WO2016045696A1

WO2016045696A1 - Door handle for a cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2016045696A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/070195
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo LUNARDON
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
Priority date: 2014-09-23
Filing date: 2014-09-23
Publication date: 2016-03-31

Abstract

Described is, among other things, a door opening device for a door handle using a lever arm for facilitating the opening operation of the door for a cooling device such as a freezer or a refrigerator. The door opening device has few assembly parts and easy to assemble.

Description

Door handle for a cooling device

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a door handle for a cooling device. In particular the present disclosure relates to a door opening device for a door handle used in a freezer or a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

Cooling devices such as refrigerators and freezers are typically provided with door handles for opening a door of the cooling device. In some instances the door is of a type having lever arms providing a rotating moment on the cabinet of the cooling device when opening the door of the cooling device. Such a door can sometimes be termed a pole handle. The reason for providing such an arrangement where a rotating action in the door handle is translated to a lever force acting to separate the door from the cabinet using lever arms is that the force required to open the door of the cooling device can in some cases be relatively high for reasons well known. By providing the lever mechanism, the required force is reduced and the door can be opened more easily. Conventional door handles with levers for opening refrigerators /freezers are for example described in US patent Nos. 6,375, 291 and 8,132, 876. Another conventional door opening arrangement with levers is described in the published US patent application No. US 201 0/ 0270900. There is a constant desire to improve the operation of cooling devices and to reduce the cost for manufacture and maintenance thereof. Hence, there exists a need for an improved door handle and an improved door opening device for a cooling device. SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door opening device for use in door handle of a cooling device such as a refrigerator or a freezer. This object and/or others are, at least partly, obtained by the door opening device as set out in the appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment, a door opening device for a cooling device is provided. The cooling device comprises a cabinet and is provided with a door having a door handle with at least one lever arm adapted to act on the cabinet for opening the door of the cooling device. The door handle is pivotably attached to the door. The door opening device has a generally cylindrical stopping element with a first end section and a second end section. The stopping element is adapted to be located in a recess of the door with the first end section facing the door. The door opening device further has a spring having a first and second end located inside the cylindrical stopping element with the first spring end attached to the cylindrical stopping element. The door opening device also has a lever arm adapted to provide a force on the cabinet of the cooling device when the door handle is operated. The lever arm has a seat member adapted to receive the second end section of the stopping element and a spring holder adapted to hold the second spring end. The stopping element is rotatable between two end positions in relation to the seat member. During an opening operation of the door handle the spring is rotationally tightened. This generates a return spring force when the door handle is released so that the door handle can return to an original rest position.

By providing such a door opening device, a number of advantages can be obtained. First, the door opening device is formed be few sub-assemblies resulting in that the assembly is quick. Second, because there are few sub-assemblies repair/exchange of the door opening device is facilitated. Also, the construction of the door opening device makes it easy to attach/detach from the door.

In accordance with one embodiment, the stopping element is provided with inwards projections adapted to cooperate with stoppers provided in conjunction with the seat member. Hereby it is obtained that the door handle can be operated between two angles in relation to the door, where the angles can be set by the location of the stoppers and /or projections. In accordance with one embodiment, the seat member and/or the spring holder are integrally formed in the lever arm. Hereby it is obtained that the number of subassemblies is even further reduced.

In accordance with one embodiment, the door opening device is detachably attachable to the door. This can for example be obtained by providing a screw/bolt as the only securing mechanism that secures the door opening device to the door. The securing mechanism can further allow for the lever arm to rotate in relation to the door. Hereby it is obtained that the door opening device, once attached to the door, easily can be detached form the door. In particular the

attachment/detachment can be obtained by only attaching/detaching one screw/bolt. For example the door opening device can be provided with one bolt provided along the pivot axis of the door handle and the cylindrical axis of the stopping member and being securable in the door. This arrangement makes it easy to shift the door handle.

