A handle assembly of a door of an electric household appliance, in particular of a dishwasher

Abstract

 A handle assembly (6) of a door (5) of an electric household appliance (1), in particular of a dishwasher, includes a base panel (7), made of plastic material and fittable to the appliance door (5); a handle (8) hinged to the panel (7); a handle-lift (9), carried by the panel (7) and connected to the handle (8); and a pair of elastic return members (10) carried by the panel (7) and cooperating with the handle (8). The handle-lift (9) and the elastic return members (10) are integrally formed with the base panel (7) to define a monolithic body (17), and are connected to the panel (7) by respective connecting portions (26, 36) which are so shaped as to be elastic and to define respective plastic springs (27, 37); in particular, the connecting portions (26, 36) project from a surface (14) of the panel (7) and are substantially S-shaped.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a handle assembly of a door of an electric household appliance, in particular, but not exclusively, of a dishwasher.

[0002] Most electric household appliances (the term including also appliances for professional use) have a case which houses an operation chamber (e.g. a washing chamber), having an access opening which is closed by a door; the door is operated by a handle assembly.

[0003] In particular, in a common type of dishwasher the handle assembly is carried by a front panel of the door, usually positioned at a top end of the door; the panel also houses control devices and electric components of the appliance (being accordingly usually called also "control panel") and has an outer surface and a rear surface. The handle assembly generally comprises: a handle hinged to the panel and movable between a rest position and a work position; a handle-lift, carried by the panel and connected to the handle to be moved by the handle when the handle is moved to the work position (and possibly for operating a locking element which secures the door to the casing); and a return spring, carried by the panel and cooperating with the handle for returning the handle in the rest position.

[0004] The handle (which is accessible by the user through an opening in the panel) is operated by the user against the action of the spring; the handle moves the handle-lift, in some embodiments to act on a locking member and free the door from the casing, otherwise to assist the movement of the handle and to give to the user a good feeling when opening the door. The spring is used to exert a return force on the handle and return the handle in the rest position.

[0005] According to the known solutions, the handle, the handle-lift and the spring are distinct and separate components which are independently manufactured and then assembled to the panel; the handle and the handle-lift may be made of plastic material and are pivotally hinged to respective supports provided on the panel; the spring is usually a metal component, e.g. a metal coil spring, having opposite ends engaging respective connection seats of the handle and the panel.

[0006] Therefore, this kind of door assemblies requires to manufacture and assemble a number of components, and accordingly the manufacturing process as a whole is relatively expensive and time-consuming.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle assembly of a door of an electric household appliance, in particular of a dishwasher, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0008] In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a low-cost and easy-to-manufacture handle assembly which is also fully effective and reliable in use.

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly of a door of an electric household appliance, in particular of a dishwasher, comprising a base panel, made of plastic material and fittable to an appliance door; a handle hinged to the panel; a handle-lift, carried by the panel and connected to the handle for operating a latch of the door; and an elastic return member carried by the panel and cooperating with the handle; the assembly being characterized in that the handle-lift and/or the elastic return member are integrally formed with the base panel to define a monolithic body.

[0010] The handle assembly according to the invention has therefore a simplified structure when compared with known solutions, requiring fewer components to be manufactured and assembled; the manufacturing process of the handle assembly according to the invention is therefore simpler, shorter, and cheaper. At the same time, the handle assembly of the invention is also fully effective and reliable in use.

[0011] According to an important aspect of the invention, the handle assembly is further characterized in that the handle-lift and/or the elastic return member which are integrally formed with the base panel to define said monolithic body, are connected to the panel by respective connecting portions which are so shaped as to be elastic and to define respective plastic springs, in particular substantially S-shaped connecting portions.

[0012] The specific conformation of the plastic springs ensures both a reliable pivoting movement and an effective elastic action, as well as a long-term use life of the handle assembly.

