US2525459A

US2525459A - Adapter for plastic door handles

Info

Publication number: US2525459A
Application number: US121682A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Pulaski
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1949-10-17
Filing date: 1949-10-17
Publication date: 1950-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1967-10-10

Description

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J. W. PULASKI ADAP'I'E R FOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES Flled Oct 17, 1949 Oct. 10, 1950 Patented Oct. 10,

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER FGR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES John Pulaski, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,682

3 Claims.

This invention relates to door handles and more particularly to a device that makes possible the utilization of a molded plastic handle for a refrigerator door.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device that will materially aid in satisfactory operation of a plastic handle for a refrigerator door. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that will give along, useful life to a molded plastic handle for a door.

Broadly, this invention comprises a device that is interpositioned between a plastic handle and a latch releasing device on a refrigerator door. Through the utilization of this invention, a plastic handle can be madeto release a latchwhich holds the door of a refrigerator closed.

Further objects and advantages-of this invention will become apparent and the invention will be better understood from the following description referring to the accompanying drawing and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. I

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly In section, showing a plastic handle attached by means of the present invention to a refrigerator door; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of a plastic handle attached to the adapter itself; Fig. 3 is an end view of a plastic handle attached to the adapter; while Fig. 4 is the perspective view of a plastic handle ready for assembly with the adapter.

Referring to the drawing, a refrigerator I is provided with a door 2 having a conventional latch operating pin 3 for releasing the door from the refrigerator body, permitting the door to swing about hinges (not shown) giving access to a storage space within the refrigerator body.

A mounting plate 4 has a base 5 which matches the contour ofdoor 2 and is positioned on the door adjacent the latch operating pin 3 by suitable bolts Sa passing through openings 6 into the door 2. Latch operating pin 3 extends through an opening I in base 5. In addition to the base portion 5, two lateral flange members 8 are pro-.

vided in spaced relationship on plate 4 and they are in planes at right angles to base portion 5. Within each flange member 8, an opening 9 is provided which is a bearing for a pivot pin II]. The handle mechanism pivots about pivot pin l8 and operates the latch operating pin 3.

An adapting member or adapter II is located between the flanges-.8 of base member 4.

The

2 adapter comprises a bottomportion I2, two side portions I3 and an end portion I4.

Side portions I3 ofthe adapter are in parallel planes perpendicular to the bottom portion i2. End portion: I4 is in a plane substantially at right angles to'and is welded or otherwise connected to side portions I3. Each side portion i3 has an opening I5 therein through which pivot pin I passes. Th'e'openings I in the side portions I3 are so formed that an inner shoulder it is positioned. on the adjacent faces of each side portion I3. Shoulders I6, in turn, serve as a bearing surface for a coil. spring. openings I5, each side. portion I3 contains one of a pair of aligned openings I! and I8. v Opening I"! is threaded to :operatively engage the threaded portion of a screw I9 while opening I8 I is out large enough to allow all but the head of screw I9 to pass therethrough.

In the adapter I I, a lip 20 is provided on each of the side portions I3. Each lip comprises an inturned portion which is substantially perpendicular to its respective side portion I3 and end plate or portion I4, but the lips 20 are not parallel to the bottom portion I2. 7

A solid plastic handle 22a is provided for oper ating the pin 3. The handle may be made of any suitable plastic material, such as polystyrene or methyl methacrylate. The handle has a base portion 22 and an extended or gripping portion 23 of any conventional design. Base portion 22 is provided at each side with a groove 24, and these grooves are operatively engaged by lips 20 of adapter II. Below grooves 24, the sides 24a of base portion 22 are cut away to an extent that the thickness of the body portion below the grooves, plus the thickness of the sides I3 of the adapter I I, is substantially equal to the thickness of the section of base 22 above the grooves 24. The base portion 22 is also provided with a portion 26 which extends below groove 24 to give a greater shear area in thehandle. The extended portion 26 has 'a bottom 25 shaped to match the bottom portion I2 of adapter II. The handle 2251/ also provided with a rounded portion 28 which matches a rounded portion 29 on the side portion I3 of the adapter.

When handle 22a is fitted into adapter I I, lips are slid into the grooves 24 until back portion 30 of base 22 contacts the end portion I4 oi adapter I I. Bottom portion of base portion 22 is then against bottom portion 12 of adapter II and rounded portion 2B fits against rounded por tion 28 in handle 22a. screw I9 is then inserted through opening I8 in one of the side members In addition to l3 and threaded into the corresponding threaded opening I! in the other side [3. When the screw is tightened, the side portions [3 are pressed against the base portion 22 of the handle, and lips 26 on the adapter engage grooves 24 on the plastic handle. Consequently, when handle 22a is pulled to open the door, the opening force is distributed the entire length of lips 29. With the structure of this invention, handle 22a cannot slip out of engagement with flange portion 20 unless side members 26 below groove 24 are sheared away from base portion 22 of plastic handle 22a.

