet 36 of Figure 1. Namely, the evaporator 58 is placed in an upper corner region opposite to the goods acces portion, and the fan 60 is placed on the bottom 38, in particular on the horizontal portion thereof.

The remaining elements of the second freezing cabinet 56 correspond to those of the first freezing cabinet 36 of Figure 1 and are designated with the same reference numerals.

Figure 3 shows a third frigorific sales furniture 62 comprising, from bottom to top, a lower freezing chest 64, an upper freezing chest 72, and the first freezing cabinet 36, that has already been described with reference to Figure 1.

The shape of the reference chests 64 and 72 substantially corresponds to the shape of the freezing chests 4 and 20, wherein the rear portions 68 and 76 of the upper side thereof are mainly horizontal and the rear walls 66, 74 extend further upwardly. Thereby a larger upper corner extending farther to the back and thus a larger interior are obtained. In said upper corner regions, a respective evaporator 70, 78 is positioned. In the interiors of the freezing chests 64 and 72 there is also inserted a respective cage 71, 79 which is, however, not spaced apart from the bottom 6, 22 of the freezing chests 64, 72.

In the freezing chests 64 and 72, the refrigeration is effected via silent refrigeration. Therefore small tubes (not shown) are arranged in at least one of the respective bottoms 6, 22, the respective rear walls 66, 74 and the respective rear portions 68 and 76 of the upper sides.

The machinery space 80 substantially corresponds to the machinery space 52, wherein due to the horizontal formation of the rear portions 68 and 76 and due to the greater height of the rear walls 66 and 74 there is no intermediate space between the upper side rear portions 68, 76 and the bottoms 22 and 38. The bottom 22 of the upper freezing chest 72 rests on the rear portion 68 of the upper side of the lower freezing chest 64, and thus on a greater surface that is partly horizontal. The same holds for the bottom 38 of the first freezing cabinet 36 and the rear portion 76 of the upper side of the upper freezing chest 72.

Consequently, a more stable construction of the third frigorific sales furniture 62 is attained.

The remaining elements of the freezing chests 64, 72 correspond to those of the freezing chests 4, 20 of Figures 1 and 2 and are designated with the same reference numerals.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a fourth frigorific sales furniture 82.

The fourth frigorific sales furniture 82 corresponds to the second frigorific sales furniture 54 with the exception that its third freezing cabinet 84 comprises an evaporator 86 on the vertical portion of the bottom 38 and a fan 88 arranged behind the evaporator 86 on the bottom 38 in a rear corner portion. By this arrangement a sucking air flow is effected in the third freezing cabinet 84, since the fan 88 sucks air sinking down to the bottom 38 in the front of the third freezing cabinet 84 through the evaporator 86.

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of a fifth frigorific sales furniture 90.

The fifth frigorific sales furniture 90 corresponds to the second frigorific sales furniture 54 with the exception that its fourth freezing cabinet 92 comprises an evaporator 94 above the vertical portion of the bottom 38 and a fan 88 arranged on the bottom 38 before the evaporator 86. By this arrangement a pressing air flow is effected in the fourth freezing cabinet 92, since the fan 94 sucks air sinking down to the bottom 38 in the front of the third freezing cabinet 92 and presses it through the evaporator 94.

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a sixth frigorific sales furniture 98.

The sixth frigorific sales furniture 98 corresponds to the second frigorific sales furniture 54 with the exception that its fifth freezing cabinet 100 comprises an evaporator 102 above the vertical portion of the bottom 38 and a fan 104 arranged in an upper rear corner of the fifth freezing cabinet 100. By this arrangement a sucking air flow is effected in the fifth freezing cabinet 100, since the fan 104 sucks air from the outlet of the evaporator 102 and directs it to the front of the fifth freezing cabinet 100, where it sinks down to the bottom 38, where it enters the fifth freezing cabinet 100 again.

The air circulation in the interiors of the freezing cabinets 84, 92, 100 is illustrated in the Figures 4 to 6 by means of arrows.

All the freezing chests 4, 20; 64, 72 and all the freezing cabinets 36, 56, 84, 92, 100 comprise side walls (not shown in the Figures).

In all the frigorific sales furnitures 2, 54, 62, 82, 90 and 98, improved goods visibity and accessibility are attained by the large ratio of transparent/glass portions in the front area and by the particular configuration comprising the oblique sliding glass doors 14, 30, the oblique front portions of the bottoms 22, 38 and the oblique front sides 8, 24.

