Open-front, roll-in refrigerated display case

1. A refrigerated display case adapted for use on a shopping floor of a retail store, the refrigerated display case adapted to receive at least one wheeled cart having food product, the refrigerated display case comprising:

a case having

a rear wall and a bottom wall coupled together to at least partially define a product display area adapted to receive the wheeled cart and display and provide access to the food product from the exterior of the case, the bottom wall including a cart support surface elevated above the floor and adapted to support the wheeled cart within the product display area, and

an air passageway having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the product display area, the air passageway having a lower return flue in fluid communication with the inlet, at least partially defined by the bottom wall, and located below the cart support surface, the air passageway also having a rear flue in fluid communication between the lower return flue and the outlet, the rear flue at least partially defined by the rear wall;

a refrigeration component at least partially located in the air passageway to cool air directed to the product display area through the outlet, the cooled air provided to maintain the food product at the desired temperature when the wheeled cart is received within the product display area, at least a portion of the cooled air in the product display area returning to the refrigeration component through the inlet and the lower return flue; and

a ramp coupled to the case and movable between a stored position and an operating position adapted to form a bridge between the floor and the cart surface, the ramp including a first plate pivotably coupled at one end to the cart support surface, and a second plate pivotably coupled to the opposite end of the first plate.

2. The refrigerated display case of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plates are substantially parallel to each other and substantially vertical when the ramp is in the stored position.

3. The refrigerated display case of claim 2 , wherein the first and second plates are substantially aligned with each other when the ramp is in the operating position.

4. The refrigerated display case of claim 1 , further comprising a front panel removably connected to the case, the front panel at least partially defining the inlet.

5. The refrigerated display case of claim 4 , wherein the air passageway includes a vertical passageway in fluid communication between the inlet and the lower return flue, the vertical passageway at least partially defined by the front panel.

6. The refrigerated display case of claim 5 , further comprising a ramp coupled to the case and movable between a stored position and an operating position adapted to form a bridge between the floor and the cart surface, the ramp in the stored position at least partially defining the vertical passageway.

7. The refrigerated display case of claim 5 , wherein the front panel is a blow molded, hollow material.

8. The refrigerated display case of claim 7 , wherein the front panel is an impact resistant, lightweight polymer.

9. The refrigerated display case of claim 1 , wherein the lower return flue is located between the cart support surface and the floor.

10. The refrigerated display case of claim 1 , wherein bottom wall includes an exterior bottom wall spaced apart from the cart support surface and above the floor, the lower return flue being located between the cart support surface and the exterior bottom wall.

11. A method for positioning a wheeled cart of food product into a refrigerated display case adapted for use on a shopping floor of a retail store, the method comprising:

providing a case having a rear wall and a bottom wall coupled together to define a product display area;

providing an air passageway having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the product display area, the air passageway having a lower return flue in fluid communication with the inlet, at least partially defined by the bottom wall, and located below the cart support surface, the air passageway also having a rear flue in fluid communication between the lower return flue and the outlet, the rear flue at least partially defined by the rear wall;

receiving the wheeled cart into the product display area;

elevating the wheeled cart above the floor onto a cart support surface of the bottom wall;

supporting the wheeled cart on the cart support surface within the product display area;

displaying the food product on the wheeled cart;

providing access to the food product from the exterior of the case;

cooling air with a refrigeration component at least partially located in the air passageway;

directing the cooled air to the product display area through the outlet;

maintaining the food product at the desired temperature with the cooled air when the wheeled cart is received within the product display area;

at least partially defining a vertical passageway with a front panel;

at least partially defining the vertical passageway with a ramp coupled to the case; and

returning at least a portion of the cooled air in the product display area to the refrigeration component through the inlet and the lower return flue.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising

moving a ramp from a stored position to an operating position, and

forming a bridge between the floor and the cart surface with the ramp in the operating position.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein elevating the wheeled cart includes rolling the wheeled cart up the ramp from the floor and onto the cart support surface.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising

at least partially defining the inlet with a front panel,

removing the front panel from the case, and

exposing a ramp in a stored position.

15. A refrigerated display case adapted for use on a shopping floor of a retail store, the refrigerated display case adapted to receive at least one wheeled cart having food product, the refrigerated display case comprising:

a case having

a rear wall and a bottom wall coupled together to at least partially define a product display area adapted to receive the wheeled cart and display and provide access to the food product from the exterior of the case, the bottom wall including a cart support surface elevated above the floor and adapted to support the wheeled cart within the product display area, and

an air passageway having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the product display area, the inlet at least partially defined by a front panel removably coupled to the case, the air passageway having a lower return flue in fluid communication with the inlet, at least partially defined by the bottom wall, and located below the cart support surface, the air passageway also having a rear flue in fluid communication between the lower return flue and the outlet, the rear flue at least partially defined by the rear wall;

a ramp coupled to the case and movable between a stored position and an operating position adapted to form a bridge between the floor and the cart surface, the ramp being exposed in the stored position when the front panel is removed from the case; and

a refrigeration component at least partially located in the air passageway to cool air directed to the product display area through the outlet, the cooled air provided to maintain the food product at the desired temperature when the wheeled cart is received within the product display area, at least a portion of the cooled air in the product display area returning to the refrigeration component through the inlet and the lower return flue.

16. A method for positioning a wheeled cart of food product into a refrigerated display case adapted for use on a shopping floor of a retail store, the method comprising:

providing a case having a rear wall and a bottom wall coupled together to define a product display area;

providing an air passageway having an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the product display area, the air passageway having a lower return flue in fluid communication with the inlet, at least partially defined by the bottom wall, and located below the cart support surface, the air passageway also having a rear flue in fluid communication between the lower return flue and the outlet, the rear flue at least partially defined by the rear wall;

receiving the wheeled cart into the product display area;

elevating the wheeled cart above the floor onto a cart support surface of the bottom wall;

supporting the wheeled cart on the cart support surface within the product display area;

displaying the food product on the wheeled cart;

providing access to the food product from the exterior of the case;

cooling air with a refrigeration component at least partially located in the air passageway;

directing the cooled air to the product display area through the outlet;

maintaining the food product at the desired temperature with the cooled air when the wheeled cart is received within the product display area

at least partially defining the inlet with a front panel;

removing the front panel from the case and exposing a ramp in a stored position; and

returning at least a portion of the cooled air in the product display area to the refrigeration component through the inlet and the lower return flue.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising

moving the ramp from the stored position to an operating position, and

forming a bridge between the floor and the cart support surface with the ramp in the operating position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein elevating the wheeled cart includes rolling the wheeled cart up the ramp from the floor and onto the cart support surface.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising

at least partially defining a vertical passageway with a front panel.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising

at least partially defining the vertical passageway with a ramp coupled to the case.