EP3887735B1

EP3887735B1 - Cooling appliance and method of assembling a handle onto a door of the cooling appliance

Info

Publication number: EP3887735B1
Application number: EP19801800.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Gizem ERDAL; Deniz BAYSAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-11-29
Filing date: 2019-11-05
Publication date: 2024-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-05
Also published as: EP3887735A1; WO2020108928A1

Description

The present invention relates to a method of assembly of a handle onto a door shell of a cooling appliance wherein the door shell is produced from carbon fiber.
In cooling appliances, handles having complicated geometrical shapes constitutes assembly problems as the handle is being attached onto the door of the cooling appliance. The faces of the door and the handle abut against each other, causing scratches to be formed on the handle or on the door. This situation decreases the number of possible applications and also complicates the production of a door and a handle having a monolithic appearance. Another problem with the handles being assembled onto the doors is that the connection parts, meaning that the connection tabs, screws, washers are visible to the user therefore decreasing the quality perception of the product.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US6430780B1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having a door and a handle wherein the handle is attached onto the door via a plurality of screws being inserted from the front of the door.
US2013068793A1 discloses a refrigerator door wherein a portion of the outer door material is formed into a shape of a dispenser recess, and a dispenser is mounted therein. US2014366454A1 discloses an aircraft galley cart door comprising a recess and insulation material is disposed in the recess. JP200817052A discloses a door of a refrigerator comprising a semi-circular recess and an L-shaped handle mounted to bridge over the recess.
CN202719825U discloses a mounting structure for vertical handle on refrigerator door body, wherein the handle is inserted in a recess formed on the door surface. KR100719254B1 discloses an apparatus for fixing handle in refrigerator by means of a bracket.
The present invention therefore proposes an arrangement according to which a handle is attached on to a door of a cooling appliance having a door shell produced carbon fiber with ease meanwhile maintaining the monolithic structure which increases the strength of the door and handle assembly and also the quality perception of the cooling appliance.
The invention is defined in the independent claims. The carbon fiber door shell increases the structural strength of the cooling appliance. Another advantageous effect of using carbon fiber is the monolithic appearance increasing quality perception of the cooling appliance.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first method claim and the dependent claims comprises providing the cooling appliance wherein the cooling appliance comprises at least a door via which the inner volume of the cooling appliance is isolated from the volume surrounding the cooling appliance. The door is opened and closed via a handle attached onto the door. The door is mainly formed by the door shell wherein the door shell comprises a front plate and a plurality of side plates originating from the front plate. The door shell and the plurality of side plates are produced from carbon fiber. The side plates extend backwards forming the sides of the door. The handle has at least a screw hole on the rear side and upon placing the handle onto the front plate, the screw hole coincides with a perforation on the front plate. After placing the handle onto the front plate, a screw is rotatable inserted inside the said perforation and the screw hole therefore fixing the handle onto the front plate. The screw is inserted from the rear side of the front plate. As a result, a robust structure is achieved meanwhile obtaining a monolithic structure without exposing any connection parts such as the connection tabs, screws and washers. In order to achieve a stronger handle and front plate assembly, plurality of screw holes and screws can be utilized. After attaching the handle onto the front plate, an interior plate is attached to the door shell thereby creating a volume in between the door shell and the interior plate which in turn is filled with injection of an insulating material. Therefore a monolithic door and handle assembly is achieved for handles and the door shells having a wide variety of geometric shapes. Another advantageous effect of the assembly method is that the parts connecting the handle to the front plate produced remain out of the sight of the user forming a monolithic appearance thereby creating a perception of product quality.
In an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, a support washer is placed between the screw hole and the front plate. The support washer provides structural durability as the screw is inserted inside the screw hole. The screw passes through the perforation, the support washer and the screw hole respectively.
In an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, a support bar is placed from the rear and onto the front plate and is configured to align with the handle. The support bar has at least a hole wherein the hole coincides with the perforation and the screw hole. Therefore, the screw passes through the hole, the perforation and the screw hole respectively. The support bar provides structural support for the screw and the front plate.
In an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, the screw hole is formed onto a screw support elevation provided at the rear side of the handle. The screw support elevation provides the depth required for the screw to be inserted inside the handle. As a result the screw holds the handle robustly.
In an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, the handle comprises a touch screen wherein the touch screen comprises a connection port. The connection port is attached to the touch screen from one end and extends through one of the plurality of perforations provided on the front plate. A cable is attached to the connection port from the other end and extends through the volume formed by attachment of the interior panel onto the door shell and towards the hinge of the door. As a result, electrical connection between the touch screen and the cooling appliance is provided. The touch screen allows the user to control operational functions of the cooling appliance such as temperature, eliminating the need to open the door to adjust internal temperature of the compartments of the cooling appliance therefore increasing efficiency of the cooling appliance.
In the present invention to achieve the objects, a recessed region is provided almost along one of the edges of the door. The handle is placed onto the recessed region and forms a lush surface with neighboring surfaces of the door shell. As a result a continuous and monolithic structure is achieved, improving the quality perception of the product.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Figure 1 - is a side view of the cooling appliance;
Figure 2 - is a side view of the door;
Figure 3 - is an exploded view of the handle;
Figure 4 - is an exploded view of the door and the handle;

