EP1992770A1

EP1992770A1 - Door handle for a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP1992770A1
Application number: EP07380142A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Igor Herrarte Letona; Emmanuel Pouzin
Original assignee: Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Current assignee: Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Priority date: 2007-05-17
Filing date: 2007-05-17
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-17
Also published as: EP1992770B1; ES2426613T3

Abstract

"Door handle for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising (2) a body (20), and a door (21) joined with freedom of rotation to the body (20). The handle (1) comprises a vertical arm (10) that is joined to the door (21) with freedom of rotation, it being able to rotate in relation to a vertical axis of rotation (3) in order to open said door (21), and at least one actuator (11) that may act against a front part (20a) of the main body (20) to help in the opening of said door (21) when the arm (10) rotates in relation to the axis of rotation (3). The actuator (11) is joined to the arm (10) and rotates in conjunction with said arm (10), said rotation causing said actuator (11) to push against the front part (20a) of said body (20)."

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to handles for refrigerators, and more specifically to handles that make it easier to open a door on said refrigerator by reducing the suction effect.

PRIOR ART

In refrigerators, which comprise a main body and at least a door that can be closed against said body, following a closure of the door and due to the difference in temperatures between the inside of the body and the outside, a suction pressure is generated that makes it difficult to open said door subsequently, as more force needs to be exerted in order to open it.
Some known refrigerators in the prior art are provided with an adapted handle to overcome this drawback, the handle itself helping in said opening process, the force a user must exert to open the door being reduced. The European patent EP 1174668 B1 discloses a refrigerator with a handle of these characteristics. Said handle comprises an arm, which, as it rotates in respect to a vertical axis, causes a movement of an actuator disposed on one side of said door, one end of said actuator acting against the refrigerator body so that it helps in the opening of the door. When the arm rotates it pushes the actuator causing a transverse movement of said actuator, which pushes with one end on the body of said refrigerator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a door handle for a refrigerator that helps the user to open said door, enabling the user to exert a smaller force on said handle.
The door handle of the invention is mainly used in refrigerators. Said refrigerators comprise a main body and a vertical door, the handle being used to separate said door from said body (in order to open the door).
The handle of the invention comprises a substantially vertical arm that may rotate in relation to a substantially vertical axis of rotation to open the door, and at least one actuator that may act against the body of the refrigerator helping in the opening of said door, when the arm rotates in relation to the axis of rotation. Said actuator is connected to the arm so that it rotates in relation to the axis of rotation in conjunction with said arm, said rotation causing said actuator to push against said body.
In this way both the actuator and the arm move in conjunction with each other and in a single type of movement (rotational), enabling the construction of a door handle that is less complex than those known in the prior art.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial view in perspective of an embodiment of the inventive handle, disposed on the refrigerator door.
FIG. 2 shows an actuator of the handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows the handle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows a horizontal edge of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 shows an actuator of the handle of FIG. 1, with the locking piece, springs and rods.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the door handle 1 of the invention disposed on a refrigeration appliance, and more specifically on a refrigerator 2, said refrigerator 2 comprising a main body 20 and a door 21 joined with freedom of rotation to said body 20.
The handle 1 comprises a substantially vertical arm 10 that is joined to the door 21 with freedom of rotation, and which can rotate in relation to a substantially vertical axis of rotation 3, preferably in both directions S1 and S2 (although it could rotate only in one direction S1 or S2), in order to open said door 21. Said handle 1 also comprises an actuator 11 that acts against a front part 20a of the main body 20 of the refrigerator 2 when the arm 10 rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3, the actuator 11 helping in the opening of said door 21.
With reference to Figure 2, the actuator 11 comprises a first end 11a that pushes against the front part 20a of the body 20 when the arm 10 rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3 in a first direction S1, and a second end 11b that pushes against said front part 20a when said arm 10 rotates in relation to said axis of rotation 3 in a second direction S2 opposite to the first direction S1 (although it could act only with one end 11a or 11b, if said arm 10 can only rotate in one direction S1 or S2 in respect to said axis of rotation 3). Thus, the actuator 11 helps in the opening of the door 21, both if the arm 10 rotates in one direction S1 or another S2 in relation to the axis of rotation 3.
The actuator 11 is joined to the arm 10 transversally in a direction towards the body 20 of the refrigerator 2, and preferably comprises a rectangular shape. In this way, when said arm 10 rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3 in order to open the door 21, said actuator 11 rotates in conjunction with said arm 10. This rotation causes one end 11a, 11b of said actuator 11 to push against the front part 20a of the main body 20, in such a way that it helps in the opening of the door 21 by reducing the force that has to be exerted in order to open said door 21.
