Mullion bracket

Abstract

A bracket for attaching a mullion to a frame includes a mullion-engaging portion that couples with the mullion, a frame-engaging portion that couples with a frame segment, a middle portion between the mullion-engaging portion and the frame-engaging portion, and a flange projecting from the middle portion. The flange couples with one end of the mullion such that air flow between an interior space of the mullion and the other side of the flange is inhibited.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A framing system for a refrigerated enclosure, the framing system comprising:
 a frame assembly comprising a top frame segment and a bottom frame segment;   at least one mullion assembly comprising a plurality of outer walls surrounding an interior space; and   at least one mullion bracket configured to:
 couple the at least one mullion assembly to the top frame segment or the bottom frame segment, and 
 inhibit airflow from the refrigerated enclosure into the interior space of the at least one mullion assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The framing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mullion bracket comprises a mullion-engaging portion extending into the interior space and having outer dimensions sized to engage with at least two walls of the plurality of outer walls. 
     
     
         3 . The framing system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one mullion bracket comprises:
 a frame-engaging portion coupled with the top frame segment or the bottom frame segment; and   a flange between the mullion-engaging portion and the frame-engaging portion, the flange projecting outward beyond the outer dimensions of the mullion-engaging portion.   
     
     
         4 . The framing system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through at least one opposing lateral wall of the plurality of outer walls into the mullion-engaging portion and at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through the top frame segment into the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         5 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein a center axis of the mullion-engaging portion is parallel and coplanar with a center axis of the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         6 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein the mullion-engaging portion is laterally offset from the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         7 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein the frame-engaging portion positioned closer to a front surface of the at least one mullion assembly than the mullion-engaging portion. 
     
     
         8 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein the mullion-engaging portion is positioned closer to a rear surface of the at least one mullion assembly than the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         9 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein a front surface of the frame-engaging portion is planar, the frame-engaging portion comprising voids extending from the front surface into the frame-engaging portion, the voids configured to couple to at least one fastener of a plurality of fasteners extending through the top frame segment into the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         10 . The framing system of  claim 9 , wherein the top frame segment and the bottom frame segment are coupled to the front surface of the frame-engaging portion of the at least one mullion bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The framing system of  claim 10 , wherein the mullion-engaging portion comprises at least one boss extending from one side surface of the mullion-engaging portion into the mullion-engaging portion, the at least one boss extending from the one side surface of the mullion-engaging portion configured to couple to at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through at least one opposing lateral wall of the plurality of outer walls into the mullion-engaging portion. 
     
     
         12 . The framing system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners extending through a rear wall of the plurality of outer walls into the mullion-engaging portion. 
     
     
         13 . The framing system of  claim 12 , wherein the mullion-engaging portion comprises at least one boss extending from a rear surface of the mullion-engaging portion toward the front surface of the mullion-engaging portion. 
     
     
         14 . The framing system of  claim 13 , wherein the frame-engaging portion comprises at least one boss extending from a front surface of the frame-engaging portion toward a rear surface of the frame-engaging portion to receive the at least one fastener extending through the top frame segment into the frame-engaging portion. 
     
     
         15 . The framing system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one boss comprises a threaded hole configured to couple to the associated fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The framing system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one mullion bracket comprises at least one threaded insert positioned in the at least one boss, the at least one threaded insert configured to couple to the associated fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The framing system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one mullion assembly comprises a contact plate extending between a pair of opposing walls of the plurality of outer walls and positioned opposite a rear wall of the plurality of outer walls, the flange extending uninterrupted between the contact plate, the rear wall, and the pair of opposing such that air flow between the interior space and the other side of the flange is prevented. 
     
     
         18 . The framing system of  claim 17 , wherein a front projection of the flange is cutout to receive a portion of an insulating member coupled to the contact plate within the interior space. 
     
     
         19 . The framing system of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of a top surface of the front projection is recessed, the recessed portion sized to mate with the associated top frame segment or bottom frame segment. 
     
     
         20 . The framing system of  claim 3 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the at least one mullion assembly and the flange. 
     
     
         21 . A refrigerated enclosure, comprising:
 a frame assembly comprising a top frame segment and a bottom frame segment;   at least one mullion assembly comprising a plurality of outer walls surrounding an interior space; and   at least one mullion bracket configured to:
 couple the at least one mullion assembly to the top frame segment or the bottom frame segment, and 
 inhibit airflow from the refrigerated enclosure into the interior space of the at least one mullion assembly. 
   
     
     
         22 . The refrigerated enclosure of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one mullion bracket comprises a mullion-engaging portion configured to, when assembled, extend into the interior space, the mullion-engaging portion having outer dimensions sized to engage with at least two of the plurality of outer walls. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerated enclosure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one mullion bracket comprises:
 a frame-engaging portion configured to, when assembled, couple with the top frame segment or the bottom frame segment; and   a flange between the mullion-engaging portion and the frame-engaging portion, the flange projecting outward beyond the outer dimensions of the mullion-engaging portion.   
     
     
         24 . A framing system for a refrigerated enclosure, the framing system comprising:
 a frame assembly comprising a top frame segment and a bottom frame segment;   at least one mullion assembly comprising a plurality of outer walls surrounding an interior space; and   means for both coupling the at least one mullion assembly to the top frame segment or the bottom frame segment and inhibiting airflow from the refrigerated enclosure into the interior space of the at least one mullion assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The framing system of  claim 24 , wherein the means comprises means for engaging with interior surfaces of at least two of the plurality of outer walls within the interior space.