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

1. Cooling appliance
2. Door
3. Handle
4. Door shell
5. Front plate
6. Side plates
7. Screw hole
8. Screw
9. Support washer
10. Support bar
11. Screw support elevation
12. Touch screen
13. Connection port
14. Cable
15. Recessed region

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance (1) having a door (2) comprising a door shell (4) wherein the door shell (4) is produced from carbon fiber.
The present invention relates to a method of assembling a handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) wherein the door shell (4) is produced from carbon fiber, comprising: providing the door shell (4) having a front plate (5) and a plurality of side plates (6) originating from the front plate (5) and extending backwards; providing the handle (3) having at least a screw hole (7); placing the handle (3) onto the front plate (5) from the front wherein the screw hole (7) is configured to coincide with a perforation formed onto the front plate (5).
The present invention relates to a method of assembling the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) comprising: fixing the front plate (5) and the handle (3) with respect to each other with a screw (8), the screw (8) passing through the said perforation and the screw hole (7) respectively; attaching an interior plate on to the door shell (4) forming a volume in between; and filling the said volume by injection of an insulating material. The cooling appliance (1) has at least a door (3). The door (3) is mainly formed by the door shell (4) and the door shell (4) is formed by the front plate (5) and at least four side plates (6) originating from the front plate (5) that extend backwards forming an angle of almost ninety degree between the front plate (5) and the side plates (6). In a preferred embodiment, the door shell (4) is pressed so as to form the front plate (5) and the side plates (6). In another embodiment side plates (6) are attached on to the front plate (5) forming a rectangular prism with the rear side facing the cooling appliance (1). The handle is placed onto the front plate (5). The handle (3) has at least a screw hole (7), but the total number of the screw holes (7) varies and more than one screw hole (7) could be utilized for longer handles (3). The screw hole (7) is formed at the rear surface of the handle (3). Therefore, upon placing the handle (3) onto the front of the front plate (5) the screw holes (7) faces the front plate (5). After placing the handle (3) onto the front plate (5), the screw (8) is inserted from the rear of the front plate (5) passing through the perforation wherein the said perforation is configured to align with the respective screw hole (7). It is to be understood that for the plurality of the screw holes (7) plurality of perforations are to be formed onto the front plate (5). As the screw (8) is inserted from the rear of the front plate (5), the screw (8) passes through the said perforation and the screw hole (7) respectively, therefore fixing the handle (3) onto front plate (5). Next, the interior plate of the door (3) is attached onto the door shell (4) which helps forming a volume between the door shell (4) and the said interior plate in the form a rectangular prism. The insulation material is injected inside the said volume, wherein the insulation material solidifies increasing thermal insulation of the cooling appliance (1). Upon solidification of the insulation material, the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) is attached onto the body of the cooling appliance (1) via at least a hinge in a rotatable manner. By inserting the screw (8) from the rear side of the front plate (5) and passing through the perforation provided onto the front plate (5) and the screw hole (7) provided onto the handle (3) respectively, the handle (3) is connected onto the front plate (5) in a manner providing a continuous and monolithic appearance. As a result the strength of the door (3) is increased. Another advantageous effect of such a continuous and monolithic appearance is that the visual of the cooling appliance is improved therefore creating a perception of product quality.
The present invention relates to a method of assembling the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) further comprising: placing a support washer (9) onto the screw hole (7). The support washer (9) is placed onto the screw hole (7) as the handle (3) is being placed onto the front plate (5). The support washer (9) provides support for the screw hole (7) and the screw (8) being inserted inside the screw hole (7) therefore increasing the structural strength of the handle (3).
The present invention relates to a method of assembling the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) further comprising: attaching a support bar (10) onto the front plate (5) from the rear wherein the support bar (10) has at least a hole configured to coincide with the said perforation and the screw hole (7). The support bar (10) is placed onto the front plate (5) from the rear and has at least a hole. Upon placement of the support bar (10) onto the front plate (5) The said hole, the perforation on the front plate (5) and the screw hole (7) are aligned forming a canal into which the screw (8) is inserted. The support bar (10) has plurality of holes configured to match with the screw holes (7) and the perforations of the front plate (5) and extends along the extension direction of the handle (3). The support bar (10) provides structural strength during the assembly of the handle (3).
The present invention relates to a method of assembling the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) further comprising: providing the handle (3) having a screw support elevation (11) whereon the screw hole (7) is formed. The screw support elevation (11) is formed to the rear side of the handle (3) contacting the front plate (5). It provides a depth through which the screw (8) is holding the handle (3) attached to the front plate (5). The inner volume of the handle (3) is almost empty except for the screw support elevations (11) therefore decreasing the product cost. Another advantageous effect of using the screw support elevations (11) is that it provides structural support therefore strengthening the handle (3).
The present invention relates to a method of assembling the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1) further comprising: providing the handle (3) having a touch screen (12) comprising a connection port (13) extending through the front plate (5) and into the said volume; providing a cable (14) extending between the hinge of the door (2) and the connection port (13), electrically connecting the touch screen (12) with the cooling appliance (1).The handle (3) comprises the touch screen (12) via which the user may control the basic operational functions of the cooling appliance (1). The front plate (5) has plurality of perforations and one of the said perforations is configured to coincide with the connection port (13) that is provided at the rear of the handle (3). The connection port (13) extends inside the volume between the internal panel and the door shell (4) and originates from the rear of the region wherein the touch screen (12) is located on the handle (3). The cable (14) extends between the connection port (13) and the hinge of the door (2), connecting the touch screen (12) to the body of the cooling appliance (1) therefore allowing the user to control the operational functions of the cooling appliance (1).
The present invention further comprises: providing the door shell (4) having a recessed region (15) onto which the handle (3) is placed and which upon being placed forms a flush surface with the door shell (4). The recessed region (15) is in the form of a recess formed almost along the edge of the door shell (4) forming a stepwise cross sectional view. The handle (3) is form fittingly placed inside the recessed region (15) providing a continuous and monolithic appearance. As a result, the strength of the door (3) is increased. Another advantageous effect of such a continuous and monolithic appearance is that the visual of the cooling appliance (1) is improved therefore creating a perception of product quality for the user.
In the method of attaching the handle (3) onto the door (2) of the cooling appliance (1), by inserting the screw (8) from the rear side of the front plate (5), the screw (8) passing through the said perforation, the said hole, the support washer (9) and the screw hole (7) respectively, a monolithic handle (3) assembly method is achieved which in turn increases the strength and the quality perception of the handle (3) and that of the cooling appliance (1) respectively.

