Abstract:
A refrigerator handle assembly includes a plurality of base members which are initially attached at spaced longitudinal positions to a front face portion of a refrigerator door, with tab elements of the base members extending into openings formed in the door and screws fixing the base members in place. The handle assembly also includes a plurality of handle clip members positioned within recesses formed in end portions of a handle member. Once the base members are secured, sections of the handle are placed over the base members and the handle is slid relative to the base members whereupon portions of the base members become engaged and co-act with the handle clip members such that the handle member is drawn tight to the front face portion of the door and releasably locked in position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a mounting arrangement for a handle on a refrigerator. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   Conventional handle arrangements for refrigerators are formed from multiple pieces, including a handle frame and a handle piece having a gripping portion. Such a handle is typically mounted to a refrigerator cabinet utilizing screws which extend through the handle piece and frame, clamping the overall handle to a panel of the refrigerator cabinet. Once the handle is in place, a cover is inserted over the screw, with the cover extending only over the area of the screws or along substantially the entire length of the handle. In general, this known handle mounting arrangement is rather hard to assemble and often results in witness lines that take away from the overall aesthetics of the refrigerator. 
   Regardless of the existence of various types of refrigerator handle arrangements and mounting systems therefor, there still exists a need in the art for an improved refrigerator handle mounting arrangement preferably, but certainly not limited to, surface mounting a handle to a refrigerator in a manner which provides a tight, aesthetically appealing and easily assembled overall arrangement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains to the mounting of a handle to a door panel face of a refrigerator. In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, a plurality of base fastener members or spring clip pieces are initially attached at longitudinally spaced positions to the face of the refrigerator, preferably through the use of mechanical connections after the refrigerator door is foam insulated. In addition, a pair of handle clips are pre-installed, preferably in a snap-fit manner or through the use of mechanical fasteners, to back side portions of an injection molded handle. The door mounted clips mate with the handle clips to establish a combination slide and snap lock attachment. 
   More specifically, the handle is initially positioned over the door clips and shifted relative to the door, whereupon the door clips become interengaged with the handle clips. During this sliding action, angled portions on the door clips co-act with structure of the handle clips such that a wedging action is developed to draw the handle tight to the door panel. In addition, a cantilevered portion of at least one of the handle clips further snap locks into engagement with a respective one of the door clips to prevent relative shifting between the handle and the door. However, the cantilevered portion can be manually deflected if removal of the handle is required. More specifically, the locking engagement can be released by inserting a rod into a channel molded through a wall portion of the handle and deflecting the cantilevered portion. 
   Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is upper right front perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet incorporating a refrigerator door handle arrangement constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of an upper portion of the handle arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a door clip or base member employed in the handle arrangement of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is side view of the door clip member of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a handle clip member employed in the handle arrangement of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is side view of the handle clip member of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial exploded view, similar to that of  FIG. 2 , but depicting a backside of the refrigerator handle; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an end portion of the handle arrangement prior to a final attachment position; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the end portion, similar to that of  FIG. 8 , but illustrating a final attachment position for the overall handle arrangement; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a handle clip member, similar to that of  FIG. 5 , constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the handle clip member of  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , the handle arrangement  1  of the invention is shown mounted to a refrigerator cabinet which is generally indicated at  2 . Although handle arrangement  1  can be applied to various different types and styles of refrigerators, as shown, refrigerator cabinet  2  includes a cabinet shell  5  formed from side panels  9  and  10  which are interconnected by a top panel  12 . Preferably, cabinet shell  5  is formed from bending a single piece of sheet metal in a manner known in the art. As illustrated, refrigerator cabinet  2  constitutes a side-by-side refrigerator having a fresh food compartment door  15  which is arranged laterally juxtaposed to a freezer door  18 . Aside from the aspects which will be described more fully below, the basic construction and operation of refrigerator cabinet  2  is known in the art, does not form part of the present invention, and therefore will not be discussed further herein. 
