EP1926872A1

EP1926872A1 - Household appliance with handle arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1926872A1
Application number: EP06793215A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Benz
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2005-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-05
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Also published as: RU2425201C2; RU2008110887A; DE202005014384U1; WO2007031432A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cupboard-type household appliance which comprises a body, a door mounted on the body and a plane of symmetry-free handle arrangement arranged on the door. Said handle arrangement comprises a connecting element mounted on the door and a handle part held on the connecting element. The aim of the invention is to provide a handle arrangement which allows to use the same components when producing mirror-symmetrical household appliances. For this purpose, the connecting element (44; 144; 244) and the handle part (48; 148; 248) are configured separately from each other and have a respective mirror plane of symmetry (90 or 92), said mirror planes of symmetry (90, 92) being substantially perpendicular to each other.

Description

Household appliance with handle arrangement

The invention relates to a cabinet-like household appliance having a body, with a hinged door on the body and with a arranged on the door symmetriebeneenfreien handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises a door disposed on the connecting element and held on the connecting element grip part.

Such household appliances are used in particular as refrigerators, for example as refrigerators or freezers as well as refrigerator / freezer combinations. Here, the household appliances are usually made according to customer requirements with a hinged right or left door, which is mounted on the left or right to open the door at this handle assembly.

In the event that symmetrieplanenfreien handle assemblies are used to produce the household appliances, so that a household appliance with left stop to a right stop has a mirror-symmetrical appearance, for each type of household appliance each have a separate handle assembly are provided, which are configured mirror-symmetrically to each other. However, this is associated with an expensive material storage, since depending on the customer in otherwise substantially unchanged construction of the household appliance according to the desired door opening side to each other mirror-symmetrical handle arrangements must be stored.

To circumvent this problem, it has already been proposed to rotate the handle assembly 180 degrees relative to a horizontally oriented axis of rotation. However, this leads to the fact that when using a handle assembly with, for example, vertically oriented handle this extends in a door hinged right, for example, in the direction of the bottom of the household appliance, while it is aligned opposite in a door hinged left. This is perceived by many users as disadvantageous or unsatisfactory.

Object of the present invention is to develop a household appliance of the type mentioned while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art such that the Manufacture of the handle assemblies regardless of the type of door hinge the same components can be used.

This object is achieved in a household appliance of the generic type according to the invention that the connection element and the handle part are formed separately from each other and each having a mirror plane, wherein the two mirror planes are perpendicular to each other.

Such a configuration makes it possible, regardless of the desired door opening direction for the formation of the handle assembly to use the same components and yet to ensure the mirror image of a household appliance with right stop to a left-hand stop. The material storage in the manufacture of the household appliance can thereby be significantly reduced, and the decision whether the door should be hinged left or right, can be postponed until the device is set up at the user.

Preferably, the handle part is vertically aligned.

It is favorable if the grip part is releasably fixed to the attachment element. This ensures that the handle part, for example, if not satisfied or damaged, can be solved and replaced by the connection element without any problems, or that the device can be retrofitted from left to right stop or vice versa.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element has a through hole and the handle part has a blind bore, wherein the handle part on the

Anbindungselement is fixed by a fixing member passes through the through hole and is detachably inserted into the bore of the handle part. Such an embodiment of the

Domestic appliance makes it possible to fix the handle assembly easy and therefore cost-effective and reliable to the connection element. Moreover, in this embodiment is advantageous in that it can be avoided that a head of the

Fixing element comes to rest on the handle part, which is why the head of the fixing must not be laminated, for example, with a cap. As an alternative to the above-mentioned embodiment, it can be provided that the connection element is provided with a through-hole or blind bore, while the grip part has a through-hole. In this case, it is possible to insert the fixing element from the side of the connecting element or the handle part in the holes.

In order to fix the gripping part in terms of process technology simply and as inexpensively as possible detachably on the connecting element, the fixing element is designed as a screw, in which case the bore of the gripping part is designed as a threaded bore.

A protrusion of a screw head from a surface of the handle assembly and an associated potential risk of injury to the user of the household appliance can be avoided by the through hole is countersunk for countersinking the screw head.

