(19)
(11) EP 3 130 871 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
09.10.2019 Bulletin 2019/41

(21) Application number: 16183188.8

(22) Date of filing: 08.08.2016
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25D 23/02(2006.01)
F24C 15/02(2006.01)

(54)

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING A HANDLE

HAUSHALTSGERÄT MIT EINEM GRIFF

APPAREIL MÉNAGER COMPORTANT UNE POIGNÉE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 10.08.2015 TR 201509844

(43) Date of publication of application:
15.02.2017 Bulletin 2017/07

(73) Proprietor: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi
34445 Istanbul (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • DIKSAN, Mehmet
    34950 ISTANBUL (TR)
  • BASESME, Tugrul
    34950 ISTANBUL (TR)
  • OZGUR, Ilhan Ozgu
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • GULTEKIN, Ali
    34950 ISTANBUL (TR)
  • BASARAN, Alper
    34950 ISTANBUL (TR)
  • ARGINHAN, Omer
    34950 Istanbul (TR)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-A1-102011 004 139
US-A- 4 087 141
US-A1- 2009 282 651
DE-U1-202009 016 868
US-A1- 2006 032 023
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance that comprises a handle that is mounted on the door and that enables the door to be opened and closed.
    Household appliances, for example dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators comprise a handle that enables the doors thereof to be easily opened and closed. By means of the handle, the door of the household appliance is opened and thus the interior of the body of the household appliance can be reached, and operations like checking the food in the oven or taking food from the refrigerator can be realized. The handles can be composed of multiple parts due to production limits and esthetic concerns. Especially, due to visual flaws occurring at the bending points of the handles that are formed by shaping a long rod produced from metal material, the handle needs to be produced from multiple parts. The multitude of the connection points on the handle causes the perception of quality of the users to decrease. Therefore, it is needed that the handle is perceived as a whole by visually softening the transition between the parts and that the parts are mounted to each other in a practical and smooth way.
    In the state of the art German Patent Document No. DE102011087757, while the handle that comprises a tube and two supports are formed, the supports that have an edged form are inserted into the tube from one end each and the each of the supports is fixed on the door by means of one connection element.

    [0002] US4087141 describes a pull handle assembly for a refrigerator door comprising a long extruded metal bar having a mounting bracket fastened on each end. US2009282651, US2006032023, DE202009016868U and DE102011004139 disclose various embodiments in which a stud of a support bracket extends into a handle bar.

    [0003] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a handle the appearance of which is improved.
    The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a body; a door that enables the interior of the body to be reached; a handle that is disposed on the door and that enables the door to be opened and closed; and two supports that are disposed on the ends of the handle and that enable the handle to be attached on the door.
    The household appliance of the present invention comprises at least one profile that is disposed on the handle and the ends of which extend outwards from the ends of the handle; L formed supports one arm of which extends in an axis perpendicular to the door and one arm of which extends in the direction of the handle; and one housing that is disposed on each of the supports and that enables the ends of the profile to be seated therein. The handle is connected to the support by seating the ends of the profile in the housings. The portion of the support that extends in parallel to the handle extends on the profile that extends outwards and contacts the side of the handle. By carrying the portion of the ends of the support and the handle that contact each other out of the edge area, the support and the handle is enabled to be perceived as a whole.

    [0004] In an embodiment of the present invention, the profile extends longitudinally on the handle. By means of a single profile mounted on the handle, the ease of production and assembly is provided. Moreover, the strength of the handle is increased.

    [0005] According to the invention, the household appliance comprises at least one first hole that is disposed on the portion of the support perpendicular to the door and the port of which opens to the housings; at least one second hole disposed on the profile so as to coincide with the first holes when the profile is seated in the housing, and a connection element that enables the handle to be fixed to the support by being passed through the first hole and the second hole. By fixing the handle and the supports to each other by means of a connection element like screw or pin, assembly gaps that may appear between the handle and the supports are prevented.

    [0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a U-shaped strip that is produced from a soft touch material and that extends along the surface of the handle facing the door and the opposite surfaces of the supports. Thus, the ergonomics of the handle is improved and the perception of quality is increased.

