EP2467657B1 - Door for a household appliance having a handle insert - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a door for a household appliance, in particular for a household refrigerator, a handle insert being integrated in at least one side cheek of the door. The invention is also directed to a corresponding household appliance and to a method for producing a handle insert.

Various types of handles for the doors of household appliances are known. On the one hand, it is possible to place door handles on the outside of the door. The handles are often formed by handle bars of different lengths, which are mounted between two pedestals. Since most household appliances have the choice of hinging the door either on the left or right of the body, solutions are often chosen in which the handles can be attached to the door either on the right or left.

In the case of refrigerators in particular, a concept is also known in which a recessed grip is integrated in the upper side cheek of the door. This has the advantage that the household appliance has an aesthetically sophisticated, handle-less front. Such a recessed grip is formed by a one-piece plastic part which is inserted on the side cheek between the outer door panel and the inner door shell. However, this solution has the disadvantage that a separate plastic part must be provided for household appliances of different sizes.

The disclosure DE 10 2007 055 174 A1 shows a door for a refrigerator with an outer shell which is foamed with insulation material and which comprises an outer plate which integrally covers an outside of the door and at least part of the side flanks of the door.

The disclosure FR 1 367 611 A. shows a door frame, which is composed of four side parts. A cover is inserted in the door frame. A doorknob is attached to the outside of the cover.

The utility model DE 20 2006 00 24 58 U1 shows a door for refrigerators and freezers, the door having at least one profile strip and a handle that can be mounted on the profile strip.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a door for a household appliance with a handle insert which can be produced particularly cost-effectively. In addition, it is a task of the inventor to develop a handle concept which can be used for a series of different household appliances, in order to be particularly cost-efficient.

This object is achieved by a door with a handle insert integrated into a side cheek, the handle insert being divided into at least two parts in the longitudinal direction of the side cheek. As a result, one part can be used identically for different devices, while the other part is exchanged, in particular in different lengths. This saves manufacturing costs. According to the invention, the handle insert is divided into three parts in the longitudinal direction of the side cheek. This offers the advantage that the most varied length variants are represented, in that one or more of the parts are used identically for different devices, while other parts are exchanged, in particular in different lengths. This allows parts of the handle insert to be used for doors of different heights or widths.

A "side wall" means one of the four narrow sides of the door, which are located between the outside or front and the inside of the door. The invention can be applied to an upper or lower side cheek as well as to one or both of the side side cheeks.

It is particularly preferably the door of a household refrigeration device, e.g. B. a refrigerator, a freezer, a wine cabinet or a fridge-freezer. In particular in the case of devices which reach above the worktop of a kitchen, the handle insert according to the invention is preferably integrated in one or both side cheeks of the door. For devices that are on the floor and only reach up to the height of the worktop, it is preferred that the handle insert is integrated in the upper side wall of the door.

According to the invention, the handle insert is composed of at least one middle part and at least two end pieces. This has the advantage that the two end pieces can each be used for different household appliances, while the middle part is exchanged for different types of devices. In particular, it is advantageous to design the middle part as a profile piece, which is used in different device types in different lengths. Embodiments are also encompassed by the invention in which a plurality of middle parts are present. In addition, the handle insert can also have more than two end pieces, for. B. by forming each end of the handle insert from a plurality of end pieces. A handle insert can have two end pieces of the same shape or two different end pieces at both ends.

In one embodiment of the invention, the handle insert has a recessed grip, that is to say a depression which extends generally in the longitudinal direction of the side cheek and into which the user engages when the door is opened. Alternatively, however, the handle insert can also have a protruding part or another type of shape which is suitable as a handle for opening the door.

The parts of the handle insert are preferably made of plastic, for example PE or another injection-moldable and particularly preferably additionally extrudable plastic. Alternatively, however, the parts can also be made of rubber or sheet metal.

The end pieces of the handle insert are particularly preferably configured as plastic injection molded parts. This allows cost-effective production with simultaneous free choice of shape. In contrast, the middle part is designed according to the invention as an extrusion profile. This offers the advantage that the middle part can be produced as an endless product and then middle parts with different lengths can be produced in a simple manner by cutting the extrusion profile to length. The two end pieces can preferably be used in any length variant. This means a great savings potential with the injection molding tools, since with the known solution an extra injection molding tool had to be manufactured for each length. In this embodiment, on the other hand, only one or possibly two injection molding tools are used and needed an extrusion tool. The central part designed as an extrusion profile also preferably consists of plastic.