In accordance with one embodiment, the stopping member is formed by a molded plastics member. Further the lever arm can be cast in one piece. In accordance with one embodiment, a securing element adapted to cooperate with a top portion of the seat member for securing the stopping member to the seat member is provided. The securing element can for example be a retaining ring adapted to be placed in a recess of the top portion of the seat member. Hereby it is obtained that the door opening device easily can be held together as one assembly, which even further facilitates assembly of the door opening device in the door.

In accordance with one embodiment, the door opening device has a first glide member located between a surface of the lever arm and a face of the second end portion facing the lever arm. The door opening device can also have a second glide member located between an inside surface of the spring and an outer surface of the seat member. The provision of the glide member(s) can act to reduce the friction and to thereby reduce the wear on different surfaces of the door opening device. The glide member(s) can further act to enhance the feel of the user when opening the door in that the opening mechanism can feel almost frictionless.

The invention also relates to a refrigerator and a freezer comprising a door handle with a door opening device as set out above. In accordance with one embodiment the door handle is provided with two identical door opening devices as set out above, one in each end of the door handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figs. 1 a and 1 b are views of a cooling device having a door in a closed and open position, respectively;

- Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a door opening device: - Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a door opening device;

- Fig. 4 is a top view of a door opening device: and

- Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a door opening device during assembly thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figs. 1 a and Fig. 1 b the top of a cooling device 20 is depicted. The cooling device can typically be a refrigerator or a freezer. The cooling device 20 is provided with a door 22. The door 22 is hinged at a side of a cabinet 21 of the cooling device

20. The door 22 has a door handle 23. The handle 23 is pivotably attached to the door and has a door opening device 10 comprising a lever arm. An end of the door opening device^"! 0 is in contact with the frame of the cabinet 21 when the door 22 is in a closed position. In particular the end of the door opening device 10 can be in contact with a plate 24 provided on the upper (and or lower) front side of the cabinet

21 . When the door handle 23 is operated the door handle pivots and forces the lever arm to distance the door 22 from the cabinet 21 . Due to the moment exercised by the lever arm of the door opening device 10, the force required to distance the closed door 22 from the cabinet 21 is reduced. Once the door 22 has been distanced from the cabinet 21 , the need for an increased force no longer exists and the door 22 can be opened by pulling the door handle 23.

In Fig. 1 a the cooling device 20 is shown with the door 22 in a closed position with an end of the opening device 10 resting against the plate 24. In Fig. 1 b, the door handle has been pivoted forcing the lever arm of the door opening device 10 to distance the door 22 from the cabinet 21 by a levering moment provided by the rotation of the door opening device acting to the plate 24. Further, the door handle 23 can be of a so-called pole handle type that extends essentially all along the height of the cabinet. The pole handle type of door handle can be provided with an opening mechanism in each end. In accordance with one embodiment the door handle 23 is provided with identical door opening devices 1 0 in each end thereof. Hereby it is possible to shift the door handle from the left side of the door to the right side of the door.

In Fig. 2, a view in perspective of the door opening device 10 is shown. The door opening device 10 comprises a lever arm 1. The lever arm 1 has a first attachment part 62 adapted to attach the door opening device 10 to a door handle. The first attachment part 62 can be attached to the door handle for example using a screw or bolt (not shown here) secured via a hole in the lever arm 1 to the door handle. The lever arm 1 further has a second attachment part 63 adapted to attach the door opening device to a door. The second attachment part 63 can be attached to the door for example using a screw or bolt (not shown here) secured via a hole in the lever arm 1 to the door. In addition the lever arm 1 can be provided with a flange 61 adapted to be in contact with the frame of a cabinet of the cooling device, in particular during the first part of an opening operation of the door of a cooling device when the door is first distanced from the cabinet of the cooling device. With reference to Figs. 1 a and 1 b, the flange 61 can advantageously be adapted to act on the plate 24 shown in Figs. 1 a and 1 b. Further, the opening device 10 can comprise a stopper assembly 60. The stopper assembly 60 is provided to i.a.

restrict the rotation of the door handle in relation to the door during opening between two end positions. The stopper assembly 60 can also act to return the door handle to one position in relation to the door when the door handle is released and the pulling force exercised on the door handle when opening the door is released.

