Refrigerated case with partial height doors

Abstract

A temperature controlled case includes: a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products; an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area; a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and a door coupled to the housing. The door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature controlled case comprising:
 a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;   an opening across the housing that provides access to the display area;   a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and   a door coupled to the housing, the door movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature controlled case is at least one of a vertical, horizontal, service over-counter, or semi-vertical style refrigerated case. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 3 , wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce an amount of heat transfer via the gap. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 4 , wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 1 , wherein the door is configured to be at least one of rotatably and slidably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A temperature controlled case comprising:
 a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;   an opening across the housing that provides access to the display area;   a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature;   a door coupled to the housing, the door movable between a full close position and a full open position, such that when the door is in the full close position, the door partially covers the opening to create a gap between the door and the opening; and   a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing, the barrier device configured to provide a barrier to reduce an amount of heat transfer via the gap.   
     
     
         8 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature controlled case of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature controlled case is at least one of a vertical, horizontal, service over-counter, or semi-vertical style refrigerated case. 
     
     
         10 . A vertically oriented temperature controlled case comprising:
 a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;   an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge;   a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a predetermined temperature; and   a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge;   wherein the door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, and   wherein in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is in substantial contact with the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a gap away from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount heat transfer may occur via the gap.   
     
     
         11 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 10 , wherein the door is at least one of slidably and rotatably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 10 , further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 12 , wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce the amount of heat transfer via the gap. 
     
     
         14 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 13 , wherein the barrier device is at least one of a solid divider and an air guiding device. 
     
     
         15 . A vertically oriented temperature controlled case comprising:
 a housing that defines a display area configured to receive one or more products;   an opening across a front of the housing that provides access to the display area, the opening having a top edge and a bottom edge;   a cooling system configured to keep the display area at a substantially predetermined temperature; and   a door coupled to the housing, the door including a top edge and a bottom edge,   wherein the door is movable between a full close position and a full open position, and   wherein in the full close position, the bottom edge of the door is separated by a first gap away from the bottom edge of the opening and the top edge of the door is separated by a second gap away from the top edge of the opening, such that an amount heat transfer may occur via the first and second gaps.   
     
     
         16 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 15 , wherein the door is at least one of slidably and rotatably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 15 , further comprising a barrier device coupled to one of the door and the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier device is configured to provide a barrier to reduce the amount of heat transfer via the first and second gaps. 
     
     
         19 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second gap distances are equal. 
     
     
         20 . The vertically oriented temperature controlled case of  claim 15 , wherein the first gap is less than the second gap.