Patent Description:
At present, handles of household appliances (such as refrigerators) are generally mounted in a visible manner, that is, handles are fixed on doors through fixing screws. After the visible handle is mounted on the household appliance, a packaging volume of the whole household appliance is increased, which reduces the number of household appliances that may be transported in unchanged space. Especially for export-oriented household appliances, the freight of a single container is fixed and expensive.

Therefore, in order to increase the packing quantity in a single container, handles will not be mounted on the household appliances until the household appliances have been transported to users' houses, to reduce the volume of a single household appliance. However, since the existing handles can only be mounted by using special tools, they need to be mounted at home by after-sales personnel, which leads to an increase in the cost of the household appliances. Relevant prior art can be found in <CIT>.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. The present invention aims to solve one of the above technical problems in the related art at least to a certain degree. Accordingly, the present invention proposes a handle assembly, which can be mounted on a door conveniently and reliably without the help of other special tools.

The handle assembly according to the present invention includes a mounting assembly including a pre-mounted member and a retractable element, in which a handle groove is arranged in the pre-mounted member, and the retractable element at least partially extends into the handle groove; and a handle including a limiting boss, in which the limiting boss is configured to be arranged in the handle groove and includes a limiting groove, and the limiting groove is configured to secure the handle under the condition that the retractable element extends into the limiting groove.

The handle includes the limiting boss, the limiting boss includes the limiting groove, and the pre-mounted member of the mounting assembly includes the handle groove, such that the mounting of the handle and the pre-mounted member may be realized by the fitting between the limiting boss and the handle groove. Moreover, a part of the retractable element of the mounting assembly extends into the limiting groove and lock the handle, to ensure high reliability of installation of the handle. Thus, the user may install the handle onto the object on which the handle needs to be mounted without using other special tools, which enhances user experience and makes the installation of the handle easy and reliable.

A clamping slot is arranged on the pre-mounted member and in communication with the handle groove, and the retractable element is configured to move in the clamping slot.

Further, the mounting assembly further includes an elastic element coupled to the retractable element and configured to push the retractable element towards the handle groove.

Further, the retractable element has an inclined guide surface, in which the inclined guide surface is configured in such a way that the handle presses the inclined guide surface and the retractable element is retracted from the handle groove when the handle moves along the handle groove towards the retractable element; the retractable element is configured to enter the limiting groove from the clamping slot under an elastic force of the elastic element when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot. Further, the handle groove has a first and a second limiting step; and the limiting boss is a T-shaped boss and includes a long boss and a short boss, in which the long boss is configured to move in the handle groove, and the short boss is configured to be clamped between the first and second limiting steps when the limiting groove is aligned with the clamping slot.

Further, an inner surface of the first and second limiting steps is spaced apart from a groove bottom of the handle groove.

For example, a height of the first and second limiting steps is at least greater than a half of a height of the long boss.

For example, the mounting assembly further includes a retaining cap configured to confine the elastic element in the clamping slot.

For example, the elastic element is a spring. The household appliance according to embodiments of another aspect of the present disclosure includes a door and the above handle assembly arranged on the door.

Further, the pre-mounted member is integrated with the door.

Reference numerals:
refrigerator <NUM>, door <NUM>, mounting assembly <NUM>, pre-mounted member <NUM>, handle groove <NUM>, limiting step 1111a, clamping slot <NUM>, retractable element <NUM>, inclined guide surface 112b, retaining cap <NUM>, elastic element <NUM>, handle <NUM>, limiting boss <NUM>, long boss <NUM>, short boss <NUM>, limiting groove <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments will be shown in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described below are exemplary and are intended to explain the present disclosure rather than limit the present disclosure.

A handle assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the handle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a mounting assembly <NUM> and a handle <NUM> that is fitted with the mounting assembly <NUM>.

Further, the mounting assembly <NUM> includes: a pre-mounted member <NUM> and a retractable element <NUM>. The pre-mounted member may be pre-mounted on an object on which the handle <NUM> is to be mounted. For example, when the handle assembly is applied to a household appliance, the mounting assembly <NUM> may be located on a door <NUM> of the household appliance, and the pre-mounted member <NUM> is fixedly coupled to the door <NUM>. For example, the pre-mounted member <NUM> may be pre-embedded in a foam layer of the door <NUM>.