    [0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one extension-shaped claw disposed on the strip or the profile and at least one protrusion that is disposed on the profile or the strip and that enables the strip to connect to the profile by being seated in the claw. The protrusion and the claws facilitate the assembly of the strip on the profile.

    [0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises at least one guide disposed on the support and more than one retainer that is disposed on the strip and wherein the guides are seated when the strip is placed on the handle and the supports. Thus, the strip can easily be attached on the supports.

    [0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the claws are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile. The protrusions are intermittently positioned along the side of the strip so as to be seated in the claws when the strip is placed on the profile. By intermittently positioning the protrusion and the claws, the assembly of the strip on the profile is facilitated.

    [0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the claws are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile in a slidable manner with respect to each other. The protrusions are disposed on different sides of the strip in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated in the claws when the strip is mounted on the profile. Thus, the strip is enabled to be fixed on the profile along the handle.

    [0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a dishwasher.

    [0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is a refrigerator.

    [0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance is an oven.

    [0014] By means of the present invention, the appearance of the household appliance is improved by enabling the handle and the support to be perceived as a whole.

    [0015] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

    Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the household appliance related to an embodiment of the present invention.

    Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the handle, the support and the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.

    Figure 3 - is the exploded view of the handle, the support and the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.

    Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the strip related to an embodiment of the present invention.

    Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the support related to an embodiment of the present invention.



    [0016] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
    1. 1. Household appliance
    2. 2. Body
    3. 3. Door
    4. 4. Handle
    5. 5. Support
    6. 6. Profile
    7. 7. Claw
    8. 8. Housing
    9. 9. First hole
    10. 10. Second hole
    11. 11. Connection element
    12. 12. Strip
    13. 13. Protrusion
    14. 14. Retainer
    15. 15. Guide


    [0017] The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) that enables the interior of the body (2) to be accessed; a handle (4) that is disposed on the door (3) and that enables the door (3) to be opened and closed, and two supports (5) that are disposed on the ends of the handle (4) and that enable the handle (4) to be attached on the door (3). The cross-section of the handle (4) that is produced from metal material is almost rectangular and has a flat structure.

    [0018] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises at least one profile (6) that is disposed on the handle (4) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the ends of the handle (4); more than one L-shaped support (5) one end of which bears against the end of the handle (4) and one end connected to the door (3), and at least one housing (8) that is disposed on each support (5) and that enables the ends of the profile (6) to be seated therein. One arm of the bend-shaped support (5) extends in a direction perpendicular to the door (3) to be connected to the door (3). The other arm of the support (5) extends on the profile (6) extending from the end of the handle (4) towards the housing (8) and bears against the end of the handle (4). The L-shaped support (5) provides a smooth appearance at the edge area. Thus, the appearance of a handle (4) that is bent from a single piece is provided.

    [0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the profile (6) extends longitudinally on the handle (4). The profile (6) that is longer than the handle (4) is disposed on the surface of the handle (4) facing the door (3) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the sides of the handle (4). The ends of the profile (6) are seated in the housings (8) disposed on the supports (5) and thus the handle (4) is connected to the support (5). By means of a single profile (6) disposed on the handle (4), the ease of production and assembly is provided.

    [0020] According to the invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one first hole (9) that is disposed on each arm of the support (5) that enables the support (5) to be connected to the door (3) and whereof one end opens to the housing (8); at least one second hole (10) that is disposed on the profile (6) and that faces the first hole (9) when the profile (6) is seated into the housing (8), and a connection element (11) that enables the handle (4) to be fixed to the support (5) by being passed through the first hole (9) and the second hole (10). By fixing the handle (4) and the support (5) to each other by means of a connection element (11) like screw or pin, assembly gaps that may appear between the handle (4) and the supports (5) are prevented and the handle (4) is easily fixed to the supports (5).

