Display Merchandiser with Lighting Enhancement

Abstract

Illumination of the interior product display space of a cold beverage merchandizer is enhanced by: a first reflector ( 90 ) disposed along a lower front region of the interior product display space at the front of the cabinet; a second reflector ( 92 ) disposed in the upper front region of the interior display space in operative association with a lamp ( 80 ); a third reflector ( 94 ) disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a side and front of the cabinet; a fourth reflector ( 94 ) disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a side and front of the cabinet opposite the third reflector, a fifth reflector ( 96 ) mounted to an interior facing surface of the door bounding the upper front region of the interior display space, and a sixth reflector ( 98 ) mounted to an interior facing surface of the door.

1 . A display merchandiser having an improved lighting system for illuminating an interior product display space within said display merchandiser, said display merchandiser comprising:
 a cabinet defining the interior display space and having an area through which at least a portion of the interior display region can be viewed, said viewing area bounded by at least a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;   a lamp disposed along the first side for emitting light into the interior product display space; and   a first reflector disposed along the second side of said access opening, said first reflector adapted to direct at least of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior product display space.   
     
     
         2 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second reflector disposed along the first side in operative association with said lamp, said second reflector adapted to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp toward said first reflector.   
     
     
         3 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a third reflector disposed along a third side extending laterally along said viewing area between the first side and the second side, said third reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior product display space.   
     
     
         4 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 3  further comprising:
 a fourth reflector disposed along a fourth side extending laterally along said viewing area between the first side and the second side and opposite of the third side, said fourth reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior product display space.   
     
     
         5 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 1  wherein said viewing area comprises an access opening to the interior display space of said cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 5  further comprising at least one transparent door mounted to said cabinet, said at least one door being selectively positionable between a first position in which said door closes said access opening to access to the interior display space and a second position in which said door opens said access opening to access to the interior display space. 
     
     
         7 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 6  wherein said at least one transparent door comprises at least one hinged glass door. 
     
     
         8 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 6  wherein said at least one transparent door comprises at least one sliding glass door. 
     
     
         9 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 6  further comprising a fifth reflector disposed along a first portion of said door bounding the first side of said viewing area, said fifth reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior display space. 
     
     
         10 . A display merchandiser as recited in  claim 6  further comprising a sixth reflector disposed along a second portion of said door bounding the second side of said viewing area, said sixth reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior display space. 
     
     
         11 . A display case as recited in  claim 1  wherein said viewing area comprises a transparent surface of said cabinet. 
     
     
         12 . A cold beverage merchandiser having an improved lighting system for illuminating an interior product display space within said merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising:
 a refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by a top, a base, an open front, and a surrounding side wall structure including a plurality of insulated side walls extending between said top and said base;   at least one door mounted to said cabinet and extending across the open front of the interior display space, said at least one door having a transparent viewing area through which at least a portion of the interior display space can be viewed;   a lamp disposed along an upper front region of the interior display space at the top and front of the cabinet for emitting light into the interior product display space; and   a bottom reflector disposed along a lower front region of the interior display space at the base and front of the cabinet, said bottom reflector adapted to direct at least of the light emitted from said lamp to illuminate the interior product display space.   
     
     
         13 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a lamp reflector disposed in the upper front region of the interior display space in operative association with said lamp, said lamp reflector adapted to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp toward said first reflector. 
     
     
         14 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first side reflector disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a side and front of the cabinet, said first side reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp to illuminate the interior product display space; and   a second side reflector disposed in a side front region of the interior display space at a side and front of the cabinet opposite said first side reflector, said second side reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp to illuminate the interior product display space.   
     
     
         15 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a side reflector disposed in a front region of the interior display space at a side of the cabinet, said side reflector adapted to reflect an image of the interior product display space toward the transparent viewing area of said at least one door. 
     
     
         16 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a first door reflector mounted to an interior facing surface of said at least one door bounding the upper front region of the interior display space, said first door reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior display space. 
     
     
         17 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a second door reflector mounted to an interior facing surface of said at least one door bounding the lower front region of the interior display space, said second door reflector adapted to direct at least a portion of the light emitted from said lamp into the interior display space. 
     
     
         18 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one door comprises at least one glass door. 
     
     
         19 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one door comprises at least one hinged glass door. 
     
     
         20 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one transparent door comprises at least one sliding glass door. 
     
     
         21 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a refrigerant unit operatively associated with said refrigerated cabinet for supplying refrigerated air to the interior display space of said cabinet. 
     
     
         22 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 12  wherein said refrigeration unit comprises a refrigeration cassette including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a refrigerant flow circuit. 
     
     
         23 . A cold beverage merchandiser having an improved lighting system for illuminating an interior product display space within said merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising:
 a refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by a top wall, a base, a surrounding side wall structure including a plurality of insulated side walls extending between the top wall and the base, and an open access area in either the top wall or one of the side walls providing access to the interior display space;   at least one door mounted to said cabinet and extending across the open access area of the interior display space, said at least one door having a transparent viewing area through which at least a portion of the interior display space can be viewed;   a lamp disposed within the cabinet along a first side bounding the open access area for emitting light into the interior product display space; and   a reflector disposed within the cabinet along a second side bounding the open access area, said reflector adapted to reflect an image of the interior product display space toward the transparent viewing area of said at least one door.   
     
     
         24 . A cold beverage merchandiser as recited in  claim 23  wherein the open access area is in a front side wall of the cabinet, the lamp is disposed along an upper side bounding the open access area, and the reflector is disposed along a vertical side bounding the open access area. 
     
     
         25 . A refrigerated merchandiser having an improved lighting system for illuminating an interior product display space within said merchandiser, said cold beverage merchandiser comprising:
 a refrigerated cabinet defining the interior display space bounded by a top wall, a base wall, an open front, and a surrounding side wall structure including a plurality of insulated side walls extending between said top wall and said base wall;   at least one door mounted to said cabinet and extending across the open front of the interior display space, said at least one door having a transparent viewing area through which at least a portion of the interior display space can be viewed;   a lamp disposed along an upper front region of the interior display space at the top wall and front of the cabinet for emitting light into the interior product display space;   a reflective surface disposed along a lower front region of the interior display space at the base and front of the cabinet;   a lamp reflector disposed in the upper front region of the interior display space in operative association with said lamp;   a reflective surface disposed along a first side front region of the interior display space of the cabinet; and   a reflective surface disposed along a second side front region of the interior display space of the cabinet opposite the first side front region.   
     
     
         26 . A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in  claim 25  further comprising:
 a reflective surface on an interior facing surface of said at least one door bounding the upper front region of the interior display space; and   a reflective surface on an interior facing surface of said at least one door bounding the lower front region of the interior display space.