Patent Abstract:
A latching arrangement for a refrigerator positively latches a door of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a housing. The door pivotally coupled to the housing. A striker is connected to the housing. The latching arrangement is carried by the door. The latching arrangement includes a handle and a pawl. The handle is connected to the door for movement between a first position and a second position. The handle defining at least one cam surface. The pawls is connected to the door for movement between a latched position engaged with the striker for securing the door in a closed position and an unlatched position allowing the door to be pivoted from the closed position. The pawl includes a cam follower that cooperates with the at least one cam surface such that movement of the handle from the first position to the second position moves the pawl from the latched position to the unlatched position. The latch is partly or completely concealed in the door edge.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to latching mechanisms, and more particularly, to a spring biased latching arrangement having a latch pivotable about an axis for use with a refrigerator door.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Refrigerators for use in recreational vehicles require a positive latching to keep the doors closed when the vehicle is in motion. Commonly, many such refrigerators have a handle on the top or front of the door that requires the user to first slide a catch and then pull the handle to open the door, or to rotate or otherwise manipulate the handle to open the door, in a manner which is different from the opening of a door of a home refrigerator which need not be positively latched. Thus, users often perceive a difference between a refrigerator for a recreational vehicle as compared to a residential refrigerator due to the extra steps or different motion required for door opening. An effort has been made in the pertinent art to make refrigerators and other conveniences for recreational vehicles as “home-like” as possible. Accordingly, a need exists for a latching mechanism for a refrigerator for use in a vehicle which provides users with a positive latching arrangement that is substantially transparent to the user and thereby more similar to a home refrigerator.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one form, the present invention provides latching arrangement for a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a housing, a door pivotally coupled to the housing, and a striker connected to the housing. The latching arrangement is carried by the door. The latching arrangement includes a handle and a pawl. The handle is connected to the door for movement between a first position and a second position. The handle defines at least one cam surface. The pawl is connected to the door for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position. In the latched position, the pawl is engaged with the striker for securing the door in a closed position. In the unlatched position the pawl allows the door to be pivoted from the closed position. The pawl includes a cam follower that cooperates with at least one cam surface such that movement of the handle from the first position to the second position moves the pawl from the latched position to the unlatched position.  
         [0004]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator incorporating a latching arrangement constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the spring biased latching arrangement of the present invention and an associated mounting portion of the refrigerator;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional plan view along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  showing the latching arrangement in a latched position; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the spring biased latching arrangement shown in  FIG. 2  in an unlatched position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0012]     The present invention is generally related to a latching arrangement for use in a recreational vehicle or other vehicle (e.g., train, boat, airplane or the like) in which positive latching is required during vehicle operation. In this regard, the latching arrangement will be described in the context of a refrigerator for use in a recreational vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated throughout the drawings, the refrigerator is of the type having a top freezer and a bottom refrigerator section, but the present invention is equally applicable to any other type of refrigerator configuration. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the principles embodied herein are equally applicable to other types of appliances in general and to other types of appliances used in motor vehicles as well.  
         [0013]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator  10  for use in a recreational vehicle is shown. The refrigerator  10  is shown to generally include a housing  12 . In one embodiment, the refrigerator  10  defines a freezer section or compartment  14  and a refrigerator section or compartment  16 . The freezer section  14  is shown positioned above the refrigerator section  16 . The refrigerator  10  may further include a control panel  18  situated between the freezer section  14  and refrigerator section  16 . In a known manner, the control panel  18  provides temperature controls for the freezer  14  and refrigerator section  16 . The freezer section  14  and refrigerator section  16  are accessible through upper and lower doors  20  and  22 , respectively. The doors  20 , 22  are conventionally mounted to the housing  12  for rotation about a vertically extending pivot axis X between closed positions (shown in  FIG. 1 , for example) and open positions (not specifically shown).  
         [0014]     A latching arrangement  24  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is carried by each of the doors  20  and  22 . As will become more apparent below, the latching arrangement  24  permits the associated door  20  or  22  to be positively latched, as well as easily opened to allow access to the storage compartment. As used herein, the term “positively latched” will be understood to refer to a secured condition in which movement of an element is required prior to opening of the door  22 .  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, the latching arrangement  24  may be disposed at the bottom of the door  20  of the freezer section  14  and at the top of the door  22  of the refrigerator section  16  so as to place them adjacent to each other. The remainder of this detailed description will focus on the latching arrangement  24  for the lower door  22 . It will be understood that the upper door  20  may employ a substantially identical latching arrangement. The only difference between the implementation of the latching arrangement  24  for the refrigerator section  16  and the freezer  14  being the orientation of an accommodating recess  26 . Thus, the latching arrangement  24  for the door  20  of the freezer  14  has not been shown.  
