AU2020202228B2 - Swing door system and freezer device with a swing door system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a swing door system, freezer device, comprising at least two adjacent swing doors, each swing door having a transparent region, wherein at least one of said two adjacent swing doors comprise a sealing and wherein said at least two adjacent swing doors are arranged such that in a closed position said at least one sealing provides an essentially hermetic sealing function between said two adjacent swing doors. (Fig. 2) 30 Mar 2020

Description

2 40 54 3 50 54

5c 5b 5a 6a 6b 6c

54

40

2 3 52

50 54 51 2/8

5c 5b 5a 6a 7 25 7 2a 53 3a 30 20 90

52 51 Fig. 2 2/8

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Swing door system and freezer device with a swing door system

The present disclosure relates to a swing door system, preferably for use with a freezer device, comprising at least two adjacent swing doors, each door having a 5 transparent region. 2020202228

The present disclosure further relates to a freezer device, comprising a swing door system.

10 The present disclosure further relates to a swing door arrangement comprising a swing door system.

Although applicable to any kind of swing door system, the present disclosure will be described with regard to a swing door system of a freezer device. 15 Conventional freezer devices can be found in super markets, convenience stores or the like to provide frozen products for customers, usually being presented on shelves inside the freezer device. Such freezer devices usually comprise a cabinet and a plurality of swing doors, which can be opened in horizontal direction by a customer, 20 i.e. rotating the swing doors around a vertical axis. The swing doors further have circumferential sealings providing a sealing function between the inner of the freezer device and its outside. The sealings attached to the swing doors can comprise magnets to provide a magnetic force-locking connection with mullions and horizontal profiles of the freezer device. This avoids leakage of ambient warm air from the 25 outside of the freezer device into the inside and therefore avoids unnecessary energy consumption for cooling as well as icing and condensation inside the freezer device. Further, the swing doors usually comprise large glass panes so that a customer can view the products from outside without having to open the swing doors.

30 However, most of the freezer devices are arranged with their shelves parallel to the aisles of the supermarket. Due to the vertical mullions of the freezer device, a person, when walking down the aisle, has an angled and very limited view on the products within the freezer device, since the mullions block a non-neglectable part of the total view of a customer on these products.

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Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority 5 date of each of the appended claims. 2020202228

Embodiments of the disclosure therefore aim to address the problems of providing an enhanced comfort for customers when accessing a freezer device while providing a sufficient sealing function between the inside and outside of a freezer device together 10 with a sufficient mechanical robustness, flexibility in terms of applicability and implementation and a high visibility of goods from outside the freezer device.

In an embodiment the present disclosure provides a swing door system, preferably for use with a freezer device, comprising at least two adjacent swing doors, each 15 swing door having a transparent region, wherein at least one of said two adjacent swing doors comprises a sealing and wherein said at least two adjacent swing doors are arranged such that in a closed position said at least one sealing provides an essentially hermetic sealing function between said two adjacent swing doors.

20 In a further embodiment the present disclosure provides a freezer device comprising a swing door system according to one of the claims 1-13 being arranged in a cabinet, such that the opening direction of the swing door system is horizontal and wherein said cabinet is mullion-free.

25 In a further embodiment the present disclosure provides a swing door arrangement comprising a swing door system of the claims 1-13 and an at least partially circumferential outer frame for said swing door system wherein said outer frame has horizontal frame elements providing support for the rotating axis of said swing door system. 30 In other words, no frame structure or mullion structure is needed to provide a sealing function.

The term “freezer device” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description 35 to a device in which the temperature of the foodstuffs is typically kept between -12°C

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and -30 °C on normal conditions of use. Normal conditions are defined as operating conditions which exist when the cabinet, including all permanently located accessories, has been set up and situated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer and is in service. Typical examples for such foodstuffs are the 5 products which are stored according to EN23953, part 2 (September 2012) in the temperature classes L1, L2 and L3. 2020202228

The term “mullion” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description to a vertical profile of the outer frame of a freezer device where two doors are arranged 10 adjacent to each other in a cabinet and wherein the mullion is not a vertical side profile of the outer frame, but an “inner” vertical profile in particular arranged in the area of both adjacent doors.

The term “transparent” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description 15 to a region, area or the like with which the view on the goods, products or the like inside the freezer device is not obstructed or blocked by one or more opaque elements of the freezer device, for example by spacers, profiles, gaskets, a mullion or by the swing doors.