   Fresh food door  15  includes an outer vertical edge portion  21 , which is pivotally attached to cabinet shell  5  through upper hinge  23  and a lower hinge  24 , and an inner vertical edge portion  30 . In a generally similar manner, freezer door  18  includes an outer edge portion  38 , which is pivoted at upper hinge  40  and a lower hinge (not shown) for movement relative to cabinet shell  5 , and an inner vertical edge portion  47 . As known in the art, fresh food and freezer doors  15  and  18  conceal fresh food and freezer compartments of refrigerator cabinet  2 . Again, the exact construction of refrigerator  2  can vary greatly without departing from the invention. 
   The present invention is actually directed to the mounting of handles  60  and  61  for fresh food and freezer doors  15  and  18  respectively. Although the particular handle configuration can vary in accordance with the present invention, it is the particular mounting arrangement for one or more handles, such as handles  60  and  61 , to which the present invention is particularly directed. As shown, each handle  60 ,  61  includes a first, elongated end portion  65 , a second end portion  66 , and an intermediate portion  67  interconnecting first and second end portions  65  and  66 . At this point, it should be understood that the exact configuration of handles  60  and  61  merely represents a preferred arrangement and various handle designs could be readily employed without departing from the invention. 
   Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 2-7  in describing the preferred mounting of handle  61  in accordance with the present invention and it is to be understood that handle  60  is constructed and mounted in a corresponding manner. With initial reference to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of base or door clip members  70  are initially mounted along inner edge portion  47  of freezer door  18 , while a pair of handle clip members  75  are initially mounted within first and second end portions  65  and  66  respectively. As specifically shown in  FIG. 2 , inner edge portion  47  of freezer door  18  is provided with vertically spaced holes  95  and openings  98 . Most preferably, each opening  98  preferably takes the form of a slot. Actually, holes  95  and openings  98  are arranged in sets, with each set containing a single hole  95  and a single opening  98  for use in mounting a respective base member  70  to the front face portion of freezer door  18  with a threaded fastener  100  as will be discussed more fully below. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  best illustrate that, in accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, each base member  70  includes a main base section  107  which defines a pair of spaced side connectors  109  and  110 . As depicted, each side connector  109 ,  110  is generally concave in shape, while defining an arcuate or convexly curved lower surface  115 . Projecting from one end of main base section  107  is a tab member  120 . Projecting from another end of main base section  107  is a leg extension  125  provided with a through hole  130 , which is shown to be generally rectangular or square in shape. Main base section  107  is also provided with a substantially central aperture  127 . 
   Each base member  70  is mounted with tab member  120  projecting into a respective opening  98 , with aperture  127  being aligned with a respective hole  95 . Thereafter, mechanical fastener  100 , such as a sheet metal screw, extends through aperture  127  and is threadably attached to door  18  at hole  95  to fixedly secure base member  70  to door  18 . In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, a total of two base members  70  are fixed to door  18 , with one base member  70  being arranged juxtapose first end portion  65  and another base member  70  being provided at second end portion  66 . However, at this point, it should be realized that the exact number and location of base members  70  can be readily varied without departing from the invention. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 5-7  each handle clip member  75  includes a base portion  150 , upstanding side wall portions  155  and  156 , in-turned flange members  160  and  161  stemming from side wall portions  155  and  156  respectively, and a cantilevered arm  170 . As shown, arm  170  includes a first angled section  172  and a catch section  175 . First angled section  172  preferably projects from base portion  150  a distance greater the height of side wall portions  155  and  156 . In this manner, catch section  175  extends substantially parallel to flange members  160  and  161 , while being spaced from base portion  150  a distance greater than flange members  160  and  161 . Catch section  175  includes a pair of bend clip members  180  and  181  which extend out of a plane defined by a remainder of catch section  175 . At a terminal end, arm  170  has a second angled section  185 . In addition, base portion  150  is preferably provided with a pair of spaced holes  190  and  191 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the underside of each of first and second end portions  65  and  66  of handle  61  is formed with a recessed section  202  that defines at least support members  207  and  208 . In each recessed section  202 , handle  61  is preferably molded with bores  225  and  226 . In addition, each end portion  65 ,  66  is formed with an inner passage  230 . In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, each handle clip member  75  is snap-fittingly received in a respective recessed section  202  as clearly shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . When in this position, spaced holes  190  and  191  are aligned with bores  225  and  226  such that additional, mechanical fasteners (not shown) can be utilized to further secure each handle clip member  75  within a respective recessed section  202 . At this point, it should also be noted that second angled section  185  of arm  170  is arranged opposite inner passage  230 . 
