Handle assembly and household appliance having same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12044035-B2
Application number	US-201917441678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A handle assembly and a household appliance having same. The handle assembly comprises a mounting assembly ( 10 ) and a handle ( 20 ), the mounting assembly ( 10 ) comprises a pre-mounted piece ( 111 ) and retractable elements ( 112 ), handle grooves ( 1111 ) are provided on the pre-mounted piece ( 111 ), limiting bosses ( 21 ) are provided on the handle ( 20 ), and a limiting groove ( 213 ) is provided on each limiting boss. The limiting bosses ( 21 ) fit with the handle grooves ( 1111 ) to realize the mounting of the handle ( 20 ), and the retractable elements ( 112 ) can extend into the limiting grooves ( 213 ) to lock the handle ( 20 ), ensuring the high reliability of the mounting of the handle, so that a user can mount the handle on a household appliance without other specialized tools, improving the user experience, and achieving simple and reliable handle mounting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle assembly, comprising:
a mounting assembly including a pre-mounted member and a retractable element, wherein a handle groove is arranged in the pre-mounted member, and the retractable element at least partially extends into the handle groove; and
a handle including a limiting boss, wherein the limiting boss is configured to be arranged in the handle groove and includes a limiting groove, and the limiting groove is configured to secure the handle when the retractable element extends into the limiting groove;
wherein a clamping slot is arranged on the pre-mounted member and in communication with the handle groove, and the retractable element is configured to move in the clamping slot;
wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an elastic element coupled to the retractable element and configured to push the retractable element towards the handle groove;
wherein the retractable element has an inclined guide surface, wherein the inclined guide surface is configured in such a way that the handle presses the inclined guide surface and the retractable element is retracted from the handle groove when the handle moves along the handle groove towards the retractable element, and wherein the retractable element is configured to enter the limiting groove from the clamping slot under an elastic force of the elastic element when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot; and
wherein the handle groove has two limiting steps, and the limiting boss is a T-shaped boss and comprises a long boss and a short boss; and wherein the long boss is configured to move in the handle groove, and the short boss is configured to be clamped between the two limiting steps when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot.

2. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the limiting steps is spaced apart from a groove bottom of the handle groove.

3. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the limiting steps is greater than a half of a height of the long boss.

4. The handle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a retaining cap configured to confine the elastic element in the clamping slot.

5. A household appliance, comprising a door and a handle assembly, the handle assembly including:
a mounting assembly including a pre-mounted member and a retractable element, wherein a handle groove is arranged in the pre-mounted member, and the retractable element at least partially extends into the handle groove; and
a handle including a limiting boss, wherein the limiting boss is configured to be arranged in the handle groove and includes a limiting groove, and the limiting groove is configured to secure the handle when the retractable element extends into the limiting groove,
wherein the mounting assembly is arranged on the door;
wherein a clamping slot is arranged on the pre-mounted member and in communication with the handle groove, and the retractable element is configured to move in the clamping slot;
wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an elastic element coupled to the retractable element and configured to push the retractable element towards the handle groove;
wherein the retractable element has an inclined guide surface, wherein the inclined guide surface is configured in such a way that the handle presses the inclined guide surface and the retractable element is retracted from the handle groove when the handle moves along the handle groove towards the retractable element, and wherein the retractable element is configured to enter the limiting groove from the clamping slot under an elastic force of the elastic element when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot; and
wherein the handle groove has two limiting steps, and the limiting boss is a T-shaped boss and comprises a long boss and a short boss; and wherein the long boss is configured to move in the handle groove, and the short boss is configured to be clamped between the two limiting steps when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot.

6. The household appliance according to claim 5 , wherein the pre-mounted member is integrated with the door.

7. The household appliance according to claim 5 , wherein an inner surface of the limiting steps is spaced apart from a groove bottom of the handle groove.

8. The household appliance according to claim 5 , wherein a height of the limiting steps is greater than a half of a height of the long boss.

9. The household appliance according to claim 5 , wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a retaining cap configured to confine the elastic element in the clamping slot.

Assignees

• Hefei Hualing Co Ltd
• Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co
• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yao Jun
• Shi Huixin
• Ning Zhifang

Classifications

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• E05B65/0042

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

• E05B3/00

  Fastening {knobs or} handles to lock or latch parts {(E05B79/06 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B1/0015 Primary

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