20 The term “non-transparent” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description to a region, area or the like with which the view on the goods, products or the like inside the freezer device is obstructed or blocked by one or more opaque elements of the freezer device, for example by spacers, profiles, gaskets, a mullion or by the swing doors. 25 The term “translucent” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description to a region, area or the like with which the view on goods, products or the like inside the freezer device is not obstructed or blocked but being diffuse, for instance the dimensions of a product can be seen, but not any labeling of the product, at least not 30 clearly.

The term “width” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description, to a length measured in the plane in which the swing doors are arranged when the swing doors are in a closed position.

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The term “depth” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description, to a length measured in the plane being perpendicular to the plane in which the swing doors are arranged when the swing doors are in the closed position.

5 The term “vertical” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description, to the direction aligned with the direction of the force of gravity, up or down, as 2020202228

materialized with a plumb line. The term “horizontal” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description, to the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. For instance, a horizontal profile 10 is a profile of the device extending in the horizontal direction, in other words parallel to the surface of the earth.

The term “essentially hermetic” with regard to the term “sealing function” refers in particular in the claims, preferably in the description, to at least one of humidity 15 tightness, moisture vapor tightness and/or fluid tightness, in particular excluding the passage of air and/or of splash-water or the like for common situations in supermarkets or the like. In other words, the term “essentially hermetic” refers here to a lower level of tightness than the physical definition of “hermetic”. Conventional cooler systems are typically not essentially hermetic between adjacent swing doors 20 without mullion. In other words, conventional cooler systems do not provide a sealing function between adjacent swing doors directly. They may have sealings, but in many cases no circumferential sealings, or no continuous, uninterrupted, circumferential contact between the sealings and/or the sealing surface. Since the working temperature of cooler systems is much higher than the working temperature of freezer 25 systems, no icing problems occur due to humidity of the incoming air.

One of the advantages is, that the swing doors seal against each other and therefore the mullions can be omitted. A further advantage is, that – since a mullion is not necessary – the angled view or the view directly in front of the freezer device on the 30 products is not blocked and therefore the comfort for customers is increased. An even further advantage is, that a cost-effective implementation can be provided.

Further features, advantages and preferred embodiments are disclosed or may become apparent in the following.

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According to an embodiment said at least one sealing is at least translucent, preferably at least partially transparent. This further enhances the view for customers on the products, since the customer’s view is not blocked by a non-transparent sealing. A further advantage is that an overall appealing impression for customers is 5 provided. 2020202228

According to a further embodiment each of said at least two adjacent swing doors comprises a sealing for providing said sealing function. This enhances the sealing function and thus energy is saved when using the swing doors in a cooler or freezer 10 device.

According to a further embodiment said two adjacent sealings have the same shape. The term “same shape” is to be understood in the most general sense or meaning and shall in particular include all shapes which can be transferred into one another, 15 e.g. by rotation or mirroring. This enables manufacturing of the swing door system in a cost-effective way.

According to a further embodiment one of said two adjacent sealings is adapted to provide at least partially a form-locking connection. This enables providing for 20 instance a stop by one of the swing doors for the adjacent swing door. Thus, mechanical stability in a closed position as well as an enhanced sealing in a closed position of the swing doors is provided.

According to a further embodiment said at least one sealing has at least partially 25 circular shape. This enhances the flexibility in terms of arranging adjacent doors respectively their opening direction: due to the circular shape of the sealing a swing door can either open in the same or in an opposite opening angle with regard to the adjacent swing door.

30 According to a further embodiment said form-locking connection is provided by a partial convex form of one of said sealings and a corresponding concave form of said other one of said sealings. This enables in a simple way to provide a partial form- locking connection.

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According to a further embodiment the sealing surface provided by said at least one sealing is inclined with an angle to the opening direction of the swing doors from said closed position said angle being smaller than 90°, preferably smaller than 60°, in particular smaller than 30°, preferably 0°. This enables to provide a larger sealing 5 surface thus enhancing the sealing function. Further advantages are that a sufficient sealing function and an easy opening of the swing doors and a larger transparent 2020202228

product display area is provided.

