Abstract:
An object is to provide a showcase capable of improving the appearance of an illumination apparatus itself and improving the illumination effect produced by the illumination apparatus. In the showcase in which the inside of a display chamber disposed in a main body is illuminated by an illumination apparatus, the illumination apparatus includes an LED illumination member having an LED element, and a holding member attached to the main body to hold the LED illumination member, and the holding member includes a lead wire receiving portion for receiving a lead wire of the LED illumination member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a showcase in which the inside of a display chamber disposed in a main body is illuminated by an illumination apparatus. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Heretofore, in a showcase of this kind, particularly in a showcase in which a front opening of a display chamber is openably closed by a see-through door and illumination devices are vertically attached to a main body inwardly from the edge of an opening, a vertical pillar is disposed at the center of a front opening edge or on each side of the opening edge, and a fluorescent lamp is attached to the rear surface of this pillar to illuminate the inside of the display chamber from the front side (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-224150 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2546302 (Patent Document 2)). 
         [0003]    However, the fluorescent lamp used as an illumination apparatus in the conventional showcase has to be replaced owing to a decrease in luminance or a fault of lighting due to aging. As a result, a user is forced to perform a replacement work of the fluorescent lamp, which causes a problem that the work is cumbersome. In addition, a new fluorescent lamp needs to be always stored for the replacement, and a place for storing the fluorescent lamp needs to be secured. Further, the fluorescent lamp contains mercury, which causes a problem that the used fluorescent lamp cannot easily be discarded. 
         [0004]    In addition, parts such as a socket and a stabilizer are necessary for attaching the fluorescent lamp in the display chamber, and hence in the attachment position, attachment places for not only the fluorescent lamp but also the socket, the stabilizer and the like also need to be secured. Moreover, lead wires must be connected to the respective fluorescent lamps for power supply thereto, which causes problems that assembly workability is poor and that the number of the parts, and production cost increase. Furthermore, the fluorescent lamps use an alternate current, and hence flicker, which causes a problem that eyes are adversely affected. 
         [0005]    For the above reasons, in recent years, an illumination apparatus using LED elements is adopted as means for illuminating the inside of the display chamber. At this time, the lead wires for supplying the power to each LED element are arranged on the side of a substrate to which the LED element is to be attached, and the lead wires are hidden together with the LED elements by a shade. 
         [0006]    However, the shade is made of a translucent, colorless and transparent material to secure light transmittance, the lead wires are therefore seen through the shade from the outside, and there is a problem of marring appearance. Particularly in the illumination apparatus using the LED elements, unlike the fluorescent lamps, the apparatus is provided on the substrate, and it is therefore difficult to hide the lead wires from the outside by the illumination apparatus itself. Moreover, when the LED illumination apparatus is constituted of a plurality of LED illumination members and the illumination members are provided so that their attachment positions can be freely changed, there is inconvenience that the lead wires disturb a position changing work. 
         [0007]    Further in the illumination apparatus using the LED elements, unlike the fluorescent lamps, chip type LED elements are longitudinally arranged in rows. Thus, light passing through the shade is constituted by the rows of intense point light sources, and is inconveniently glaring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been developed to solve the conventional technical problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a showcase capable of improving the appearance of an illumination apparatus itself and improving an illumination effect produced by the illumination apparatus. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a showcase in which the inside of a display chamber disposed in a main body is illuminated by an illumination apparatus, characterized in that the illumination apparatus includes an LED illumination member having an LED element, and a holding member attached to the main body to hold the LED illumination member, and the holding member includes a lead wire receiving portion to receive a lead wire of the LED illumination member. 
         [0010]    A showcase of a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that in the first aspect of the invention, the LED illumination member includes a plurality of LED elements arranged in a row, a shade is attached to the holding member at a position in an irradiating direction of light from the LED elements, and the shade has a wave-like sectional shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements. 
