Patent ID: 9615676
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: A47B,A47F,G02B

Claim:
1. A heated product display case, comprising: a framework defining a substantially enclosed heated environment within which products are displayed for viewing by consumers, said framework defining said substantially enclosed environment comprising a front viewing region, opposite side regions, a rear wall region disposed opposite said front viewing region, a housing connected to said framework, and at least one window defined within said housing; a glass plate, having a first end edge portion and a second opposite end edge portion, disposed internally within said housing and operatively connected to said framework defining said substantially enclosed heated environment so as to be disposed externally of said substantially enclosed heated environment defined within said product display case; and a linear array of LEDs, disposed adjacent to said first end edge portion of said glass plate for transmitting light into said first end edge portion of said glass plate such that the light will be transmitted through said glass plate by means of total internal reflection principles and exit from said second opposite end edge portion of said glass plate which is disposed internally within said housing so as not to protect outwardly from said housing and into said substantially enclosed heated environment whereby said glass plate effectively comprises a light pipe for illuminating substantially the entire enclosed heated environment of said product display case as a result of light, from said light pipe, passing through said at least one window.