According to a further embodiment said at least one sealing has an essentially 10 triangular shape. This enables a reliable attachment to the swing door with two surfaces of the triangular shape wherein the non-attached third surface provides the sealing surface. The term “essentially triangular” shall include in particular triangular, triangular with rounded corners, multiple edge corners or the like.

15 According to a further embodiment said two adjacent swing doors are arranged such that a partial overlap, preferably in a formed common plane, in said closed position of said two adjacent swing doors is provided based on the view parallel to the opening direction. A partial overlap enables a further enhancement of the sealing function between the two adjacent swing doors. 20 According to a further embodiment at least one of said two adjacent swing doors comprise an angled S-shaped profile at least on a surface of said swing door directed to the other adjacent swing door. This enables in a simple way a partial overlap of two adjacent swing doors while providing enhanced protection of the corresponding 25 surfaces by the profile. Alternatively, also a smooth S-shaped profile, a quarter circular profile, or the like can be used.

According to a further embodiment said angle S-shaped profile is at least translucent, preferably at least partially transparent. This further enhances the angled view of 30 customers on products behind the swing doors since there is no blocking of the view by non-transparent profiles.

According to a further embodiment said partial overlap is provided by an extending pane of one swing door in the direction to the other adjacent swing door and vice

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versa. This provides in a simple way a partial overlap and enables an enhanced sealing function.

According to a further embodiment for providing said closed position between two 5 adjacent swing doors one of said two adjacent swing doors is formed such to provide a stop for the other adjacent swing door. This enhances the handling of the swing 2020202228

doors for customers on the one hand and on the other hand a reliable closure as well as an enhanced sealing function is enabled.

10 According to a further embodiment at least one of said two swing doors comprises a gas-filled insulating glass unit or a vacuum glass unit, said gas-filled insulating glass unit or said vacuum glass unit comprises at least two glass panes being spaced apart from each other by one or more spacer elements. This provides a high appealing design of the swing door while providing a high thermal insulation. Said gas-filled 15 insulating unit may comprise air and/or a one or more noble gases.

According to a further preferred embodiment said spacer elements are at least translucent, preferably at partially transparent. This further enhances the angled view of customers on products behind the swing doors since there is no blocking of the 20 view by non-transparent spacers.

According to a further embodiment said two sealings are provided with magnetic means, preferably permanent magnets, to provide a magnetic force between said two sealings. This enables a very reliable sealing function between said two adjacent 25 swing doors. The sealing function may be further enhanced by arranging in a step- by-step manner permanent magnets. Alternatively, or additionally at least one of said sealings comprises a horizontal section and/or an additional sealing arranged preferably along the horizontal interface between a swing door element or an area and an outer horizontal frame profile or a cabinet structure providing a sealing of the 30 corresponding door with the frame profile or the cabinet structure.

According to a further embodiment the rotating axis of at least one of the swing doors is in the center of said swing door, said center being defined with respect to the thickness of the swing door perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position

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of said swing door. This enables a reliable opening and closing respectively rotation of the swing door.

According to a further embodiment the rotating axis of at least one of the swing doors 5 is off the center of the swing door, said center being defined with respect to the thickness of the swing door perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position 2020202228

of said swing door. This enhances the flexibility in terms of the adjacent swing door, since only a neglectable part of the swing door moves to the inside, that means opposite to the opening direction when being opened. Such a part may block the 10 adjacent swing door or requires a larger distance to the adjacent swing door so that it can be opened.

According to a further embodiment said swing doors with the rotating axis in the center of said swing door have a sealing, said sealing having essentially semicircular shape. 15 This provides an easy opening of said swing door without interfering with the adjacent swing door.

According to a further embodiment at least one of the swing doors comprises hinges at opposite ends of said at least one swing door for providing opening and closing by 20 rotation about a rotating axis. This enhances the flexibility when attaching the swing doors for instance into a cabinet or the like.