By providing three different independent frigorific units 4, 20, 36; 4, 20, 56; 64, 72, 36; 4, 20, 84; 4, 20, 92 and 4, 20, 100, a distinct separation of the goods to be sold as well as different temperatures if needed can be attained. The individual advantages of a freezing cabinet and the two freezing chests can be maintained.

The production costs for the frigorific sales furniture 2, 54, 62, 84, 90 and 98 according to the invention can be reduced since the two freezing chests 4, 20 and 64, 72 have approximately the same shape and size and can therefore be produced in the same production line.

Moreover, due to the utilization of the machinery space 52, 80 behind at least the lower freezing chest 4, 64 and particularly also behind the upper freezing chest 20, 72, a compact configuration providing the largest possible freezing and sales space can be attained. For the frigorific sales furnitures 2, 54, 62, 82, 90 and 98 according to the invention all conventional refrigeration techniques can be used.

In an alternative embodiment, the described frigorific sales furnitures comprise refrigerating chests instead of freezing chests, the refrigerating chests working at cooling/refrigerating temperatures above 0°C.

In a further alternative embodiment, the described frigorific sales furnitures comprise a combination of freezing and refrigerating chests. For example, the chests 4, 20 or 64, 72 can be freezing chests, whereas the cabinets 36, 56, 84, 92 and 100 can be refrigerating cabinets working at a cooling/refrigerating temperature above 0°C. Alternatively, the chests 4, 20 or 64, 72 can be refrigerating chests working at a cooling/refrigerating temperature above 0°C, whereas the cabinets 36, 56, 84, 92 and 100 can be freezing cabinets.

With such a frigorific sales furniture according to the above exemplary embodiments of the invention, the interiors of the two refrigerating or freezing chests and the refrigerating or freezing cabinet are visible from a viewing position in front of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet. The accessibility and the presentation of the goods are improved since the size of the gaps between goods in the frigorific sales furniture is reduced even in the case of low filling heights in the upper and lower refrigerating or freezing chests. Moreover, the frigorific sales furniture according to the invention is ergonomically advantageous, since the height of the upper and the lower refrigerating or freezing chests and thus the grasping distance for the consumer are reduced. Due to the fact that both chests have substantially the same shape and size they can be produced in the same production line thus reducing the production costs for the frigorific sales furniture. At the same time the advantages of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet in regard to its multilevel product arrangement approximately at eye level and its suitability for staple goods are maintained.

The two refrigerating or freezing chests and the refrigerating or freezing cabinet form three independent units that can each be supplied with staple goods or with bulk goods, respectively, and that can each have a respective individual freezing/deep-freezing or cooling/refrigerating temperature.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the three units can be a freezing unit working with a freezing or deep freezing temperature or a refrigerating unit working with a cooling or refrigerating temperature above 0°C.

In a further alternative embodiment, the described frigorific sales furniture comprises a combination of freezing and refrigerating units. For example, the cabinet can be a freezing cabinet, whereas the upper and the lower chests can be refrigerating chests working at a cooling/refrigerating temperature above 0°C. Alternatively, the cabinet can be a refrigerating cabinet working at a cooling/refrigerating temperature above 0°C, whereas the upper and the lower chests can be freezing chests.

All conventional methods of refrigeration can be applied, namely non-cyclic, cyclic and thermoelectric refrigeration (Peltier refrigeration). Particularly cyclic refrigeration, more particularly cyclic refrigeration using a vapor compression cycle is used, which utilizes a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, particularly also a fan, and a compressor. The evaporator can be formed as a coiled pipe or tube evaporator.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the goods access portions comprises a transparent door, particularly a glass door. By the transparent access portions a particularly good visibility of the goods is attained. The door(s) of the refrigerating or freezing chests can be formed as sliding doors, particularly as transparent or glass sliding doors, or as transparent or glass lids. The door(s) of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet can be either sliding door(s) or pivotable door(s) or both.

Alternatively, the goods access portions can be formed as a part of the open front side of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet and as at least part of the open upper sides of the refrigerating or freezing chests. This embodiment provides an easier access to the goods but consumes more energy, therefore making such a frigorific sales furniture mainly appropriate for the use with refrigerating temperatures above 0°C.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the goods access portions of the refrigerating or freezing chests are oblique/slanted forwardly thereby providing an enhanced visibility of the goods contained therein and an enhanced access to the interiors of these chests.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the bottom of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet extends upwardly from back to front thereby providing an enhanced visibility of the goods contained therein and an enhanced access to the interior of the upper refrigerating or freezing chest.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest extends backwardly from top to bottom. By this configuration of the front side of the upper refrigerating or freezing chest, an enhanced visibility of the goods of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest and an enhanced access to its interior are attained.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the bottom of the upper refrigerating or freezing chest extends upwardly, thereby providing an enhanced visibility of the goods in the lower refrigerating or freezing chest and an enhanced access to its interior.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least part of the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest is transparent, particularly made of glass, thereby further improving the visibility of the goods.