         [0011]    A showcase of a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that in the second aspect of the invention, the sectional shape of a portion of the shade positioned at the end of the illumination apparatus is a wave-like shape which more noticeably refracts the light from the LED elements in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements as compared with the sectional shape of the other portion. 
         [0012]    A showcase of a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that in the second or third aspect of the invention, the holding member is provided with a pair of reflectors positioned on both sides of an irradiation path of the light from the LED elements to the shade so that the reflectors are disposed away from each other as a distance from the LED elements increases. 
         [0013]    A showcase of a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that in the above aspects of the invention, the LED illumination member includes a substrate provided with the plurality of LED elements on the surface thereof, the holding member is made of a metal, and the holding member is provided with radiation ribs which abut on positions corresponding to the backsides of the LED elements on the back surface of the substrate. 
         [0014]    According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the showcase in which the inside of the display chamber disposed in the main body is illuminated by the illumination apparatus, the illumination apparatus includes the LED illumination member having the LED element, and the holding member attached to the main body to hold the LED illumination member, and the holding member includes the lead wire receiving portion to receive the lead wire of the LED illumination member. Therefore, the lead wire of the LED illumination member can easily be received in the lead wire receiving portion of the holding member. 
         [0015]    In consequence, it is possible to eliminate a disadvantage that the lead wire is carelessly pulled during maintenance of the LED illumination member or the like, whereby safety can be improved. Furthermore, the lead wire can be hidden to improve appearance. 
         [0016]    According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, the LED illumination member includes the plurality of LED elements arranged in the row, the shade is attached to the holding member at the position in the irradiating direction of the light from the LED elements, and the shade has a wave-like sectional shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements. Therefore, intense irradiation light from the LED elements can be diffused by the shade. Moreover, the shade refracts the light in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements, and hence the feeling of discontinuity of the light can be reduced. In consequence, the appearance can be improved. 
         [0017]    According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the second aspect of the invention, the sectional shape of the portion of the shade positioned at the end of the illumination apparatus is the wave-like shape which more noticeably refracts the light from the LED elements in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements as compared with the sectional shape of the other portion. Therefore, the light of the end of the illumination apparatus can noticeably be refracted in the longitudinal direction. For example, in the case that the shade is vertically attached, bright illumination of a portion near a ceiling can be realized. 
         [0018]    According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the second or third aspect of the invention, the holding member is provided with the pair of reflectors positioned on both the sides of the irradiation path of the light from the LED elements to the shade so that the reflectors are disposed away from each other as the distance from the LED elements increases. Therefore, the irradiation light from the LED elements can be reflected by the reflectors to effectively illuminate the inside of the display chamber. 
         [0019]    According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the respective aspects of the invention, the LED illumination member includes the substrate provided with the plurality of LED elements on the surface thereof, the holding member is made of the metal, and the holding member is provided with the radiation ribs which abut on the positions corresponding to the backsides of the LED elements on the back surface of the substrate. Therefore, heat from the LED elements can smoothly be radiated through the metal holding member. In consequence, deterioration and failure of the LED illumination member can be prevented or suppressed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a showcase to which the present invention is applied; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged sectional view of the showcase of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a front view of LED elements of an illumination apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the illumination apparatus provided on a pillar; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view cut along the line B-B of  FIG. 4 , showing a sectional shape of a shade of the illumination apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  shows a front view of a showcase  1  to which the present invention is applied, and  FIG. 2  shows a partially enlarged sectional view of the showcase  1 . The showcase  1  is a low-temperature showcase to be installed in a supermarket, a convenience store or the like, and a main body is constituted by an insulating box member (an insulating wall)  2  whose front face is open. 
         [0026]    The insulating box member  2  is constituted of an outer box  3  made of steel plates and opened at the front face thereof; a unshown inner box made of steel plates or a hard resin, opened at the front face thereof and incorporated in the outer box  3  with a space left therein; and an insulating material made of foamed polyurethane charged in a foamed state between the outer box  3  and the inner box. 