A handle groove <NUM> is arranged in the pre-mounted member <NUM>. In some optional embodiments, the handle groove <NUM> is located at each of an upper end and a lower end of the pre-mounted member <NUM>, and the retractable element <NUM> may at least partially extend into the handle groove <NUM>. For example, the mounting assembly <NUM> is located on an inner side of the door <NUM>, and the handle groove <NUM> is exposed on an outer side of the door <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be mounted on the door <NUM> of the household appliance by being fitted with the mounting assembly <NUM>. A user may pull the door <NUM> via the handle <NUM>, so that the household appliance may be opened or closed, which facilitates the use of the household appliance.

For the convenience of description, the installation of the handle assembly is illustrated by exemplified the household appliance as a refrigerator <NUM>.

In an embodiment, during production of a door <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM>, the pre-mounted member <NUM> may be pre-mounted in an inner foam layer of the door <NUM> to provide support for arranging the retractable element <NUM> and a retaining cap <NUM>, and the handle groove <NUM> may be exposed on an outer side of the door <NUM> to provide the possibility of fixing the handle <NUM> on the door <NUM>. Further, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a limiting boss <NUM> is arranged on the handle <NUM>, and the limiting boss <NUM> is suitable for being arranged in the handle groove <NUM>. The retractable element <NUM> at least partially extends into the handle groove <NUM>, the handle <NUM> includes the limiting boss <NUM>, and the limiting boss <NUM> is arranged in the corresponding handle groove <NUM> and is movable in an up-down direction in the handle groove <NUM>. In some embodiments, the limiting boss <NUM> is arranged at each of an upper end and a lower end of the handle <NUM>, and a distance between the limiting bosses <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM> is equal to a distance between the handle grooves <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the pre-mounted member <NUM>, to ensure that the limiting bosses <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM> may be successfully fitted with the handle grooves <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the pre-mounted member <NUM>, to fix the handle <NUM> firmly.

A limiting groove <NUM> is arranged in the limiting boss <NUM> and configured to secure the handle <NUM> under the condition that the retractable element <NUM> extends into the limiting groove <NUM>. The limiting groove <NUM> is a through hole running through the limiting boss <NUM>. When the limiting boss <NUM> moves downward in the handle groove <NUM>, the retractable element <NUM> extends into the limiting groove <NUM>, and meanwhile the handle <NUM> is secured. That is, at least one of the limiting bosses <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM> includes the limiting groove <NUM>. For example, the limiting groove <NUM> is provided only at the upper end of the handle <NUM>, or the limiting groove <NUM> is provided only at the lower end of the handle <NUM>, or limiting grooves <NUM> are provided at both of the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM>.

It shall be noted that when only the upper end of the handle <NUM> is provided with the limiting groove <NUM>, only the upper end of the pre-mounted member <NUM> is correspondingly provided with the retractable element <NUM>, an elastic element <NUM> and the retaining cap <NUM>; or when a limiting groove <NUM> is provided only at lower end of the handle <NUM>, a retractable element <NUM>, an elastic element <NUM> and a retaining cap <NUM> are provided only at lower end of pre-mounted member <NUM>; or when both of the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM> are provided with the limiting grooves <NUM>, each of the upper and lower ends of the pre-mounted member <NUM> is provided with the retractable element <NUM>, the elastic element <NUM> and the retaining cap <NUM>.

In order to better explain a cooperation process of the handle <NUM> and the door <NUM>, the cooperation process of the handle <NUM> and the door <NUM> is illustrated via an example where the limiting groove <NUM> is arranged only at the upper end of the handle <NUM> and the handle <NUM> is arranged along a vertical direction, as shown in <FIG>.

In an embodiment, after the refrigerator <NUM> is sent to the user's home, the handle <NUM> and the door <NUM> are separate. When the user needs to mount the handle <NUM>, the limiting bosses <NUM> at the upper and lower ends of the handle <NUM> are fitted with the handle grooves <NUM> at the upper and lower ends which are exposed on the outer side of the door <NUM>; the handle <NUM> is moved downward (i.e., being moved along the handle groove <NUM> towards the retractable element <NUM> as described below); and at this time, the limiting groove <NUM> of the limiting boss <NUM> at the upper end of the handle <NUM> is aligned with the retractable element <NUM>, and a part of the retractable element <NUM> extends into the limiting groove <NUM>, limiting movement of the limiting boss <NUM> in the up-down direction, and restricting the limiting boss <NUM> of the handle <NUM> in the handle groove <NUM> (i.e., the limiting boss <NUM> is locked), which may prevent the handle <NUM> from falling off the handle groove <NUM>. In such a way, the installation of the handle <NUM> is completed.

