Heat absorbing door for a refrigerated merchandiser

Abstract

A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The door includes a frame and a first glass pane coupled to the frame. The first glass pane has heat-absorbing glass and is configured to be positioned adjacent an ambient environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser to absorb radiation from the ambient environment. The door also includes a second glass pane coupled to the frame and configured to be positioned adjacent the product display area. The second glass pane includes a conductive coating. The door further includes a third glass pane positioned between and spaced from the first glass pane and the second glass pane, and has a low emissivity coating.

1 . A door for a refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area, the door comprising:
 a frame;   a first glass pane coupled to the frame and having heat-absorbing glass, the first glass pane configured to be positioned adjacent an ambient environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser to absorb radiation from the ambient environment;   a second glass pane coupled to the frame and configured to be positioned adjacent the product display area, the second glass pane having a conductive coating; and   a third glass pane positioned between and spaced from the first glass pane and the second glass pane, the third glass pane having a low emissivity coating.   
     
     
         2 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive film is affixed to a surface of the second glass pane configured to face away from the product display area. 
     
     
         3 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the ambient environment. 
     
     
         4 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the product display area. 
     
     
         5 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a first surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the ambient environment, and wherein the third glass pane further has another low emissivity coating affixed to a second surface of the glass pane configured to face toward the product display area. 
     
     
         6 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive coating is configured to be coupled to a power source to heat the second glass pane. 
     
     
         7 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed from a flexible material such that the frame yields to accommodate expansion of the first glass pane. 
     
     
         8 . The door of  claim 1 , further comprising a first spacer positioned between the first glass pane and the third glass pane, and a second spacer positioned between the second glass pane and the third glass pane. 
     
     
         9 . The door of  claim 8 , wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are formed from a flexible material such that a flexible partition is provided between the first glass pane and the third glass pane, and between the second glass pane and the third glass pane. 
     
     
         10 . The door of  claim 9 , further including a flexible bridge between the first spacer and the second spacer and in contact with the third glass pane, wherein the first glass pane and the second glass pane are configured to move relative to the third glass pane. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerated merchandiser comprising:
 a case defining a product display area;   a door coupled to the case and enclosing a portion of the product display area, the door including
 a frame; 
 a first glass pane coupled to the frame and having heat-absorbing glass, the first glass pane positioned adjacent an ambient environment surrounding the refrigerated merchandiser to absorb radiation from the ambient environment; 
 a second glass pane coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent the product display area, the second glass pane having a conductive coating; and 
 a third glass pane positioned between and spaced from the first glass pane and the second glass pane, the third glass pane having a low emissivity coating. 
   
     
     
         12 . The door of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive film is affixed to a surface of the second glass pane configured to face away from the product display area. 
     
     
         13 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the ambient environment. 
     
     
         14 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the product display area. 
     
     
         15 . The door of  claim 11 , wherein the low emissivity coating is affixed to a first surface of the third glass pane configured to face toward the ambient environment, and wherein the third glass pane further has another low emissivity coating affixed to a second surface of the glass pane configured to face toward the product display area. 
     
     
         16 . The door of  claim 11 , wherein the frame is formed from a flexible material such that the frame yields to accommodate expansion of the first glass pane. 
     
     
         17 . The door of  claim 11 , further comprising a first spacer positioned between the first glass pane and the third glass pane, and a second spacer positioned between the second glass pane and the third glass pane, wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are formed from a flexible material such that a flexible partition is provided between the first glass pane and the third glass pane, and between the second glass pane and the third glass pane. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preventing condensation on a door of a refrigerated merchandiser defining a product display area and surrounded by an ambient environment, the door including a first glass pane positioned adjacent the ambient environment, a second glass pane positioned adjacent the product display area, and a third glass pane positioned between and spaced apart from the first pane and the second pane, the method comprising:
 absorbing radiation from the ambient environment and incident on the first glass pane;   increasing the temperature of a surface of the first glass pane facing the ambient environment above the dew point of the ambient environment;   heating the second glass pane; and   reflecting radiation with a low emissivity coating affixed to the third glass pane.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising absorbing between about 35 percent and about 55 percent of infrared radiation from the ambient environment incident on the first glass pane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the door further includes a frame and wherein the first glass pane is coupled to the frame, the method further comprising increasing the temperature of a surface of the frame facing the ambient environment above the dew point of the ambient environment.