         [0027]    A display chamber  5  is disposed in this inner box, and a front opening  6  of the display chamber  5  is openably closed from its upper end to its lower end by a plurality (three in this embodiment) of pivoted glass doors  7  through which the inside can be seen. Each glass door  7  is made up of a frame  7 A forming edges of the door; and a glass plate  7 B, through which the inside can be seen, attached to the frame  7 A. A gasket  7 C is provided on the rear surface of the frame  7 A. 
         [0028]    A plurality (two in this embodiment because three doors  7  are provided) of pillars  8  are vertically provided at predetermined intervals on an edge of the front opening  6  of the insulating box  2 . Such a pillar  8  is a columnar member made of, for example, an insulating material. Each glass door  7  seals the inside of the display chamber  5  in a state in which the gasket  7  on the rear surface comes into close contact with the edges of the front opening  6  and the front surface of the corresponding pillar  8 . 
         [0029]    Shelf pillars  10  are vertically provided at the back face and the front portion of the display chamber  5 . A plurality of shelves  9  are set on the shelf pillars  10 . A plurality of engagement holes are formed at predetermined intervals in each shelf pillar  10 . By changing the engagement hole to which the shelf  9  is set, the vertical position of the shelf  9  can be changed. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the shelf pillars  10  are provided at the back face and the front portion of the display chamber  5  behind the pillars  8 . Thus, a plurality of shelves  9  are set behind each glass door  7 . 
         [0031]    Moreover, an unshown cooler and an unshown blower of a cooling system are provided in the upper portion of the display chamber  5 . The cooler cooperates with an unshown compressor, an unshown condenser and the like separately provided, to constitute the cooling system making up a so-called refrigeration cycle. Cold air from the cooler is forcedly circulated through the display chamber  5  by the blower to cool the inside of the display chamber  5  to a predetermined temperature. 
         [0032]    Next, an illumination apparatus  15  provided in the display chamber  5  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 .  FIG. 3  shows a front view of LED elements in the illumination apparatus  15 .  FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the illumination apparatus  15  provided on the pillar  8 .  FIG. 5  shows a sectional view cut along the line B-B of  FIG. 4 , showing a sectional shape of a shade  30  of the illumination apparatus  15 . 
         [0033]    In this embodiment, the illumination apparatuses  15  are vertically provided inwardly from the edge of the opening  6  of the insulating box  2  constituting the main body, more specifically, at the front corners of the display chamber  5  and on the rear surface of each pillar  8 . Each illumination apparatus  15  is made up of a plurality of LED illumination members  16 ; a holding member  21  attached inwardly from the edge of the opening  6  of the insulating box  2  to hold the LED illumination members  16 ; the shade  30 ; and a cover member  31 . 
         [0034]    Each LED illumination member  16  is constituted by a substrate  18  provided with a plurality of LED elements  17 . The substrate  18  extends in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of LED elements  17  are attached to the substrate  18  at predetermined intervals in a row. In this embodiment, each LED element  17  is a chip type white LED element. 
         [0035]    The holding member  21  extends vertically with respect to the front opening  6  of the insulating box  2 , and the holding member is made of a metal having satisfactory heat conductivity, for example, an aluminum material. The front wall of the holding member  21  serves as an attachment surface  22  to be brought into contact with and attached to the rear surface of the pillar  8 . In this embodiment, to illuminate both lateral directions (both obliquely backward directions), the holding member  21  has a shape in which two holding portions  32 ,  32  each having a substantially U-shaped section are united back to back. The holding member  21  is linearly symmetric with respect to a partition wall  24  formed along an axis  41  so as to extend in a front-to-rear direction at the center of the holding member. 