Moreover, when the user needs to dismount the handle <NUM>, a fine rod capable of extending into the limiting groove <NUM> can be utilized. The fine rod extends into the limiting groove <NUM> to make the retractable element <NUM> retracted from the handle groove <NUM> and thus the limiting groove <NUM>, so that the handle <NUM> is withdrawn from the handle groove <NUM>. In such a way, the dismounting of the handle <NUM> is completed.

The handle <NUM> includes the limiting boss <NUM>, the limiting boss <NUM> includes the limiting groove <NUM>, and the pre-mounted member <NUM> of the mounting assembly <NUM> includes the handle groove <NUM>, such that the mounting of the handle <NUM> and the pre-mounted member is realized by the fitting between the limiting boss <NUM> and the handle groove <NUM>. Moreover, a part of the retractable element <NUM> of the mounting assembly <NUM> extends into the limiting groove <NUM> and lock the handle <NUM>, to ensure high reliability of installation of the handle <NUM>. Thus, the user may install the handle <NUM> onto the object on which the handle needs to be mounted (such as the door <NUM>) without using other special tools, which enhances user experience and makes the installation of the handle <NUM> easy and reliable.

Further, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a clamping slot <NUM> is arranged on the pre-mounted member <NUM>, the clamping slot <NUM> is in communication with the handle groove <NUM>, and an axis direction of the clamping slot <NUM> is perpendicular to a section of the handle groove <NUM>. The retractable element <NUM> is suitable to move in the clamping slot <NUM> and at least partially extends into the handle groove <NUM>. That is, by providing the clamping slot <NUM>, a moving track is provided for the retractable element <NUM> and can guide a moving direction of the retractable element <NUM>, and a part of the retractable element <NUM> also extends into the handle groove <NUM>, thus allowing the retractable element <NUM> to extend into the limiting groove <NUM>. By providing the clamping slot <NUM>, the moving direction of the retractable element <NUM> may be ensured, so that the retractable element <NUM> may lock the limiting boss <NUM>, ensuring high reliability of the handle assembly.

Further, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the mounting assembly <NUM> also includes an elastic element <NUM>. The elastic element <NUM> is an elastic part. The elastic element <NUM> is always in a compressed state when it is located in the mounting assembly <NUM>. The elastic element <NUM> is connected with the retractable element <NUM> and is used to push the retractable element <NUM> towards the handle groove <NUM>. That is, the elastic element <NUM> is also located in the clamping slot <NUM> and is in contact and connection with the retractable element <NUM>. Under an elastic force of the elastic element <NUM>, the retractable element <NUM> is pushed towards the handle groove <NUM>, and a part of the retractable element <NUM> is pushed into the handle groove <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the retractable element <NUM> has an inclined guide surface 112b. The inclined guide surface 112b is configured as follows: the handle <NUM> presses the inclined guide surface 112b when the handle <NUM> moves along the handle groove <NUM> towards the retractable element <NUM>, so that the retractable element <NUM> is retracted from the handle groove <NUM>. The retractable element <NUM> is configured to enter the limiting groove <NUM> from the clamping slot <NUM> under the elastic force of the elastic element <NUM> when the limiting groove <NUM> is aligned with the clamping slot <NUM>.

That is, the inclined guide surface 112b is arranged at an end of the retractable element <NUM> which extends into the handle groove <NUM>. For example, the inclined guide surface 112b extends obliquely in a direction toward a lower and outer side of the refrigerator <NUM>. Thus, when the handle <NUM> moves along the handle groove <NUM> towards the retractable element <NUM> (i.e., moving toward a lower side of the handle <NUM>), the limiting boss <NUM> of the handle <NUM> contacts the part of the retractable element <NUM> which extends into the handle groove <NUM> (i.e., the inclined guide surface 112b of the retractable element <NUM>). As the handle <NUM> moves further downward, the limiting boss <NUM> of the handle <NUM> presses the retractable element <NUM> downward. Since an extension direction of the inclined guide surface 112b is orientated obliquely toward the lower and outer side of the refrigerator <NUM>, the retractable element <NUM> is subjected to a force component in a direction toward the inner side of the door <NUM>. As a result, the retractable element <NUM> moves to the inner side of the door <NUM> and retracts from the handle groove <NUM>. At this time, the elastic element <NUM> is further compressed. As the handle <NUM> moves further downward, the retractable element <NUM> is aligned with the limiting groove <NUM> of the handle <NUM>, and the retractable element <NUM> is pushed into the limiting groove <NUM> under the elastic effect of the elastic element <NUM>. In such a way, the installation of the handle <NUM> is completed.

