Mullion assembly

Abstract

A mullion assembly ( 13 ) for a refrigerated cabinet ( 10 ) has an extruded metal post ( 14 ) as its main structural member. A flexible cover strip ( 15 ) is clipped on to the front face of the post ( 14 ), and forms the surface against which the doors of the cabinet seal when closed. One or more magnetic strips ( 16 ) are located between the post ( 14 ) and the cover strip ( 15 ) for magnetic interaction with associated magnetic strips in respective doors. An apertured plate ( 18 ) may be fitted to the rear of the post ( 14 ). A light ( 20 ) is suitably mounted to the rear plate ( 18 ). End caps ( 23 ) may also be fitted to the top and bottom of the post ( 14 ).

1 . A mullion assembly for a door frame of a refrigerated cabinet, the mullion assembly comprising 
 a post member,    a vertical cover strip fitted along the front of the post member and forming the front face of the mullion against which a door of the cabinet may seal, the cover strip being made of a material of low thermal conductivity, and    at least one magnetically attractive member located between the post member and the cover strip for magnetic interaction with an associated magnetic strip on the door.    
     
     
         2 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the cover strip is a flexible clip-on strip made of plastics material which is removably attached to the post member.  
     
     
         3 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 1    or    2   , wherein the magnetically attractive member is a magnetic strip extending longitudinally along the post member.  
     
     
         4 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 1    or    2   , wherein said at least one magnetically attractive member comprises two spaced parallel magnetic strips extending longitudinally along the post member, for magnetic interaction with an associated magnetic strip of a respective door of the cabinet.  
     
     
         5 . A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one heating wire located between the post member and the cover strip.  
     
     
         6 . A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post member is a generally C-shaped metal extrusion.  
     
     
         7 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 6   , further comprising a plate member fitted to the rear of the post member, and spaced from the front of the post member to form a cavity between the plate member and the front of the post member.  
     
     
         8 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 7   , wherein the cavity is filled with a thermally insulating material.  
     
     
         9 . A mullion assembly as claimed in    claim 7   , further comprising an electrical light mounted to the rear of the plate member, the plate member having apertures therein.  
     
     
         10 . A mullion assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising end brackets fitted to the ends of the post member, the end brackets having apertures therein for passage of electrical wiring.  
     
     
         11 . A refrigerated cabinet having a door frame on which at least two doors are mounted, the door frame having a mullion assembly against which the two doors close, the mullion assembly comprising 
 a post member having a front side,    a vertical cover strip fitted along the front side of the post member, the cover strip being made of a plastics material and forming the front face of the mullion against which the doors of the cabinet may seal, and    a pair of magnetically attractive strips located between the post member and the cover strip for magnetic interaction with an associated magnetic strip on a respective door.    
     
     
         12 . A refrigerated cabinet having a mullion assembly comprising 
 a post member having a front side,    a vertical cover strip removably fitted to the front side of the post member, the cover strip being formed of a flexible plastics material, the cover strip forming the front face of the mullion assembly against which a door of the cabinet may seal,    at least one magnetically attractive member located between the post member and the cover strip for magnetic interaction with an associated magnetic strip on the door, and    an elongate plate member fitted to the rear of the post member, and spaced from the front side thereof so as to form a cavity between the plate member and the front side of the post member.    
     
     
         13 . A mullion assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.