Claims

A method of assembling a handle (3) onto a door (2) of a cooling appliance (1) wherein a door shell (4) is produced from carbon fiber, comprising:
- providing the door shell (4) having a front plate (5) and a plurality of side plates (6) originating from the front plate (5) and extending backwards;

- providing a handle (3) having at least a screw hole (7);

- placing the handle (3) onto the front plate (5) from the front wherein the screw hole (7) is configured to coincide with a perforation formed onto the front plate (5);

- fixing the front plate (5) and the handle (3) with respect to each other with a screw (8), the screw (8) passing through the said perforation and the screw hole (7) respectively;

- attaching an interior plate on to the door shell (4) forming a volume in between;

- filling the said volume by injection of an insulating material;

- providing the door shell (4) having a recessed region (15) for placing the handle (3); and

- placing the handle (3) at the recessed region (15) such that the handle (3) forms a flush surface with the door shell (4).
The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
- placing a support washer (9) onto the screw hole (7).
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- attaching a support bar (10) onto the front plate (5) from the rear wherein the support bar (10) has at least a hole configured to coincide with the said perforation and the screw hole (7).
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- providing the handle (3) having a screw support elevation (11) whereon the screw hole (7) is formed.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- providing the handle (3) having a touch screen (12) comprising a connection port (13) extending through the front plate (5) and into the said volume;

- providing a cable (14) extending between the hinge of the door (2) and the connection port (13), electrically connecting the touch screen (12) with the cooling appliance (1).
A cooling appliance (1) comprising
- a door (2) having a door shell (4) produced from carbon fiber, the door shell (4) comprising a front plate (5) and a plurality of side plates (6) originating from the front plate (5) and extending backwards, wherein the front plate (5) has a perforation formed thereon,

- a handle (3) having at least one screw hole (7),

- a screw (8) fixing the front plate (5) and the handle (3) with respect to each other by passing through the perforation and the screw hole (7) respectively,

- an interior plate attached to the door shell (4) such that a volume is formed between the interior plate and the door shell (4), and

- an insulating material filling said volume,
wherein the door shell (4) has a recessed region (15) where the handle (3) is placed, such that, when placed at the recessed region (15), the handle (3) forms a flush surface with the door shell (4).