The present subject matter relates generally to appliances and more particularly to appliance handles.
Household appliances generally define one or more enclosures or cabinets for heating, cooling, washing, or drying; at least one control panel; and at least one door that allows a user to open and close the one or more enclosures or cabinets. Each door may have a handle to facilitate the user opening and closing the at least one door of the household appliance to place articles into the one or more enclosures or cabinets. The doors are sometimes made of multiple parts to better insulate the inner cavity to allow for proper temperature distribution, airflow, or waterproofing during use. A door may further include an outer panel and inner panel. The handle of the door may be mounted to an outer surface of the door, such as to the outer surface of a front panel, and often is configured as a vertical or lateral bar to allow a towel or other useful article to be stored thereon. An inner hinge assembly may allow the door to open and close.
Handles can generally be attached to the outer surface of the door by screws or other known fixtures or adhesives. Handles may be attached through a panel of the door, for example, attached by screwing a screw through the front panel of the door from an inner surface of the door through the front panel and attaching to the handle located on the outer surface of the door. The handle cannot be removed in this situation without taking the door apart to reach the screws internal to the door. Handles attached this way are not readily replaceable, which adds to repairs and limits design options.
Accordingly, a door handle that could be readily attached and detached from an outer surface of a door would be useful. Furthermore, a handle that could be readily switched out for a different handle due to a repair or design change would also be desirable.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance is provided. The appliance may have a transverse, lateral and vertical direction, the directions orthogonal to one another. The appliance may include a cabinet defining an opening, a door attached to the cabinet that allows selective access into the opening, a handle attached to the door, and a handle endcap connecting the handle to the door. The handle endcap may be configured to removably attach the handle to the door. The handle endcap may include a slide lock receiver frame and a slide lock base. The slide lock receiver frame may include a locking tab wall and an outer case. The slide lock base may be removably attached to the slide lock receiver frame. The slide lock base may include a base body, a resilient locking tab and a tab protrusion. The resilient locking tab may be joined to the base body to selectively deflect in an inward direction. The tab protrusion may extend in an outward direction opposite of the inward direction to motivate the resilient locking tab inward in response to slidable movement of the tab protrusion along the locking tab wall.
In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure a handle for a household appliance is provided. The handle may define a lateral direction, a vertical direction and a transverse direction, each direction orthogonal to the other directions. The handle may include at least one handle endcap configured to connect the handle to a door. The handle endcap may be configured to removably attach the handle to the door. The handle endcap may include a slide lock receiver frame and a slide lock base. The slide lock receiver frame may include a locking tab wall and an outer case. The slide lock base may include a base body, a resilient locking tab, and a tab protrusion. The resilient locking tab may be joined to the base body to selectively deflect in an inward direction. The tab protrusion may extend in an outward direction opposite of the inward direction to motivate the resilient locking tab inward in response to slidable movement of the tab protrusion along the resilient locking tab wall.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: [will finish when FIGS. return from drafter]
Use of the same of similar reference numerals in the figures denotes the same or similar features unless the context indicates otherwise.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. Terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the oven appliance (e.g., when the door is in the closed position). For example, a user stands in front of the oven appliance to open a door and reaches into the internal chamber(s) to access items therein.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin (i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value). In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction (e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, such as, clockwise, or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V).
Referring now to the figures, an exemplary appliance will be described in accordance with exemplary aspects of the present subject matter. Specifically,
According to exemplary embodiments, oven appliance 100 includes a cabinet 102 that is generally configured for containing and/or supporting various components of oven appliance 100 and which may also define one or more internal chambers or compartments of oven appliance 100. In this regard, as used herein, the terms “cabinet,” “housing,” and the like are generally intended to refer to an outer frame or support structure for oven appliance 100, e.g., including any suitable number, type, and configuration of support structures formed from any suitable materials, such as a system of elongated support members, a plurality of interconnected panels, or some combination thereof. It should be appreciated that cabinet 102 does not necessarily require an enclosure and may simply include open structure supporting various elements of oven appliance 100. By contrast, cabinet 102 may enclose some or all portions of an interior of cabinet 102. It should be appreciated that cabinet 102 may have any suitable size, shape, and configuration while remaining within the scope of the present subject matter.
