GB2329142A - Handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle assembly for a kitchen utensil comprises a generally T-shaped insert member 3 which has latching projections 4, which fit into complementary apertures 19 in the upper and lower walls of a tubular outer member 18 and thereby locate the insert member. This in turn locates a generally U-shaped wire form 10 whose ends 11 are shaped to fit a standard handle fitting on a kitchen utensil.

Description

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR APPLIANCE OR UTENSIL The present invention relates to a handle assembly for an appliance or utensil, and to an appliance or utensil having such a handle assembly. The invention is applicable particularly but not exclusively to handle assemblies for kitchen utensils and appliances.

It is known from EP-A-241,410 to provide a handle assembly having a resilient elongate element (e.g. a wire loop) extending from an outer handle member and supporting a lightweight kitchen utensil such as a tea strainer. The wire loop is retained by clips in an open channel portion of the outer handle member and the resulting lightweight assembly is incapable of supporting a heavy utensil.

It is known from GB 1,382,522 to provide a handle assembly for a relatively heavy utensil such as a saucepan, comprising a tubular outer handle member which fits into a tubular socket projecting from the saucepan wall, a sheet metal insert member being welded to the wall of the saucepan and extending through the bore of the socket into the bore of the outer handle member. A wire clip located between the insert member and the outer handle member prevents withdrawal of the latter from the socket and also prevents relative rotation of the outer handle member and socket. However the sheet metal insert member is of complex construction and needs to be permanently secured to the saucepan which increases manufacturing costs. The wire clip is retained entirely within the bore of the outer handle member.

An object of the present invention is to provide a robust, low-cost alternative handle assembly which overcomes or alleviates at least some problems of the known arrangements.

Accordingly the invention provides a handle assembly for an appliance or utensil, the assembly comprising a tubular outer handle member, an insert member arranged to slide into the outer handle member and a resilient elongate element arranged to support an appliance or utensil and extending from the mouth of the outer handle member and retained partly within the outer handle member by the insert member, the tubular outer handle member and/or the insert member having retaining means arranged to retain the insert member within the outer handle member.

The invention is applicable particularly but not exclusively to handles for kitchen utensils but is also applicable to, e.g. a handle for a knife or a decorator's scraper.

Many kitchen utensils (e.g. chip-baskets, some frying pans, some saucepans and some scrapers) have a horizontal strip attached at its ends to the wall of the utensil with its mid portion spaced apart from the outer surface of the wall and defining a fairly standard slot for receiving a wire handle. In preferred embodiments the above-mentioned resilient elongate element has an extending portion arranged to fit in such a slot and thereby to support the utensil.

The handle assembly of the invention can be assembled rapidly without the requirement for tools or skilled labour, particularly in a preferred embodiment in which the retaining means comprises at least one latching portion in the insert member or outer handle member arranged to engage a projection, recess or aperture in the outer handle member or insert member as the case may be.

This feature also enables the assembly to be disassembled at a later date, e.g. to enable a handle to be replaced in a different colour.

Preferably the resilient elongate element is in the form of a loop within the tubular outer handle member which passes around the inner (proximal) end of the insert member. In this embodiment it is virtually impossible for the elongate element (and hence the utensil which it supports) to become detached from the tubular outer handle member whilst the insert member is retained therein.

Preferably the resilient elongate element is a metal wire or strip engaging both the insert member and the tubular outer handle member, at least the outer tubular handle member being composed of plastics material. This feature enables a lightweight, rigid construction of the handle assembly.

Preferably the insert member and/or the tubular outer handle member have slidable guide means which allow the insert member to be slid into the tubular outer handle member with a predetermined orientation about its longitudinal axis. This feature facilitates assembly and also strengthens the resulting handle assembly.

Preferably the insert member comprises a substantially vertical longitudinallyextending web which extends to the upper and lower interior surfaces of the tubular outer handle member. This feature reinforces the assembly against any tendency to distortion by the bending moment caused by the weight of the utensil.

Preferably said web terminates in a transverse plate portion at the outermost end of the insert member which substantially fills the mouth of the tubular outer handle member. This feature enables the mouth region of the handle assembly to bear against and support the weight of the utensil.

