Refrigerator Case

Abstract

A refrigerated case ( 20 ) has a base ( 30 ) and a number of supports ( 91, 92, 93 ) extending upward from the base. A number of structural uprights ( 70, 72, 74 ) are coupled to the supports. The rear supports are positioned to permit a back-to-back positioning of pair of such refrigerated cases. When so-positioned, the left end ( 26 ) of each case is substantially aligned with the right end ( 28 ) of the other case and the rear supports of each case are in a nested relationship with the rear supports of the other case.

1 . A refrigerated case apparatus ( 20 ) having a front ( 22 ), a back ( 24 ), a left end ( 26 ), and a right end ( 28 ) and comprising:
 a base ( 30 );   a plurality of rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) extending upward from the base; and   a refrigeration apparatus ( 60 ) positioned to cool an interior ( 36 ) of the case,   
     wherein:
 the rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) are positioned to permit a back-to-back positioning of a pair of such case apparatus ( 20 ) with the left end ( 26 ) of each apparatus ( 20 ) substantially aligned with the right end ( 28 ) of the other apparatus ( 20 ) and the rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) of each apparatus ( 20 ) in a nested relationship with the rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) of the other apparatus ( 20 ). 
 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of rear structural uprights ( 70 ;  72 ;  74 ) coupled to the supports; and   at least one insulated panel ( 86 ;  88 ) between the uprights and the supports and secured to the uprights and the supports.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the rear supports include a leftmost support ( 91 ) a rightmost support ( 92 ), and a plurality of intermediate supports ( 93 ).   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein:
 the leftmost support ( 91 ) is farther from the left end ( 26 ) than the rightmost support ( 92 ) is from the right end ( 28 ).   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the plurality of intermediate supports ( 93 ) comprises 35 such intermediate supports evenly spaced.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein:
 the plurality of intermediate supports ( 93 ) comprises 35 such intermediate supports evenly spaced along with the leftmost support at a first on-center spacing, a second oncenter spacing between the rightmost support ( 92 ) and an adjacent one of the intermediate supports ( 93 ) being smaller.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having:
 a length between the left end ( 26 ) and the right end ( 28 ) of 1.5-4.0 m; and   a height of 1.6-2.5 m.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least some of the supports have a rearwardly-open channel cross-section.   
   
   
       9 . A method for assembling a group of refrigerator case apparatus ( 20 ) according to  claim 1  comprising:
 positioning a first of said apparatus ( 20 ) back-to-back with a second of said apparatus ( 20 ) with the left end ( 26 ) of each apparatus ( 20 ) substantially aligned with the right end ( 28 ) of the other apparatus ( 20 ) and the rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) of each apparatus ( 20 ) in a nested relationship with the rear supports ( 91 ;  92 ;  93 ) of the other apparatus ( 20 ).   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said group comprises two rows, each of at least two of said apparatus ( 20 ) end-to-end. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said group comprises two rows, each of at least two of said apparatus ( 20 ) end-to-end, with an end-to-end spacing of less than 2 cm, said alignment also being within 2 cm.