As illustrated, cabinet 102 generally extends between a top 104 and a bottom 106 along the vertical direction V, between a first side 108 (e.g., the left side when viewed from the front as in
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, oven appliance 100 is provided by way of example only, and the present subject matter may be used in any suitable household appliance. The present subject matter may further be used with other household appliances such as microwave ovens, washing machine appliances, dryer appliances, dishwashing appliances, refrigerator appliances, etc. Oven appliance 100 will be described below, with the understanding that other embodiments may include or be provided as another suitable household appliance (e.g., defining an internal chamber).
Oven appliance 100 includes an internal chamber 116 disposed or defined within cabinet 102. Internal chamber 116 is also referred to as internal chamber 116 as used herein and may be insulated. In some embodiments, internal chamber 116 is configured for the receipt of one or more items to be cooked, including food items. Cabinet 102 defines internal chamber 116 between a top wall 130 and a bottom wall 132. Oven appliance 100 includes a door 120 rotatably mounted to cabinet 102 (e.g., with a hinge). A handle 118 is mounted to door 120 and assists a user with opening and closing door 120 in order to access internal chamber 116. For example, a user can pull on handle 118 to open or close door 120 and access internal chamber 116 through a resultant opening. As would be understood, one or more internal heating elements (e.g., baking heating elements 178 or broiling heating elements 182) may be provided within internal chamber 116 to cook or otherwise heat items therein.
Oven appliance 100 can include a seal 122 (e.g., gasket) between door 120 and cabinet 102 that assists with maintaining heat and cooking fumes within internal chamber 116 when door 120 is closed as shown. Door 120 may include a window 124, constructed for example from multiple parallel glass panes to provide for viewing the contents of internal chamber 116 when door 120 is closed and assist with insulating internal chamber 116. A baking rack 126 may be positioned in internal chamber 116 for the receipt of food items or utensils containing food items. Baking rack 126 may be slidably received onto embossed ribs 128 or sliding rails such that baking rack 126 may be conveniently moved into and out of internal chamber 116 when door 120 is open.
Generally, various sidewalls define internal chamber 116. For example, internal chamber 116 includes a top wall 130 and a bottom wall 132 that are spaced apart along the vertical direction V. Left and right sidewalls extend between top wall 130 and bottom wall 132, and are spaced apart along the lateral direction L. A rear wall 134 may additionally extend between the top wall 130 and bottom wall 132 as well as between the left and right sidewalls, and is spaced apart from door 120 along the transverse direction T. In this manner, when door 120 is in the closed position, a cavity 136 (also referred to as “cooking cavity 136” herein) is defined by door 120 and top wall 130, bottom wall 132, sidewalls, rear wall 134 of internal chamber 116.
In some examples, the top 104 includes a front panel 156 or cooktop panel 158. Front panel 156 may be located transversely forward of cooktop panel 158. Front panel 156 may house a controller 162 or controls 164, as described in more detail below. Additionally or alternatively, the cooktop panel 158 may be proximal to a plurality of heating assemblies 166, as described in more detail below.
A lower heating assembly (e.g., bake heating assembly 176) may be positioned in oven appliance 100, and may include one or more heating elements (e.g., bake heating elements 178). Bake heating elements 178 may be disposed within internal chamber 116, such as adjacent bottom wall 132. In exemplary embodiments as illustrated, bake heating elements 178 are electric heating elements, as is generally understood. Alternatively, bake heating elements 178 may be gas burners or other suitable heating elements having other suitable heating sources. Bake heating elements 178 may generally be used to heat internal chamber 116 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 100.