The actuator 11 is preferably joined to a first end 101 of the arm 10, and the handle 1 comprises a second actuator 11' similar to said actuator 11 and which is joined transversally to a second end 102 of said arm 10, the second end 102 being opposite to the first end 101. In this way, said handle 1 comprises a substantially U-shape.
Each actuator 11, 11' comprises a substantially vertical cylindrical shaft 5, and the door 21 comprises a cavity 21b on a horizontal edge 22, 23 shown in Figure 3, so that said actuators 11 and 11' are joined to said door 21 with freedom of rotation, said cylindrical shafts 5 being disposed in said cavity 21b, and the arm 10 being joined to said door 21 by means of said actuators 11 and 11'. The door 21 comprises a cavity 21b on its top horizontal edge 22 where the cylindrical shaft 5 of the actuator 11 is disposed, and a cavity (not shown in the figures) on its bottom horizontal edge 23 where the cylindrical shaft of the second actuator 11' is disposed. The cylindrical shafts 5 are aligned when both actuators 11 and 11' are joined to said door 21, said cylindrical shafts 5 corresponding with the axis of rotation 3.
Each actuator 11, 11' comprises a cavity 11c that faces the corresponding edge 22, 23 when said actuator 11, 11' is joined to the door 21, and the handle 1 comprises a locking piece 4 for each actuator 11, 11' which is disposed in the corresponding cavity 11c. With reference to Figure 4, said locking piece 4 comprises a hollow axis 40 that envelops the cylindrical shaft 5, said hollow axis 40 being disposed in the cavity 21b of the corresponding edge 22, 23 without freedom of rotation, in order to join said actuator 11, 11' to the door 21. Like said cylindrical shaft 5, the internal surface of the hollow axis 40 is substantially cylindrical, the external surface of said hollow axis 40 also being cylindrical but with at least one projection 40a that extends along the entire length of said hollow axis 40. Thus, due to said projection 40a, said hollow axis 40 is disposed in the cavity 21b without freedom of rotation in relation to the door 21, the locking piece 4 remaining static when the actuator 11, 11' rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3 in one or another direction S1, S2.
The locking piece 4 extends on both sides of an end of the hollow axis 40. The handle 1 comprises a spring 12, 12' to work in conjunction with said extension 41a, 41b of said locking piece 4, which are disposed in the cavity 11c of said actuator 11 and 11' and fixed by a first end to the corresponding actuator 11, 11', and associated by a second end to said extensions 41a and 4ib respectively. Thus, when the arm 10 of said handle 1 rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3 in order to open the door 21 and the actuators 11 and 11' rotate in conjunction with said arm 10, as said locking piece 4 remains static one of the extensions 41a, 41b (depending on the direction of rotation) acts against its corresponding spring 12, 12' and contracts it. In this way, when the rotation is no longer exerted on said arm 10 and due to the force of said arm 12, 12', said arm 10 rotates in relation to said axis of rotation 3 returning to its initial position.
Each actuator 11, 11' comprises a stopper 13, 13' between each spring 12, 12' and its corresponding extension 41a, 41b, and a rod 14, 14' that passes through each stopper 13, 13', both ends of said rod 14, 14' projecting out on both sides of the corresponding stopper 13, 13'. One end of said rod 14, 14' is joined to a first end of the corresponding spring 12, 12', the other end of said rod 14, 14' being supported against the corresponding extension 41a, 41b, so that when the actuator 11, 11' rotates in relation to the axis of rotation 3 in one or another direction S1, S2, one of the extensions 41a, 41b acts on the corresponding rod 14, 14' causing the movement of said rod 14, 14' in relation to its stopper 13, 13', said movement causing the corresponding spring 12, 12' to contract.
The rotation of the arm 10 in relation to the axis of rotation 3 is restricted until the extension 41a, 41b hits its corresponding stopper 13, 13'. In addition, when the springs 12 and 12' return to their initial position after being contracted, they always return to the same position, as they are delimited by said stoppers 13 and 13', the arm 10 always returning to the same initial position once it has rotated in relation to said axis of rotation 3.
Each extension 41a, 41b of the locking piece 4 comprises a rubber stud 41a', 41b' on the surface upon which the corresponding rod 14, 14' is supported, thereby preventing noise from being generated when said extensions 41a and 41b act against their respective rods 14 and 14'. In the same way, each spring 12, 12' comprises a rubber seal 12a, 12a' on the end connected to its corresponding rod 14, 14', so that when the arm 10 returns to its initial position, returning the spring 12, 12' to its initial position, the generation of noise being prevented when said seal 12a, 12a' hits the stopper 13, 13'.
In an embodiment not represented in the figures, one of the actuators 11 and 11' does not act against the front part 20a of body 20 when the arm 10 rotates in order to open the door 21, but comprises the rest of characteristics of the actuator 11, 11' which acts against said front part 20a when said arm 10 rotates in order to open said door 21. Thus, the actuator 11, 11' that does not act against said front part 20a is joined to the door 21 by means of its corresponding cylindrical extension 5, said door 21 comprising a cavity 21 b in one horizontal edge 22, 23 in which said cylindrical extension 5 is disposed, said actuator 11, 11' being able to comprise a blocking piece 4, two springs 12 and 12', two rods 14 and 14' and two stoppers 13 and 13' in order to help the arm 10 to return to the same initial position automatically, once said arm 10 has been rotated to in order to open the door 21.