In order not to have to unnecessarily cover the head part of the screw, for example, with a cap, the screw head can be kept out of sight of a user of the household appliance by the head of the screw facing the front of the door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection element is arranged on a side facing away from the stop side of the door side of the door. This provides a sufficiently long lever arm to open the door with a reasonable amount of effort.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the connection element is designed as an angle profile. Angle profiles are standard parts which are commercially available at particularly low cost. If the connection element is designed as an angle profile, the handle arrangement can preferably be designed as a door opening aid, since a region of a leg of the angle profile can be used to spread the door off the carcass. - A -

It can be provided that the grip part is designed as a rod, preferably as a rod without edges or with rounded edges. In order to increase the ease of use of the household appliance, the rod is preferably formed without edges or with rounded edges.

It is favorable if the connection element has a spring and the grip part has a groove, wherein the spring engages in the groove. The interaction of spring and groove makes it possible to easily align the handle part before its fixation on the connecting element in the desired arrangement. However, the interaction of the spring of the connecting element with the groove of the handle part can also serve for the fixation and the correct arrangement of the handle part on the connecting element. In such a case, for example, the connection element may be provided with a dovetail-shaped spring and the handle part with a corresponding dovetail groove, wherein the spring engages positively in the groove.

As an alternative to the above-mentioned embodiment, it is of course also possible for the attachment element to be provided with a groove and the grip part for a spring.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention the connection element is provided with a receptacle, wherein the handle part is inserted into the receptacle. By inserting the grip part into the receptacle, the grip part can be positioned as desired before it is fastened to the attachment element. However, the recording can also serve in conjunction with the handle for fixing the handle portion of the connection element, for example by the cross-section of the receptacle has slightly smaller dimensions than the cross section of the handle part, so that the inserted into the receptacle handle part in the former in the clamping and / or interference fit is maintained.

The cabinet-like household appliance according to the invention is designed in particular as a refrigeration appliance, preferably as a refrigerator or freezer or as a refrigerator / freezer combination. The following description is used in conjunction with the drawings to explain the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the front side of an inventive

Household appliance according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the household appliance according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a plan view of the household appliance according to the invention in

Area of a handle assembly;

4 shows a separate illustration of the handle arrangement with a view from the direction of a door front of the household appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 4 in a mirror-image configuration; FIG.

6 shows a section of a bottom view of a second embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention in the region of the handle arrangement;

Fig. 7 shows a detail of a plan view of the household appliance according to the invention. a third embodiment in the region of the handle assembly.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a generally occupied by the reference numeral 10 household refrigeration appliance is shown as a household appliance. The refrigeration device 10 comprises a heat-insulating body 20 and a heat-insulating door 30, which is struck by means of two hinges 22, 24 on the body 20.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the door 30 has a door seal 38 which revolves on an inner side 32 and bears sealingly against a body edge 26.

On a door stop side 31 opposite side 34 of the door, a door handle 40 is fixed as a handle assembly. The door handle 40 includes an angle section 44 as a connection element and a handle bar 48 as a handle part. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the angle profile 44 comprises a first leg 45, which is fixed with its inside 47 on the side 34, and a second leg 46, which is opposite to the door 30 and parallel to this spaced to a door front 33rd extends.

On an outer side 49 of the second leg 46, the handle bar 48 is releasably fixed in vertical orientation. From Fig. 4 it can be seen that a lower portion of the handle bar 48 is fixed to the outer side 49 of the leg 46 by means of two Allen screws 80, 82 as fixing elements, the hexagon socket screws 80, 82 symmetrically to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the mirror 90 of the Angle profile 44 and along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the mirror plane 92 of the handle bar 48 on an inner side 50 of the second leg 46 are arranged. An upper portion of the handlebar 48 projects from the second leg 46 and serves as a handle.

For fixing the handle bar 48 on the leg 46, the threaded portions of the hexagon socket screws 80, 82 are each guided by a second leg 46 passing through hole and screwed into corresponding positions in the handle bar 48 threaded blind holes. The through holes are each provided with a flared bore 84, 86, in which the heads of the hexagon socket screws 80, 82 are sunk.

4, the door handle 40 of the cooling device 10 is shown separately. From this representation it can be seen that the angle profile 44 and the handle bar 48 each have a mirror plane 90 and 92, which are perpendicular to the paper plane and intersect each other at a 90 ° angle. This embodiment of the door handle 40 is suitable for example for a right hinged door. In order to convert the door handle 40 depicted in FIG. 4 into the mirror-image configuration 60 shown in FIG. 5, which is hinged on the left, the hexagon socket screws 80, 82 must first be loosened and the handle bar 48 lifted from the angled profile 44. For the transformation then the angle profile 44 must be rotated by 180 degrees about a rotation axis which corresponds to the intersection of the mirror planes 90 and 92. After the rotation of the angle profile 44, this is again with the hexagon socket screws 80, 82nd screwed and thus receives the illustrated in Fig. 5 mirror-image configuration 60 of the door handle 40th

Notwithstanding the embodiment described above, it is also possible that the angle section 44 is rotatably mounted with its leg 45 on the side cheek 34 of the door 30 and the second leg 46, the handle bar 48 carries. The handle bar 48 together with the angle leg 46 with respect to the pivot bearing a two-armed lever whose shorter lever arm serves as a knuckle, while the longer lever arm over the angle leg 46 protruding, serving as a handle portion of the handle bar 48 includes.

