Display case with lens lighting system

Abstract

A display case lighting system having a lens positioned inside a display case adjacent a light source inside the case for directing light across a viewing plane within the case and reducing contrasting illumination of items displayed within the viewing plane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display case used for displaying items, the display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    at least one item support positioned inside the display case for supporting an item in the display case;    at least one horizontal and at least one vertical light source inside the display case for providing light to illuminate an interior portion of the display case; and    lenses positioned inside the display case and substantially adjacent respective ones of the light sources for directing light from the at least one light source inside the display case.    
     
     
         2 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the at least one item support is a shelf.  
     
     
         3 . The display case of  claim 2  further including first and second vertical light sources, and wherein the shelf has a front and first and second ends, and wherein light sources are located substantially adjacent the front and first and second ends respectively.  
     
     
         4 . The display case of  claim 3  wherein the light sources are fluorescent lamps extending longitudinally and wherein the lens also extends longitudinally.  
     
     
         5 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the at least one item support inside the display case is a plurality of shelves one above another, and wherein each shelf has a front and first and second ends, and wherein light sources are located substantially adjacent the front and first and second ends respectively.  
     
     
         6 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the at least one light source is a fluorescent lamp extending longitudinally and wherein the lens also extends longitudinally.  
     
     
         7 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the surrounding frame has a front portion, and wherein the at least one item support is a shelf having a front substantially adjacent the front portion of the frame, and wherein the at least one vertical light source is positioned at the front portion of the frame for illuminating items to be placed on the shelf.  
     
     
         8 . The display case of  claim 7  wherein the front portion of the frame includes a mullion, and wherein the at least one vertical light source is mounted on the mullion, and wherein the shelf front is positioned substantially adjacent the lens and the at least one vertical light source.  
     
     
         9 . The display case of  8  wherein the shelf front includes a shelf end and wherein the shelf end is positioned substantially adjacent the lens.  
     
     
         10 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the at least one light source has a maximum horizontal outside dimension and the lens has a maximum horizontal outside dimension greater than the horizontal outside dimension of the least one light source so that the lens positioned between the at least one light source and a viewer prevents direct viewing of the at least one light source.  
     
     
         11 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the lens further includes a mounting portion for releasable engagement with a lens mounting groove fixed relative to the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The display case of  claim 11  wherein the lens mounting groove further includes a non-slip material in the groove for contacting the mounting portion of the lens.  
     
     
         13 . The display case of  claim 1  wherein the display case further includes a lens retaining element and a lens fastener for maintaining the lens in position by fixing the lens relative to the retaining element.  
     
     
         14 . The display case of  claim 13  wherein the lens fastener is a clip fixed relative to the frame, and the lens fastener is fixed relative to the lens.  
     
     
         15 . The display case of  claim 14  wherein the lens retaining element is a lens clip and the lens fastener is a threaded fastener for maintaining the lens in position by fixing the lens relative to the retaining element.  
     
     
         16 . A display case used for displaying items, the display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    at least one item support positioned inside the display case for supporting an item in the display case;    at least one light source inside the display case for providing light to illuminate an interior portion of the display case;    a lens positioned inside the display case and substantially adjacent the at least one light source for directing light from the at least one light source inside the display case; and    a lens retaining element for maintaining the lens in place relative to the light source.    
     
     
         17 . The display case of  claim 16  wherein the lens retaining element is a clip.  
     
     
         18 . The display case of  claim 17  wherein the clip further includes a fastener for fixing the clip relative to the lens.  
     
     
         19 . The display case of  claim 16  wherein the lens retaining element includes a material for preventing slipping of the lens.  
     
     
         20 . The display case of  claim 19  wherein the lens retaining element includes a longitudinally extending wall for contacting a mounting portion of the lens and wherein the wall includes a relatively rigid portion and a relatively flexible portion.  
     
     
         21 . The display case of claims  20  wherein the flexible portion of the wall presses on the lens.  
     
     
         22 . The display case of  claim 16  further including a substantially transparent panel within the surrounding frame for viewing a portion of the interior of the display case, and wherein the front of the shelf further includes an end, and wherein the shelf end is positioned a distance of approximately four to nine inches from the substantially transparent panel.  
     
     
         23 . A refrigerated display case used for displaying items, the refrigerated display case comprising: 
 an insulated surrounding frame;    at least one shelf positioned inside the display case for supporting an item in the display case;    a viewing plane defined by a forwardmost position available to an item for display on the at least one shelf;    at least one light source inside the display case for providing light to illuminate an interior portion of the refrigerated display case; and    a louvered optical element positioned inside the refrigerated display case and substantially adjacent the at least one light source for reducing light emitted directly out of the case wherein the louvered optical element includes at least one substantially opaque panel for allowing light to pass from the light source to the shelf but reducing the light passing from the light source directly to the outside of the case.    
     
     
         24 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 23  further including first and second light sources, and wherein the shelf has a front and first and second ends, and wherein light sources are located substantially adjacent the first and second ends respectively.  
     