Additionally or alternatively, an upper heating assembly (e.g., broil heating assembly 180) may be positioned in oven appliance 100, and may include one or more upper heating elements (e.g., broil heating elements 182). Broil heating elements 182 may be disposed within internal chamber 116, such as adjacent top wall 130. In exemplary embodiments as illustrated, broil heating elements 182 are electric heating elements, as is generally understood. Alternatively, broil heating elements 182 may be gas burners or other suitable heating elements having other suitable heating sources. Broil heating elements 182 may additionally be used to heat internal chamber 116 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 100.
In some embodiments, oven appliance 100 includes a cooktop 186 positioned at cooktop panel 158 of oven appliance 100. In such embodiments, cooktop panel 158 may be a generally planar member having an upward surface that is perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In particular, cooktop panel 158 may be formed from glass, glass ceramic, metal, or another suitable material. A plurality of heating assemblies (e.g., cooktop heating assemblies 166) may be mounted to or otherwise positioned on cooktop panel 158. In some embodiments, cooktop heating assemblies 166 are positioned above internal chamber 116 of cabinet 102 (i.e., higher relative to the vertical direction V). Optionally, cooktop heating assemblies 166 may extend between internal chamber 116 and cooktop panel 158, within an open region 190 that is defined between cooktop panel 158 and internal chamber 116. Cooking utensils, such as pots, pans, griddles, etc., may be placed on cooktop panel 158 and heated with heating assemblies 166 during operation of the cooktop 186. In
The door 120 is mounted on the cabinet 102 below cooktop panel 158 to selectively allow access to the internal chamber 116 in a closed position. As may be seen in
In some embodiments, oven appliance 100 includes a drawer 168 movably mounted to cabinet 102. For instance, drawer 168 may be slidably mounted to cabinet 102 to selectively move forward/rearward along the transverse direction T. One or more slidable rails, bearings, or assemblies 170 may be installed or mounted between drawer 168 and cabinet 102 to facilitate movement of drawer 168 relative to cabinet 102, as would be understood. As shown, drawer 168 may be disposed generally below internal chamber 116. In particular, drawer 168 may be disposed below door 120. Generally, drawer 168 is disposed between first side 108 and second side 110 (e.g., along the lateral direction L). Optionally, drawer 168 may be disposed above bottom 106. Alternatively, drawer 168 may be disposed below bottom wall 132 (e.g., such that an open cavity or recess is defined between panels below bottom wall 132 to receive drawer 168).
Oven appliance 100 is further equipped with a controller 162 to regulate operation of the oven appliance 100. For example, controller 162 may regulate the operation of oven appliance 100, including activation of heating elements as well as heating assemblies 166 generally. Controller 162 may be in operable communication (e.g., via a suitable electronic wired connection) with the heating elements and other components of the oven appliance 100, as discussed herein. In general, controller 162 may be operable to configure the oven appliance 100 (and various components thereof) for cooking. Such configuration may be based on a plurality of cooking factors of a selected operating cycles, sensor feedback, etc.
By way of example, controller 162 may include one or more memory devices (e.g., non-transitive media) and one or more microprocessors, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with an operating cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In exemplary embodiments, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.
Controller 162 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout oven appliance 100. For instance, controller 162 may be located within a user interface panel (also referred to as control panel 160) of oven appliance 100, as shown in
Furthermore, the user interface panel (e.g., control panel 160) is located within convenient reach of a user of appliance. User interface panel includes various input components, such as one or more of a variety of touch-type controls 164, electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical input devices including knobs, rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface panel may include a display component, such as a digital or analog display device, designed to provide operational feedback to a user.
Various appliance features of appliance may be activated/deactivated by a user manipulating the input components on user interface panel. Thus, for example, when appliance is a cooktop 186 or oven appliance 100, a user may manipulate knobs or buttons on user interface panel to activate and deactivate heating elements of the appliance. As another example, a user of appliance may set a timer on user interface panel.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one handle endcap, and each handle endcap may include a slide lock receiver frame with a locking tab wall and a slide lock base with a locking tab extending therefrom. When one of the slide lock receiver frame and the slide lock base is attached to the handle and the other is attached to the door, the handle may be removably attached to the door, the locking tab sliding past the locking tab wall, confining the slide lock base within the slide lock receiver frame and attaching the handle to the door. The locking tab can be raised to slide past the locking tab wall, separating the slide lock base and the slide lock receiver frame, and allowing the handle to slide off the door. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure include a handle that may be readily removed from or attached to the door. Additionally, alternate handles may also be readily attached to the door.