In Fig. 3 an exploded view of the door opening device 10 comprising a stopper assembly 60 is depicted. The opening device 10 comprises the lever arm 1 . The lever arm 1 has a seat member 15 mounted thereon. The lever arm 1 can further have a spring holder 16 mounted thereon. The seat member 15 and/or the spring holder 1 6 can in accordance with some embodiments be integrated in the lever arm 1 . For example the lever arm 1 can be made of a metal or an alloy and the seat member 15 and spring holder 1 6 can then be formed on the lever arm when the lever arm 1 is cast.

The stopper assembly 60 of the door opening device 10 can comprise a stopping element 4. The stopping element 4 can be made from a plastics material. In particular the stopping element 4 can be molded as one piece. The stopper assembly 60 and in particular the stopping element 4 is adapted to fit into a corresponding recess of the door. The door can also have a threaded member in the bottom of the recess for receiving a screw/bolt by means of which screw/bolt the door opening device 10 is secured to the door. The stopping element 4 has a first end section 11 facing the door in which the door opening device 10 is to be mounted. The stopping element 4 further has a second end section 12 in the end opposite to the first end section. An axial hole is provided to receive a securing device such as a bolt or screw (not shown) for securing the door opening device 10 to the door. The stopping element 4 is generally open in the second end section 12 facing the seat member 15. In the first end section 1 1 , a hole for the securing device is provided. Also, one or more holes 40 for receiving a top part 41 of the seat member 15 can be provided. When the top part 41 is inserted in the hole(s) 40, the different parts of the stopper assembly 60 can be secured to each other using a securing element 5. The securing element 5 can for example be a retaining ring cooperating with recesses in the top part 41 .

Further a spring 3 can be provided in the stopper assembly 60. The spring 3 has first and second spring ends 13, and 14, respectively. The first spring end 13 can be attached to the inside wall of the stopping element 4. For example a recess can be provided in the wall of the stopping element. The second spring end 14 can be attached to the spring holder 16. During an opening operation of the door handle the spring 3 is rotationally tightened to generate a return spring force when the door handle is released so that the door handle can return to its original position.

The stopping element 4 can rotate in the seat member 15. The rotation of the door handle in relation to the door can be restricted. The restriction can be achieved by providing at least one projection 17, 18 on the inner side wall of the stopping element 4. The projection(s) 17, 1 8 cooperate with one or more stoppers 19 formed in conjunction with the seat member 15. Hence, when the stopping element 4 rotates in the seat member 15, the rotation is restricted by the projection(s) 17, 18 coming into contact with a stopper/ stoppers 19. In accordance with one

embodiment the spring holder 1 6 acts as a stopper 19. Hence, the spring holder 16 is positioned so that inwards projections 17, 18 on the inner wall of the stopping element 4 comes into contact with the sides 19 of the spring holder 16 when the stopping element is rotated into its end positions in the seat member 15.

In accordance with some embodiments, the door opening device 1 0 has a first glide member 2 located between a surface of the lever arm and a face of the second end portion 1 2 facing the lever arm. The door opening device 10 can also have a second glide member 7 located between an inside surface of the spring 3 and an outer surface of the seat member 15. The provision of the glide member(s) can act to reduce the friction and to thereby reduce the wear on different surfaces of the door opening device. The glide member(s) can further act to enhance the feel of the user when opening the door in that the opening mechanism can feel almost frictionless. Also an adaptor 6 can be provided. The adaptor 6 is provided on the side opposite to the stopper assembly 60 on the lever arm 1 . The adaptor 6 is provided to allow for a robust insertion of a screw/bolt through the door opening device 10 whereby the door opening device can be secured in the door of a cooling device. The adaptor further acts to reduce friction between the screw/bolt and the door opening device 10. The adaptor 6 can be made in a plastics material.