    [0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material and that is disposed on the handle (4) so that one portion thereof faces the door (3) and that the profile (6) remains between the strip (12) and the handle (4), and that the other portion extends on the supports (5). By means of the strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material like rubber or silicone, the user is enabled to grasp the metal handle (4) in a comfortable and safe manner, and the perception of quality is increased. Moreover, the strip (12) enables the connection points disposed on the inner portions of handle (4) and the supports (5) to be concealed.

    [0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one extension-shaped claw (7) that is disposed on the strip (12) or on the profile (6) and at least one protrusion (13) that is disposed on the profile (6) or on the strip (12) and that enables the strip (12) to be connected to the profile (6) by being seated in the claw (7). By attaching the strip (12) to the profile (6) by means of the protrusion (13) and the claw (7), ease of assembly is provided, and the strip (12) is enabled to be changed in cases like deformation in the course of time.

    [0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises at least one guide (15) disposed on the support (5) and more than one retainer (14) that is disposed on the strip (12) and wherein the guides (15) are seated when the strip (12) is placed on the handle (4) and the supports (5). The strip (12) the ends of which are bent towards the door (3) so as to extend along the opposite surfaces of the supports (5) is attached to the support (5) by engaging the retainers (14) with the guide (15). Thus, the strip (12) can be easily attached on the supports (5).

    [0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the claws (7) that are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile (6) and the protrusions (13) that are intermittently disposed along the side of the strip (12) so as to be seated in the claws (7) when the strip (12) is placed on the profile (6). The claws (7) are intermittently disposed along both long sides of the profile (6). Thus, when the strip (12) is moved in the direction that the handle (4) extends after aligning the protrusions (13) so as to remain between the claws (7), the protrusions (13) fit into the claws (7). The intermittently disposed claws (7) and protrusions (13) enable the strip (12) to slide on the profile (6) and thus facilitate the assembly of the strip (12).

    [0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the claws (7) that are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile (6) and that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other and the protrusions (13) that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated into the claws (7) when the strip (12) is attached to the profile (6). Thus, the strip (12) is enabled to be fixed on the profile (6) along the handle (4) plane.

    [0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.

    [0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a refrigerator.

    [0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is an oven.

    [0029] By means of the present invention, the appearance of a handle (4) that is bent from a single piece is provided and the handle (4) gains an esthetic appearance. The strip (12) disposed on the inner surface of the handle (4) improves the ergonomics of the handle (4) and the user is enabled to grasp the handle (4) in a comfortable and safe manner.


    Claims

    1. A household appliance (1) comprising

    - a body (2);

    - a door (3) that enables the interior of the body (2) to be accessed;

    - a handle (4) that is disposed on the door (3) and that enables the door (3) to be opened and closed;

    - two supports (5) that are disposed on the ends of the handle (4) and that enable the handle (4) to be attached on the door (3);

    - at least one profile (6) that is disposed on the handle (4) so that the ends thereof extend outwards from the ends of the handle (4);

    - more than one L-shaped support (5) one end of which bears against the end of the handle (4) from a side of said end of the handle that faces away from the door and one end is connected to the door (3);

    - at least one housing (8) that is disposed on each support (5) and that enables the ends of the profile (6) to be seated therein;

    - at least one first hole (9) that is disposed on each arm of the support (5) that enables the support (5) to be connected to the door (3) and whereof one end opens to the housing (8);

    - at least one second hole (10) that is disposed on the profile (6) and that faces the first hole (9) when the profile (6) is seated into the housing (8);

    - a connection element (11) that enables the handle (4) to be fixed to the support (5) by being passed first through the first hole (9) and thereafter through the second hole (10).


     
    2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the profile (6) that extends longitudinally on the handle (4).
     
    3. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a strip (12) that is produced from a soft touch material and that is disposed on the handle (4) so that one portion thereof faces the door (3) and that the profile (6) remains between the strip (12) and the handle (4), and that the other portion extends on the supports (5).
     
    4. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by at least one extension-shaped claw (7) disposed on the strip (12) or on the profile (6) and at least one protrusion (13) that is disposed on the profile (6) or on the strip (12) and that enables the strip (12) to be connected to the profile (6) by being seated in the claw (7).
     