Claims

Door handle for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising (2)
a main body (20), and
at least a door (21) joined with freedom of rotation to the body (20), and
the handle (1) comprising
a substantially vertical arm (10) that is joined to the door (21) with freedom of rotation, it being able to rotate in relation to a substantially vertical axis of rotation (3) in order to open said door (21), and
at least one actuator (11) that may act against a front part (20a) of the main body (20) to help in the opening of said door (21) when the arm (10) rotates in relation to the axis of rotation (3),
characterised in that the actuator (11) is joined to the arm (10) and rotates in conjunction with said arm (10) in relation to the axis of rotation (3), said rotation causing said actuator (11) to push against the front part (20a) of said body (20).
Handle according to claim 1, wherein the arm (10) may rotate, in order to open the door (21), in both directions in relation to an axis of rotation (3), the actuator (11) comprising a first end (11a) that pushes against the front part (20a) of the body (20) when said arm (10) rotates in relation to said axis of rotation (3) in a first direction (S1), and a second end (11b) that pushes against said front part (20a) when said arm (10) rotates in relation to said axis of rotation (3) in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
Handle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (11) is joined to the arm (10) transversally, in a direction towards the body (20) of the refrigerator (2).
Handle according to claim 3, wherein the actuator (11) is joined to a first end (101) of the arm (10).
Handle according to claim 4, comprising a second actuator (11') joined transversally to a second end (102) of the arm (10) opposite the first end (101) of said arm (10), the handle (1) comprising a substantially U-shape.
Handle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (11) comprises a substantially rectangular shape.
Handle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (11, 11') comprises a cylindrical shaft (5, 5'), and the door (21) comprises a cavity (21b) on a horizontal edge (22, 23), so that said actuator (11, 11') is connected to said door (21) with freedom of rotation said cylindrical shaft (5) being disposed in said cavity (21b), said cylindrical shaft (5) corresponding with the axis of rotation (3) and the arm (10) being joined to said door (21) by said actuator (11, 11').
Handle according to claim 7, comprising a locking piece (4) with a hollow axis (40), that envelops the cylindrical shaft (5) and which is disposed in the housing (21b) without freedom of rotation, and with a transverse extension (41a, 41b) that extends on both sides of the hollow axis (40), the actuator (11, 11') comprising a spring (12, 12') associated to each extension (41a, 41b) by a first end and joined by a second end to said actuator (11, 11'), so that when said actuator (11, 11') rotates, one of the extensions (41a, 41b) acts on its corresponding springs (12, 12') causing said spring (12, 12') to contract, the arm (10) returning to its initial position due to the force of said spring (12, 12') when it stops rotating in relation to said axis of rotation (3).
Handle according to claim 8, wherein the actuator (11, 11') comprises a stopper (13, 13') between each spring (12, 12') and its corresponding extension (41a, 41b), and a rod (14, 14') that passes through each stopper (13, 13') both ends of said rod (14, 14') projecting out of both sides of the corresponding stopper (13, 13'), one end of said rod (14, 14') being connected to a first end of the corresponding spring (12, 12') and the other end of said rod (14, 14') being supported against the corresponding extension (41a, 41b), so that when the actuator (11, 11') rotates in relation to the axis of rotation (3), one of the extensions (41a, 41b) acts on the corresponding rod (14, 14') causing the movement of said rod (14, 14') in relation to its stopper (13, 13'), causing the corresponding spring (12, 12') to contract.
Refrigerator characterised in that it comprises a handle (1) according to any of the preceding claims.