The remainder of the description describes features related to handle 118. As such, handle 118 may define a lateral direction L, a vertical direction V, and a transverse direction T, as shown in
Turning generally to
As shown in
Generally, handle endcap 200 includes slide lock receiver frame 202, shown as attached to handle 118 in
As shown in
Generally, slide lock base 204 may include a base body 212, a resilient locking tab 214 extending from base body 212. In some embodiments, slide lock base 204 may further include a tab protrusion 216. Tab protrusion 216 may extend from resilient locking tab 214. In certain embodiments, slide lock base 204 may include a set of blades 238 extending on either side of base body 212. In additional or alternate embodiments, slide lock base 204 defines a base tab channel 250 running along a length of base body 212 between base body 212 and resilient locking tab 214. During use, slide lock base 204 may move between a locked position 252 and an unlocked position 254 within slide lock receiver frame 202.
Returning to slide lock receiver frame 202, locking tab wall 208 is generally located within outer case 210. As shown in
As shown in
Turning to
Additionally or alternatively, inner cross beams 218 may extend within slide lock receiver frame 202. As shown, inner cross beams 218 may extend between side walls 222, 224, 226, 228 of outer case 210. In some embodiments, inner cross beams 218 may extend vertically in between opposing side walls 224, 228 or extend longitudinally between opposing side walls 222, 226. When assembled, inner cross beams 218 may be forward of set of wings 206 or of slide lock base 204. Inner cross beams 218 may include a fastener support 234. Inner cross beams 218 may be located transversely forward of set of wings 206 such that a transverse width of slide lock base 204 may be confined transversely forward of set of wings 206 and transversely back from inner cross beams 218.
In some embodiments, slide lock receiver frame 202 may include a stabilizing wall 256. Stabilizing wall 256 may be located vertically above locking tab wall 208. Stabilizing wall 256 may be located similar to locking tab wall 208, extending internally along a transverse length of outer case 210. As shown in
Fastener support 236 may define fastening opening 236, allowing a fastener (not pictured) to attach slide lock receiver frame 202 to one of handle 118 and door 120 by placing the fastener through a fastening opening 236 and into either handle 118 or door 120. Fastener support 236 may provide support to the connection between slide lock receiver frame 202, the fastener (not pictured) and one of handle 118 and door 120. For example, the fastener may be inserted transversely through fastener opening 236 and into handle 118, attaching slide lock receiver frame 202 to handle 118.
Additionally or alternatively, central inner cross beam 220 may extend within slide lock receiver frame 202. In some embodiments, central inner cross beam 220 extends between side wall 226 and side wall 222, extending longitudinally between opposing side walls. In some embodiments, central inner cross beam 220 extends between a vertical inner cross beam 218A and side wall 222. In certain embodiments, and as shown in
Turning to
Set of wings 206 may aid in forming a friction fit between slide lock base 204 and slide lock receiver frame 202. In some embodiments, set of wings 206 aligns transversely behind a set of blades 238 on slide lock base 204, overlapping each wing 206 with a corresponding blade 238. When assembled in locked position 252, set of wings 206 may be transversely behind blades 238, overlapping blades 238 of slide lock base 204. As would be understood, set of wings 206 may confine set of blades 238 in slide lock receiver frame 202 when in locked position 252.
In some embodiments, slide lock receiver frame 202 further defines void 230. In additional or alternative embodiments, void 230 is aligned (e.g., vertically aligned) with a portion 215 of resilient locking tab 214 along a length of slide lock receiver frame 202. The alignment of void 230 may allow a pin 232 to be inserted past side wall 228 and removably attach to resilient locking tab 214.