         [0016]     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and additional reference to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the latching arrangement  24  of the present invention will be described in greater detail. The door includes a side defining a recess  26 . In the embodiment illustrated, the door  22  is shown to include a cap portion  23 . The cap portion  23  defines the recess or opening  26 . The latching arrangement  24  is substantially disposed within this recess  26  of the door  22 . As will become apparent, location of the latching arrangement  24  within the recess  26  makes the latching arrangement  24  substantially hidden when the door  22  is closed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the recess may be alternatively provided in the bottom side or a lateral side of the door  22 .  
         [0017]     The latching arrangement  24  generally includes a door handle  28 , a door pawl  30  and an end cap or housing  32 . In one particular application, the door handle  28  is made from a rigid plastic. However, the door handle  28  may be constructed of any material having suitable strength and durability characteristics. The door handle  28  includes an opening  34  at a first end  36  for receipt of a handle shoulder screw  38  therethrough. The handle shoulder screw  38  pivotally couples the first end  36  of the door handle  28  to a mounting location within the recess  26  in the door  22 . Although a shoulder screw is used in the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that other fastening mechanisms may be used to rotatably couple the door handle  28  to the recess  26  in the door  22 . In this regard, a pin or other structure may be alternatively used for pivotal coupling.  
         [0018]     The door handle  28  is coupled to the door  22  for rotation about the screw  38 . Explaining further, the screw  38  defines an axis V 1  about which the door handle  28  is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is shown in  FIG. 4 . The second position is shown in  FIG. 5 . In the embodiment illustrated, the axis defined by the screw  38  is generally vertical. On a lateral side application, the axis of the screw is vertical.  
         [0019]     The door handle  28  also includes a biasing member  40 . The biasing member may be in the form of a leaf spring  40  located proximate a second end  42  of the handle  28 . The leaf spring  40  is carried by the door handle  28  in a predetermined location. In one application, the leaf spring  40  is integrally formed with the remainder of the door handle  28 . The leaf spring  40  may also be formed as a discrete part from plastic or metal and attached to the door handle  28  in any manner well known in the art. Suitable methods of attachment include, but are not limited to, welding and adhesive bonding. The biasing member  40  biases the handle  28  about the screw  38  to the first position.  
         [0020]     The door handle further includes two pairs of slotted fingers  44  located adjacent to the leaf spring  40  proximate the second end  42  of the door handle  28 . The pairs of slotted fingers  44  are spaced apart at the second end  42  of the handle  28  by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the door pawl  30 . The pairs of slotted fingers  44  cooperate to define a parallel curved or arcuate slot  46  therebetween which engages a portion of the door pawl  30 . Explaining further, the inner surfaces of the slot  46  define cam surfaces for cooperating with the pawl  30 . The curved slots  46  each have a first end  48  which curves down to a second end  50  as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The first ends  48  of the curved slots  46  are in engagement with the door pawl  30  when the door  22  is closed. When the door handle  28  is engaged, the second ends  50  of the curved slots  46  engage the door pawl  30  to unlatch the door  22 .  
         [0021]     With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , the door pawl  30  has a cylindrical post or cam follower  52  formed with a main body  54 . The cylindrical post  52  of the door pawl  30  slides between the first ends  48  and second ends  50  of the curved slots  46  in the pairs of slotted fingers  44  of the door handle  28 . Engagement of the cylindrical post  52  with the curved slots  46  of the door handle  28  permits the door pawl  30  to rotate only when the door handle  28  is rotated, as will be discussed later.  
         [0022]     The main body  54  of the door pawl  30  further includes a first boss  56 , a second boss  58  and a hook  60 . The first boss  56  and second boss  58  define an opening  62  through the main body  54  for receipt of a pawl shoulder screw  64  therethrough. The pawl shoulder screw  64  pivotally couples the door pawl  30  to the door  22  for movement about a vertical axis V 2  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The pawl  30  is movable from a latched position. Although a shoulder screw is used in this embodiment, it will again be understood that other fastening mechanisms may be used to rotatably couple the door pawl  30  to the recess  26  in the door  22 , such as, for example, a pin.  