         [0036]    A radiation passage  33  is formed inside a front portion of the partition wall  24 . On both surfaces of the front portion of the partition wall  24  constituting the radiation passage  33 , illumination holding portions  45  are formed to detachably engage with and hold the front ends of the LED illumination members  16 . On both surfaces of a rear portion (from the center) of the partition wall  24 , illumination holding portions  46  are formed to detachably engage with and hold the rear ends of the LED illumination members  16  in cooperation with the illumination holding portions  45 . 
         [0037]    Here, the radiation passage  33  is formed to ensure a predetermined space inside both the faces of the front portion of the partition wall  24 . Therefore, each LED illumination member  16  is attached to the illumination holding portions  45  and  46  of the partition wall  24  so that the rear end of the LED illumination member is nearer to the axis  41  than the front end thereof. Thus, the LED illumination member  16  is attached so as to face not laterally but somewhat backward at a predetermined angle. 
         [0038]    On both the side surfaces of the partition wall  24  positioned between the illumination holding portions  45  and  46 , radiation ribs  48 ,  48  are formed integrally with the partition wall  24  so as to abut on the backsides of the LED illumination members  16  attached to the partition wall. 
         [0039]    Inside the front portions of the front walls of the holding portions  32  on both sides of the radiation passage  33 , lead wire receiving portions  23  are formed to receive lead wires  49  for supplying power to the LED elements  17  of the LED illumination members  16 . 
         [0040]    On the front wall of the holding portion  32  positioned behind the lead wire receiving portion  23 , a reflector holding portion  44  is formed to extend from the partition wall  24  side to the opening. At both ends of the reflector holding portion  44 , engagement portions  42 ,  43  are formed to hold one reflector  28 . On the other hand, on both side surfaces of the partition wall  24 , engagement portions  27  are formed to hold another reflector  26  in cooperation with engagement claws  25  formed at ends of the rear walls  21 A of the holding portions  32 . 
         [0041]    At this time, the engagement portions  27  and  42  are formed close to the LED elements  17  held by the holding member  21 , that is, at positions where an irradiation path for guiding irradiation light from the LED element  17  to the opening portion of the holding portion  32  is not blocked. In each holding portion  32 , the front wall in which the opening portion is formed is longer than the rear wall  21 A. 
         [0042]    In consequence, a pair of reflectors  26  and  28  attached to the engagement portions  25  and  27  and the engagement portions  42  and  43 , respectively, are positioned on both sides of the LED element  17  and the irradiation path of the light from the LED element  17  extending from the side of the element to the opening portion open somewhat backward. As a distance from the LED element  17  increases, the reflectors are disposed away from each other. 
         [0043]    On the outer periphery of the holding member  21 , the shade  30  made of a translucent, colorless and transparent material or a lacteous material is attached so as to cover the opening portions and the rear walls  21 A of both the holding portions  32 . In this embodiment, the shade  30  is detachably engaged with the front surface of the engagement portion  43  (the surface on the pillar  8  side) formed at an end of the front wall of each holding portion  32 , and the shade is fixed to the holding member  21  with unshown ornamental screws. 
         [0044]    Here, as shown in the enlarged sectional view of the shade  30  of  FIG. 5 , the shade  30  provided at the opening portion of the holding member  21  in an irradiating direction of the light from each LED element  17  has such a sectional shape that the surface of the shade opposite to the LED elements  17  has a wave-like shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements  17 . 
         [0045]    Particularly in this embodiment, the wave-like sectional shape of the shade  30  positioned in the upper and lower portions of the display chamber  5  from the central portion of the display chamber  5  is a wave-like shape that noticeably refracts the light in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements  17  (in this case, the upper portion of the shade refracts the light further upwardly, and the lower portion of the shade refracts the light further downwardly). 
         [0046]    In this embodiment, the shade has the wave-like sectional shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements  17 , that is, the LED illumination member  16 . However, the shape is not limited to the wave-like shape. A shape that is concavo-convex at a predetermined frequency, for example, a saw-tooth-like shape may be used. Moreover, the wave-like sectional shape is formed on the surface of the shade opposite to the LED elements  17 . However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The surface of the shade on the side of the LED elements  17 , both the surfaces of the shade, or the whole shade  30  may have a series of wave-like sectional shape. 