    5. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by at least one guide (15) disposed on the support (5) and more than one retainer (14) that is disposed on the strip (12) and wherein the guides (15) are seated when the strip (12) is placed on the handle (4) and the supports (5).
     
    6. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the claws (7) that are intermittently disposed along the sides of the profile (6) and the protrusions (13) that are intermittently disposed along the side of the strip (12) so as to be seated in the claws (7) when the strip (12) is placed on the profile (6).
     
    7. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the claws (7) that are disposed on the opposite sides of the profile (6) and that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other and the protrusions (13) that are positioned in a slidable manner with respect to each other so as to be seated into the claws (7) when the strip (12) is attached to the profile (6).
     
    8. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.
     
    9. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to Claim 7, which is a refrigerator.
     
    10. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to Claim 7, which is an oven.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1) umfasst;

    - einen Körper (2);

    - eine Tür (3), die den Zugang in den Innenraum des Körpers (2) ermöglicht;

    - einen Griff (4), der an der Tür (3) angebracht ist und das Öffnen und Schließen der Tür (3) ermöglicht;

    - zwei Stützen (5), die an den Enden des Griffs (4) angeordnet sind und es ermöglichen, den Griff (4) an der Tür (3) anzubringen;

    - mindestens ein Profil (6), das an dem Griff (4) so angeordnet ist und sich von dessen Enden aus an den Enden des Griffs (4) nach außen erstrecken;

    - mehr als eine L-förmige Stütze (5), dessen eines Ende gegen das Ende des Griffs (4) von einer der Tür abgewandten Seite des Griffs anliegt und weiteres Ende mit der Tür (3) verbunden ist ;

    - mindestens ein Gehäuse (8), das an jeder Stütze (5) angeordnet ist und es ermöglicht, dass die Enden des Profils (6) darin sitzen;

    - mindestens ein erstes Loch (9), das an jedem Arm des Trägers (5) angeordnet ist und die Verbindung des Trägers (5) mit der Tür (3) ermöglicht und von dem ein Ende zum Gehäuse (8) hin geöffnet ist;

    - mindestens ein zweites Loch (10), das an dem Profil (6) angeordnet ist und das dem ersten Loch (9) zugewandt ist, wenn das Profil (6) in dem Gehäuse (8) sitzt;

    - ein Verbindungselement (11), das es ermöglicht, den Griff (4) an der Stütze (5) zu befestigen, indem er zuerst durch das erste Loch (9) und danach durch das zweite Loch (10) geführt wird.


     
    2. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Profil (6) sich in Längsrichtung am Griff (4) erstreckt.
     
    3. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüchen aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Streifen (12), der aus einem Material mit weicher Berührung hergestellt worden ist und der an dem Griff (4) so angeordnet ist, dass ein Teil davon der Tür (3) zugeordnet ist und dass das Profil (6) zwischen der Leiste (12) und dem Griff (4) verbleibt und dass sich der andere Abschnitt auf die Stütze (5) erstreckt.
     
    4. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 3 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindesten eine an der Leiste (12) oder an dem Profil (6) angeordnete und auskragende Klaue (7) und mindestens einen an der Leiste angeordneten Vorsprung (13) an dem Profil (6) oder an der Leiste (12) es ermöglicht, dass die Leiste (12) mit dem Profil (6) verbunden wird, indem sie in der Klaue (7) sitzt.
     
    5. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 3 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens eine am Träger (5) angeordnete Führung (15) und mehr als eine an der Leiste (12) angeordnete Halterung (14) an den Führungen (15) angeordnet sind und dort sitzen, wenn die Leiste (12) auf dem Griff (4) und an den Stützen (5) aufliegt.
     
    6. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Klauen (7) intermittierend entlang der Seiten des Profils (6) angeordnet sind und die Vorsprünge (13), die ebenfalls intermittierend entlang der Seite des Streifens (12) angeordnet sind um in den Klauen (7) zu sitzen, wenn die Leiste (12) auf das Profil (6) gelegt wird.
     
