Glass door merchandiser having led lights and mounting assembly therefor

Abstract

A refrigerator unit with a lighted door including a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening. The refrigerator further includes a door including a door frame mounted to the cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior. Finally, provided is a lighting assembly attached to at least one of the top framing member, a bottom framing member and opposed side framing members. The lighting assembly includes a channel for maintaining a plurality of LEDs. The channel is disposed at an angle to direct light from the LED either parallel to the glass plane or at an oblique angle thereto. The system may reduce the intensity of the light when the door is opened. A method for operating a refrigerator is also disclosed.

1 . A refrigerator unit with a lighted door comprising:
 a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;   a door including a door frame mounted to the cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior; and   a lighting assembly attached to at least one of the top framing member, the bottom framing member and opposed side framing members, the lighting assembly comprising a channel for maintaining a plurality of LEDs, the channel disposed at an angle to direct light from the LEDs either parallel to the glass plane or at an oblique angle thereto.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 1  further comprising a door switch that provides a signal indicating whether the door of the refrigerator unit is open and a circuit for reducing electrical power to one or more of the LEDs to reduce the intensity of light from the LED(s) when the door is open and increasing the electrical power to one or more of the LEDs to increase the intensity of light from the LED(s) when the door is closed. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 2  wherein the lighting is decreased to about 40-99% of a closed level when the door is opened. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 2  wherein the lighting is decreased to about 50-90% of a closed level when the door is opened. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 2  wherein the lighting is decreased to about 70-90% of a closed level when the door is opened. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 2  wherein the lighting is decreased to about 80% of a closed level when the door is opened. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 1  wherein the channel is disposed at an angle to direct light from the one or more LEDs at an oblique angle to the glass panel. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator unit of  claim 1  wherein the channel is disposed at an angle to direct light from the one or more LEDs at a 45 degree angle to the glass panel. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the lighting assembly further comprises a weather seal retaining portion for retaining a weather seal thereto. 
   
   
       10 . A method of operating a refrigeration unit comprising:
 providing a refrigeration unit with a cabinet including a top, bottom and opposed sides defining a front opening;   providing a door including a door frame mounted to the cabinet, said door frame having an inside and outside and including a top framing member, a bottom framing member, opposed side framing members and a glass panel having an exterior and an interior; and   providing a switch for indicating whether the door of the refrigeration unit is open or closed;   providing a lighting unit for lighting an interior of the cabinet; and   providing a circuit for illuminating the lighting unit at a first intensity when the switch indicates that the door is open and illuminating the lighting unit at a second, lower intensity when the door is closed.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of orienting the lighting unit to direct light either parallel or obliquely to the glass panel. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of orienting the lighting unit to direct light obliquely to the glass panel. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of orienting the lighting unit to direct light at a 45 degree angle to the glass panel. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second, lower intensity about 40-99% of the first intensity. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second, lower intensity about 50-90% of the first intensity. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second, lower intensity about 70-90% of the first intensity. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second, lower intensity about 80% of the first intensity.