Display showcase for fresh merchandise, such as fresh bread, cakes and pastries

Abstract

A showcase for the sales presentation of fresh merchandise, preferably fresh bread and/or cakes and pastries, includes a substantially box-like chamber for receiving the merchandise. The chamber is accessible from the outside via closing elements actuated via doors, hinged flap-type doors or the like. The showcase includes at least one air inlet for at least one externally generated cooled current of circulating air, and at least one air outlet for discharging the circulating air from the chamber receiving the merchandise. At least one lamp generating light in the merchandise-receiving chamber is also included. Each lamp has a closed housing with at least partly transparent housing walls. A predetermined area of the housing walls of at least one of the lamps has a breakthrough that is open toward the merchandise-receiving chamber. The interior of each housing having the breakthrough participates at least partly in the formation of the air outlet system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A presentation showcase for fresh food merchandise, comprising 
 (a) a closable chamber for receiving and allowing access to merchandise;    (b) at least one air inlet provided in said chamber for admitting at least one externally generated, cooled current of air;    (c) at least one air outlet provided in said chamber for discharging circulating air from said chamber; and    (d) at least one lamp mounted in the chamber for generating light within the chamber, said at least one lamp comprising a closed housing having an interior and at least partially transparent housing walls provided with at least one breakthrough open toward the chamber in a predetermined area of the housing walls;    wherein the interior of said housing with said at least one breakthrough is fluidly connected to said at least one air outlet to assist in the discharge of circulating air from said chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said air outlet comprises an air duct for discharging circulating air and said housing of each of the at least one lamps comprises a tube having at least an end portion permitting air to feed into said air duct.  
     
     
         3 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises side walls, at least one of said side walls having an air duct for discharging circulating air from said chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said housing of each of the at least one lamps comprises a tube having a length and each of said at least one breakthrough in the housing of said at least one lamp is arranged in a center portion with respect to the length of the tube.  
     
     
         5 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises a cabinet substructure housing equipment for generating a cooled current of circulating air and a bottom forming a cover for the substructure, wherein said at least one air inlet and said at least one air outlet comprise openings in said cover and wherein the showcase further comprises air shafts associated with the openings on a side of the substructure, said openings feeding into the associated air shafts.  
     
     
         6 . The showcase according to  claim 5  further comprising a first widened slot extending lengthwise over said chamber, wherein said openings in said cover comprise a first opening feeding into the first widened slot.  
     
     
         7 . The showcase according to  claim 6  wherein said chamber comprises a front wall and said first widened slot is arranged in an area of transition between the bottom and the front wall of said chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The showcase according to  claim 6  further comprising a second widened slot extending lengthwise over said chamber, wherein said openings in said cover comprise a second opening forming an air outlet feeding into the second widened slot.  
     
     
         9 . The showcase according to  claim 8  wherein said chamber comprises a back wall and said second widened slot is arranged in an area of transition between the bottom and the back wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises a frame assembled from sections forming a plurality of compartments, said chamber having a front wall, a back wall, side walls, a top shelf board and a lower bottom cover inserted in said compartments.  
     
     
         11 . The showcase according to  claim 10  further comprising an air shaft fluidly connected to said at least one air outlet for discharge of circulating air from said chamber and wherein said sections comprise tubes fluidly connected to said air shaft to assist in the discharge of partly circulating air.  
     
     
         12 . The showcase according to  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises a substructure and a bottom forming a cover closing the substructure at a top side of the substructure.  
     
     
         13 . The showcase according to  claim 12  wherein said cover comprises a double-walled structural component with an inner insulating layer.  
     
     
         14 . The showcase according to  claim 12  wherein the cover has a surface facing the chamber and a trough formed in said surface.  
     
     
         15 . The showcase according to  claim 14  further comprising a cover board covering the trough and extending in the chamber, wherein said chamber comprises a front wall and a back wall and said cover board is positioned with a predetermined spacing from the front of the front wall and the front of the back wall to form first and second widened slots forming said at least one air inlet and said at least one air outlet.  
     
     
         16 . The showcase according to  claim 15  further comprising a first air-conducting shaft associated with said at least one air outlet on a suction side of a circulating air system and a second air-conducting shaft associated with said at least one air inlet on a pressure side of the circulating air system, said air-conducting shafts feeding into said trough and a sheet metal partition separating a mouth portion of said first air-conducting shaft located below the cover board from a mouth portion of said second air-conducting shaft.