   With this arrangement, following the mounting of base members  70  to door  18  in the manner set forth above, first and second end portions  65  and  66  of handle  61  can be completely laid over base members  70 , with each base member  70  being initially arranged adjacent a respective handle clip member  75  within a recessed section  202  as depicted in  FIG. 8 . Thereafter, the entire handle  61  is shifted or slid relative to base members  70  and door  18 . Due to the shape of side connectors  109  and  110 , the shifting of handle  61  causes side connectors  109  and  110  to engage flange members  160  and  161 . Therefore, as handle  61  is shifted in this manner, a wedging action results that causes handle  61  to be drawn against door  18 . That is, base members  70  and handle clip members  75  include mating surfaces which co-act along arcuate surfaces  115  thereof to draw handle  61  to the front face portion of door  18 . With the shifting of handle  61  from the position shown in  FIG. 8  to the final position shown in  FIG. 9 , leg extension  125  will engage arm  170  to initially deflect arm  170 . Thereafter, arm  170  will snap back as a clip member  180 ,  181  projects into through hole  130 . Once this snap connection is established, essentially simultaneously at both first and second end portions  65  and  66 , handle  61  is fixed in position along door  18 . If removal of handle  61  is desired, a small rod or the like can be readily inserted into inner passage  230  to deflect arm  170  at second angled section  185  out of engagement with a respective leg extension  125  in order to permit handle  61  to be slid in an opposite direction. 
   With this handle mounting arrangement, handle  61  can be advantageously molded of plastic, and a tight, aesthetically appealing, as well as easily assembled, overall handle arrangement is defined. From the above discussion, it should readily recognized that clip member  181  is actually not used to lock handle  61  to base member  70 . Therefore, clip member  181  on each base member  7  could be readily removed in accordance with the invention. To this end,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate another potential embodiment for a handle clip member  75 ′ including a base portion  150 ′, upstanding side wall portions  155 ′ and  156 ′, in-turned flange members  160 ′ and  161 ′ stemming from side wall portions  155 ′ and  156 ′ respectively, and a cantilevered arm  170 ′. As shown, arm  170 ′ includes a first angled section  172 ′, preferably extending at an angle of approximately 36° from base portion  150 ′, leading to a catch section  175 ′. First angled section  172 ′ preferably projects from base portion  150 ′ a distance slightly greater the height of side wall portions  155 ′ and  156 ′. In this manner, catch section  175 ′ extends substantially parallel to flange members  160 ′ and  161 ′, while being spaced from base portion  150 ′ a distance greater than flange members  160 ′ and  161 ′. First angled section  172 ′ is actually lanced and bent such that a clip member  180 ′ is defined at catch section  175 ′. At a terminal end, arm  170 ′ has a raised section (not separately labeled) leading to a second angled section  185 ′. In addition, base portion  150 ′ is preferably provided with a pair of spaced holes  190 ′ and  191 ′. 
   Based on the above descriptions of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6  and the embodiment of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , it should be readily apparent that clip members  75  and  75 ′ are similarly constructed and utilized in accordance with the invention. For this reason, the manner in which each handle  60 ,  61  is mounted utilizing base members  70  and a pair of handle clip members  75 ′ will not be duplicated here. However, at this point, it should be realized that inner passage  230  need not be specifically provided. Instead, a gap in the order of 0.030 inches (0.076 cm) can be maintained between each end portion  65 ,  66  and door  18  in order to enable a thin blade, such as a plastic credit or key card) to be slipped there between in order to detach handle  60 ,  61 . 
   Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, although described with reference to a side-by-side style refrigerator, a corresponding handle arrangement could be equally employed in a top or bottom mount style refrigerator as well. In addition, although described with reference to the use of identical connection arrangements at first and second end portions  65  and  66 , it should be realized that only one end connection needs to be provided with the snap connection, i.e., one set of connectors need not incorporate leg extension  125  and arm  170 ,  170 ′. With this configuration, handle  61  is held tight to door  18  at both ends, but only locked in position at a single end. In any event, the invention is only intended to be limited in accordance with scope of the following claims.