A Refrigerated Display Case

Abstract

A riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case and kits of parts allows an angle between an outer guiding surface of a riser plate and an inner retaining surface to be adjusted.

1 . A riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case, wherein the riser plate comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate when it is inclined relative to horizontal; and   an outer fairing component which forms an outer guiding surface;   wherein at least a portion of the outer guiding surface diverges along its length in a downward direction from the inner retaining surface;   wherein the outer fairing component is hingedly connected to the inner plate component in order to allow an angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface to be adjusted.   
     
     
         2 . A kit of parts comprising a riser plate as claimed in  claim 1  and a flow control device. 
     
     
         3 . A kit of parts for forming a riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case, wherein the kit of parts comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface of the riser plate that is configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate; and   a plurality of outer fairing components interchangeably connectable with the inner plate component and each configured to form an outer guiding surface of the riser plate which diverges along at least a portion of its length from the inner retaining surface in a downward direction;   wherein the plurality of outer fairing components are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface.   
     
     
         4 . A kit of parts for forming a riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case, wherein the kit of parts comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface of the riser plate that is configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate when it is inclined relative to horizontal; and   an outer fairing component configured to form an outer guiding surface of the riser plate which diverges along at least a portion of its length from the inner retaining surface in a downward direction;   wherein the outer fairing component is connectable to the inner plate component via an intermediate component, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of intermediate components which are interchangeable and are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface.   
     
     
         5 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of intermediate components is an angled wedge or a bracket which creates a wedge-shaped space between the outer fairing component and the inner plate component. 
     
     
         6 . A kit of parts comprising:
 a plurality of riser plates interchangeably connectable to a shelf of a refrigerated display case, each of the riser plates comprising:
 an inner retaining surface configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate; and 
 an outer guiding surface; 
 wherein at least a portion of the outer guiding surface diverges along its length in a downward direction from the inner retaining surface; 
   wherein the plurality of riser plates are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface.   
     
     
         7 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a flow control device. 
     
     
         8 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flow control device comprises a stabilizing beam configured to extend transversely across a display area of the refrigerated display case and located within an air curtain; wherein a slot is formed between an inner surface of the stabilizing beam and the outer guiding surface of the riser plate. 
     
     
         9 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface is selected so that an angle of at least a portion of the outer guiding surface corresponds to an angle of a chord line of the stabilizing beam. 
     
     
         10 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the outer guiding surface corresponds to a portion of the inner surface of the stabilizing beam to define a parallel sided passageway through the slot. 
     
     
         11 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the stabilizing beam is an inner stabilizing beam and the flow control device further comprises a second outer stabilizing beam arranged outwardly from the inner stabilizing beam to thereby form an outer slot between the inner and outer stabilizing beams. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerated display case comprising:
 a refrigerated display area;   an air outlet and an air inlet opening into the display area and spaced from one another;   a duct fluidically coupling the air inlet to the air outlet, the duct being configured to direct air flow out of the air outlet across the display area and toward the air inlet to form an air curtain across the display area;   wherein the display area comprises at least one shelf, the at least one shelf having a shelf plate which is inclined relative to horizontal for supporting products;
 a riser plate and a flow control device provided from the kit of parts of  claim 2 ; 
   wherein the riser plate projects upwards from the shelf plate to retain the products on the shelf plate and the flow control device projects in front of the shelf and is configured to receive and guide the air curtain as it passes across the display area.   
     
     
         13 . A method of modifying a shelf of a refrigerated display case comprising:
 changing the angle of the shelf from a first angle to a second angle; and   replacing or reconfiguring a riser plate attached to the shelf so as to change an angle between an inner retaining surface which projects upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate and an outer guiding surface of the riser plate which diverges along at least a portion of its length from the inner retaining surface in a downward direction.   
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the riser plate is provided from a kit of parts for forming a riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case, wherein the kit of parts comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface of the riser plate that is configured to project upward from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate; and 
 a plurality of outer fairing components interchangeably connectable with the inner plate component and each configured to form an outer guiding surface of the riser plate which diverges along at least a portion of its length from the inner retaining surface in a downward direction; 
 wherein the plurality of outer fairing components are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface, and 
   reconfiguring the riser plate comprises interchanging the outer fairing component of the riser plate with another of the plurality of outer fairing components which is configured for the second angle.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the riser plate is provided from a kit of parts for forming a riser plate for a shelf of a refrigerated display case, wherein the kit of parts comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface of the riser plate that is configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate when it is inclined relative to horizontal; and 
 an outer fairing component configured to form an outer guiding surface of the riser plate which diverges along at least a portion of its length from the inner retaining surface in a downward direction; 
 wherein the outer fairing component is connectable to the inner plate component via an intermediate component, the kit of parts comprising a plurality of intermediate components which are interchangeable and are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface, and 
   reconfiguring the riser plate comprises interchanging the intermediate component of the riser plate with another of the plurality of intermediate components which is configured for the second angle.   
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the riser plate is provided from a kit of parts comprising:
 a plurality of riser plates interchangeably connectable to a shelf of a refrigerated display case, each of the riser plates comprising:
 an inner retaining surface configured to project upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate; and 
 an outer guiding surface; 
 wherein at least a portion of the outer guiding surface diverges along its length in a downward direction from the inner retaining surface; 
 wherein the plurality of riser plates are each configured to provide a different angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface, and 
 
   replacing the riser plate comprises interchanging the riser plate with another of the plurality of riser plates which is configured for the second angle.   
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the riser plate comprises:
 an inner plate component which forms an inner retaining surface configured to protect upwards from a shelf plate of the shelf to retain products on the shelf plate when it is inclined relative to horizontal; and 
 an outer fairing component which forms an outer guiding surface; 
 wherein at least a portion of the outer guiding surface diverges along its length in a downward direction from the inner retaining surface; 
 wherein the outer fairing component is hingedly connected to the inner plate component in order to allow an angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface to be adjusted, and 
   reconfiguring the riser plate comprises adjusting the angle between the outer guiding surface and the inner retaining surface via the hinged connection.