    7. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 6 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die auf den gegenüberliegenden Seiten des Profils (6) angeordneten Klauen (7), die zueinander und zu den Vorsprüngen (13) verschiebbar angeordnet sind, welche relativ zueinander verschiebbar positioniert sind, damit sie in den Klauen (7) sitzen, wen die Leiste (12) an dem Profil (6) angebracht ist.
     
    8. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den vorherigen Ansprüchen, ist eine Geschirrspülmaschine.
     
    9. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 7 aufgeführt, ist ein Kühlschrank.
     
    10. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in den Ansprüchen 1 bis 7 aufgeführt, ist ein Ofen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Un appareil électroménager (1) comprenant

    - un corps (2);

    - une porte (3) permettant d'accéder à l'intérieur du corps (2);

    - une poignée (4) qui est disposée sur la porte (3) et qui permet à la porte (3) de s'ouvrir et de se fermer;

    - deux supports (5) disposés aux extrémités de la poignée (4) et permettant de fixer la poignée (4) sur la porte (3);

    - au moins un profil (6) disposé sur la poignée (4) de sorte que ses extrémités s'étendent vers l'extérieur depuis les extrémités de la poignée (4);

    - plus d'un support en forme de L (5) dont une extrémité appuie contre l'extrémité de la poignée (4) depuis un côté de ladite extrémité de la poignée qui est opposé à la porte et dont une extrémité est reliée à la porte (3);

    - au moins un boîtier (8) qui est disposé sur chaque support (5) et qui permet aux extrémités du profilé (6) d'être assis dans celui-ci;

    - au moins un premier trou (9) qui est disposé sur chaque bras du support (5), permettant de connecter le support (5) à la porte (3) et dont une extrémité s'ouvre sur le boîtier (8);

    - au moins un deuxième trou (10) qui est disposé sur le profil (6) et qui fait face au premier trou (9) lorsque le profilé (6) est inséré dans le boîtier (8);

    - un élément de connexion (11) qui permet à la poignée (4) d'être fixée au support (5) en passant d'abord par le premier trou (9), puis par le deuxième trou (10).


     
    2. Appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, caractérisé par le profil (6) qui s'étend longitudinalement sur la poignée (4).
     
    3. Appareil électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des déclarations précédentes, caractérisé par une bande (12) réalisée en un matériau doux au toucher et disposée sur la poignée (4) de sorte qu'une partie de celle-ci soit tournée vers la porte (3) et que le profil (6) reste entre la bande (12) et la poignée (4) et que l'autre partie s'étend sur les supports (5).
     
    4. Appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 3, caractérisé par au moins une extension en forme de griffe (7) disposée sur la bande (12) ou sur le profilé (6) et au moins une saillie (13) disposée sur le profil (6) ou sur la bande (12) et qui permet de relier la bande (12) au profil (6) en s'assoyant dans la griffe (7).
     
    5. Appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 3, caractérisé par au moins un guide (15) disposé sur le support (5) et plus d'une pièce de fixation (14) disposé sur la bande (12) et dans lequel les guides (15) sont en place lorsque la bande (12) est placée sur la poignée (4) et les supports (5).
     
    6. Appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 4, caractérisé en ce que les griffes (7) sont disposées de manière intermittente le long des côtés du profil (6) et les saillies (13) qui sont disposées de manière intermittente le long du côté de la bande (12) de manière à être assis dans les griffes (7) lorsque la bande (12) est placée sur le profil (6).
     
    7. Appareil électroménager (1) selon la déclaration 6, caractérisé en ce que les griffes (7) sont disposées sur les côtés opposés du profilé (6) et sont positionnées de manière coulissante l'une par rapport à l'autre et aux saillies (13) qui sont positionnés de manière coulissante les uns par rapport aux autres de manière à être insérés dans les griffes (7) lorsque la bande (12) est fixée au profilé (6).
     
    8. Un appareil électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, qui est un lave-vaisselle.
     
    9. Appareil électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 7, qui est un réfrigérateur.
     
    10. Appareil électroménager (1) selon l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 7, qui est un four.
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description