Quick release handle including lights and sound

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248835-B1
Application number	US-202017088927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 4, 2020
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A drawer assembly for an appliance includes a drawer front including a retainer post extending from the drawer front, a handle including an indicator assembly, an attachment assembly for removably attaching the handle to the drawer front, and an electrical connection assembly passing through the attachment assembly to provide electrical power to the indicator assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drawer assembly for an appliance, the drawer assembly comprising:
a drawer front comprising a retainer post extending from the drawer front;
a handle comprising:
an indicator assembly;
a handle body extending in a first direction;
a receiving tube extending in a second direction from the handle body and defining an adapter cavity to receive the retainer post; and
a sleeve surrounding the retainer post;

an attachment assembly for removably attaching the handle to the drawer front; and
an electrical connection assembly passing through the attachment assembly to provide electrical power to the indicator assembly, wherein the electrical connection assembly comprises:
a first electrical connector provided within the retainer post; and
a second electrical connector provided within the receiving tube; wherein the first electrical connector contacts the second electrical connector to form a complete electrical circuit when the retainer post is received within the receiving tube.

2. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a resilient member configured to bias the second electrical connector in the second direction away from the handle body.

3. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indicator assembly comprises a circuit board electrically connected to the second electrical connector.

4. The drawer assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first electrical connector is electrically connected to an electrical source through the appliance.

5. The drawer assembly of claim 3 , wherein the handle body comprises a transparent portion.

6. The drawer assembly of claim 5 , wherein the indicator assembly further comprises a light source electrically connected to the circuit board and positioned adjacent to the transparent portion.

7. The drawer assembly of claim 3 , wherein the indicator assembly further comprises a speaker electrically connected to the circuit board.

8. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises a pipe coaxial with and provided within the receiving tube, the pipe comprising a lip at a distal end thereof and extending radially outward.

9. The drawer assembly of claim 8 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises:
a cup washer arranged radially between the receiving tube and the pipe; and
a resilient member biasing the cup washer in the second direction, wherein the cup washer is restrained by the lip of the pipe.

10. The drawer assembly of claim 9 , wherein the receiving tube defines a through hole extending through a circumferential wall of the receiving tube, and wherein the drawer assembly further comprises a plug movably received within the through hole.

11. The drawer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plug is a ball bearing.

12. The drawer assembly of claim 10 , wherein a groove is defined in an outer circumferential surface of the retainer post, and wherein the groove is configured to accept the plug.

13. The drawer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first inner circumferential surface defining a first diameter and a second inner circumferential surface defining a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.

14. The drawer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member configured to bias the sleeve in the second direction away from the handle body.

15. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food storage chamber and a frozen food storage chamber; and
a drawer slidably mounted within one of the fresh food storage chamber and the frozen food storage chamber and defining a drawer recess, wherein the drawer comprises
a drawer front comprising a retainer post extending from the drawer front,
a handle comprising a handle body and a receiving tube extending from the handle body and defining an adapter cavity to receive the retainer post,
an attachment assembly for removably attaching the handle to the drawer front, and
an electrical connection assembly passing through the attachment assembly to provide electrical power to the handle body,
a circuit board provided within the handle and configured to receive an electrical signal;
a light source electrically connected to the circuit board; and
a speaker electrically connected to the circuit board.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 15 , wherein the handle further comprises:
a sleeve surrounding the receiving tube and configured to slide axially along the receiving tube.

17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 16 , wherein the electrical connection assembly comprises:
a first electrical connector provided within the retainer post; and
a second electrical connector provided within the receiving tube; wherein the first electrical connector contacts the second electrical connector to form a complete electrical circuit when the retainer post is received within the receiving tube.

18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17 , wherein the circuit board is electrically connected to the second electrical connector so as to receive the electrical signal from the second electrical connector.

19. A drawer assembly for an appliance, the drawer assembly comprising:
a drawer front comprising a retainer post extending from the drawer front;
a handle comprising a receiving tube extending therefrom and an indicator assembly provided therein, the receiving tube configured to selectively receive the retainer post;
an attachment assembly for removably attaching the handle to the drawer front; and
an electrical connection assembly passing through the attachment assembly to provide electrical power to the indicator assembly, wherein the attachment assembly further comprises a pipe coaxial with and provided within the receiving tube, the pipe comprising a lip at a distal end thereof and extending radially outward.

20. The drawer assembly of claim 19 , wherein the electrical connection assembly comprises:
a first electrical connector provided within the retainer post; and
a second electrical connector provided within the receiving tube; wherein the first electrical connector contacts the second electrical connector to form a complete electrical circuit when the retainer post is received within the receiving tube.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Nuss Bart Andrew
• Crosby Jonathan Charles

Classifications

• F25D2400/40

  Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring · CPC title

• F25D2400/36

  Visual displays · CPC title

• E05B1/0084

  Handles or knobs with displays, signs, labels pictures, or the like (displays on locks E05B17/226; displays on keys E05B19/0088) · CPC title

• E05B1/0015

  Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• E05B65/0042

  For refrigerators or cold rooms (E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16) · CPC title