Refrigerated display merchandiser with improved air curtain

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser includes a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area. A first air outlet is associated with the display case for directing a first air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a first path, and a second air outlet is associated with the display case for directing a second air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a second path outwardly of the first air stream. The first air stream and the second air stream are directly adjacent to one another and the first air stream exits the first air outlet at a first discharge velocity and the second air stream exits the second air outlet at a second discharge velocity, where the second discharge velocity is at least 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity.

1 . A refrigerated merchandiser including a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area, a first air outlet associated with the display case for directing a first air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a first path, and a second air outlet associated with the display case for directing a second air stream generally downwardly across the front viewing area along a second path outwardly of the first air stream; the refrigerated merchandiser characterized in that the first air stream and the second air stream are directly adjacent to one another and the first air stream exits the first air outlet at a first discharge velocity and the second air stream exits the second air outlet at a second discharge velocity, the second discharge velocity being at least 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity. 
   
   
       2 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1  further characterized in that the ratio of the second discharge velocity to the first discharge velocity is in the range from 1.4 to about 1.8. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1  wherein the first air stream comprises relatively cooler air and the second air stream comprises relatively warmer air. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 1  wherein the second air stream comprises ambient air. 
   
   
       5 . A refrigerated merchandiser, comprising:
 a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area; and   at least one air outlet for directing an air curtain generally downwardly across the front viewing area, the air curtain consisting of a first air stream having a first discharge velocity and flowing along a first path, and a second air stream having a second discharge velocity and flowing along a second path; the second discharge velocity being at least 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity.   
   
   
       6 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 5  further characterized in that the ratio of the second discharge velocity to the first discharge velocity is in the range from 1.4 to about 1.8. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 5  wherein the first air stream comprises relatively cooler air and the second air stream comprises relatively warmer air. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 5  wherein the second air stream comprises ambient air. 
   
   
       9 . A refrigerated merchandiser, comprising:
 a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area; and   at least one air outlet for directing a two-layer air curtain generally downwardly across the front viewing area, the two layer air curtain including a first air stream having a first discharge velocity and flowing along a first path, and a second air stream having a second discharge velocity and flowing along a second path; the first path and the second path being directly adjacent to one another, and the second discharge velocity being at least 1.4 times greater than the first discharge velocity.   
   
   
       10 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 9  further characterized in that the ratio of the second discharge velocity to the first discharge velocity is in the range from 1.4 to about 1.8. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 9  wherein the first air stream comprises relatively cooler air and the second air stream comprises relatively warmer air. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerated merchandiser of  claim 9  wherein the second air stream comprises ambient air. 
   
   
       13 . A refrigerated merchandiser, comprising:
 a display case defining a product display region having an open-front viewing area; and   at least one air outlet for directing a two-layer air curtain generally downwardly across the front viewing area, the two layer air curtain including a first air stream having a first discharge velocity and flowing along a first path, and a second air stream having a second discharge velocity and flowing along a second path; the first path and the second path being directly adjacent to one another, and the second discharge velocity being greater than 1.5 times the first discharge velocity.