         [0047]    Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper and lower ends of the holding member  21  are closed with the cover member  31 . It is to be noted that the cover member  31  is provided with unshown connection holes for circulating cold air therethrough. 
         [0048]    The procedure of attaching the illumination apparatus  15  having such a constitution will be described. The substrate  18  to which the LED elements  17  are attached is engaged with the illumination holding portions  45 ,  46  of the holding member  21  and fixed. At this time, the back surface of the substrate  18  at the positions corresponding to the backsides of the LED elements  17  abuts on the radiation rib  48  formed on the partition wall  24  of the holding member  21 . 
         [0049]    The lead wires  49  extending out of the substrate  18  of the LED illumination member  16  are easily received in the lead wire receiving portion  23  formed in the front portion of the front wall of the holding member  21 . 
         [0050]    Then, the one reflector  28  is engaged with the engagement portions  42 ,  43  of the reflector holding portion  44  of the holding member  21 , and fixed. Moreover, the other reflector  26  is engaged with the holding portions  25 ,  27 , and fixed. In consequence, the lead wires received in the lead wire receiving portion  23  are hidden by the reflector holding portion  44  and the reflector  28 . 
         [0051]    It is to be noted that in this embodiment, a plurality of LED illumination members  16  described above are attached to the holding member  21 . Alternatively, the illumination apparatus  15  may be constituted by a single LED illumination member  16  extending between the upper and lower ends of the front opening  6 . However, when the apparatus is constituted by a plurality of LED illumination members  16  as in this embodiment, production cost can be reduced and handling properties can be improved. 
         [0052]    Then, the shade  30  is attached to the opening portions of the holding portions  32 ,  32  of the holding member  21  to cover the LED illumination members  16  received inside. 
         [0053]    Afterward, the holding member  21  to which the LED illumination members  16  have been attached is attached to the rear surface of the pillar  8 . In this embodiment, since the illumination apparatuses  15  are attached and positioned on both sides of each glass door  7 , a holding member constituted by a single holding portion  32  providing an opening portion only in one direction is attached to each of both front corners of the display chamber  5 . At this time, the illumination apparatus  15  to be provided in each front corner is attached so that the irradiation light from the LED elements  17  is radiated toward the inside of the display chamber  5 . 
         [0054]    In the above-described constitution, the light from the LED elements  17  of the LED illumination member  16  fixed to each holding portion  32  of the holding member  21  is radiated laterally (substantially parallel to the glass door  7 ) from the rear portion of each side of the glass door  7 . In this embodiment, with respect to the partition wall  24  provided substantially perpendicularly to the back surface of the pillar  8 , the LED illumination member  16  is provided to be somewhat inclined backward (to the display chamber  5  side). In consequence, since the light from the illumination apparatus  15  is radiated toward the front portions of the shelves  9  set in the display chamber  5 , the highly directional light from the LED elements  17  can be radiated toward the front portions of the shelves  9 . Thus, commodities on the shelves  9 , in particular, the commodities at the forefront can be evenly well illuminated, and the front faces of the commodities can be effectively illuminated. Consequently, the illumination effect and the display effect of the commodities can be improved. 
         [0055]    In addition, since the shade  30  provided at the position in the irradiating direction of the light from the LED elements  17  has a wave-like sectional shape extending in the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in the present embodiment) of the row of the LED elements  17 , intense irradiation light from the LED elements  17  can be diffused by the shade  30 , and thus glare can be reduced. In addition, since the wave-like sectional shape of the shade  30  refracts the light in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements  17 , the row of the light from the LED elements  17  as point light sources can be viewed as light from a linear light source. Thus, the feeling of discontinuity of the light, further, the concentration of the illuminance of the light source can be reduced. In consequence, the appearance can be improved. 