A striking plate 3| is positioned between the plastic handle and operatingpin 3. The striking. plate comprises an elongated portion which extends from the forward point 32 of the plastic handle to pivot pin ll]. At pivot I0, the striking plate is shaped to form a loop 34 through whichlo extends F'to support the striking pivot pin plate. Striking plate ,3l,has a protrusion33 which engages a pin 3 when extended portion 23 of the handle is pulled away. from the refrigerator door. The loop 34, which-.fitsaround pivot pin IE, is of a convenient width that easily fits between side portions [3 of adapter II.

A spring 2 I is provided for keeping bottom portion [2 of adapter H against base of mounting plate 4. Spring 2| is madeof conventional wire material and is first formed in a U-shape with two

legs

35 and 36 joined by a cross member 37.

Legs

35 and 36 of the spring 2| are each bent through several turns, so as toform loops 38 which fit overshoulders 16 o'fjopenings [5 in adapter H. Pivot pin I-O passes through loops 38 of spring 2|. Cross member 31 passes between striking plate 3] and support plate 4 and serves to keep the striking plate resiliently against plastic handle 22a. The free ends oflthe legs- 35 and 36 of the spring 2| rest up against base portion 5 of mounting plate 4 and aid in the resilient spring keeping the handle member in a retracted position with bottom portion l2--of adapter H against base 5 of mountin plate 4.

The component parts of the handle are assembled in the following manner. Adapter II is slid over base portion 22 of handle 22a with lips 20 on side portions I3 sliding into grooves 24 on base portion 22. Spring 2| is then inserted over shoulders l6 adjacent openings 5 with the free ends 35, 36 located away from base portion 22 of handle 22a. Striking plate 3| 'is then slid under the cross member 31 of the springand placed in position for loop member 34 to be engaged by pivot pin H3. Screw I9 is then inserted through opening [8 in one side l3 into threaded engagew ment with the threaded portion of hole IT, in the other side l3 and tightened to firmly position the plastic handle. The assembly, including the handle, adapter ll, spring 2|, and striking plate 3|, is then positioned in operative engagement with the mounting plate 4, Pin is inserted through openings 9 in mounting plate 4, openings [5 in adapter l l, loops 33 in spring member 2| and loop 34 of striking plate 3|; The pin end is then peened to retain the component parts in operative positions. V

It is to be noted that in the operative association between handle member22a and adapter plate H there is an adjustment in the positioning of the two parts, Since there is a sliding engagement between the adapter plate II and the grooves 24 of the handle 22a, there can bean adjustment in position-until screw 9 is securely.

4 fastened. After screw 19 has been fastened, however, then there is no movement between the handle and adapter plate ll.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangement disclosed,

but that the appended claims are meant to cover all, the modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A latch operating device for a refrigerator door comprising a latch operating pin, a mounting plate having a base conforming with the surface ofthe door and having an opening to provide for the extension of said pin therethrough, said mounting plate including a pair of flange members extending in parallel planes perpendicularly from the plane of said base, a pivot pin mounted on said flange members, an adapter mounted within said flange members, said adapter having a bottom portion, two side portions, and an end portion, said side portions being in parallel planes perpendicular to said bottom portion, said adapter being pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, each of said side portions including a turned-in lip, said, lips being directed toward each other, said end portion of said adapter being substantially perpendicular to the planes of said side portions and being rigidly secured thereto, a molded plastic handle operatively engaged by said adapter and pivotable with said adapter, about said-pivot pin to actuate said latch operating pin, said handle having 'a base portion and a gripping portion, a pair of grooves in said base portion, said lips extending into said grooves, means engaging said side portions of said adapter.- for'forcing said side portions toward each other. to maintain said adapter in engagement withosaid base portion of said handle, said base portion of said handle being recessed below said grooves to a depth sub-. stantially equal to the thickness of said side portions of said adapter and including an extended portion below said grooves in said'base portion that conforms with the inner surface of said adapter. a H

2. An adapter for a plastic handle, said adapter comprising a bottom portion, two 'side'portions, and an end portion, said side portions being in parallel planes extending perpendicularly from the plane of said bottom portion-each of said side portions including a bearing surface for a pivot pin, said side portions being provided with a pair of aligned openings, one in eachof said side portions, each of said side portions including, a lip extending inwardly therefrom, said end por-l tion extending from said-base portion substan-l tially perpendicular to and rigidly secured to said side portions, and'a screw extending through said.

H 3, The combination of a plastic han dle and an adapter therefor, said combination comprising a.

molded plastic handle having a base portion and a gripping portion, said handle base portion having a pair of grooves :therein,said base portion:

including an extended portion below said grooves in said base portion to increase the shear area of said base portion, said adapter having a bottom portion and two side portions and an endportion, said side portions being'in parallel planes perpendicular to said bottom portion and extending therefrom, a pivot pin, each-of saidside p0r-.

portions toward each tions including a bearing surface for said pivot REFERENCES CITED pin, said side portions having aligned openings therein, each of said side portions including a lip extending inwardly from its respective side The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

portion, said lips being received within said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS grooves in said handle base portion, and threaded Number Name Dat securing means for forcing said side portions of 2,260,154 North et a1 Oct. 21, 1941 said adapter toward each other to maintain said 2,307,145 Mattoon Jan; 5, 1943 adapter in engagement with said handle. 2,444,180 Anderson June 29, 1948 JOHN W. PULASKI. l0