[0013] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial schematic perspective view of an electric household appliance (specifically a dishwasher) with a handle assembly in accordance with the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective rear view of the handle assembly according to the invention;
• Figures 3 and 4 are a perspective and a plan larger-scale views of a detail of the handle assembly of Figure 2, with parts not-shown for the sake of clarity;
• Figures 5 and 6 are section views along lines V-V and VI-VI respectively in Figure 4.

[0014] With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates as a whole an electric household appliance of any type, in particular a dishwasher; nevertheless, the following description also applies to any other type of appliance.

[0015] Appliance 1 comprises a casing 2 that houses an operation (washing) chamber 3, having an access opening 4 closed by a door 5; door 5 is operated by a handle assembly 6.

[0016] With reference also to Figure 2, handle assembly 6 comprises: a base panel 7, made of plastic material and fitted to door 5, in particular to a top end of door 5, in a known way; a handle 8 pivotally hinged to panel 7; a handle-lift 9, carried by panel 7 and connected to handle 8; and at least one elastic return member 10 carried by panel 7 and cooperating with handle 8; in the preferred embodiment shown in the enclosed Figures, there are provided two return members 10.

[0017] Base panel 7 is made (preferably by moulding) of a substantially rigid plastic material and has a case structure 12 that houses control devices and electric components (known and neither shown nor described for the sake of simplicity) of appliance 1, and defines therefore a control panel of appliance 1.

[0018] Case structure 12 has an outer front surface 13, an inner back surface 14 and a lateral frame 15 projecting from a perimetral edge of back surface 14. Panel 7 is provided with a through opening 16, for example a substantially rectangular slit, between front surface 13 and back surface 14, opening 16 being so designed as to allow a user's hand to be inserted through opening 16.

[0019] Panel 7, specifically back surface 14, carries handle 8, handle-lift 9 and return members 10; handle-lift 9 and/or return members 10 are integrally formed with panel 7 to define a monolithic body 17 made of plastic material, in particular of a moulded substantially rigid plastic material.

[0020] Handle 8 is pivotally connected to panel 7 around a pivot axis A, and has a generally elongated hollow body 18 extending substantially parallel to axis A and having a seat for insertion of a user's hand; hollow body 18 is provided with two opposite side pins 20, aligned along pivot axis A and engaging respective supports 21 that project from back surface 14 of panel 7.

[0021] Handle 8 comprises a central contact portion 22 projecting from hollow body 18 to cooperate with handle-lift 9. Hollow body 18 is also provided with a pair of ribs 23, positioned on opposite sides of contact portion 22 and projecting from an outer surface of hollow body 18 to cooperate with respective return members 10.

[0022] As shown in details in Figures 3 to 5, handle-lift 9 is substantially U-shaped and has two side arms 24 connected by a cross bar 25; arms 24 project from back surface 14 of panel 7 and are connected to back surface 14 by respective connecting portions 26 which are so shaped as to be elastic and to define respective plastic springs 27. In particular, connecting portions 26 are substantially S-shaped along arms 24 and each S-shaped connecting portion 26 has three substantially parallel or slightly convergent sections joined by two opposite folds.

[0023] Cross bar 25 is provided with a projecting central member 31, which cooperates with handle 8; in particular, contact portion 22 of handle 8 abuts against a lower surface of member 31 to move handle-lift 9. Member 31 may possibly engage or operate a locking member (known and therefore not described nor shown in details for the sake of simplicity) that secures door 5 to casing 2.

[0024] As shown in particular in Figures 3, 4 and 6, return members 10 are also integrally formed with panel 7 to be part of monolithic body 17; return members 10 are connected to panel 7 by respective connecting portions 36 which are so shaped as to be elastic and to define respective plastic springs 37; in particular, connecting portions 36 project from back surface 14 of panel 7 and are substantially S-shaped.

