EP3292361B1

EP3292361B1 - Door handle-assembly for use in a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP3292361B1
Application number: EP15722987.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Semih Erol; Ergin Kaplan; Altinal CALISKAN; Tayfun ERSOZ; Sati MUTLU BOZAY
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-05-06
Filing date: 2015-05-06
Publication date: 2020-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-06
Also published as: TR201605764A2; WO2016177428A1; EP3292361A1

Description

The present invention relates to a door handle-assembly of a household appliance in particular a domestic refrigerator.
Domestic refrigerators are commonly known in the art. A domestic refrigerator generally comprises a refrigeration compartment and a door for accessing the refrigeration compartment. The domestic refrigerator is commonly provided with a handle which is attached to the panel of the door. The user can open/close the door by pulling/pushing the handle. Door handles are commonly provided either as a single piece handle or as a handle-assembly which includes a plurality of members. A common problem with the prior art door handle-assembly is that the assemblage of the various members is very laborious and takes an unnecessary amount of time of the assembly operator, and thus incurs additional labor costs. DE 296 24 454 (U1) discloses a prior art handle-assembly for a refrigerator door. This handle-assembly comprises an elongated handle member and and two support members for supporting the handle member. The support members are attachable to the door panel by means of two screws respectively.
US 2009/007386 A1 discloses a handle clip which is shifted or slid relative to refrigerator door such that a door clip and the handle clip engage.
DE 20 2009 016868 U1 discloses a handle assembly in which a connection element is located between a handle and the door.
DE 20 2008 016 387 U1 discloses a handle assembly using an interference fit.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a handle-assembly and a refrigerator having the same which solves the problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved production and assemblage of the handle-assembly.
This objective has been achieved by the handle-assembly as defined in claim 1, and the refrigerator as defined in claim 9 Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The handle-assembly of the present invention comprises two snap connections which connect the two support members with the handle member respectively.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the snap connections, the assemblage of the support members with the handle member becomes easier and is considerably expedited. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the snap connections, the risk that the support members and the handle member fall apart due to any loose fitting during the assemblage can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the assemblage can be conducted conveniently.
According to the invention, each snap connection comprises a snap recess and a snap-in hook. This is particularly advantageous as the snap-in hooks can reliably secure the support members and the handle member in place. According to the invention, the snap-in hook is disposed onto the respective support member, and the snap recess is disposed onto the respective end of the handle member.
According to the invention, the handle-assembly further comprises two interference fit connections for connecting the support members with the handle member. This is particularly advantageous as the two interference fit connections remove any clearance or play between the support members and the handle member, and achieves a stiff handle-assembly. According to the invention, interference fit connections comprise a receiving space and a projection which has ribs. The ribbed projections are disposed onto the respective support member, and the receiving spaces are disposed onto the respective end of the handle member. The projections may have a c-shaped cross section which saves material and weight. The ribs and the projections may be manufactured from the same material or from different materials. For instance, ribs may be manufactured from a more flexible material. Thereby, the support members and the handle member can be prevented from receiving any damages during the assemblage.
Still according to the invention, the handle-assembly further comprises two interlocking connections. This is particularly advantageous as the interlocking connections facilitate relative alignment and positioning of the support member and the handle member during the assemblage, and thus further reliably secure the support members and the handle member in place. According to the invention, the interlocking connections comprise one or more keys and matching slots. The slots are disposed onto the respective support member, and the counterpart keys are disposed onto the respective end of the handle member. The keys may have a rectangular shape, a dove tail shape, triangular shape, T-shape, or an arc shape.
In another embodiment, each support member is attachable to the panel by means of a single screw. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the attachment of the support members can be quickly performed. In a version of this embodiment, the handle-assembly is attachable to the side panel of the door. In an alternative embodiment, each support member is attachable to the panel by means of another snap-connection. This obviates the need for using the screws.
In another embodiment, the handle-assembly comprises two reinforcement members which can be installed between the support member and the panel. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the support members and the panel can be prevented from receiving the damages due to any excessive mechanical stress.
In another embodiment, the handle member and the support members are each plastic moulded single pieces. Alternatively the handle member and the support members can be manufactured from a light weight metal or a light weight metal alloy.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the handle-assembly and the refrigerator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a schematic perspective view of a domestic refrigerator which has a handle-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 - is a schematic side view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 - is a schematic top view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;
Figure 4 - is a schematic sectional view of the refrigerator of Fig. 3, taken along the line A-A;
Figure 5 - is a schematic enlarged view of the detail B of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 - is a schematic partially exploded perspective view of the refrigerator of Fig. 1;
Figure 7 - is a schematic enlarged front view of the handle-assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 - is a schematic exploded perspective view of the handle-assembly of Fig. 7;
Figure 9 - is another schematic exploded perspective view of the handle-assembly of Fig. 7;
Figure 10 - is a schematic sectional view of the handle-assembly of Fig. 7, taken along the line C-C;
Figure 11 - is a schematic enlarged view of the detail D of Fig. 8;
Figure 12 - is a schematic enlarged inner view of the handle-assembly of Fig. 7.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1. Handle-assembly
2. Refrigerator
3. Door
4. Panel
5. Handle member
5a. Tongue
6. Support member
7. Snap connection
8. Snap recess
9. Snap-in hook
10. Interference fit connection
11. Receiving space
12. Projection
13. Rib
14. Interlocking connection
15. Key
16. Slot
17. Screw hole
18. Screw
19. Reinforcement member
20. Screw hole
21. Depression
22. Refrigeration compartment
23. Foam material
24. Screw hole