According to a further embodiment preferably when a swing door comprises a gas filled insulation glass unit a thickness of a swing door with at least one sealing is equal 25 to or smaller than 40 mm, preferably equal to or smaller than 30 mm, in particular equal to or smaller than 26 mm, wherein said thickness being measured in a handle- free region parallel to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and/or wherein a width of a region in a closed position of said swing door comprising at least one sealing, a center of said rotating axis of at least one of said swing doors, 30 preferably further comprising at least one profile and spacer elements for spacing apart panes of a swing door, wherein said width being measured perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and parallel to the plane of said panes of said swing door, is equal to or smaller than 50 mm, preferably equal to or smaller than 41 mm, in particular equal to or smaller than 34 mm. This reduces the 35 blocking of an angled view for customers, i.e. the angled view for customers is

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enhanced on the products when looking through the swing doors. The dimensions of a handle for opening of the swing door are not included when measuring the thickness or width of a swing door. In other words, the minimal distance between the transparent regions of the different adjacent swing doors may be defined as width. Thickness and 5 width are measured in any given height of the transparent panes. 2020202228

According to a further embodiment preferably when a swing door comprises a vacuum insulation glass unit the thickness of a swing door with at least one sealing is equal to or smaller than 35 mm, preferably equal to or smaller than 25 mm, in particular equal 10 to or smaller than 20 mm, preferably equal to or smaller than 16 mm, , wherein said thickness being measured in a handle-free region parallel to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and/or wherein a width of a region in a closed position of said swing door comprising at least one sealing, a center of said rotating axis of at least one of said swing doors, preferably further comprising at least one 15 profile and spacer elements for spacing apart panes of a swing door, wherein said width being measured perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and parallel to the plane of said panes of said swing door, is equal to or smaller than 50 mm, preferably equal to or smaller than 41 mm, in particular equal to or smaller than 34 mm, preferably equal to 28mm, This reduces the blocking of an 20 angled view for customers , i.e. the angled view for customers is enhanced on the products when looking through the swing doors.

According to a further embodiment, a transparent pane of at least one of said adjacent swing doors comprises a gasfilled insulating glass unit (IG) or a vacuum insulated 25 glass unit (VIG). This provides the advantage that the inside of the freezer device being insulated against the warm ambient air. Typically, the gasfilled insulating glass unit and/or the vacuum insulated glass unit comprise at least two glass panes, often three glass panes, being spaced apart from each other by one or more spacers or spacer elements. The glass panes may comprise a thickness of 3 mm to 5 mm, often 30 4 mm and/or may comprise an antifog-coating or an antifog foil and/or a heatable coating and/or a low-emissivity coating and/or an anti-reflective coating. In vacuum insulation glass units (VIG) the spacer elements may have a depth of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably of below 1 mm. These spacer elements of the VIG are used in combination with a circumferential edge sealing. In gas filled insulation glass units 35 (IG) the circumferential spacer elements may have a depth of 4 to 20 mm. The space

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between the glass panes can be filled with a gas in case of an insulating glass unit (IG) or may be evacuated in case of a vacuum insulated glass unit (VIG). For not obstructing the view through the glass units the spacers can be made of a transparent material. Generally, the transparent pane of said swing doors can comprise several 5 glass panes one above the other. 2020202228

According to a further embodiment said swing door system comprising a passive and/or active heating element and/or one or more light elements and/or one or more sensors. This enhances the flexibility of the swing door system. For example, a 10 heating element can prevent condensation of the transparent regions of a swing door or light elements can illuminate products.

According to a further embodiment of the freezer device the swing doors of the swing door system are arranged such to open in the same direction of the aperture angle 15 i.e. all doors are left-side hinged or all doors are right-side hinged. This provides a very simple handling in particular opening and closing of the swing doors since the customer is only confronted with swing doors opening in the same way.

According to a further embodiment of the freezer device the swing doors of the swing 20 door system are arranged such to open in the opposite aperture angle directions, i.e. for two adjacent doors one is left-side hinged and one is right-side hinged. This provides a large entrance to the inside of a cabinet for a customer, when both swing doors open in opposite directions.

25 According to a further embodiment of the freezer device said freezer device comprises an upper and/or lower horizontal element to provide a stop for the swing doors of said swing door system and/or to provide a part for a force-locked swing door at the freezer device. This enables a very reliable opening and closing together with an enhanced handling of the swing doors for a customer. The horizontal element may 30 be provided as a horizontal frame element.

According to a further embodiment of the freezer device said freezer device comprises an energy source for providing heat and/or electric energy and an interface for connecting a heating element, a light element and/or a sensor of the swing door

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system to said corresponding energy source. This enables an easy implementation of the single system in a freezer device.