A handle insert is particularly preferably integrated in each of the two side cheeks of the door. The two handle inserts preferably have the same length and are preferably designed as mirror images of one another. This can be achieved particularly advantageously in that the two handle inserts are each constructed from the same end pieces and the same middle parts, the end piece arranged on the left side cheek at the top being arranged on the right side cheek at the bottom and vice versa, ie that on the left side cheek end piece located at the bottom is located on the right side cheek at the top. Thus, two identical middle parts, two identical first end pieces and two identical second end pieces are required for the two handle inserts, a first and a second end piece preferably being constructed mirror-inverted to one another. By integrating a handle insert into each of the two side cheeks enables the door to be hinged on the right or left of the household appliance.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outside of the door is made from a door panel, e.g. B. from a metal sheet made of aluminum or steel. Such door panels form an aesthetically pleasing front of the door. On the side panels, the door panel can be bent inwards to form the side panels. The handle insert is then inserted into a cutout in the side cheek. Alternatively, the side cheek can also be formed entirely or partially by the handle insert. This is then z. B. positive, non-positive or material, z. B. attached by gluing to the door panel. Preferably, the handle insert is positively held in the side cheek of the door, e.g. B. by a locking, clamping or plug-in mechanism. Alternatively, the handle insert can also be held in the side cheek by gluing or foaming the space between the outside and the inner shell of the door.

The individual parts of the handle insert can preferably be fastened to one another in a form-fitting, material-locking or non-positive manner, in particular by means of a latching, clamping or plug connection.

The multi-part design of the handle insert also offers advantages for the design. In particular, the individual parts of the handle insert can be contrasted in color, z. B. the two end pieces can be made with a different color than the central part. For the assembly, it is also advisable, if two different end pieces are used, to design them in different colors so that they can be easily separated during assembly.

In addition, the invention is also directed to a household appliance designed with a corresponding door.

In addition, the object of the invention is also achieved by a method for producing a handle insert for insertion into the side cheek of a door of a household appliance, the handle insert being composed of at least one middle part and at least two end pieces. The process includes the following steps: (a) injection molding the end pieces of the handle insert, (b) extruding an extrusion profile, (c) cutting to length the extrusion profile for producing a middle part, and (d) assembling the end pieces and the middle part into a handle insert. The latter happens for. B. by inserting the end pieces from above and below on the middle part. By cutting the extrusion profile to different lengths of middle parts, handle inserts of different lengths can thus be produced in a simple manner.

In one embodiment, in which each handle insert has an end piece at each end, the two end pieces can either have exactly the same shape, so that they can be molded in the same injection mold. Alternatively, the end pieces can be designed differently, e.g. B. of different lengths and / or mirror-inverted, so that they are cast in different injection molds. The extrusion profile is e.g. B. substantially U-shaped to thereby form a recessed grip in the middle part.

With this method, a handle insert as described above can preferably be produced.

Fig. 1

ein Kältegerät mit einer Tür gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Explosionsansicht eines Griffeinsatzes;

Fig. 3

das Mittelteil des Griffeinsatzes der Fig. 2 im Querschnitt;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf zwei Griffeinsätze, die in eine linke und eine rechte Seitenwange einer Tür integriert sind;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a refrigerator with a door according to an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

an exploded perspective view of a handle insert;

Fig. 3

the middle part of the handle insert Fig. 2 in cross section;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of two handle inserts, which are integrated into a left and a right side cheek of a door;

Fig. 5

is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective schematic representation of a household appliance 1, in particular a refrigerator, with a body 3 and a door attached to it 2. The door 2 has a front side 5, the z. B. is formed by a door panel. The lower side panel of the door is designated 9a, the upper side panel 9b, and the right and left side panels 8a and 8b. The door is hinged to the body 3 on the left side at the two pivot points 6a and 6b, so that a handle for opening the door is necessary on the right side. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is formed by a handle insert 10 which is integrated in the right side cheek 8a. The handle insert 10 has a recessed grip 12 for the user to intervene. Furthermore, the handle insert 10 in the example shown is in three parts, in particular it has an upper end piece 14, including a central part 16 and a lower end piece 15 below. The handle insert extends over the entire width of the side cheek 8a, but not in this example over the entire length. The upper region of the side cheek 8a is therefore formed by a cover 17. Alternatively, the upper region of the side cheek 8a can also be formed by a bent part of the door panel 5. Furthermore, there are also embodiments in which the handle insert 10 does not extend over the entire width of the side cheek 8a, and z. B. is inserted into an elongated cutout in the side cheek or the door panel 5 forming the side cheek 8a.

In Fig. 2 the handle insert 10 is the Fig. 1 enlarged and shown in exploded view.

A middle part 16 of length d can be seen, which is designed as a plastic part with a constant profile, so that different middle parts 16 with different lengths d can be produced in a simple manner from a longer profile piece. The profile is essentially U-shaped, so that a recessed grip 12 is formed. To the rear, i.e. H. towards the body 3 of the household appliance, the middle part 16 closes with a cladding section 18, which, in particular in the case of an insulated door of a refrigerator, closes the interior of the door, which is filled with insulating material, from the outside.

In this exemplary embodiment, the upper end piece 14 is designed as a plastic injection-molded part, which can be seen from the seam 22. The end piece 14 has a cover section 20 lying on the same plane as the trim section 18. The end 24 of the recessed grip 12 is molded into the end piece on the side facing the central part 16. The area 24 is thus closed as an upward, downward one however, an open depression is formed, the cross section of which is adapted to the cross section of the profile of the central part 16.