The handle-assembly (1) is suitable for use in a household appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator (2).
The domestic refrigerator (2) comprises a refrigeration compartment (22) and a door (3) for accessing the refrigeration compartment (22). The door (3) includes a panel (4).
The handle-assembly (1) comprises an elongated handle member (5); and two support members (6) which are adapted for attachment to the panel (4) and further adapted to respectively support the handle member (5) at both ends.
The handle-assembly (1) of the present invention further comprises two snap connections (7) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively.
The refrigerator (2) according to the present invention further comprises the handle-assembly (1).
According to the invention, each snap connection (7) comprises a snap recess (8), and a snap-in hook (9) that is adapted to engage with the respective snap recess (8). According to the invention, two snap recesses (8) are formed into the handle member (5) at both ends respectively. And the snap-in hooks (9) are formed onto the support members (6) respectively.
The handle-assembly (1) comprises two interference fit connections (10) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively.
Each interference fit connection (10) comprises a receiving space (11) that extends in the elongation direction of the handle member (5), and a projection (12) which includes ribs (13) that extend in the elongation direction and are adapted to fit into the receiving space (11). The two receiving spaces (11) are formed into the handle member (5) at both ends respectively. And the projections (12), including the ribs (13) are formed onto the support members (6) respectively. The ribs (13) are adapted to become gently squeezed as the projection (12) is inserted into the respective receiving space (11).
In another embodiment, each projection (12) has a c-shaped cross section. In this embodiment, the ribs (13) are formed onto the outer surface of the projections (12).
According to the invention, the handle-assembly (1) comprises two interlocking connections (14) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively.
Each interlocking connection (14) comprises keys (15) that extend in the elongation direction of the handle member (5), and slots (16) that extend in said elongation direction and are adapted to engage with the respective keys (15). The keys (15) are formed onto the handle member (5). And the slots (16) are formed into the support members (6) respectively.
In another embodiment, the keys (15) have T-shaped cross-sections. And the slots (16) have shapes which match the T-shaped keys (15) respectively.
In another embodiment, the handle member (5) comprises at both ends two tongues (5a) respectively which include at least part of the keys (15). The tongues (5a) are easily accessible to the assembly operator so as to facilitate the interlocking of the keys (15) and the slots (16).
In another embodiment, the free ends of the c-shaped projection (12) define a slot (16) that is adapted to engage with the two keys (15) on the tongue (5a).
In another embodiment, each tongue (5a) includes the respective snap recess (8) in close proximity to its tip.
In another embodiment, each support member (6) comprise a screw hole (17) for receiving a respective screw (18) so as to attach the support member (6) to the panel (4). In this embodiment, the panel (4) comprises counterpart screw holes (24).
In another embodiment, the handle-assembly (1) comprises: two reinforcement members (19) which are adapted for installation between the support member (6) and the panel (4). The reinforcement members (19) each includes a counterpart screw hole (20) for receiving the corresponding screw (18). In a version of this embodiment, the support members (6) each comprises a matching depression (21) for accommodating the respective reinforcement member (19).
In another embodiment, the support members (6) are adapted for attachment to the side panel (4) of the door (3). In this embodiment, the counterpart screw holes (24) are formed into the side panel (4).
In another embodiment, the handle member (5) and the support members (6) are each plastic moulded single pieces.
In another embodiment, the projection (12) and the ribs (13) are moulded from different plastic materials such that the ribs (13) are comparatively more flexible.
In another embodiment, the door (3) includes polyurethane foam material (23) behind the panel (4).
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the snap connections (7), the assemblage of the handle member (5) and support members (6) becomes easier and is considerably expedited. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that by virtue of the snap connections (7), the risk that the handle member (5) and the support members (6) fall apart due to any loose fitting during the assemblage can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the assemblage can be conducted