According to an embodiment of the swing door arrangement the area between two 5 adjacent swing doors, the area being defined as at least the distance between two adjacent swing doors and a distance perpendicular to swing doors in their closed 2020202228

position, is free of a mullion. This avoids any view blocking for customers when walking alongside the swing door arrangement. For stability vertical frame elements or frame profiles or vertical side profiles may be arranged here at opposite ends of 10 the swing door arrangement.

According to an embodiment of the swing door arrangement, said swing door arrangement comprises only horizontal frame elements. This further enhances the transparency for customers avoiding any view blocking due to vertical frame elements 15 or profiles.

There are several ways how to design and further develop the teaching of the present disclosure in an advantageous way. To this end, it is to be referred to the patent claims subordinate to the independent claims on the one hand and to the following 20 explanation of further examples of embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrated by the drawing on the other hand. In connection with the explanation of the further embodiments of the present disclosure by the aid of the drawing, generally further embodiments and developments of the teaching will be explained.

25 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

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In the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 5 Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the 2020202228

swing door system according to figure 1;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a freezer device according to an 10 embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a part of a swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

15 Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to figure 4;

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to an embodiment of the present 20 disclosure;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a part of a swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

25 Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of part of a swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 30 In figure 1 a swing door system 1 is shown comprising two adjacent swing doors 2, 3 . The swing doors comprising a transparent region 2a, 3a, formed by a plurality of glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c which are spaced apart from each other by spacers 7. The glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c provide insulation between opposite sides 35 of the swing doors 2, 3. The glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c are arranged

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perpendicular to the opening direction 90 of the swing doors 2, 3. On the surface perpendicular to the opening direction and perpendicular to the glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c of each swing door 2, 3 that means the surfaces of one swing door 3, 2 which surface vector is directed to the adjacent swing door 2, 3 comprises a sealing 5 20, 30 which has a semicircular shape such that the sealings 20, 30 are convex. The sealings overlap the outer glass panes 5a, 5c and 6a, 6c parallel to the glass panes 2020202228

5a, 5c, 6a, 6c of the respective swing doors 2, 3 in a form-locking manner to provide a reliable attachment of the respective sealing 20, 30 to the respective swing door 2, 3. Due to the semi-circle shape of the sealings 20, 30 they therefore may touch each 10 other only in a single point when viewed in the cross-sectional view. The sealing surface 25 is therefore a line.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to figure 1. 15 In detail figure 2 shows a swing door system 1 in a cross sectional view perpendicular to the transparent regions 2a, 3a and perpendicular to the opening direction 90. The rotating axis 40 of the left swing door 2 is in the center of the swing door 2 that means in the plane of the middle glass pane 5b near the surface of the swing door 2, which 20 is next to the adjacent swing door 3. The distance 50 between the opposite ends of the overlapping regions of the sealings 20, 30 parallel to the surfaces of the transparent regions 2a, 3b of the two sealings 20, 30 of the adjacent swing doors 2, 3 is here 46 mm. The thickness 52 of the transparent regions 2a, 3b formed in each swing door 2, 3 by the three corresponding glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c is 26 25 mm and the thickness 51 of the aforementioned transparent regions 2a, 3b and the thickness of the sealing 20, 30 overlapping in part the corresponding outer glass panes 5a, 5c, 6a, 6c is 30 mm. The radius 53 of the circular shape of the sealing 20, 30 is here 15 mm. The sealings 20, 30 further each have perpendicular to the transparent regions 2a, 3b formed by the glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c a 30 stabilizing and protective bar 54. In other words, the sealings 20, 30 are provided in form of a closed semi-circle together with U- form and the open part of the “U” is placed over common edge formed by the glass panes 5a, 5b,5c, 6a, 6b, 6c of the swing doors 2, 3.

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Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a freezer device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In detail figure 3 shows a freezer device 100 with a swing door system 1. The freezer 5 device 100 comprises a cabinet 101 and further a top horizontal element 105a and a bottom horizontal element 105b. The freezer device 100 comprises six swing doors 2020202228

2, 3, two of them each forming a swing door system providing a sealing function between them. The swing doors 2, 3 each have a transparent region 2a, 3a so that a customer in front of the freezer device 100 can see the products 109 placed on 10 shelves 108 inside the freezer device 100 through the swing doors 2, 3 without having to open the swing doors 2, 3. The sealings 20, 30 between each of the two swing doors 2, 3 are transparent.