Upon actuation of the handle, the active arm presses against the device body 20, whereby the door seal is at least partially lifted. The opening force to be applied to the handle is reduced in the ratio of the shorter to the longer lever arm.

The refrigerator shown in Fig. 6 according to a second embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment, but has a different configuration of the handle assembly.

The door handle 140 of the second embodiment comprises an angle profile 144 as a connection element and a handle bar 148 as a handle part.

The angle profile 144 comprises a first leg 145, which is fixed with an inner side 147 on a door frame portion 134, and a parallel to a door front 133 aligned second leg 146, which is opposite to the door front 133 and spaced therefrom aligned.

The vertical end of the leg 146 is in the form of a dovetailed bar 166 as a spring. This strip 166 engages positively in an introduced into the handle bar 148, vertically aligned

Dovetail guide 168 as a groove, the lower end of the bar 166 with the bottom of the handle bar 148 is flush and the upper end of the bar 166 abuts a front end of the guide 168. The fixation of the handlebar 148 on the angle section 144 can be accomplished, for example, that the bar 166 is held in the guide 168 in the press and / or clamping fit. Alternatively or additionally, the angle profile 144 may be bolted to the handlebar 148.

In contrast to the door handle 140 shown in FIG. 6, a door handle 240 of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention at a vertically oriented end of a leg 246 of an angle section 244 a vertically oriented ring receptacle 270 as a receptacle, in which a handle bar 248th is inserted as a handle. The handle bar 248 is positively received in the ring receptacle 270 and terminates flush with a bottom of the angle section 244. The handle bar 248 may be fixed in the ring receiver 270 by being held there in a clamped and / or press fit. A fixation can alternatively or additionally be done by the handle bar 248 is screwed to the ring holder 270, for example.

Claims

claims

A cupboard-type household appliance having a body, a door hinged to the body, and a symmetry-level free handle arrangement arranged on the door, the handle arrangement comprising a connection element arranged on the door and a grip element held on the connection element, characterized in that the connection element (FIG. 44; 144; 244) and the grip part (48; 148; 248) are formed separately from one another and each have a mirror plane (90 or 92), wherein the two mirror planes (90, 92) are perpendicular to one another.

2. Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip part (48; 148; 248) is detachably fixed to the attachment element (44; 144; 244).

3. Household appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the connection element (44; 144; 244) has a through-bore and the grip part (48;

148; 248) has a bore, wherein the handle part (48; 148; 248) is fixed to the attachment element (44; 144; 244) by a fixing element (80, 82) passing through the through hole and releasably inserted into the bore of the grip part (48; 148, 248) is included.

4. Household appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing element (80, 82) is a screw, wherein the bore of the handle part (48; 148; 248) is formed as a threaded bore.

5. Household appliance according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the

Through hole is countersunk for sinking a screw head.

6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (44; 144; 244) on one of the stop side (31) of the door (30) facing away from the door side cheek (34) is arranged.

7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle part (48; 148; 248) is designed as a rod, preferably as a rod without edges or with rounded edges.

8. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (44; 144; 244) has a spring (166) and the handle part (48; 148; 248) has a groove (168), wherein the spring (166) engages in the groove (168).

9. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (44; 144; 244) with a receptacle

(270) into which the grip part (48; 148; 248) is received.

10. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (44; 144; 244) is designed as an angle profile with one of its angle legs (45) on a side cheek

(34) of the door (30) is rotatably supported and held, while the other angle leg (46) carries the handle portion (48; 148; 248) projecting beyond the angle leg (46).

1 1. Household appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that the handle part (48; 148; 248) together with the angle leg (46) forms a two-armed lever with respect to the pivotal mounting of the angle leg (45), wherein the longer lever arm of the two-armed lever the above Part of the handle part (48, 148, 248).

12. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is designed as a refrigeration device with a heat-insulating housing and a pivotally mounted thereto door with a circumferentially disposed on its inner side and resting on a support surface of the housing door seal.