[0025] According to the preferred but non-limitative embodiment shown in the Figures, return members 10 substantially face each other and are aligned to each other parallel to axis A. Each return member 10 comprises a substantially flat thin plate 38 substantially parallel to back surface 14 and extending between a root end 41, connected to back surface 14, and a free end 42, opposite to root end 41; root end 41 is provided with connecting portion 36, which projects from back surface 14 substantially perpendicular to back surface 14 and connects plate 38 to back surface 14, back surface 14 and plate 38 being substantially parallel to each other. Each S-shaped connecting portion 36 has three substantially parallel or slightly convergent sections joined by two opposite folds.

[0026] Free ends 42 of return members 10 cooperate with handle 8 for exerting an elastic return force on handle 8; in particular, free ends 42 abut against ribs 23 of handle 8.

[0027] In use, when a user wants to open door 5, the user inserts his hand through opening 16 and moves handle 8 around pivot axis A, against the action of return members 10 (i.e. springs 37); handle 8 pivots on pins 20 and moves from a rest position to a work position and accordingly moves handle-lift 9, possibly to release door 5 from casing 2 or just to assist movement of handle 8 and giving a control feeling to the user, provided by action of springs 27 of handle-lift 9 on handle 8. When the user release handle 8, springs 37 return handle in the rest position.

[0028] Clearly, changes may be made to the handle assembly as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the enclosed Claims.

[0029] In particular, it is clearly most advantageous that both handle-lift 9 and elastic return member(s) 10 be integrally formed with base panel 7 to define monolithic body 17; however, according to variation embodiments, either handle-lift 9 or elastic return member(s) 10 may be integrally formed with panel to define monolithic body 17.

Claims

1. A handle assembly (6) of a door (5) of an electric household appliance (1), in particular of a dishwasher, comprising a base panel (7), made of plastic material and fittable to an appliance door (5); a handle (8) hinged to the panel (7); a handle-lift (9), carried by the panel (7) and connected to the handle (8); and at least one elastic return member (10) carried by the panel (7) and cooperating with the handle (8); the handle assembly (6) being characterized in that the handle-lift (9) and/or the elastic return member (10) are integrally formed with the base panel (7) to define a monolithic body (17).

2. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the handle-lift (9) and/or the elastic return member (10) which are integrally formed with the panel (7) to define said monolithic body (17) are connected to the panel (7) by respective connecting portions (26, 36) which are so shaped as to be elastic and to define respective plastic springs (27, 37).

3. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the connecting portions (26, 36) project from a surface (14) of the panel (7) and are substantially S-shaped.

4. A handle assembly as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that the handle-lift (9) projects from a surface (14) of the panel (7) and is connected to said surface (14) by at least one first elastic connecting portion (26) which defines a first plastic spring (27).

5. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said first connecting portion (26) is substantially S-shaped.

6. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the handle-lift (9) comprises a central member (31), cooperating with the handle (8), and two lateral connecting portions (26) defining respective first plastic springs (27).

7. A handle assembly as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that the elastic return member (10) projects from a surface (14) of the panel (7) and is connected to the surface (14) by a second elastic connecting portion (36) defining a second plastic spring (37).

8. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the second elastic spring (37) is defined by a substantially S-shaped connecting portion (36) projecting from the surface (14).

9. A handle assembly as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the elastic return member (10) extends between a root end (41), connected to the surface (14), and a free end (42), opposite to the root end (41) and cooperating with the handle (8) for exerting an elastic return force on the handle (8).

10. A handle assembly as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that there are provided two elastic return members (10), cooperating with the handle (8), substantially facing each other and aligned parallel to a pivot axis (A) of the handle (8).

11. A handle assembly as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that the monolithic body (17) is made of a substantially rigid, preferably moulded, plastic material.

12. A handle assembly as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that the base panel (7) has a front surface (13), defining an outer surface in use, and a back surface (14), that carries the handle (8), the handle-lift (9) and the return member (10); the panel (7) being provided with a through opening (16) for insertion of a user's hand and access to the handle (8).

Drawing