         [0023]     The hook  60  engages a fixed cabinet receiver or striker  66  to secure the door  22  to the cabinet  12  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 4 . Due to the cooperating shape and orientation of both the hook  60  of the door pawl  30  and the cabinet receiver  66 , centrifugal force applied to the door  22  that frequently results during vehicle transit, urges the hook  60  against the cabinet receiver  66 . This relationship prevents the door  22  from unintentionally opening during transit. As particularly shown in  FIG. 5 , when the door handle  28  is engaged, the hook  60  is disengaged from the cabinet receiver  66 , and the door  22  is free to be opened. Thus, the mating surface between the hook  60  and cabinet receiver  66  is configured such that the hook  60  can rotatably disengage from the cabinet receiver  66  upon rotation of the door handle  28 . The hook  60  of the door pawl  30  further extends through the end housing  32  as best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0024]     The end housing  32  has an opening  68  through which the hook  60  of the door pawl  30  extends. The end housing  32  has a first slot  70  and a second slot  72  which both snap fit to a side edge  74  of the recess  26  to secure the end housing  32  to the recess  26 . The end housing  32  conceals the remainder of the latching arrangement  24  when the door  22  is open.  
         [0025]     When the door  22  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the cabinet receiver  66  is engaged with the hook  60  of the door pawl  30 . The door handle  28  is displaced from a front edge  76  of the recess  26  by the leaf spring  40  such that the pairs of slotted fingers  44  abut a stop  78  located at a back edge of the recess  26 . The leaf spring  40  keeps the door handle  28  urged against the stop  78 , which in turn applies a constant force on the door handle  28  that prevents the door handle  28  from moving and vibrating during the operation of the vehicle. This constant force also ensures that the hook  60  stays engaged with the cabinet receiver  66 . In addition, the pairs of slotted fingers  44  of the door handle  28  are positively engaged with the door pawl  30 . More specifically, the cylindrical post  52  of the door pawl  30  is disposed in the first ends  48  of the curved slots  46  formed in the pairs of slotted fingers  44 .  
         [0026]     With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , the door  22  is opened by depressing the door handle  28  to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring  40 . In particular, a force F must be applied to the door handle  28  sufficient enough to cause the door handle  28  to rotate about the vertical axis V 1 , defined by the handle shoulder screw  38 , such that the door handle  28  is moved into a position adjacent to the front edge  76  of the recess  26 . As the force F is applied to the door handle  28 , the leaf spring  40  is depressed and the cylindrical post  52  of the door pawl  30  slides from the first ends  48  of the curved slots  46  in the pairs of slotted fingers  44  to the second ends  50 . The motion of the cylindrical post  52  through the curved slots  46  causes the door pawl  30  to rotate about the vertical axis V 2  defined by the pawl shoulder screw  64 , and subsequently causes the main body  54  of the door pawl  30  to partially pass through the pairs of slotted fingers  44 . In this manner, movement of the handle  28  from the first position to the second position functions to move the pawl  30  from the latched position to the unlatched position. The rotation of the door pawl  30  disengages the hook  60  from the cabinet receiver  66 , releasing the door  22 . When the door handle  28  is adjacent to the front edge  76  of the recess  26 , the hook  60  is adjacent to the stop  78  on the back edge  80  of the recess  26 .  
         [0027]     Thus, for a user to open the door  22 , the fingers of a hand are inserted into the recess  26  and the door handle  28  is pulled towards him/her against the force of the leaf spring  40 . Once the door  22  is open, the user can cease to compress the door handle  28 , and the integral leaf spring  40  will force the door handle  28  away from the front edge  76  of the recess  26 , and allow the hook  60  of the door pawl  30  to re-engage the cabinet receiver  66  when the door  22  is closed. The concealed door handle  28  provides a smoother, aesthetically pleasing look to the doors  20 ,  22  and permits the space between the freezer  14  and refrigerator section  16  to be narrower. This in turn increases the capacity of the freezer  14  and refrigerator section  16 . The narrow space also enables a smaller and sleeker control panel  18  to be implemented.  
         [0028]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5