As would be understood, handle endcap 200 may further comprise pin 232, as shown in
Turning to
Additionally or alternatively to parts described above, slide lock base 204 may include cross beam channel 242, which may be slidably attached to central inner cross beam 220. In some embodiments, slide lock base 204 may include a locking tab support 244, as shown in
In some embodiments, base body 212 is located vertically above and laterally next to resilient locking tab 214, resilient locking tab 214 extending from a lower extended portion of base body 212. Base body 212 and resilient locking tab 214 may define base tab channel 250, base tab channel 250 extending longitudinally between base body 212 and resilient locking tab 214, with resilient locking tab 214 vertically below base tab channel 250.
As previously described, slide lock base 204 further includes set of blades 238. Generally, blades 238 extend from base body 212. In some embodiments, blades 238 are offset (e.g., offset laterally) from resilient locking tab 214. Furthermore, blades 238 may be slidably aligned forward to set of wings 206. For example, in locked position, and as shown in
Base fastener opening 246 may be defined by base body 212. Base fastener opening 246, as shown in
Resilient locking tab 214 may be generally joined to base body 212. In some embodiments, resilient locking tab 214 extends along a length of base body 212. For example, as shown in
Tab protrusion 216 may extend from a lengthwise end of resilient locking tab 214. In some embodiments, tab protrusion 216 is perpendicular to the length of base body 212 (e.g., the lateral length of base body 212). In certain embodiments, tab protrusion 216 is further perpendicular to the length of resilient locking tab 214 (e.g., the lateral length of base body 212). For example, tab protrusion 216 extends vertically below resilient locking tab 214 at lengthwise end 248 of locking tab 214, as shown in
As previously described, tab protrusion 216 abuts resilient locking tab wall 208. In some embodiments, a friction fit is formed by the aforementioned abutment, between slide lock base 204 and outer case 210. Such friction fit may be formed when slide lock base 204 is in locked position 252. Tab protrusion 216 may further be deflectable in an inward direction (e.g., vertically upward), towards base body 212 to motivate resilient locking tab 214 inward and over locking tab wall 208 during movement between unlocked position 254 and locked position 252.
In some embodiments, a taper 240 aids in movement of resilient locking tab 214. Taper 240 may be attached to both tab protrusion 216 and resilient locking tab 214. In some embodiments, taper 240 extends behind tab protrusion 216, taper 240 narrowing from tab protrusion 216 to a lower side 241 of resilient locking tab 214. For example, in
Turning to
To lock handle endcap 200, slide lock base 204 slides in relation to slide lock receiver frame 202 (e.g., slide lock base 204 slides in lateral direction L toward side wall 222). As slide lock base 204 moves across locking tab wall 208, resilient locking tab 214 engages locking tab wall 208, sliding across a top surface of locking tab wall 208. In some embodiments, taper 240 on resilient locking tab 214 engages with locking tab wall 208 as slide lock base 204 moves laterally within slide lock receiver frame 202. As taper 240 moves across locking tab wall 208, resilient locking tab 214 may be vertically raised toward base tab channel 250. In some embodiments, resilient locking tab 214 joined to base body 212 selectively deflects in an inward direction. Tab protrusion 216 may extend in an outward direction opposite the inward direction to motivate resilient locking tab inward in response to slidable movement of tab protrusion 216 along locking tab wall 208. When tab protrusion 216 reaches locking tab wall 208, slide lock base 204 may continue moving laterally toward locked position 252, and resilient locking tab 214 may have reached a maximum deflection, moving laterally and not vertically as tab protrusion 216 moves laterally across locking tab wall 208. When slide lock base 204 reaches locked position 252, tab protrusion 216 clears locking tab wall 208, and resilient locking tab 214 deflects back into an elastic resting position behind locking tab wall 208.
Generally, in locked position 252, and as shown in
When tab protrusion 216 is raised above locking tab wall 208 (e.g., by pin 232 entering through void 230), slide lock base 204 may be moved from locked position 252 into unlocked position 254, and may separate from slide lock receiver frame 202.
Turning to
In alternate embodiments, and as shown in
Additionally or alternatively, as shown in
Turning to
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.