Patent Application
20060163979
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a mounting arrangement for a handle of a refrigerator.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Conventional handle arrangements for refrigerators are formed from multiple pieces, including a handle frame and a handle piece having a gripping portion. Such a handle is typically mounted to a refrigerator cabinet utilizing screws which extend through the handle piece and frame, clamping the overall handle to a panel of the refrigerator cabinet. Once the handle is in place, a cover is inserted over the screw, with the cover extending only over the area of the screws or along substantially the entire length of the handle. In general, this known handle mounting arrangement is rather labor intensive to assemble and often results in witness lines that take away from the overall aesthetics of the refrigerator.
In certain situations, it is desirable to mount a refrigerator handle to a side edge of a refrigerator door, such as the handle described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,597. The handle in the '597 patent has metal inserts integrally molded into handle ends to reinforce the handle. The handle ends include a first portion that abuts a front surface of the door and a second portion that abuts the side edge of the door. Mechanical fasteners extend through the second portion for attaching the handle to the door. Since the handle is molded with metal inserts that essentially wrap around the side edge of the door, the use of the handle is limited to a side mounting arrangement.
Regardless of the existence of various types of refrigerator handle arrangements and mounting systems therefor, there still exists a need in the art for a universal refrigerator handle that is capable of being mounted to either the front surface or side edge of a refrigerator door. Such a universal handle would provide significant cost savings because a single process would be used to make the handle. Additional parts necessary to mount the handle to the front surface or side edge of the refrigerator door can be easily fastened to the handle during assembly of the refrigerator.
The present invention pertains to a universal handle for mounting to a door of a refrigerator. In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the universal handle may be selectively mounted to a front face portion or a side edge of a refrigerator door. The universal handle includes first and second handle ends separated by an intermediate portion, wherein each of the first and second handle ends include recessed sections. Each of the recessed sections includes a mounting arrangement formed therein, which is adapted to receive either a bracket member for mounting the handle to the side edge of the door or a clip for mounting the handle to the front face portion of the door.
When mounting the handle to the side edge of the door, a pair of brackets, each of which is formed of metal and includes a first portion and a second portion, are attached to the handle by fastening the first portion of one bracket to the mounting arrangement within a respective handle end. The second end of each bracket member is fastened to a respective metal plate attached to the side edge of the door. Since this arrangement allows for metal-to-metal attachment of the handle, the handle is securely fastened to the door and the attachment will not loosen over time.
When mounting the handle to the front panel of the door, first and second handle clip members are attached to the mounting arrangement of each handle end. The front panel of the door includes base members mounted thereon for engaging the handle clip members. With this arrangement, the handle can be removably attached to the front panel of the door.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
Fresh food door 15 includes side edges 20 and 22 and a front surface 25. Side edge 22 is pivotally attached to cabinet shell 5 through upper and lower hinges (not shown). Freezer door 18 is adapted to slide relative to cabinet shell 5 between open and closed positions. As known in the art, fresh food and freezer doors 15 and 18 conceal fresh food and freezer compartments (not shown) of refrigerator cabinet 2. Again, the exact construction of refrigerator 2 can vary greatly without departing from the invention.
The present invention is actually directed to a universal handle 50 that may be selectively mounted to either front surface 25 or edge 20 of fresh food door 15. As shown, handle 50 includes a pair of handle ends 55 and 56 and an intermediate portion 57 interconnecting handle ends 55 and 56. At this point it should be realized that, although reference will be made to handle end 55, handle end 56 includes identical components. As best shown in
Reference will now be particularly made to
Each bracket 75 includes a first portion 91, a second portion 92 extending substantially perpendicular to first portion 91, and an angled middle portion 93 interconnection first and second portions 91 and 92. First portion 91 of bracket 75 includes spaced apart apertures 95-98 for cooperating with mounting arrangement 64 and second portion 92 includes spaced apart apertures 99 and 100 for cooperating with a pair of mechanical fasteners, as will be discussed in detail below.
Prior to attaching handle 50 to side edge 20, bracket 75 and cover member 63 must be attached to handle end 55. Initially, cover 63 is positioned within recessed section 60 such that positioning rim 85 of cover member 63 rests against ledge 62 of recessed section 60 and tab 86 projects downward into recessed section 60. First portion 91 of bracket 75 is positioned within recessed section 60 such that locating projection 70 extends through aperture 97 and apertures 95 and 98 align with bores 67 and 69, respectively. Mechanical fasteners, such as screws 102 and 103, extend through the respective apertures 95 and 98 and bores 67 and 69 to fasten bracket 75 to mounting arrangement 64, as illustrated in
Each of a pair of steel plates, one of which is indicated at 110 in
With reference to
Each door clip member 130 is initially mounted to surface 25 of fresh food door 15 with tab member 148 projecting into a respective slot 138 and the central aperture of door clip member 130 being aligned with the hole provided in fresh food door 15. Thereafter, a mechanical fastener 155, such as a sheet metal screw 155, extends through the aperture of door clip member 130 and is threadably attached to fresh food door 15 at the hole to fixedly secure door clip member 130 along surface 25. At this point, it should be realized that the structure and mounting method of door clip member 130 can be readily varied without departing from the invention. Further details of door clip member 130 are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/295,850 herein incorporated by reference.
As best shown in
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, each handle clip member 135 is received in a respective recessed section 60 as clearly shown in
With this arrangement, following the mounting of door clip members 130 to fresh food door 15 in the manner set forth above, first and second end portions 55 and 56 of handle 50 can be completely laid over the respective door clip members 130, with each door clip member 130 being initially arranged adjacent a respective handle clip member 135 within a recessed section 60. Thereafter, the entire handle 50 is shifted or slid relative to door clip members 130 and door 15. Due to the shape of side connectors 144 and 155, the shifting of handle 50 causes side connectors 144 and 155 to engage flange members 167 and 168. Therefore, as handle 50 is shifted in this manner, a wedging action results that causes handle 50 to be drawn against door 15. That is, door clip members 130 and handle clip members 135 include mating surfaces which co-act to draw handle 50 to the front face portion of door 15. With the shifting of handle 50, leg extension 150 will engage arm 170 to initially deflect arm 170. Thereafter, arm 170 will snap back as each clip member 180 projects into a respective hole 152. Once this snap connection is established, essentially simultaneously at both first and second end portions 55 and 56, handle 50 is fixed in position along door 15.
Based on the above, it should be readily apparent that handle 50 can be readily and selectively employed for mounting on either side edge 20 or front surface 25. When mounting on side edge 20, an advantageous reinforcement is employed and mounting brackets 75 interact with cover 63 to provide a smooth, aesthetically appealing arrangement. The manner in which handle 50 is drawn to front surface 25 in accordance with the second mounting arrangement also provides an enhanced overall mounting system. In any case, although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, although described with reference to a bottom mount refrigerator, a corresponding handle arrangement could be equally employed in top mount, side-by-side or other style refrigerators as well. In any event, the invention is only intended to be limited in accordance with scope of the following claims.
