EP3130871A1

EP3130871A1 - A household appliance comprising a handle

Info

Publication number: EP3130871A1
Application number: EP16183188.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet DIKSAN; Tugrul Basesme; Ilhan Ozgu OZGUR; Ali GULTEKIN; Alper BASARAN; Omer ARGINHAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-08-10
Filing date: 2016-08-08
Publication date: 2017-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-08
Also published as: EP3130871B1

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance that comprises a handle that is mounted on the door and that enables the door to be opened and closed.
Household appliances, for example dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators comprise a handle that enables the doors thereof to be easily opened and closed. By means of the handle, the door of the household appliance is opened and thus the interior of the body of the household appliance can be reached, and operations like checking the food in the oven or taking food from the refrigerator can be realized. The handles can be composed of multiple parts due to production limits and esthetic concerns. Especially, due to visual flaws occurring at the bending points of the handles that are formed by shaping a long rod produced from metal material, the handle needs to be produced from multiple parts. The multitude of the connection points on the handle causes the perception of quality of the users to decrease. Therefore, it is needed that the handle is perceived as a whole by visually softening the transition between the parts and that the parts are mounted to each other in a practical and smooth way.
In the state of the art German Patent Document No. DE102011087757 , while the handle that comprises a tube and two supports are formed, the supports that have an edged form are inserted into the tube from one end each and the each of the supports is fixed on the door by means of one connection element.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a handle the appearance of which is improved.
The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a body; a door that enables the interior of the body to be reached; a handle that is disposed on the door and that enables the door to be opened and closed; and two supports that are disposed on the ends of the handle and that enable the handle to be attached on the door.
The household appliance of the present invention comprises at least one profile that is disposed on the handle and the ends of which extend outwards from the ends of the handle; L formed supports one arm of which extends in an axis perpendicular to the door and one arm of which extends in the direction of the handle; and one housing that is disposed on each of the supports and that enables the ends of the profile to be seated therein. The handle is connected to the support by seating the ends of the profile in the housings. The portion of the support that extends in parallel to the handle extends on the profile that extends outwards and contacts the side of the handle. By carrying the portion of the ends of the support and the handle that contact each other out of the edge area, the support and the handle is enabled to be perceived as a whole.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the profile extends longitudinally on the handle. By means of a single profile mounted on the handle, the ease of production and assembly is provided. Moreover, the strength of the handle is increased.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one first hole that is disposed on the portion of the support perpendicular to the door and the port of which opens to the housings; at least one second hole disposed on the profile so as to coincide with the first holes when the profile is seated in the housing, and a connection element that enables the handle to be fixed to the support by being passed through the first hole and the second hole. By fixing the handle and the supports to each other by means of a connection element like screw or pin, assembly gaps that may appear between the handle and the supports are prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a U-shaped strip that is produced from a soft touch material and that extends along the surface of the handle facing the door and the opposite surfaces of the supports. Thus, the ergonomics of the handle is improved and the perception of quality is increased.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one extension-shaped claw disposed on the strip or the profile and at least one protrusion that is disposed on the profile or the strip and that enables the strip to connect to the profile by being seated in the claw. The protrusion and the claws facilitate the assembly of the strip on the profile.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one guide disposed on the support and more than one retainer that is disposed on the strip and wherein the guides are seated when the strip is placed on the handle and the supports. Thus, the strip can easily be attached on the supports.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the claws are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile. The protrusions are intermittently positioned along the side of the strip so as to be seated in the claws when the strip is placed on the profile. By intermittently positioning the protrusion and the claws, the assembly of the strip on the profile is facilitated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the claws are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile in a slidable manner with respect to each other. The protrusions are disposed on different sides of the strip in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated in the claws when the strip is mounted on the profile. Thus, the strip is enabled to be fixed on the profile along the handle.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a dishwasher.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a refrigerator.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is an oven.
By means of the present invention, the appearance of the household appliance is improved by enabling the handle and the support to be perceived as a whole.
The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the household appliance related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the handle, the support and the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 - is the exploded view of the handle, the support and the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the support related to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance
2. Body
3. Door
4. Handle
5. Support
6. Profile
7. Claw
8. Housing
9. First hole
10. Second hole
11. Connection element
12. Strip
13. Protrusion
14. Retainer
15. Guide

