Abstract:
A handle for a raisable covering means, such as a door of a dishwasher. The aim of the claimed invention is to develop a handle which is adapted for optimum gripping by either or both hands, it being possible for the operator to be in different positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a handle for a raisable covering means such as a door of a dishwasher. 
     The claimed handle serves to move upward or downward a door of a dishwasher, which covers the dishes during the dishwashing operation. The prior art discloses, for example, a bracket-like handle which is approximately of the same width as the front side of the door. This handle is of U-shaped or trough-like configuration and has its central part running parallel to the front side of the door. 
     In practice, dishwashers are used in so-called push-through operation. Push-through operation is intended to mean operation during which the baskets with the dirty dishes are fed to the machine from one side and the baskets with the cleaned dishes are removed from the other side. There are push-through machines which are operated in a line, with the result that the dishes are fed to the machine on the left-hand side and are removed from the machine on the right-hand side. In machines which are used in this way, the door of the machine can be operated from the front side. Also known are push-through machines for corner installation, in the case of which the dishes, for example, are fed from the right and removed to the front. These machines merely allow the door to be operated from an oblique position laterally in front of the machine. 
     However, the operation of the doors of the dishwashers installed in a line or across a corner does not take place totally satisfactorily. It is extremely important to achieve the situation where the operator is subjected to minimal loading, since the door has to be raised and lowered over 500 times during one shift. 
     The object of the claimed invention is to develop a handle which is suitable for optimum gripping by the left and/or right hand, it being possible for the individual actuating the door to be in different positions relative to the door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The handle according to the claimed invention is fastened in a horizontal position on two adjacent side parts of the door, the handle having at least three gripping points which are shaped such that the position of the hand actuating the handle is aligned substanially along an axis axial to the handle. This makes it possible for left-handers and right-handers to operate the door both from a front position and from a corner position. 
     A preferred embodiment of the claimed invention provides that the outwardly directed inclination of the handle center axis corresponds to half the opening angle between the forearms, half the opening angle corresponding to the angle of the handle center axis in relation to the front side of the door. This measure ensures that the handle can be gripped by both hands of an individual standing in front of the machine, such that the position of the hand in relation to the forearm remains rectilinear, i.e. in the natural position, during gripping and during movement. 
     In an alternate embodiment the handle has a longer, first leg, which is aligned with the front side, and a shorter second leg, which is aligned with the side surface, said legs being connected via an essentially circular segment. This embodiment forms a maximum utilizable handle region, with minimal handle size, in the front region and in the region obliquely in front of the machine or door. 
     According to another alternate embodiment, the handle is suitable for fastening on the left and right. This mirror-symmetrical embodiment of the handle, which is suitable for being positioned on the left and right of the door, simplifies the installation since incorrect installation is prevented. 
     Another alternate embodiment of the claimed invention has a plastic-coated metal core. This embodiment combines optimum gripping properties, slipping is virtually ruled out, with optimum stability. 
     The invention provides that the claimed handle serves for stabilizing the side walls of the dishwasher. By virtue of the handle being used as a stabilizing element, the design of the door may be more lightweight and thus more cost-effective, since the handle contributes significantly to the stability of the structural part. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further details of the claimed invention are described, with reference to schematically illustrated preferred embodiments, in the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a dishwasher, 
     FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the corner region with right-hand handle of the door of the dishwasher, 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of the handle in the direction of the arrow III in FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic view from above of a dishwasher installed in linear form, an individual also being included in the illustration, 
     FIG. 5 shows a schematic view from above of a dishwasher installed across a corner, an individual also being included in the illustration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a dishwasher  1  with a door  3  designed as a covering means  2  and with a basic body  4 . The door  3  is fitted on a lifting mechanism  5  such that it can be displaced upward and downward in the direction of the double arrow  6 . The door  3  has a front side  7 , a right-hand side surface  8 , a left-hand side surface  9  and a roof side  10 . A first handle  11  is fastened on the front side  7  and on the right-hand side surface  8 , and a second handle  12  (FIG. 4) is fastened on the front side  7  and the left-hand side surface. 
     FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a corner region  20  of the door  3  from the direction of the arrow II in FIG.  1 . The plan view of the corner region  20  shows the first handle  11 , the front side  7 , the right-hand side surface  8  and the roof side  10 . It is also possible to see an extension  7   a  of the front side  7  and an extension  8   a  of the right-hand side surface  8 . The extensions  7   a  and  8   a  divide the handle  11  into three regions. These are a leg  13 , which is aligned with the front side  7 , a further leg  14 , which is aligned with the right-hand side surface  8 , and a circular segment  15 , which is located between the extensions  7   a ,  8   a . The legs  13 ,  14  each have a large-surface-area connection flange  13   a ,  14   a  configured as an ellipse  13   b ,  14   b . The ellipse  13   b  has a major ellipse axis  13   c  with a length of approximately 8 cm and a minor ellipse axis  13   d  (FIG. 3) with a length of approximately 5 cm. The ellipse  14   b  has a major ellipse axis  14   c  with a length of approximately 7 cm and a minor ellipse axis (not illustrated) with a length of approximately 5 cm. The two legs  13 ,  14  are connected to the side surfaces  7 ,  8  by connecting means  16 ,  17 . As a result of the fastening of the handle  11  on the side surfaces  7 ,  8  and the large-surface-area bearing of the connection flanges  13   a ,  14   a , the handle  11  acts on the door  3  in the manner of a stiffening angle  11   a . The distance a between the fastening means  16 , arranged centrally in the connection flange  13   a , and the side surface  8  is approximately 14 cm when measured parallel to the front surface  7 . The distance b between the fastening means  17 , arranged centrally in the connection flange  14   a , and the front surface  7  is approximately 10 cm when measured parallel to the side surface  8 . 
     The leg  13  runs from the front side  7  to the extension  8   a  at an angle  18  in relation to the front side  7 , said angle being determined by a handle center axis  19  which runs approximately in a central region  20  (region bounded by chain-dotted lines) of the leg  13 . The angle  18  is in a range from 10° to 30°. The leg  14  runs from the side surface  8  to the extension  7   a  at an angle  21  in relation to the side surface  8 , said angle being determined by a handle center axis  22  which runs approximately in a central region  23  (region bounded by chain-dotted lines) of the leg  14 . The angle  21  is in a range from 20° to 40°. 
     It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the leg  13  merges along a tangent  24  into the circular segment  15  of the handle  11 . The leg  14  also has such a transition along a tangent  25 . The circular segment  15  is designed as a quarter-circle segment  26  which merges into the leg  13 ,  14  at section planes  27 ,  28 . The quarter-circle segment  26  is determined essentially by the external radius  29  and the internal radius  30 . In the claimed invention, the external radius  29  is approximately 7 cm and the internal radius  30  is approximately 5 cm. When viewed in three dimensions, the quarter-circle segment  26  constitutes a quarter-circle segment of a torus of approximately elliptical cross section. 
     The handle  11  illustrated in FIG. 2 also has four gripping regions  31 ,  31 ′,  32 ,  33 , these being formed essentially in the region of the leg  13 , in the region of the circular segment  15  and in the region of the leg  14 . In the claimed invention, the first gripping region  31  is located in the region of the leg  13 , between a flange region  34  and the transition to the circular segment  15 . The second and the third gripping regions  32 ,  33  are located in the region of the circular segment  15 . The fourth gripping region  31 ′ is located in the region of the leg  14 , between a flange region  34 ′ and the transition to the circular segment  15 . 
     According an alternate embodiment claimed invention which is not shown, the gripping regions  31 ,  31 ′,  32 ,  33  overlap partially, this being easily possible since the handle  11  is only gripped by one hand. This means that even individuals with very large hands can still grip the handle  11  in a comfortable and ergonomically correct manner. 
     In the installed position of the handle  11  which is shown in FIG. 2, the first and the third gripping regions  31 ,  33  are provided for gripping by the right hand. The second gripping region  32  is suitable for gripping by the left hand. The fourth gripping region  31 ′ is provided for gripping by the right or left hand when the individual doing the gripping is standing, for example, alongside the dishwasher  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of the handle  11  in the direction of the arrow III depicted in FIG.  2 . It can be seen in this view that a height  40  of the handle  11  in the flange region  34  is greater than a height  41  in the region of the circular segment  15 . The height  41  is approximately 20% smaller than the height  40 . In the direction of the ellipse  14   b  of the leg  14 , the height of the handle  11  increases again to the value of the height  40  (which cannot be seen from FIG.  3 ). At the section plane  27 , the handle  11  has an approximately elliptical cross section, the major ellipse axis x having a length x′ of approximately 4 cm, which is smaller than the height  40  and greater than the height  41  of the handle  11 . The minor ellipse axis y (FIG. 2) of the section plane  27  has a length y′ of approximately 2 cm. From the region of the circular segment  15  to the flange regions  34 ,  34 ′, the minor ellipse axis y increases to a more pronounced extent than the major ellipse axis x. The minor ellipse axis y increases to a length y″ of approximately 3 cm and the major ellipse axis x increases to a length x″ of approximately 5 cm. On account of the abovementioned peripheral dimensions, the periphery of the handle  11  at the gripping regions  31 ,  31 ′,  32 ,  33 , has an optimum grip-round length. 
