IP Library Granted Patent US 11,357,342
Granted Patent B2
US 11,357,342 · App. 16/470,752 · Granted Jun 14, 2022

Freezer cabinet and method for adapting a freezer cabinet

Inventors: René Joachim Buter (Vlaardingen, NL); Johannes Krieg (Rotterdam, NL); Ashvinikumar Vishnukumar Mudaliar (Rotterdam, NL)
Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
A47F3/0426A47F3/043A47F3/0434F25D23/021F25D23/028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,357,342
App. No.
16/470,752
Granted
Jun 14, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a freezer cabinet ( 10 ) for storing frozen confectionery products, the freezer cabinet ( 10 ) comprising a chamber having an opening substantially sealed by an upper surface panel ( 18, 20 ); and a further panel ( 22, 24 ) inside the chamber being spaced away from the upper surface panel ( 18, 20 ) and substantially parallel to the upper surface panel in at least one direction. At least part of the upper surface panel and further panel ( 22, 24 ) is transparent such that at least part of the inside of the chamber is visible through the upper surface panel and further panel. The upper and further surface panels each comprise at least one slideably openable section ( 18, 22 ) and the further panel covers less than 95% of the surface area of the opening in a horizontal plane at a height of the lowest part of the further panel.

Claims (23)

1. A freezer cabinet for storing frozen confectionery products, the freezer cabinet comprising:

a chamber having an opening substantially sealed by an upper surface panel; and

a further panel inside the chamber being spaced away from the upper surface panel and substantially parallel to the upper surface panel in at least one direction;

wherein:

at least part of the upper surface panel and further panel is transparent such that at least part of the inside of the chamber is visible through the upper surface panel and further panel;

the upper surface panel comprises at least one slideably openable section;

the further panel comprises at least one slideably openable section;

there being gaps between edges of the further panel and inner surfaces of sidewalls delimiting the chamber so that the cabinet comprises a continuous gap surrounding the entire further panel,

the further panel covers between 50% and 95% of the surface area of the opening in a horizontal plane at a height of the lowest part of the further panel;

the further panel creates a quiescent region between the upper surface panel and further panel wherein the quiescent region is in gaseous communication with air in the chamber;

the sum of the thickness of the upper surface panel and the further panel is less than 90% of the height thickness of the upper surface panel, quiescent region and further panel;

the chamber comprises a side wall and a coolant evaporator mounted in and/or on the side wall; and

the cabinet does not comprise a forced-air cooling system.

2. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the further panel covers between 70 and 88% of the surface area of the opening.

3. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the height distance (H) between the further panel, measured from the lowest face of the further panel facing the chamber, and the highest part of the evaporator is at least 5 mm.

4. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper surface panel and the further panel both comprise two slideably openable sections.

5. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slideably openable section in the upper surface panel is aligned with the corresponding slideably openable section in the further panel such that when moved parallel to one another an opening is created of about the same surface area.

6. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 5 wherein the slideably openable section in the upper surface panel is attached to the corresponding slideably openable section in the further panel such that the slideably openable section in the further panel remains unmoved relative to the slideably openable section in the upper surface panel when the latter is opened and closed.

7. A method of providing a freezer cabinet according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing an existing freezer cabinet comprising the chamber having the opening substantially sealed by the upper surface panel; and

installing the further panel inside the chamber in an arrangement substantially parallel to but spaced away from the upper surface panel.

8. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 3 wherein the height distance (H) between the further panel, measured from the lowest face of the further panel facing the chamber, and the highest part of the evaporator is at least 7 mm.

9. The freezer cabinet as claimed in claim 8 wherein the height distance (H) between the further panel, measured from the lowest face of the further panel facing the chamber, and the highest part of the evaporator is at most between 8 and 40 mm.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 73078 FRAME 700. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER
To: MAGNUM ICC US, LCC
Reel/Frame 074510/0542 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2025
From: CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER
To: MAGNUM US ICC, LCC
Reel/Frame 073078/0700 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2019
From: BUTER, RENE JOACHIM; KRIEG, JOHANNES; MUDALIAR, ASHVINIKUMAR VISHNUKUMAR
To: CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER
Reel/Frame 049511/0263 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 16206826 · Dec 23, 2016 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190328155A1 · Oct 31, 2019