Refrigerated merchandiser with dual air curtain

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, and a shelf supported by the case within the product display area. The case includes a base that is disposed below the product display area and a canopy that is disposed substantially above the product display area. The shelf includes an air discharge duct that is configured to direct a first air curtain generally downward from the shelf into the product display area toward the base, and an air return duct that is configured to receive at least a portion of a second air curtain discharged into the product display area from above the shelf.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:
 a case defining a product display area and including a base disposed below the product display area and a canopy disposed substantially above the product display area; and   a shelf supported by the case within the product display area and including an air discharge duct configured to direct a first air curtain generally downward from the shelf into the product display area toward the base, the shelf further including an air return duct configured to receive at least a portion of a second air curtain discharged into the product display area from above the shelf.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the canopy defines an upper flue configured to direct the second air curtain into the product display area from above the shelf. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is a first shelf of the refrigerated merchandiser, wherein the refrigerated merchandiser further comprises a second shelf positioned above the first shelf and including an air discharge duct configured to direct the second air curtain generally downward toward the first shelf. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the case further defines a rear discharge flue in communication with the shelf to distribute a first airflow to the air discharge duct, and a rear return flue in communication with the shelf to receive a second airflow from the air return duct. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 4 , wherein the case includes a plurality of rear discharge flues and a plurality of rear return flues alternatingly positioned across a horizontal length of the case such that one rear discharge flue is positioned adjacent at least one rear return flue. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf defines one air discharge duct and at least two air return ducts. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 6 , wherein the air discharge duct is located substantially lower than the air return ducts. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator coupled to the case and configured to refrigerate an airflow within the case, and wherein the case defines a primary passageway having a first portion configured to direct the airflow toward the canopy, and a second portion configured to direct the airflow toward the shelf. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1 , wherein the first air curtain discharged from the shelf and the portion of the second air curtain received by the shelf are defined as short throw air curtains configured to travel through the product display area a distance less than the full height of the product display area. 
   
   
       10 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:
 a case defining a product display area and including a base disposed below the product display area and a canopy disposed substantially above the product display area, the canopy configured to discharge a first air curtain toward the base; and   a plurality of shelves supported by the case within the product display area, the plurality of shelves including an upper shelf having an air discharge duct, and a lower shelf positioned vertically below the upper shelf and having an air return duct, at least one of the canopy and the upper shelf configured to discharge a second air curtain substantially vertically through the product display area such that the second air curtain is at least partially received by the air return duct of the lower shelf.   
   
   
       11 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 10 , wherein the first air curtain is defined as a long throw air curtain configured to travel through the product display area from the canopy to the base a distance substantially the height of the product display area, and wherein the second air curtain is defined as a short throw air curtain configured to travel through the product display area from at least one of the canopy and the upper shelf toward the base a distance less than the full height of the product display area. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 10 , wherein the case further defines a rear discharge flue in communication with the upper shelf to distribute a first airflow to the air discharge duct, and a rear return flue in communication with the lower shelf to receive a second airflow from the air return duct. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 12 , wherein the case includes a plurality of rear discharge flues and a plurality of rear return flues alternatingly positioned across a horizontal length of the case such that one rear discharge flue is positioned adjacent at least one rear return flue. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 10 , wherein the lower shelf defines at least two air return ducts configured to receive at least a portion of the second air curtain from the upper shelf, the lower shelf further defining one air discharge duct configured to discharge a third air curtain generally downward toward the base. 
   
   
       15 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 14 , wherein the air discharge duct is located substantially below the air return ducts. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 10 , wherein the upper shelf defines at least two air return ducts configured to receive at least a portion of the second air curtain from the canopy. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 10 , further comprising an evaporator coupled to the case and configured to refrigerate an airflow within the case, and wherein the case defines a primary passageway having a first portion configured to direct the airflow toward the canopy, and a second portion configured to direct the airflow toward the upper shelf. 
   
   
       18 . A method of conditioning a product display area of a refrigerated merchandiser, the method comprising:
 providing a case including a base disposed below the product display area and a canopy disposed substantially above the product display area;   providing a shelf supported by the case within the product display area;   discharging a first air curtain generally downward from the shelf into the product display area toward the base;   discharging a second air curtain generally downward into the product display area from above the shelf; and   receiving at least a portion of the second air curtain via an air return duct of the shelf.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising discharging a third air curtain from the canopy toward the base. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising discharging the first air curtain and the second air curtain toward the base a distance less than the full height of the product display area. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising
 distributing a first portion of an airflow through the case toward the canopy; and   distributing a second portion of the airflow through the case toward the shelf.