Preferably the inner surface of the tubular outer handle member and/or a portion of the insert member adjacent said inner surface is provided with longitudinally extending guide means which locate the resilient elongate element without play in the handle assembly. This feature enhances the rigidity of the handle assembly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an insert member for use in one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the insert member of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the insert member of Figures 1 and 2 fitted within the outer handle member of one embodiment; Figure 4 is a sketch perspective view of the outer handle member of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sketch perspective view of the mouth region of the handle assembly; Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of the handle assembly; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the wire form used in the above embodiment, shown prior to assembly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the insert member 1 comprises a vertical, longitudinally-extending web 3 which terminates in a central extension 9 carrying a transverse plate portion 7, extension 9 being flanked by upper and lower spring fmgers 2 carrying transverse latching portions 4 (Figure 2).

A generally U-shaped wire form 10 (Figures 5, 6 and 7) is located in recesses 6 in plate region 7 (Figures 1, 2 and 3), and in a slot 8 at the innermost end of web 3 (Figures 1, 2 and 6).

As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the recesses 6 of plate portion 7 have semicircular portions which are aligned with similar semicircular recesses 16 in the inner surfaces of the vertical walls of outer handle member 8. As shown in Figure 4, recesses 16 are formed as channels; these extend along the entire length of the bore of handle member 8.

In order to provide rotational alignment of the insert member 1 during assembly, a slot 17 (Figure 4) is provided in the inner surface of the upper and lower walls of tubular handle member 18 and slidably receives the upper and lower edges of web 3.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, latching portions 4 spring outwards to fit into respective complementary apertures 19 formed in the upper and lower walls of tubular handle member 8 near the mouth thereof. In this manner the insert member 1 is located within tubular handle member 8 which in turn retains wire form 10 by virtue of the engagement of the loop portion of latter in slot 8 (Figure 6.) As shown in Figure 7, in the disassembled condition wire form 10, comprises a relatively wide portion 20 near the mouth and a relatively narrow portion 21 along the remainder of its length. In the finished assembly the wide portion 20 is compressed to substantially the same width as the narrow portion (Figure 6) and frictionally engages the side walls of tubular handle member 18.

The wire form terminates in downwardly and outwardly folded portions 11 as shown in Figure 5 which can be squeezed together and pushed downwardly through the gap in a standard handle fitting on a kitchen utensil, following which the portions 11 spring apart with the handle fitting resting on their outwardly projecting ends and the outer end of plate region 7 bearing against the exterior surface of the handle fitting. Different wire forms may be provided for use with a common handle assembly to fit different handle fittings.

Claims (10)

1. A handle assembly for an appliance or utensil, the assembly comprising a tubular outer handle member, an insert member arranged to slide into the outer handle member and a resilient elongate element arranged to support an appliance or utensil and extending from the mouth of the outer handle member and retained partly within the outer handle member by the insert member, the tubular outer handle member and/or the insert member having retaining means arranged to retain the insert member within the outer handle member.

2. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises at least one latching portion in the insert member or outer handle member arranged to engage a projection, recess or aperture in the outer handle member or insert member as the case may be.

3. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the resilient elongate element is in the form of a loop within the tubular outer handle member which passes around the inner end of the insert member.

4. A handle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient elongate element is a metal wire or strip engaging both the insert member and the tubular outer handle member, at least the outer tubular handle member being composed of plastics material.

5. A handle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the insert member and/or the tubular outer handle member have slidable guide means which allow the insert member to be slid into the tubular outer handle member with a predetermined orientation about its longitudinal axis.

6. A handle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the insert member comprises a substantially vertical longitudinally-extending web which extends to the upper and lower interior surfaces of the tubular outer handle member.

7. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said web terminates in a transverse plate portion at the outermost end of the insert member which substantially fills the mouth of the tubular outer handle member.

8. A handle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner surface of the tubular outer handle member and/or a portion of the insert member adjacent said inner surface is provided with longitudinally extending guide means which locate the resilient elongate element without play in the handle assembly.

9. A handle assembly for an appliance or utensil substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A utensil or appliance having a handle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.