Further, the horizontal elements 105a, 105b provide a stop for each of the swing doors 15 2, 3. The opening direction 90 when the swing doors 2, 3 are closed is perpendicular to the swing doors 2, 3. The angled direction 91 of the swing doors 2, 3 is the same for all swing doors 2, 3 of the freezer device 100. All swing doors open to the right, therefore all doors are hinged at their right side when looking perpendicular to the transparent panes of the freezer device 100. Further, the freezer device 100 20 comprises an energy source 106, which is connected with an interface 107 which enables to provide energy to a heating element or light elements inside the swing doors 2, 3.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a part of a swing door system according to an 25 embodiment of the present disclosure.

In general, figure 4 shows a swing door system 1 according to Figure 1. In contrast to the swing door system 1 of Figure 1 the swing door system 1 of Figure 4 comprises swing doors 2, 3 with a partial overlap 75. This overlap 75 is provided by the swing 30 door 2 by the backside glass pane 5a extending further as the other glass panes 5b, 5c in the direction to the adjacent swing door 3. Vice versa the other swing door 3 having the frontside glass pane 6c extending further as the other glass panes 6a, 6b in the direction to the adjacent swing door 3, thus providing a partial overlap 75 without touching of the extending glass panes 5a, 6c. Both swing doors 2, 3 further comprise 35 a protective profile 8, 9 on the surfaces of the swing door 2, 3 in the direction to the

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other adjacent swing door 2, 3. Therefore, due to the extending glass pane the profiles 8, 9 have a double L-shaped form. Between these profile 8, 9 rectangular space is provided in which two sealings 20, 30 are each being attached to one of the swing doors 2, 3, in detail to the corresponding profiles 8,9. These sealings 20, 30 have 5 triangular form therefore providing an angled sealing surface 25. Each of the profiles 8, 9 and each of the sealings 20, 30 can be transparent. However, a part 77 of the 2020202228

surface covering the profile 8, 9 of the swing door 3 and the spacers 7, when looking against the opening direction 90, can be made non-transparent to avoid a reduction of optical impression by a customer. For instance, a non-transparent layer can be 10 printed on the glass pane 5c, 6c, e.g. by a non-transparent ink.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to figure 4.

15 In detail figure 5 shows a swing door system 1 in a cross sectional view perpendicular to the transparent regions 2a, 3a and perpendicular to the opening direction 90. The rotating axis 40 of the left swing door 2 is off the center of the swing door 2 that means the center is in the plane between the middle glass pane 5b and the outer glass pane 5c near the outer surface of the swing door 2 perpendicular to transparent region 2a 20 and next to the adjacent swing door 3 or the profile 8 for the swing door 2. The distance 50 between the opposite ends of the regions next to the other swing door 2, 3 including spacers 7, the profiles 8, 9, the center of the rotating axis 40 and the sealings 20, 30 forming the overlapping region 75 is here 41 mm. The thickness 52 of the transparent regions 2a, 3b formed in each swing door 2, 3 comprising the three 25 corresponding glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c is 26 mm. The sealings 20, 30 being triangular in shape may comprise in the inside of each of the triangles a heating element 44, 45, so that the sealing 20, 30 and at least part of the glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c can be heated.

30 Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In detail, Figure 6 shows in general a swing door system 1 according to Figure 2. In contrast to the swing door system 1 of Figure 2 the swing door system 1 according to 35 Figure 6 comprises two swing doors 2, 3 each of them having two glass panes 5a,

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5b, 6a, 6b instead of three glass panes. Further in contrast to the swing door system 1 of Figure 2 the swing door system 1 of Figure 6 comprises a concave shaped form 21 of the left sealing 20. This sealing 20 of swing door 2 has an S-shaped surface towards the adjacent sealing 30 of swing door 3, the sealing 30 comprising a convex 5 shape 22, here a kind of semi-elliptical shape as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, when closing the right swing door 3 by moving it against the opening direction 90, the 2020202228

sealing 20 of the left swing door 2 provides a stop for the closing swing door 3 when the glass panes 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b of both swing doors 2, 3 form a common plane. Thus a partial form-locking connection 46 is provided. Since the S-shaped form of sealing 10 20 and the radius of the semi-elliptic form of the other sealing 30 are adapted to each other, the sealing surface 25 is larger compared to the sealing surface 25 of the swing door system shown in Figure 2. In the cross-sectional view of Figure 6 the sealing surface 25 is here a kind of a quarter circle.

