THERMALLY INSULATED DOOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• Main Authors: SANDERS, Joseph F, WALLER, Timothy G, MCALEER, Matthew K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 25.04.2018
• Subjects: BLASTING; COFFEE MILLS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES,FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS,BLINDS, GATES; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; FURNITURE; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; ICE-BOXES; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21Sand F21V, RELATING TO THEFORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THELIGHT EMITTED; LADDERS; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PAYING COUNTERS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS,STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; SPICE MILLS; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A thermally insulated door assembly includes first and second panes of light transmissive material, a light assembly, and a heat sink. The first pane and the second pane are spaced apart from each other by a separation gap to define an interior chamber. The light assembly is in the interior chamber between the first pane and the second pane, and is configured to generate light within the interior chamber. The heat sink is disposed within the interior chamber and coupled with the light assembly and an inwardly facing surface of the first pane. The heat sink is configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the light assembly onto an inwardly facing surface of the first pane and into the interior chamber such that the inwardly facing surface of the first pane and the interior chamber are heated by the light assembly.