Due to the stepped arrangement of the lower and the upper refrigerating or freezing chests a space at least behind the lower refrigerating or freezing chest, particularly both behind the lower and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest is formed. Particularly, at least one of a compressor, a condenser and electrical equipment can be arranged in such space. Consequently, the available volume is utilized in an optimal manner, thereby reducing the total size and volume needed by the frigorific sales furniture and rendering the frigorific sales furniture more compact. Such a machinery space can be laterally covered by side cover panels, into which ventilation slots can be formed.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an evaporator, particularly also a fan, are arranged in the region of at least one of the refrigerating or freezing chests and the refrigerating or freezing cabinet, that is relatively difficult to access. Accordingly, no suitable sales space in the respective refrigerating or freezing chest and in the respective refrigerating or freezing cabinet is wasted and the frigorific sales furniture is made particularly effective and user-friendly.

Such difficult-to-access region can be situated in an upper corner region farther back than the goods access portion in the respective refrigerating or freezing chest. In the refrigerating or freezing cabinet such region can be situated in an upper corner region opposite to the goods access portion and/or at the bottom thereof.

By arranging an evaporator on the bottom of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet and a fan behind the evaporator on the bottom, a sucking air flow can be effected in the refrigerating or freezing cabinet.

By arranging an evaporator on the bottom of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet and a fan before the evaporator a pressing air flow can be effected in the refrigerating or freezing cabinet.

By arranging an evaporator on the bottom of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet and a fan in an upper corner region opposite to the goods access portion a sucking air flow can be effected in the refrigerating or freezing cabinet.

The interiors of the refrigerating or freezing chests are suitable both for bulk goods and for staple goods.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the refrigerating or freezing cabinet comprises goods display decks for supporting goods at multiple levels approximately at eye level thus providing optimized goods visibility and accessibility. The goods display decks are most suitable for supporting staple goods.

According a further embodiment of the frigorific sales furniture according to invention, the goods access portions of the lower refrigerating or freezing chest and the upper refrigerating or freezing chest include an angle of 2 to 25 degrees, particularly an angle of 5 to 20 degrees and more particularly an angle of 8 to 12 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales furniture according to the invention, the front portion of the bottom of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet includes an angle of 10 to 50 degrees, particularly an angle of 20 to 40 degrees and more particularly an angle of 25 to 35 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales furniture according to the invention, the front side of the respective refrigerating or freezing chest includes an angle of 5 to 25 degrees, particularly an angle of 10 to 20 degrees and more particularly an angle of 13 to 17 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.

According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales furniture according to the invention, the front portion of the bottom of the upper refrigerating or freezing chest includes an angle of 10 to 50 degrees, particularly an angle of 20 to 40 degrees and more particularly an angle of 25 to 35 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

According to a further embodiment of the frigorific sales furniture according to the invention, the refrigerating or freezing cabinet comprises goods display decks for supporting goods.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention, in addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention will not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

2

first frigorific sales furniture

4

lower freezing chest

6

bottom

8

transparent front side

10

rear wall

12

upper side rear portion

14

sliding glass door

16

evaporator

18

fan

19

cage

20

upper freezing chest

22

bottom

24

transparent front side

26

rear wall

28

upper side rear portion

30

sliding glass door

32

evaporator

34

fan

35

cage

36

first freezing cabinet

38

bottom

40

pivotable glass door

42

rear wall

44

upper side

45

intermediate wall

46

decks

47

intermediate ceiling

48

evaporator

50

fan

52

machinery space

54

second frigorific sales furniture

56

second freezing cabinet

58

evaporator

60

fan

62

third frigorific sales furniture

64

lower freezing chest

66

rear wall

68

upper side rear portion

70

evaporator

71

cage

72

upper freezing chest

74

rear wall

76

upper side rear portion

78

evaporator

79

cage

80

machinery space

82

fourth frigorific sales furniture

84

third freezing cabinet

86

evaporator

88

fan

90

fifth frigorific sales furniture

92

fourth freezing cabinet

94

evaporator

96

fan

98

sixth frigorific sales furniture

100

fifth freezing cabinet

102

evaporator

104

fan