15 Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a part of a swing door system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view parallel to the opening direction of the swing door system according to figure 7.

In general, figure 7 shows in general a swing door system 1 according to Figure 4. In 20 contrast to the swing door system 1 of Figure 4 the swing door system 1 of Figure 7 comprises sealings 20, 30 being of semicircular shape. The sealings 20, 30 are arranged such that the sealings 20, 30 extent with their semicircular shape perpendicular to the opening direction 90 such that they are touching each other forming a sealing surface 25 in form of a single point when viewed in the cross- 25 sectional view. In other words, the embodiment of Figure 7 combines in general the sealing principle of the two sealings 20, 30 of Figure 1 respectively Figure 2 with the overlapping principle of the two swing doors 2, 3 of the Figures 4 and 5. In further other words the triangular shaped sealings 20, 30 of Figures 4 and 5 have been replaced by semicircular shapes. Further in contrast to the embodiment of the Figures 30 4 and 5 the profiles 8 and 9 have a swelling to provide a fit for the corresponding sealing 20, 30.

The rotating axis 40 of the left swing door 2 is off the center of the swing door 2 that means the center is in the plane between the middle glass pane 5b and the outer 35 glass pane 5c near the outer surface of the swing door 2 perpendicular to transparent

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region 2a and next to the adjacent swing door 3 or the profile 8 for the swing door 2. The distance 50 between the prominent glass pane 6c resp. 5a and the corresponding non-prominent glass panes 6a, 6b resp. 5b, 5c is here 18 mm. The thickness 52 of the transparent regions 2a, 3b formed in each swing door 2, 3 comprising the three 5 corresponding glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c is 28 mm, the spacers 7 having a thickness of 8 mm and a width of 10 mm. The sealings 20, 30 being may comprise in 2020202228

the inside of each of the triangles a heating element so that the sealing 20, 30 and at least part of the glass panes 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c can be heated.

10 To summarize at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides or enables

- high customer comfort - high customer perceived value 15 - simple and cost-effective implementation - large field of view compared with conventional swing door systems - reliable sealing function, thus low energy consumption is enabled - mechanical robustness

20 Many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to the one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and 25 other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

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List of reference signs

1 Swing door system 2 Left swing door 2a Transparent region 2020202228

3 Right swing door 3a Transparent region 5a Glass pane 5b Glass pane 5c Glass pane 6a Glass pane 6b Glass pane 6c Glass pane 7 Spacer 8 Profile left swing door 9 Profile right swing door 20 Sealing 21 Concave form sealing 22 Convex form sealing 25 Sealing surface 30 Sealing 40 Rotating axis 44 Heating element 45 Heating element 46 Form-locking connection 50 Distance 51 Thickness 52 Thickness 53 Radius 54 Protective bar 70 Angle 75 Overlap 77 Non-transparent printing 90 Opening direction

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91 Angled direction 100 Freezer device 101 Cabinet 105a Top horizontal element 105b Bottom horizontal element 106 Energy source 2020202228

107 Interface 108 Shelf 109 Product

Claims (3)

MARKED-UP COPY - 20 - 31 Mar 2026 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

1. A freezer device comprising a swing door system being arranged in a cabinet such that the opening the opening direction of the swing door system is horizontal and wherein said cabinet is mullion-free, said swing door system comprising at least two adjacent swing doors, each swing door having a 2020202228

transparent region, wherein each of said at least two adjacent swing doors comprises a circumferential sealing, and wherein said at least two adjacent swing doors are arranged such that in a closed position said sealings provide an essentially hermetic sealing function between said two adjacent swing doors, wherein said two sealings are at least translucent, wherein each of said at least two adjacent swing doors comprises a sealing for providing said sealing function, and wherein said two sealings are provided with magnetic means to provide a magnetic force between said two sealings and wherein at least two adjacent swing doors of the swing door system are arranged such to open in the same direction of an aperture angle.

2. A freezer device according to claim 1: wherein said two sealings are at least partially transparent; wherein said two adjacent sealings have the same shape and/or wherein one of said two adjacent sealings is adapted to provide at least partially a form- locking connection; and/or wherein said magnetic means are permanent magnets.