     FIG. 3 also shows a center plane  42  of the handle  11 . This center plane  42  divides the handle  11  into a top half  43  and a bottom half  44 , which are symmetrical in relation to one another. For this reason, it is also possible for the handle  11  to be used as a handle  12 , by being rotated through 180° about an axis  45  running in the plane of the drawing, without this being disadvantageous ergonomically. 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the dishwasher  1  installed in linear form. Transporting tables  50 ,  51  are located to the left and right alongside the dishwasher  1 . From the transporting table  50 , dishes (not illustrated) are pushed into the dishwasher  1  in the direction of an arrow  52 . For this purpose, the door  3  of the dishwasher  1  is located in the open position (FIG.  1 ). The door  3  is then displaced downward into the closed position by a schematically illustrated individual  55  positioned in front  54  of the dishwasher. Following completion of the cleaning operation, the door  3  is displaced into the open position again by the individual  55 , with the result that the dishes can be moved out onto the transporting table  51  in the direction of an arrow  53 . It is then possible for the dishwasher  1  to be charged with dishes again. 
     The individual  55  illustrated in FIG. 4 has a body  56 , forearms  57 , hands  58  and a head  59 . The forearms  57  open away from the body  56  at an opening angle  60 . The individual forearm  57  with the hand  58  is at half an opening angle  62  in relation to an axis  61 , which is perpendicular to the front side  7  of the dishwasher and divides the individual  55  symmetrically. The handles  11 ,  12  are illustrated schematically in FIG.  4 . To simplify matters, it should be stated that the designations already introduced for the handle  11  also relate to the handle  12 , since the handles  11 ,  12  are structural parts which are symmetrical in relation to one another. The schematically illustrated handles both have the leg  13  with the gripping region  31  and the center axis  19 . The center axes  19  run at an angle  18  in relation to the front side  7 . The angles  18  are such that they correspond in each case to half the opening angle  62 . This ensures that the individual  55  can grip the gripping region  31  while the forearm  57  and hand  58  are in the ergonomically correct rectilinear position. The angles  18  and  62  are determined in dependence on a width  63  of the door  3 . The dishwasher  1  installed in linear form is provided for the individual  55  to operate using both hands, this being beneficial for a locomotor apparatus (not illustrated). The fact that the individual  55  is positioned in front of the dishwasher, however, also allows single-handed operation. 
     FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the dishwasher  1  installed across a corner. The transporting tables  50 ,  51  are located to the right and in front of the dishwasher  1 . From the transporting table  50 , dishes (not illustrated) are pushed into the dishwasher  1  in the direction of the arrow  52 . For this purpose, the door  3  of the dishwasher  1  is located in the open position (FIG.  1 ). The door  3  is then displaced downward into the closed position by a schematically illustrated individual  55  standing in an oblique position laterally in front of the dishwasher  1 . Following completion of the cleaning operation, the door  3  is displaced into the open position again by the individual  55  using one hand, with the result that the dishes can be moved out onto the transporting table  51  in the direction of the arrow  53 . It is then possible for the dishwasher  1  to be charged with dishes again. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates two positions  55   a  (solid lines),  55   b  (dashed lines) for the individual  55  positioned obliquely laterally in front of the dishwasher  1 , the position  55   a  schematically showing a left-hand half  70  of the individual  55  operating the handle  11  using the left forearm  71  or the left hand  71   a . The position  55   b  shows the right-hand half  72  of the individual  55  operating the handle  11  using the right forearm  73  or the right hand  73   a . It is also possible to see the circular segment  15  of the handle  11 , said segment having the gripping regions  32 ,  33 . 
     For gripping by the left hand  71   a , the individual  55  illustrated by the left-hand half  70  selects the position  55   a  such that the forearm  71  and the hand  71   a  come to rest at a right angle  74  to a tangent  75  to the gripping region  32 . In this position  55   a , ergonomic gripping is ensured since the individual  55  holds the forearm  71  and the hand  71   a  at an ergonomically favorable opening angle  62 . 
     For gripping by the right hand  73   a , the individual  55  illustrated by the right-hand half  72  selects the position  55   b  such that the forearm  73  and the hand  73   a  come to rest at a right angle  76  to a tangent  77  to the gripping region  33 . In this position  55   b , ergonomic gripping is ensured since the individual  55  holds the forearm  73  and the hand  73   a  at an ergonomically favorable opening angle  62 . 
     The claimed invention is not restricted to the embodiments which have been illustrated or described herein. It also covers the full scope defined by the language of the following claims and equivalents thereof.