Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser ( 10 ) includes a cabinet ( 20 ) defining an interior product display space ( 100 ) and a refrigeration unit ( 50 ) is disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment ( 55 ) beneath the lower deck ( 24 ). An opening in the lower deck provides an air return inlet ( 102 ) establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space ( 100 ) to the compartment ( 55 ) beneath the lower deck. A cover ( 120 ) includes a top plate member ( 122 ) disposed superadjacent the return air inlet and a downwardly extending peripheral side flange ( 124 ) disposed about the periphery of the top plate member ( 122 ). A plurality of air intake ports ( 125 ) are provided in the peripheral side flange ( 124 ). The lower deck ( 24 ) has a recessed upper surface ( 124 C) facing the product display space ( 100 ). A grille plate ( 130 ) extends across the air return inlet.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior product display space, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior product display space;    a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment beneath the lower wall;    an opening in the lower wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space to the compartment beneath the lower wall; and    a cover disposed atop the lower wall superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including an air flow opening lying in a generally vertical plane.    
   
   
       2 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said an air flow opening comprises a plurality of air inlet ports disposed in a generally vertical peripheral wall of the cover.  
   
   
       3 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a recessed upper surface provided in the lower wall, the recessed upper surface facing the interior product display space, the air return inlet disposed within the recessed upper surface.  
   
   
       4 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a grille plate disposed beneath the cover and atop the air return inlet, the grille plate extending generally horizontally across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.  
   
   
       5 . A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior product display space, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior product display space;    a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment beneath the lower wall;    an opening in the lower wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space to the compartment beneath the lower wall; and    a cover disposed atop the lower deck superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower deck.    
   
   
       6 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 5  further comprising a recessed upper surface provided in the lower wall, the recessed upper surface facing the product display space, the air return inlet disposed within the recessed upper surface.  
   
   
       7 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 5  wherein the cover further includes a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower wall.  
   
   
       8 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 7  wherein the cover further includes an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange.  
   
   
       9 . A refrigerated merchandiser having an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior space, the lower deck having a recessed upper surface facing the interior space;    a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall; and    an opening disposed in the recessed upper surface in the lower wall and providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall.    
   
   
       10 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 9  further comprising a grille plate disposed the cover and atop the air return inlet, the grille plate extending generally horizontally across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a cover disposed atop the lower wall superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower wall.    
   
   
       12 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the cover further includes a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower wall.  
   
   
       13 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 11  wherein the cover further includes an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior space, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining the interior space;    a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment separated from the interior space by one of the plurality of cabinet walls as a common wall;    an opening in the common wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space through said common wall into the compartment; and    a grille plate extending across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.