In this case, the lower middle piece 15 is formed mirror-inverted to the end piece 14, which is why the same reference symbols are used to designate the corresponding sections. In addition, a flange 26 is visible at the lower end piece 15, which runs around the edge of the recessed grip end 24. In this flange 26, a groove or another shape is preferably introduced, which allows an attachment or another type of positive or non-positive fastening of the middle part 18 to the end piece 15 and on the other side in the end piece 14.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the central part 16 in an enlarged view. In particular, the essentially U-shaped section 30, which forms the recessed grip 12, is visible. As shown, this can be trapezoidal, but also rectangular or rounded. At the ends of the two legs of the U, the cover section 18 is arranged on one side and a narrower section 28 on the other side. In one embodiment, elongated projections 19, 29 can be arranged at the outer ends of these sections, which can serve to engage behind a correspondingly folded-off section of the door panel 5 or the inner shell of the door 2. Alternatively, the middle part 16 can also be held on the side cheek in any other way, for. B. by gluing or any positive or non-positive connection.

Based on Fig. 4 A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention will now be explained, in which a handle insert 10a or 10b is arranged on both the right and left side cheeks of a door 2. These handle inserts 10a and 10b are mirror-inverted to each other. However, they each contain the same middle piece 16 and the same end pieces 14, 15. In this case, however, the end piece 14, which is arranged on the right side cheek arranged handle insert 10a above, is arranged below on the left hand side handle insert 10b. In contrast, the end piece 15 arranged at the bottom on the right side cheek 8a is arranged at the top on the left side cheek 8b.

The three different components used here can be colored differently, e.g. B. the middle parts 16 colored yellow, the first end piece 14 blue and the second end piece 15 may be colored orange, any other color combination, including metallic colors, being of course also possible.

Based on Fig. 5 An embodiment of the method according to the invention will now be explained. First, the end pieces 14, 15 are produced with two different injection molding tools on the inside simultaneously or successively by steps 31, 32. Each of the end pieces 14, 15 can also be multi-part in itself, so that further injection molds may be necessary. Far away, the end pieces 14, 15 can also have the same shape, so that only a single injection molding machine train is required. The middle part 16 is produced in step 34 by extruding a longer profile piece. From this, middle sections 16 with the correct length are produced by cutting, in the example shown, two different middle parts 16 are produced, namely one with the length d = A and another with a different length d = B.

In step 36, a handle insert with a first length is produced from two end pieces 14, 15 and a middle part with the length A. In step 37, handle inserts with a second length B are each produced from two end pieces 14, 15 and a middle part with the length B. In this way, the method allows the production of handle inserts of different lengths in a simple manner, which can be used in different household appliances. These pre-assembled handle inserts are then integrated into the side cheek of a door, e.g. B. mounted in a portion of a door panel 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

door

3

corpus

5

door panel

6a, 6b

swivel joints

8a, 8b

right and left side cheek

9a, 9b

lower and upper side cheek of the door

10

handle insert

12

grip

14

upper end of the handle insert

15

lower end of the handle insert

16

Middle part of the handle insert

17

paneling

18

cover portion

20

cover portion

22

injection seam

24

Completion of the recessed grip

26

flange

19

beaded projection

28

cover portion

29

beaded projection

30

U-profile section

31-37

steps

Claims (13)

1. Door (2) for a household appliance (1), in particular for a household refrigeration appliance, wherein a handle insert (10) is integrated into a least one side wall (8a, 8b) of the door, wherein the handle insert (100) is divided into at least three parts (14, 15, 16) in the longitudinal direction of the side walls, wherein the handle insert (10) is assembled from at least one central part (16) and at least two end pieces (14, 15), characterised in that the at least one central part (16) of the handle insert is designed as a piece of an extrusion profile.
2. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle insert (10) has a recessed grip (12).
3. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the parts (14, 15, 16) of the handle insert (10) are produced from plastic.
4. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end pieces (14, 15) of the handle insert (10) are designed as plastic injection moulded parts.
5. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a handle insert (10a, 10b) is integrated into both lateral side walls (8a, 8b) of the door.
6. Door according to claim 5, characterised in that the handle inserts (10a, 10b) integrated into the two lateral side walls (8a, 8b) of the door (2) are each built from the same end pieces (14, 15) and the same central parts (16), wherein the end piece (15) arranged above on the left side wall is arranged below on the right side wall and vice versa.
7. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the exterior of the door (2) is manufactured from a door panel (5).
8. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle insert (10) is held in a form-fit manner in the side wall (8a, 8b) of the door.
9. Door according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the individual parts (14, 15, 16) of the handle insert (10) are designed to be different colours.
10. Household appliance (1), in particular refrigerator or deep freezer, equipped with a door (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
11. Method for producing a handle insert (10) for insertion into the side wall (8a, 8b) of a door (2) of a household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1-10, in particular of a household refrigeration appliance, wherein the handle insert is assembled from at least one central part (16) and at least two end pieces (14, 15), characterised by the following steps:

    a) injection moulding (31, 32) the end pieces (14, 15) of the handle insert;

    b) extruding (34) an extrusion profile;

    c) trimming (35) the extrusion profile in order to produce a central part (16); and

    d) assembling the end pieces and the central part to form a handle insert (10).
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the handle insert (10) has two end pieces (14, 15) which are cast in different injection moulding tools in each case.
13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the handle insert is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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