Patent ID: 7318321

Claim:
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.