     
         25 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 23  wherein the refrigerated display case is used for displaying food items.  
     
     
         26 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 23  wherein the viewing plane includes the front of the at least one shelf, and wherein the optical element reduces the contrasting illumination across the front of the at least one shelf.  
     
     
         27 . A display case used for displaying items, said display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    a shelf mounted inside said display case;    a light source mounted horizontally inside said display case; and    a lens mounted inside said display case and adjacent said light source in order to direct light emitted from said light source toward said shelf to provide a- more uniform light distribution over the length of said shelf than would exist without said lens.    
     
     
         28 . The display case of  claim 27  wherein said light source is a fluorescent tube.  
     
     
         29 . The display case of  claim 27  wherein said display case has more than one said shelf, more than one said light source, and more than one said lens.  
     
     
         30 . The display case of  claim 27  wherein said lens has a diffraction grating therein.  
     
     
         31 . The display case of  claim 27  wherein said lens comprises a sheet of optical material having a diffraction grating therein.  
     
     
         32 . A display case used for displaying items, said display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    a shelf mounted inside said display case;    a light source mounted horizontally inside said display case; and    means mounted inside said display case and adjacent said light source for directing light emitted from said light source toward said shelf in order to provide a more uniform light distribution over the length of said shelf than would exist without said means.    
     
     
         33 . The display case of  claim 32  wherein said means includes a lens.  
     
     
         34 . The display case of  claim 32  wherein said means further includes reflectors.  
     
     
         35 . The display case of  claim 32  wherein said means includes a sheet of optical material having a diffraction grating therein.  
     
     
         36 . The display case of  claim 32  wherein said light source is mounted on said surrounding frame.  
     
     
         37 . A display case used for displaying food items, said display case comprising: 
 a supporting structure;    a light source mounted horizontally on said supporting structure;    another structure located below said light and supporting said food items; and    a lens mounted adjacent said light source in order to direct light emitted from said light source toward said another structure to provide a more uniform light distribution over said another structure than would exist without said lens.    
     
     
         38 . The display case of  claim 37  wherein said supporting structure includes a raceway located at each end of said light source.  
     
     
         39 . A display case used for displaying items, said display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    a light source mounted vertically at one corner of said display case; and    a lens mounted inside said display case and adjacent said light source in order to direct light emitted from said light source toward the interior of said display case to provide a more uniform light distribution in said interior than would exist without said lens.    
     
     
         40 . The display case of  claim 39  wherein said display case has more than one said light source and more than one said lens.  
     
     
         41 . The display case of  claim 40  further comprising a raceway mounted horizontally inside said display case, one of said light source being located at each end of said raceway.  
     
     
         42 . The display case of  claim 39  further comprising: 
 a second light source mounted horizontally inside said display case; and  
 a second lens mounted inside said display case and adjacent said second light source in order to direct light emitted from said second light source toward the interior of said display case to provide a more uniform light distribution in said interior than would exist without said second lens.  
 
     
     
         43 . The display case of  claim 39  further comprising a shelf mounted inside said display case, said lens directing light emitted from said light source toward said shelf in order to provide a more uniform light distribution over the length of said shelf than would exist without said lens.  
     
     
         44 . The display case of  claim 39  wherein said display case is a movable display case.  
     
     
         45 . The display case of  claim 39  wherein said display case has one said lens and one said light source at each corner of said display case.  
     
     
         46 . The display case of  claim 45  further comprising two raceways, one of said light source being located at each end of each of said raceways.  
     
     
         47 . A display case used for displaying items, said display case comprising: 
 a surrounding frame;    a light source mounted in the display case; and    a film lens mounted inside said display case and adjacent said light source in order to direct light emitted from said light source toward the interior of said display case to provide a more uniform light distribution in said interior than would exist without said lens.    
     
     
         48 . The case of  claim 47  wherein the film lens includes a diffraction grating for directing the light from the light source.  
     
     
         49 . The case of  claim 47  wherein the light source is a longitudinally extending light source and wherein the lens is mounted adjacent the light source wherein the film lens extends a substantial length of the light source.  
     
     
         50 . The case of  claim 47  wherein the light directing portion of the lens is positioned-on an interior surface of the film lens.  
     
     
         51 . The case of  claim 50  wherein the light directing portion is a diffraction grating.  
     
     
         52 . The case of  claim 47  wherein the frame includes a mounting element, wherein the light source is releasably mounted to the mounting element on the frame.  
     
     
         53 . The case of  claim 52  further including means on the light source for slidably engaging the mounting element on the frame.  
     
     
         54 . The case of  claim 53  wherein the slidably engaging means includes a groove and wherein the mounting element includes a bead for engaging the groove.  
     
     
         55 . The case of  claim 16  further comprising a clip for holding the lens in place in the case.  
     
     
         56 . The case of  claim 16  further including a releasable mount for mounting the light source and the lens to a frame element.