Hinged and removable frame with sliding plates

Abstract

The frame is formed by the joining of four section bars that constitute an upper transom ( 1.1 ), a lower transom ( 1.2 ) and two mullions ( 1.3 ); some section bars ( 4 ) are internally attached to both the transoms ( 1.1, 1.2 ) and the mullions ( 1.3 ); said section bars ( 4 ) have some slideways ( 4.1 ) where the plates ( 3, 3 ′) slide; some plastic washers ( 5 ) are attached externally to both the mullions ( 1.3 ) and the transoms ( 1.1, 1.2 ) which touch the various parts of the furniture avoiding the entrance of insects or dust and contributing to its thermal proof; some retaining elements of the section bar ( 4 ) are attached to the upper transom ( 1.1 ) to hold the plates ( 3, 3 ′); each frame ( 1, 1 ′) can be blocked into its maximum opening position thanks to two couples of pins ( 12, 12 ′) where one pin ( 12 ) of each couple slides in a slit ( 11.1 ); said retaining elements consist of flat springs ( 8 ) or threaded pins ( 9 ).

1 - Hinged and removable frame with sliding plates suitable for use on display units, counters, wall displays and heated, neutral and refrigerated shelves for the sale of foodstuffs, formed by the joining of four section bars that constitute an upper transom ( 1 . 1 ), a lower transom ( 1 . 2 ) and two mullions ( 1 . 3 ); other section bars ( 4 ) having one or more slideways ( 4 . 1 ) bounded by arms ( 4 . 2 ) are internally fixed to both the transoms ( 1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ) and the mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of each frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) by means of coupling, rivets, screws or adhesives; a plate ( 3 ,  3 ′) slides into each slideway ( 4 . 1 ) of said section bars ( 4 ) inserted into the transoms ( 1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ) while the section bars ( 4 ) attached to the mullions ( 1 . 3 ) constitute the side rabbet locations of the plates ( 3 ,  3 ′) themselves; said frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) is characterised by the fact that some plastic washers ( 5 ) are attached to both the mullions ( 1 . 3 ) and at least one transom ( 1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ) on the external side by means of coupling, rivets, screws or adhesives; such washers ( 5 ) touch the various parts of the furniture for foodstuff preventing the entrance of insects, dust or other and contributing to the thermal insulation of the furniture itself; some retaining elements of the section bar ( 4 ) consisting of flat springs ( 8 ) or threaded pins ( 9 ) are attached to the upper transom ( 1 ,  1 ′) by means of rivets or screws for holding the plates ( 3 ,  3 ′) to the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′); a reinforcement element, consisting of an additional section bar ( 10 ) which is attached to the lower transom ( 1 . 2 ) by means of coupling, rivets or screws, prevents the latter from getting deformed under the weight of the plates ( 3 ,  3 ′) which are heavier when the frames ( 1 ,  1 ′) are fitted on a heated furniture; each frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) can be blocked into the maximum opening position or can be removed from the furniture for foodstuff thanks to two couples of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) where one pin ( 12 ) of each couple slides along a slit ( 11 . 1 ) having an intermediate housing ( 11 . 2 ) and one housing ( 11 . 3 ) placed at the end of the slit ( 11 . 1 ) itself; an external housing ( 11 . 4 ) placed lower with respect to the slit ( 11 . 1 ) accomodates said second pin ( 12 ′) of each couple; each couple of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) and each slit ( 11 . 1 ) are located to the sides of each frame ( 1 ,  1 ′); when the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) is in a resting position the pin ( 12 ′), placed lower than the pin ( 12 ), is lodged into the housing ( 11 . 4 ) and the latter pin ( 12 ) into the intermediate housing ( 11 . 2 ); by turning upwards the lower part of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) the pin ( 12 ′) revolves around the pin ( 12 ) as its fulcrum; when the pin ( 12 ′) reaches the entrance of the slit ( 11 . 1 ) it is possible to turn it for some more degrees and the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) positions itself automatically and steadily into an all open position because the pin ( 12 ′) enters the slit ( 11 . 1 ); the pin ( 12 ) is then forced to move along the slit ( 11 . 1 ) and occupy the housing ( 11 . 3 ) located at the end of the slit ( 11 . 1 ) itself; if one wishes to remove the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) from the furniture this is to be pulled in such a way so that also the pin ( 12 ) comes totally out of the slit ( 11 . 1 ) enabling the detachment of the parts.  
   
   
       2 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the coupling between the section bars ( 4 ) and each section bar forming the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) and between the washers ( 5 ) and the same section bar forming the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) is of a male-female coupling.  
   
   
       3 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that each section bar forming the lower transom ( 1 . 2 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) is without a washer ( 5 ); to create an air-tight closing a rabbet section bar ( 6 ) is attached to the lower part of the furniture, along the whole opening to access the aperture; said section bar ( 6 ) is snap-fitted attached to two blocks ( 7 ) attached to the sides of the furniture; the section bars forming the lower section transoms ( 1 . 2 ) of the frames ( 1 ,  1 ′) touch said rabbet section bar ( 6 ).  
   
   
       4 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that each section bar consituting the upper transom ( 1 . 1 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) is without a washer ( 5 ); to create an air-tight closing, a rabbet section bar ( 6 ) is attached to the upper part of the furniture, along the whole opening to access the aperture; said section bar ( 6 ) is snap-fitted to two blocks ( 7 ) attached to the sides of the foodstuff unit; the section bars forming the upper transoms ( 1 . 1 ) of the frames ( 1 ,  1 ′) touch said rabbet section bar ( 6 ).  
   
   
       5 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that each of the above mentioned slits ( 11 . 1 ) where a pin ( 12 ) slides is made into a block ( 11 ) consisting of a metal plate attached to the furniture; said third housing ( 11 . 4 ) is made along the lower external wall of the block ( 11 ); the lower external wall of the block ( 11 ) is circularly connected with the slit ( 11 . 1 ); said couples of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) are attached to the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′).  
   
   
       6 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that said block ( 11 ) is attached to the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′); said couples of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) are attached to the furniture.  
   
   
       7 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that each of said slits ( 11 . 1 ) where a pin ( 12 ) slides is made directly in the furniture; said couples of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) are attached to the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′).  
   
   
       8 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that each of said slits ( 11 . 1 ) is made directly in each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′); said couples of pins ( 12 ,  12 ′) are attached to the furniture.  
   
   
       9 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact of featuring a single pin ( 12 ) attached to the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′); said pin ( 12 ) is engaged into a hole made in the furniture or in a block attached to the furniture and the propping up of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) on opening is performed by a gas-actioned spring.  
   
   
       10 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact of featuring a single pin ( 12 ) attached to the furniture; each pin ( 12 ) is engaged into a hole made in the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) or in a block attached to in the upper part of each of the two mullions ( 1 . 3 ) and the support of the frame ( 1 ,  1 ′) on opening is performed by a gas-actioned spring.  
   
   
       11 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the washers ( 5 ) attached to both the mullions ( 1 . 3 ) and to at least one transom ( 1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ) are made of soft plastic material.  
   
   
       12 - Hinged and removable frame, according to  claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the plates ( 3 ,  3 ′) are not sliding.