The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) that enables the interior of the body (2) to be accessed; a handle (4) that is disposed on the door (3) and that enables the door (3) to be opened and closed, and two supports (5) that are disposed on the ends of the handle (4) and that enable the handle (4) to be attached on the door (3). The cross-section of the handle (4) that is produced from metal material is almost rectangular and has a flat structure.
The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises at least one profile (6) that is disposed on the handle (4) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the ends of the handle (4); more than one L-shaped support (5) one end of which bears against the end of the handle (4) and one end connected to the door (3), and at least one housing (8) that is disposed on each support (5) and that enables the ends of the profile (6) to be seated therein. One arm of the bend-shaped support (5) extends in a direction perpendicular to the door (3) to be connected to the door (3). The other arm of the support (5) extends on the profile (6) extending from the end of the handle (4) towards the housing (8) and bears against the end of the handle (4). The L-shaped support (5) provides a smooth appearance at the edge area. Thus, the appearance of a handle (4) that is bent from a single piece is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the profile (6) extends longitudinally on the handle (4). The profile (6) that is longer than the handle (4) is disposed on the surface of the handle (4) facing the door (3) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the sides of the handle (4). The ends of the profile (6) are seated in the housings (8) disposed on the supports (5) and thus the handle (4) is connected to the support (5). By means of a single profile (6) disposed on the handle (4), the ease of production and assembly is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one first hole (9) that is disposed on each arm of the support (5) that enables the support (5) to be connected to the door (3) and whereof one end opens to the housing (8); at least one second hole (10) that is disposed on the profile (6) and that faces the first hole (9) when the profile (6) is seated into the housing (8), and a connection element (11) that enables the handle (4) to be fixed to the support (5) by being passed through the first hole (9) and the second hole (10). By fixing the handle (4) and the support (5) to each other by means of a connection element (11) like screw or pin, assembly gaps that may appear between the handle (4) and the supports (5) are prevented and the handle (4) is easily fixed to the supports (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material and that is disposed on the handle (4) so that one portion thereof faces the door (3) and that the profile (6) remains between the strip (12) and the handle (4), and that the other portion extends on the supports (5). By means of the strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material like rubber or silicone, the user is enabled to grasp the metal handle (4) in a comfortable and safe manner, and the perception of quality is increased. Moreover, the strip (12) enables the connection points disposed on the inner portions of handle (4) and the supports (5) to be concealed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one extension-shaped claw (7) that is disposed on the strip (12) or on the profile (6) and at least one protrusion (13) that is disposed on the profile (6) or on the strip (12) and that enables the strip (12) to be connected to the profile (6) by being seated in the claw (7). By attaching the strip (12) to the profile (6) by means of the protrusion (13) and the claw (7), ease of assembly is provided, and the strip (12) is enabled to be changed in cases like deformation in the course of time.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one guide (15) disposed on the support (5) and more than one retainer (14) that is disposed on the strip (12) and wherein the guides (15) are seated when the strip (12) is placed on the handle (4) and the supports (5). The strip (12) the ends of which are bent towards the door (3) so as to extend along the opposite surfaces of the supports (5) is attached to the support (5) by engaging the retainers (14) with the guide (15). Thus, the strip (12) can be easily attached on the supports (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the claws (7) that are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile (6) and the protrusions (13) that are intermittently disposed along the side of the strip (12) so as to be seated in the claws (7) when the strip (12) is placed on the profile (6). The claws (7) are intermittently disposed along both long sides of the profile (6). Thus, when the strip (12) is moved in the direction that the handle (4) extends after aligning the protrusions (13) so as to remain between the claws (7), the protrusions (13) fit into the claws (7). The intermittently disposed claws (7) and protrusions (13) enable the strip (12) to slide on the profile (6) and thus facilitate the assembly of the strip (12).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the claws (7) that are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile (6) and that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other and the protrusions (13) that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated into the claws (7) when the strip (12) is attached to the profile (6). Thus, the strip (12) is enabled to be fixed on the profile (6) along the handle (4) plane.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a refrigerator.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is an oven.
By means of the present invention, the appearance of a handle (4) that is bent from a single piece is provided and the handle (4) gains an esthetic appearance. The strip (12) disposed on the inner surface of the handle (4) improves the ergonomics of the handle (4) and the user is enabled to grasp the handle (4) in a comfortable and safe manner.

Claims

A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) that enables the interior of the body (2) to be accessed; a handle (4) that is disposed on the door (3) and that enables the door (3) to be opened and closed, and two supports (5) that are disposed on the ends of the handle (4) and that enable the handle (4) to be attached on the door (3), characterized by at least one profile (6) that is disposed on the handle (4) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the ends of the handle (4); more than one L-shaped support (5) one end of which bears against the end of the handle (4) and one end connected to the door (3), and at least one housing (8) that is disposed on each support (5) and that enables the ends of the profile (6) to be seated therein.
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the profile (6) that extends longitudinally on the handle (4).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by at least one first hole (9) that is disposed on each arm of the support (5) that enables the support (5) to be connected to the door (3) and whereof one end opens to the housing (8); at least one second hole (10) that is disposed on the profile (6) and that faces the first hole (9) when the profile (6) is seated into the housing (8), and a connection element (11) that enables the handle (4) to be fixed to the support (5) by being passed through the first hole (9) and the second hole (10).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material and that is disposed on the handle (4) so that one portion thereof faces the door (3) and that the profile (6) remains between the strip (12) and the handle (4), and that the other portion extends on the supports (5).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by at least one extension-shaped claw (7) disposed on the strip (12) or on the profile (6) and at least one protrusion (13) that is disposed on the profile (6) or on the strip (12) and that enables the strip (12) to be connected to the profile (6) by being seated in the claw (7).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by at least one guide (15) disposed on the support (5) and more than one retainer (14) that is disposed on the strip (12) and wherein the guides (15) are seated when the strip (12) is placed on the handle (4) and the supports (5).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the claws (7) that are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile (6) and the protrusions (13) that are intermittently disposed along the side of the strip (12) so as to be seated in the claws (7) when the strip (12) is placed on the profile (6).
A household appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the claws (7) that are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile (6) and that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other and the protrusions (13) that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated into the claws (7) when the strip (12) is attached to the profile (6).
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to Claim 8, which is a refrigerator.
A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to Claim 8, which is an oven.