Soft-coated glass pane refrigerator door construction and method of making same

Abstract

A door for a refrigerator display case is provided. The door includes a glass panel having a surface coated with a low-emissivity soft coating. A refrigerator display case is also provided. The display case has a refrigerated enclosure and a door with three glass panels. The middle glass panel is coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.

1 . A door for a refrigerated display case, said glass door comprising a glass panel having a surface coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       2 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.1.  
   
   
       3 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.05.  
   
   
       4 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.03.  
   
   
       5 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said glass panel is untempered.  
   
   
       6 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission greater than about 0.6.  
   
   
       7 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.7.  
   
   
       8 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.75.  
   
   
       9 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said surface has an uncoated perimeter portion.  
   
   
       10 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said uncoated perimeter portion is substantially the entire perimeter of the glass panel.  
   
   
       11 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein said glass panel is untempered.  
   
   
       12 . A door for a refrigerated display case, comprising three glass panels, each said panel having first and second surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces of one of said panels is coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       13 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said three glass panels comprise a first glass panel, a second glass panel and a third glass panel, and wherein said second glass panel is located between said first glass panel and said third glass panel.  
   
   
       14 . The door of  claim 13 , wherein said first surface of said second glass panel is coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       15 . The door of  claim 13 , wherein said first surface of said second panel and said second surface of said second panel are coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       16 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.1.  
   
   
       17 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.05.  
   
   
       18 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.03.  
   
   
       19 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the glass panel having the coated surface is untempered.  
   
   
       20 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission greater than about 0.6.  
   
   
       21 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.7.  
   
   
       22 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.75.  
   
   
       23 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein said coated surface has an uncoated perimeter portion.  
   
   
       24 . The door of  claim 23 , wherein said uncoated perimeter portion is substantially the entire perimeter of the glass panel having the coated surface.  
   
   
       25 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the glass panel having a coated surface is untempered.  
   
   
       26 . A refrigerated display case, comprising: 
 a. a refrigerated enclosure having an interior space and an opening;    b. a door connected to said refrigerated enclosure and movable from a closed position to an open position, said door comprising a first glass panel, a second glass panel, and a third glass panel, wherein said first glass panel is distal from said interior space, said third panel is proximate said interior space, and said second panel is located between said first panel and said second panel, said second panel further comprising first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface faces said first panel, said first surface is coated with a soft coating, and said coated first surface has an emissivity of not more than about 0.1.    
   
   
       27 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein said coated first surface has an emissivity of not more than about 0.05.  
   
   
       28 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein said coated first surface has an emssivity of not more than about 0.03.  
   
   
       29 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein said coated first surface has an uncoated perimeter portion.  
   
   
       30 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 29 , wherein the uncoated perimeter portion is substantially the entire perimeter of the second glass panel.  
   
   
       31 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein said door further comprises a spacer assembly between said first glass panel and said second glass panel.  
   
   
       32 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 31 , wherein said spacer assembly comprises warm edge technology.  
   
   
       33 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 31 , wherein said spacer assembly abuttingly contacts said first surface, thereby defining a contact location on said first surface.  
   
   
       34 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 33 , wherein said contact location of said first surface is not coated with said low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       35 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 31 , wherein said spacer assembly comprises a sealant adapted to form a seal between said first glass panel and said second glass panel.  
   
   
       36 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein the door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.6.  
   
   
       37 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein the door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.7.  
   
   
       38 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 26 , wherein the door has a visible light transmission of greater than about 0.75.  
   
   
       39 . A method of assembling a display case having a refrigerated enclosure and an opening, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a door, said door comprising a glass panel having a surface, said surface being coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.    b. movably covering said opening with said door.    
   
   
       40 . A method of assembling a display case having a refrigerated enclosure and an opening, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a door comprising three glass panels, each said panel having first and second surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is coated with a low emissivity soft coating;    b. movably covering said opening with said door.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said three glass panels comprise a first glass panel, a second glass panel and a third glass panel, and wherein said second glass panel is located between said first glass panel and said third glass panel.  
   
   
       42 . The door of  claim 41 , wherein said coated surface is said first surface of said second glass panel.  
   
   
       43 . The door of  claim 41 , wherein said coated surface is said first surface of said second glass panel and said second surface of said second glass panel is coated with a low-emissivity soft coating.  
   
   
       44 . The door of  claim 40 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.1.  
   
   
       45 . The door of  claim 40 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.05.  
   
   
       46 . The door of  claim 40 , wherein said emissivity of said coated surface is not more than about 0.03.  
   
   
       47 . The door of  claim 40 , wherein the glass panel having said coated surface is untempered.