In Fig. 4 is a top view of the door opening device 1 0. The top view illustrates the rotation of the door opening device between to end positions B and C respectively around an axis provided by a securing device, here a bolt 45. As can be seen the end positions are separated by 26 ⁵. Of course other separations are possible. The end positions are determined by the location of the inwards projections 17, 1 8 formed on the inside wall of the stopping element 4 and or the stoppers 19. In Fig. 4 a recess 44 on the side wall of the stopping element 4 for attaching the first spring end 13 is also shown. Further, a recess 46 on the side wall of the stopping element 4 is shown. The recess 46 forms a space in which the spring holder 16/ stopper 19 can be located. In Fig. 5 a view in perspective of a final stage of assembly of the door opening device 10 is depicted. The stopping element 4 is pressed downwards and rotated to be correctly positioned. The entire stopper assembly 60 is then secured to the lever arm 1 of the door opening device 10 by a securing element cooperating with the top part 41 of the seat member thereby securing the entire stopper assembly 60 to the lever arm 1 .

It is to be understood that the features from different embodiments can be combined and that no feature of an embodiment is essential unless explicitly so expressed. Hence, the person skilled in the art can select which features that are deemed to be advantageous for a particular implementation.

Using the door opening device as described herein a number of advantages can be obtained. For example the door opening device is possible to produce using few sub-assemblies resulting in that the assembly is quick and that few parts are required which in turn can reduce the cost for manufacture. Further, because there are few sub-assemblies repair/exchange of the door opening device is facilitated. Also, the construction of the door opening device makes it easy to attach/detach from the door.

Claims

1 . A door opening device (1 0) for a cooling device (20), the cooling device (20) comprising a cabinet (21 ) and being provided with a door (22) having a door handle (23) with at least one lever adapted to act on the cabinet (21 ) for opening the door (22) of the cooling device (20), the door handle (23) being pivotably attached to the door (22), the opening device (10) comprising

- a generally cylindrical stopping element (4) having a first end section (1 1 ) and a second end section (1 2), the stopping element (4) further being adapted to be located in a recess of the door (22) with the first end section (1 1 ) facing the door.

- a spring (3) having a first and second end (13, 14) located inside the cylindrical stopping element (4), wherein the first spring end (13) is attached to the cylindrical stopping element (4),

- a lever arm (1 ) adapted to provide a force on the cabinet (21 ) of the cooling device (20) when the door handle (23) is operated, the lever arm (1 ) having a seat member

(1 5) adapted to receive the second end section (12) of the stopping element (4) and a spring holder (1 6) adapted to hold the second spring end (14), wherein the stopping element (4) is rotatable between two end positions in relation to the seat member (15) and where during an opening operation of the door handle (23) the spring (3) is rotationally tightened to generate a return spring force when the door handle (23) is released.

2. The door opining device (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the stopping element (4) is provided with inwards projections (17, 1 8) adapted to cooperate with stoppers (1 9) provided in conjunction with the seat member (15).

3. The door opening device (10) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein seat member (4) and/or the spring holder (16) are integrally formed in the lever arm.

4. The door opening device (10) according to any claim 1 - 3, wherein the door opening device (1 0) is detachably attachable to the door (22).

5. The door opening device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the door opening device (10) comprises a bolt (45) provided along the pivot axis of the door handle (23) and the cylindrical axis of the stopping member and being securable in the door.

6. The door opening device (10) according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the stopping member (4) is formed by a molded plastics member.

7. The door opening device (10) according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein the lever arm (1 ) is cast in one piece.

8. The door opening device (10) according to any of claims 1 - 7, further comprising a securing element (5) adapted to cooperate with a top portion (41 ) of the seat member (15) for securing the stopping member (4) to the seat member (15).

9. The door opening device (10) according to any of claims 1 - 8, further comprising a first glide member (2) located between a surface of the lever arm (1 ) and a face of the second end portion (14) facing the lever arm (1 )

10. The door opening device (10) according to any of claims 1 - 9, further comprising a second glide member (7) located between an inside surface of the spring (3) and an outer surface of the seat member (15).

1 1 . A door handle (23) for a freezer (20) or a refrigerator (20) comprising a door opening device (1 0) according to any of claims 1 - 1 0.

12. A refrigerator (20) or a freezer (20) comprising a door handle (23) according to claim 11.