         [0056]    Particularly in this embodiment, as described above, the portions of the shade  30  positioned at the ends of the illumination apparatus  15 , that is, the upper and lower portions of the shade  30  have a wave-like sectional shape which more noticeably refracts the light from the LED elements  17  in the longitudinal direction of the row of the LED elements  17  as compared with the sectional shape of the other portion. 
         [0057]    The sectional view of the shade  30  of  FIG. 5  shows a section of a portion of the shade  30  corresponding to the upper portion of the display chamber  5 , for example, a portion between the ceiling of the display chamber  5  and the uppermost shelf  9 . A state is shown in which the irradiation light from the LED elements  17  (solid arrows) is incident from the surface of the shade  30  on the LED element  17  side, and refracted at respective angles by the portion of the wave-like shape of the surface of the shade  30  opposite to the LED elements  17 . As described herein, as to the light refracted from the surface of the shade  30 , the light from the surface of the upper portion of the shade is refracted in a further upward direction. 
         [0058]    Thus, the light of the upper portion of the illumination apparatus  15  can be noticeably refracted upward while the light of the lower portion of the illumination apparatus  15  can be noticeably refracted downward. This can realize bright illumination to a portion of the display chamber  5  near the ceiling or floor. In consequence, the whole display chamber  5  can be more brightly illuminated, and the inside of the display chamber  5  can be widely seen. 
         [0059]    In this embodiment, a pair of reflectors  26  and  28  are attached to the holding portions  32 ,  32  of the holding member  21  on both sides of the irradiation path of the light from the LED elements  17  to the shade  30  (the opening portion) so that the reflectors are disposed away from each other as the distance from the LED elements  17  increases. Therefore, the irradiation light from the LED elements  17  can be reflected by these reflectors  26 ,  28  to effectively illuminate the inside of the display chamber  5 . 
         [0060]    The inside of the display chamber  5  is illuminated with the irradiation light from the LED elements  17  through the shade  30 , but at this time, since the lead wires  49  of the LED illumination member  16  are received in the lead wire receiving portion  23  formed in the holding member  21 , the disadvantage that the lead wires  49  are seen through the shade  30  can be avoided, and the appearance can be improved. 
         [0061]    In addition, the disadvantage that the lead wire  49  is carelessly pulled during maintenance of the LED illumination member  16  or the like can be eliminated, and safety can thus be improved. 
         [0062]    The holding member  21  to which the LED illumination member  16  is attached is made of a metal having satisfactory thermal conductivity, and the holding member  21  is provided with the radiation ribs  48  which abut on the back surface of the substrate  18  at the positions corresponding to the backsides of the LED elements  17 . Therefore, waste heat from the substrate  18  that generates the heat by power supply to the LED elements can be smoothly radiated through the metal holding member  21 . Thus, deterioration and failure of the LED illumination member can be prevented or suppressed. Since the cold air circulated through the display chamber  5  can be circulated through the radiation passage  33  formed in the holding member  21  and the connection holes  32  of the cover members  31  provided at the upper and lower ends of the holding member  21 , the waste heat transmitted from the substrate  18  of the LED illumination member  16  through the radiation ribs  48  can smoothly be radiated. 
         [0063]    Moreover, since each LED element  17  constituting the illumination apparatus  15  as described above has a very long service life in comparison with a fluorescent lamp, a replacement work of the illumination becomes unnecessary. There is no need of a stock of change parts and a cumbersome work such as disposal of waste substances discharged by replacement. 
         [0064]    In this embodiment, the LED illumination member  16  is somewhat inclined backward and vertically attached. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The LED illumination member  16  may be attached parallel to the glass door  7  (laterally). Further in this embodiment, a reach-in type showcase has been described, but the present invention is not limited to that, and the illumination apparatus  15  may be adopted in, for example, an open showcase or the like.