Insulated glass enclosure for refrigerated display case

Abstract

An insulated glass enclosure for a refrigerated display case includes a glass top panel, a glass front panel, and two glass side panels. The front panel and the side panels each include spaced inner and outer glass panes. The upper edges of the front panel and the side panels are bonded to the top panel; and the front edges of the side panels are bonded to the front panel. A spacer is bonded between the free edges of the inner and outer glass panes of the front panel and the side panels to complete the insulated glass panels.

1 . A refrigerated display case comprising:
 a cabinet;   a glass supported by the cabinet and comprising:
 a glass top panel; 
 a front panel having spaced inner and outer glass panes, each of the inner and outer glass panes having an upper edge bonded to the top panel, each of the inner and outer glass panels further having two side edges; and 
 two side panels each having spaced inner and outer glass panes, each of the inner and outer glass panes having an upper edge bonded to the top panel, each of the inner and outer glass panels further having and a front edge bonded to the front panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1  wherein the inner glass pane of each side panel is bonded to the inner glass pane of the front panel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 2  wherein the front edge of the inner glass pane of each side panel is bonded to a side edge of the front panel, forming a corner therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 2  wherein the outer glass pane of each side panel is bonded to the outer glass pane of the front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 4  wherein the front edge of the outer glass pane is bonded to a side edge of the front panel, forming a corner therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1  wherein the side panels and the front panel have a lower edge and a spacer between the inner and outer glass panes along the lower edge, the inner and outer glass panes bonded to the spacer. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1  wherein the side panels have a rear edge and a spacer between the inner and outer glass panes along the rear edge, the inner and outer glass panes bonded to the spacer. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated display case of  claim 1  wherein the panes are bonded using ultraviolet adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . An insulated glass enclosure for a refrigerated display case comprising:
 an inner enclosure having a top panel, a front panel bonded directly to the top panel, and opposed side panels each bonded directly to the top panel and the front panel; and   an outer enclosure having a top panel, a front panel bonded directly to the top panel, and opposed side panels each bonded directly to the top panel and the front panel;   the inner enclosure fitted within the outer enclosure defining a gap between the inner and outer enclosures; and   a spacer fitted between and bonded to the inner and the outer enclosures to hermetically seal the gap.   
     
     
         10 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 9  wherein:
 each of the side panels has an upper edge and a front edge; 
 each of the front panels has an upper edge and opposed side edges; and 
 each of the top panels has opposed side edges and a front edge. 
 
     
     
         11 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 10  wherein for each of the inner and outer enclosures, respectively:
 the upper edges of the side panels are bonded to the side edges of the top panel; 
 the upper edge of the front panel is bonded to the front edge of the top panel; and 
 the front edges of the side panels are bonded to the side edges of the front panel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 11  wherein the inner and outer enclosures have lower edges and the spacer is between the inner and outer enclosures along the lower edges thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 12  wherein the inner and outer enclosures have rear edges and a spacer is between the inner and outer enclosures along the rear edges thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An insulated glass enclosure for a display case comprising:
 a first glass panel; and   a second glass panel having a first edge bonded directly to the first glass panel.   
     
     
         15 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 14  wherein the second glass panel includes first and second spaced glass panes, the first glass pane having the first edge bonded to the first panel, the second glass pane having a second edge also bonded to the first glass panel. 
     
     
         16 . The insulated glass enclosure of  claim 15  wherein the first glass panel includes first and second spaced glass panes, the first edge of the second panel bonded to the first pane of the first panel, the second edge of the second panel bonded to the second pane of the first panel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an insulated glass enclosure for a refrigerated display case comprising:
 providing an inner enclosure of inner glass panels bonded directly to one another;   providing an outer enclosure of outer glass panels bonded directly to one another;   placing the inner enclosure inside the outer enclosure with the inner panels spaced from the outer panels to define a gap between the inner and outer enclosures; and   sealing the inner and outer enclosures by inserting a spacer in the gap between the inner and outer enclosures and bonding the inner and outer enclosures to the spacer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the inner enclosure includes a front panel, a top panel, and two side panels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the outer enclosure includes a front panel, a top panel, and two side panels. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the bonding step includes using ultraviolet adhesive. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the sealing step includes sealing the gap with a sealant.