Claims

A handle-assembly (1) for use in a household appliance (2), in particular a refrigerator (2) comprising a door (3) which includes a panel (4), the handle-assembly (1) comprising
- an elongated handle member (5),

- two support members (6) which are adapted for attachment to the panel (4) and further adapted to support the handle member (5) at both ends respectively,

- two snap connections (7) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively, each snap connection (7) comprising a snap recess (8) and a snap-in hook (9) that is adapted to engage with the respective snap recess (8), wherein the snap recesses (8) are formed into the handle member (5) at both ends respectively, and the snap-in hooks (9) are formed onto the support members (6) respectively,

- two interference fit connections (10) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively, wherein each interference fit connection (10) comprises a receiving space (11) that extends in the elongation direction of the handle member (5); and a projection (12) which includes one or more ribs (13) that extend in said elongation direction and are adapted to fit into the respective receiving space (11), wherein the receiving spaces (11) are formed into the handle member (5) at both ends respectively, and the projections (12), including said one or more ribs (13) are formed onto the support members (6) respectively,

- two interlocking connections (14) which are adapted to connect the two support members (6) with the handle member (5) respectively, wherein each interlocking connection (14) comprises one or more keys (15) that extend in the elongation direction of the handle member (5), and one or more slots (16) that extend in said elongation direction and are adapted to engage with the respective keys (15), wherein the keys (15) are formed onto the handle member (5) at both ends respectively, and the slots (16) are formed into the support members (6) respectively.
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each projection (12) has a c-shaped cross section, wherein the ribs (13) are formed onto the outer surface of the projections (12).
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the keys (15) have T-shaped cross-sections, and the slots (16) have shapes which match the T-shaped keys (15) respectively.
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle member (5) comprises at both ends two tongues (5a) respectively which include at least part of the keys (15).
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support members (6) each comprises a screw hole (17) for receiving a respective screw (18) so as to attach the support member (6) to the panel (4).
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that two reinforcement members (19) which are adapted for installation between the support members (6) and the panel (4) respectively, wherein the reinforcement members (19) each includes a counterpart screw hole (20) for receiving the respective screw (18), and wherein the support members (6) each comprises a matching depression (21) for accommodating the respective reinforcement member (19).
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support members (6) are each adapted for attachment to the side panel (4) of the door (3).
The handle-assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle member (5) and the support members (6) are each plastic moulded single pieces.
A refrigerator (2) comprising a refrigeration compartment (22) and a door (3) for accessing the refrigeration compartment (22), wherein the door (3) includes a panel (4), the refrigerator (2) being characterized by a handle-assembly (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8.
The refrigerator (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the panel (4) of the door (3) comprises two counterpart screw holes (24) for the attachment of the support members (6) of the handle assembly (1) respectively.