3. A freezer device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one sealing has at least partially a circular shape and/or essentially triangular shape.

4. A freezer device according to claim 2, wherein said form-locking connection is provided by a partial convex form of one of said sealings and a corresponding concave form of said other one of said sealings.

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5. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the sealing surface provided by said at least one sealing is inclined with an angle to the opening direction of the swing doors from said closed position, said angle being smaller than 90°, smaller than 60°, or smaller than 30°, or 0°.

6. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein said two adjacent 2020202228

swing doors are arranged such that a partial overlap in said closed position of said two adjacent swing doors is provided based on the view parallel to the opening direction.

7. A freezer device according to claim 6, wherein said two adjacent swing doors are arranged such that the partial overlap is in a formed common plane.

8. A freezer device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said partial overlap is provided by an extending pane of one swing door in the direction to the other adjacent swing door and vice versa.

9. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein at least one of said two adjacent swing doors comprises an angled S-shaped profile at least on a surface of said swing door directed to the other adjacent swing door.

10. A freezer device according to claim 9, wherein said angled S-shaped profile is at least translucent.

11. A freezer device according to claim 10, wherein said angled S-shaped profile is at least partially transparent.

12. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein for providing said closed position between two adjacent swing doors, one of said two adjacent swing door is formed such to provide a stop for the other adjacent door and/or wherein at least one of said two swing doors comprises a gas-filled insulating glass unit or a vacuum glass unit, said gas-filled insulating glass unit or said vacuum glass unit comprises at least two glass panes being spaced apart from each other by a spacer.

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13. A freezer device according to claim 12, wherein said spacer is at least translucent.

14. A freezer device according to claim 13, wherein said spacer is at least partially transparent. 2020202228

15. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein a rotating axis of at least one of the swing doors is in the center of said swing door, said center being defined with respect to the thickness of the swing door perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and/or wherein the rotating axis of at least one of the swing doors is off the center of the swing door, said center being defined with respect to the thickness of the swing doors perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door, preferably wherein said swing door having the rotating axis in the center of said swing door, has a sealing, said sealing having essentially semicircular shape.

16. A freezer device according claim 15, wherein a thickness of a swing door with at least one sealing is equal to or smaller than 40 mm, equal to or smaller than 30 mm, or equal to or smaller than 26 mm, said thickness being measured in a handle-free region parallel to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door, and/or wherein a width of a region in a closed position of said swing door system, said region comprising at least one sealing, a center of said rotating axis of at least one of said swing doors, said width being measured perpendicular to the opening direction in a closed position of said swing door and parallel to the plane of said panes of said swing door, is equal to or smaller than 50 mm, equal to or smaller than 41 mm, or equal to or smaller than 34 mm.

17. A freezer device according to claim 16, said region further comprising at least one profile, and spacers for spacing apart panes of a swing door.

18. A freezer device according to claim 1, wherein said freezer device comprises an upper and/or lower horizontal element to provide a stop for the swing doors of said swing door system and/or to provide a part for a force-locked swing door at the freezer device and/or wherein said freezer device comprises an

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energy source for providing heat and/or electric energy and an interface for connecting a heating element, a light element or a sensor of the swing door system to said corresponding energy source.

19. A freezer device according to any one of claims 1-18, said freezer device comprising an at least partially circumferential outer frame for the swing door 2020202228

system wherein said outer frame has horizontal frame elements providing support for the rotating axis of said swing door system.

20. A freezer device according to claim 19, wherein said freezer device comprises only horizontal frame elements.

5a

2020202228 30 Mar 2020 5b 5c 7 7 20

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2020202228 30 Mar 2020 2 40 54 3 50 54

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105a 2020202228 30 Mar 2020

2020202228 30 Mar 2020 100 30 30 20 30 20 20

100 1

20 109

20

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1 3a

109 101 3

108 2 107 106 90 91 91 3/8 105b Fig. 3

2020202228 30 Mar 2020 25 5b 5c 75 5c 8

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2020202228 30 Mar 2020 75

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2020202228 30 Mar 2020 40 46 21 7 2 25 6a 5a 30

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2020202228 30 Mar 2020 5b 5c

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2020202228 30 Mar 2020 75

75 25 20 30 7 5a 7 6a 7

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