Handle Assembly for a Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252292-A1
Application number	US-201615150989-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	Jul 13, 2006
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A handle assembly for mounting to a door of a refrigerator includes a main body member having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes a cavity adapted to receive an end insert formed of soft material. Each of the end inserts includes an attachment member. The handle is mounted to a front face of the door through interengagment of the attachment members and base members provided on the door without scratching the surface of the door.

First claim

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet; a door mounted for movement relative to the cabinet; a handle for shifting the door relative to the cabinet, the handle including:
a main body member comprising first and second hollow end portions joined by an intermediate portion, the first and second end portions including respective first and second cavities circumscribed by respective first and second rims;
a first end insert positioned in the first cavity, the first end insert including:
a first main body portion having a first recessed portion; and
a first peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the first recessed portion, the first peripheral lip resting upon the first rim;

a first attachment member secured to the first end insert;
a second end insert positioned in the second cavity, the second end insert including:
a second main body portion having a second recessed portion; and
a second peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the second recessed portion, the second peripheral lip resting upon the second rim;

a second attachment member secured to the second end insert; and
first and second base members secured at spaced locations on the door, the first and second base members interengaging with respective ones of the first and second attachment members to attach the handle to the door with the first and second peripheral lips being interposed between the door and the main body member.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second peripheral lips are configured to serve as direct interfaces between the handle and the door.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the first and second peripheral lips are formed from soft material.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the first and second end inserts are formed from soft material.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the door has a front face portion, and each of the first and second peripheral lips is configured to serve as a soft interface between the handle and the front face portion.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second main body portions have respective first and second base member receiving portions.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door has a front face portion, and the first and second base members are secured at spaced locations on the front face portion.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second attachment members comprises a handle clip.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second base members comprises a door clip.

10 . A handle for shifting a door of a refrigerator relative to a cabinet of the refrigerator, the handle comprising:
a main body member comprising first and second hollow end portions joined by an intermediate portion, the first and second end portions including respective first and second cavities circumscribed by respective first and second rims; a first end insert positioned in the first cavity, the first end insert including:
a first main body portion having a first recessed portion; and
a first peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the first recessed portion, the first peripheral lip resting upon the first rim;
a first attachment member secured to the first end insert and configured to interengage with a first base member secured to the door; a second end insert positioned in the second cavity, the second end insert including:
a second main body portion having a second recessed portion; and
a second peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the second recessed portion, the second peripheral lip resting upon the second rim;
a second attachment member secured to the second end insert and configured to interengage with a second base member secured to the door at a location spaced from the first base member to attach the handle to the door with the first and second peripheral lips being interposed between the door and the main body member.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the first and second peripheral lips are configured to serve as direct interfaces between the handle and the door.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the first and second peripheral lips are formed from soft material.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 12 , wherein the first and second end inserts are formed from soft material.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second peripheral lips is configured to serve as a soft interface between the handle and a front face portion of the door.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the first and second main body portions have respective first and second base member receiving portions.

16 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second attachment members comprises a handle clip.

17 . A method of attaching a handle to a refrigerator door mounted for movement relative to a refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising:
positioning a first end insert in a first cavity of a first hollow end portion of the handle, the first cavity being circumscribed by a first rim, wherein the first end insert includes a first main body portion having a first recessed portion and a first peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the first recessed portion, the first peripheral lip resting upon the first rim; securing a first attachment member to the first end insert; positioning a second end insert in a second cavity of a second hollow end portion of the handle, the second cavity being circumscribed by a second rim, wherein the second end insert includes a second main body portion having a second recessed portion and a second peripheral lip surrounding and extending outward from the second recessed portion, the second peripheral lip resting upon the second rim; securing a second attachment member to the second end insert; and interengaging the first attachment member with a first base member secured on the door and the second attachment member with a second base member secured on the door at a location spaced from the first base member to attach the handle to the door with the first and second peripheral lips being interposed between the door and the first and second main body portions, respectively.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing a soft interface between the handle and the door.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the soft interface includes forming the first and second peripheral lips from soft material.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
interengaging the first attachment member with the first base member includes placing the first base member within the first end insert; and interengaging second attachment member with the second base member includes placing the second base member within the second end insert.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Wing Forrest F

Classifications

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• E05Y2600/46

  in or on the wing · CPC title

• Y10T29/49876

  by snap fit · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title