Decorative door for cooler

Abstract

A decorative door for a cooler includes a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that are in communication with one another. The frame is adapted for mounting to a cooler in a hinged fashion. An interior transparent panel is secured by its edges within the circumferential slot of the frame and features a decorative channel formed therein. A number of light-emitting diodes serve as light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber and illuminate the decorative channel of the interior transparent panel. Inner surface and outer surface transparent panels are mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the interior transparent panel and the spaces there between are at least partially evacuated of air. The frame also includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material, such as molecular mesh.

1 . A decorative door for a cooler comprising: 
 a. a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that are in communication with one another, said frame adapted for mounting to a cooler in a hinged fashion;    b. a first transparent panel secured by its edges within the circumferential slot of the frame, said first transparent panel having a decorative channel formed therein;    c. a plurality of light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber, said plurality of light sources illuminating the decorative channel of the first transparent panel; and    d. a second transparent panel secured by its edges to the frame so that a first space is formed between the first and second transparent panels, said first space being at least partially evacuated of air.    
   
   
       2 . The decorative door of  claim 1  wherein said first transparent panel is an interior transparent panel and said second transparent panel is an outer surface transparent panel and further comprising an inner surface transparent panel, said inner surface transparent panel secured by its edges so that a second space is formed between the interior transparent panel and the inner surface transparent panel, said second space being at least partially evacuated of air.  
   
   
       3 . The decorative door of  claim 2  wherein the frame includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material.  
   
   
       4 . The decorative door of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material.  
   
   
       5 . The decorative door of  claim 4  wherein the insulating material includes a molecular mesh.  
   
   
       6 . The decorative door of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of light sources are light-emitting diodes.  
   
   
       7 . The decorative door of  claim 1  wherein the decorative channel is generally V-shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The decorative door of  claim 1  further comprising left and right door posts mounted to opposing sides of said frame wherein one of the door posts is adapted to mount the decorative door to a cooler and the other door post includes a handle.  
   
   
       9 . The decorative door of  claim 8  wherein the left and right door posts secure the second transparent panel to the frame.  
   
   
       10 . The decorative door of  claim 1  further comprising top end and bottom end caps attached to the frame and securing the second transparent panel to the frame.  
   
   
       11 . The decorative door of  claim 1  further comprising an insulation bridge secured to the frame in a circumferential fashion, said insulation bridge including a glass engagement portion that secures the second transparent panel to the frame.  
   
   
       12 . The decorative door of  claim 11  further comprising a door gasket circumferentially attached to the insulation bridge.  
   
   
       13 . A cooler comprising: 
 a. a housing containing a refrigerated space, said housing featuring an open front so that the refrigerated space may be accessed; and    b. a decorative door mounted to the housing in a hinged fashion so that the open front of the housing may be selectively closed, said decorative door including: 
 i) a frame featuring a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber that are in communication with one another, said frame adapted for mounting to a cooler in a hinged fashion;  
 ii) a first transparent panel secured by its edges within the circumferential slot of the frame, said first transparent panel having a decorative channel formed therein;  
 iii) a plurality of light sources positioned in the circumferential chamber, said plurality of light sources illuminating the decorative channel of the first transparent panel;  
 iv) a second transparent panel secured by its edges to the frame so that a first space is formed between the first and second transparent panels, said first space being at least partially evacuated of air.  
   
   
   
       14 . The cooler of  claim 13  wherein said first transparent panel of the decorative door is an interior transparent panel and said second transparent panel of the decorative door is an outer surface transparent panel and the decorative door further comprising an inner surface transparent panel, said inner surface transparent panel secured by its edges so that a second space is formed between the interior transparent panel and the inner surface transparent panel, said second space being at least partially evacuated of air.  
   
   
       15 . The cooler of  claim 14  wherein the frame of the decorative door includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material.  
   
   
       16 . The cooler of  claim 13  wherein the frame of the decorative door includes a circumferential passage containing an insulating material.  
   
   
       17 . The cooler of  claim 16  wherein the insulating material includes a molecular mesh.  
   
   
       18 . The cooler of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of light sources of the decorative door are light-emitting diodes.  
   
   
       19 . The cooler of  claim 13  wherein the decorative channel of the decorative door is generally V-shaped.  
   
   
       20 . The cooler of  claim 13  wherein the decorative door also includes: 
 v) an insulation bridge secured to the frame in a circumferential fashion, said insulation bridge including a glass engagement portion that secures the second transparent panel to the frame; and    vi) a door gasket circumferentially attached to the insulation bridge.