Temperature-controlled enclosure with clear mullion

Abstract

A mullion for a temperature-controlled enclosure. The mullion includes a transparent front-facing portion and a load-bearing portion. The transparent front-facing portion defines one or more scaling surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mullion for a temperature-controlled enclosure, comprising:
 a transparent front-facing portion defining one or more sealing surfaces; and   a load-bearing portion.   
     
     
         2 . The mullion of  claim 1 , wherein
 the mullion comprises a body having a rectangular tubular shape, and   at least a forward-facing wall of the body is transparent.   
     
     
         3 . The mullion of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion comprises a body defines a U-shape and comprises:
 a transparent-front-facing portion; and   a pair of opposing side walls.   
     
     
         4 . The mullion of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion is configured to extend between an upper frame portion of the temperature-controlled enclosure and a lower frame portion of the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The mullion of  claim 4 , wherein the load-bearing portion is configured to bear a portion of a weight of the upper frame portion of the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The mullion of  claim 1 , wherein the mullion comprises:
 a body, wherein at least a portion of the body is included in the load-bearing portion; and   a transparent front plate configured to snap into the body, the transparent front plate comprising at least one of the one or more sealing surfaces.   
     
     
         7 . The mullion of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more connecting brackets configured to couple the mullion to a frame of the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The mullion of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient seal configured to contact one or more surfaces of doors of the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The mullion of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more perimeter lights positioned about mullion and coupled to the temperature-controlled enclosure, the perimeter lights configured to illuminate objects in the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . A temperature-controlled enclosure for displaying cold items, comprising:
 a body comprising a front opening and defining an interior space of the temperature-controlled enclosure;   a frame assembly coupled in the front opening of the body, the frame assembly comprising an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion;   two or more doors coupled to the frame assembly, at least two of the doors comprising one or more transparent panes; and   one or more mullions coupled to the frame assembly and extending from the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, wherein each of at least one of the mullions is between two adjoining ones of the two or more doors, the one or more mullion comprising a front-facing transparent portion.   
     
     
         11 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , wherein further comprising one or more brackets, each of at least one of the brackets coupled between the one or more mullions and the upper frame portion or the lower frame portion. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the brackets comprises a projection that extends into the one or more mullions. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more lights coupled to the one or more mullions and configured to illuminate objects in the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the mullions comprises a load bearing portion configured to bear a portion of a weight of the upper frame portion of the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more insulating devices coupled to at least one of the two or more doors and configured to contact the one or more mullions at least when at least one door is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the insulating devices comprises a blade. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , further comprising insulating devices on at least one of the two adjoining doors coupled to a sealing surface of at least one of the mullions. 
     
     
         18 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein the insulating devices comprises a resilient blade configured to engage the sealing surface. 
     
     
         19 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein the resilient blade extends at an angle relative a rear surface of the doors. 
     
     
         20 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein the insulating device comprises a resilient bulb. 
     
     
         21 . The temperature-controlled enclosure of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more perimeter lights positioned about mullion and coupled to the temperature-controlled enclosure, the perimeter lights configured to illuminate objects in the temperature-controlled enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . A system for maintaining temperature in a temperature-controlled enclosure, comprising:
 a door comprising one or more transparent panes;   a mullion comprising a transparent front-facing portion; and   an insulating device that resides between the door and the mullion when the door is closed, wherein the insulating device comprises a transparent blade.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more perimeter lights positioned about mullion and coupled to the temperature-controlled enclosure, the perimeter lights configured to illuminate objects in the temperature-controlled enclosure.