By arranging the inclined guide surface 112b on the retractable element, the retractable element <NUM> can be guided when pressed by the limiting boss <NUM>, to ensure that the retractable element <NUM> retracts from the handle groove <NUM>, so that the handle <NUM> may move downward to an installation position and the retractable element <NUM> extends into the limiting groove <NUM>, thereby completing the installation of the handle <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the handle groove <NUM> has a limiting step 1111a, that is, the handle groove <NUM> is a groove with the step, and a hollow inverted snap structure is arranged in the position of the limiting step <NUM><NUM><NUM>1a.

Further, referring to <FIG>, the limiting boss is a T-shaped boss <NUM>, and the T-shaped boss <NUM> includes: a long boss <NUM> and a short boss <NUM> fixedly connected with each other. A length of the long boss <NUM> is greater than a length of the short boss <NUM>, and both ends of the short boss <NUM> are fixedly connected with the long boss <NUM> and the handle <NUM> respectively. The long boss <NUM> extends in a direction away from the handle <NUM>. The length of the long boss <NUM> is less than or equal to the length of the handle groove <NUM>, so that the long boss <NUM> may enter the handle groove <NUM>.

In some examples not part of the present invention, the limiting boss may also be a cross-shaped boss.

The long boss <NUM> is suitable to move in the handle groove <NUM>, and the short boss <NUM> is configured to be clamped between two limiting steps 1111a when the limiting groove <NUM> is aligned with the clamping slot <NUM>. That is, when the limiting groove <NUM> is aligned with the clamping slot <NUM>, the short boss <NUM> is clamped between two limiting steps 1111a, so that the handle <NUM> may be prevented from being directly withdrawn from the handle groove <NUM>, and movement of the handle <NUM> in a front-rear direction and in a left-right direction can be limited, improving reliability of the cooperation between the handle <NUM> and the door <NUM>. Since a part of the retractable element <NUM> is clamped in the limiting groove <NUM>, the movement of the handle <NUM> in the up-down direction is limited. Accordingly, the installation of the handle <NUM> on the door <NUM> is realized.

Further, an inner surface of the limiting step 1111a is spaced apart from a groove bottom of the handle groove <NUM>, so that the long boss <NUM> may enter a gap between the limiting step 1111a and the groove bottom of the handle groove <NUM>, and the long boss <NUM> of the T-shaped boss <NUM> may be stuck in the handle groove <NUM>.

Further, a thickness of the long boss <NUM> is equal to or slightly smaller than the gap between the limiting step 1111a and the groove bottom of handle groove <NUM>, preventing the T-shaped boss <NUM> from shaking in the handle groove <NUM>.

For example, a height of the limiting step 1111a is at least greater than a half of a height of the long boss <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the height dimension of the limiting step 1111a extending upwards is greater than a half of the height dimension of the long boss <NUM>, to prevent the handle <NUM> from falling off the handle groove <NUM>, ensure the reliability of position limiting, and guarantee the high reliability of the installation of the handle <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the mounting assembly <NUM> may also include: a retaining cap <NUM> located on an innermost side of the mounting assembly <NUM> and fixedly coupled to the pre-mounted member <NUM>. The retaining cap <NUM> confines the elastic element <NUM> in the clamping slot <NUM>, to prevent the elastic element <NUM> from popping out from the pre-mounted member <NUM> toward the inner side of the door <NUM>, and to ensure that the elastic element <NUM> may always be located in the clamping slot <NUM>, providing support for the retractable element <NUM>.

Optionally, the elastic element <NUM> is a spring that has good elasticity, which may ensure that when the retractable element <NUM> moves towards the inner side of the door <NUM>, the elastic element <NUM> is compressed and provides a force for the retractable element <NUM> to move to the outer side of the door <NUM>, ensuring that the retractable element <NUM> may lock the handle <NUM> in time.

For example, the pre-mounted member <NUM> may be integrated with the door <NUM>, that is, the handle groove <NUM> is directly formed in the door <NUM>, which omits the pre-mounted member <NUM>, thus reducing the assembly process of the pre-mounted member <NUM> and the door <NUM>, which can save the assembly time of the refrigerator <NUM>.

Preferably, the pre-mounted member <NUM> and the door <NUM> may be fixed by foaming. In such a case, the pre-mounted member is used as a pre-embedded member. That is, after the pre-mounted member <NUM> is pre-embedded in the door <NUM>, a liquid foaming material is injected into the door <NUM>, expands through a chemical reaction, and eventually wraps the pre-mounted member <NUM>, so that the door <NUM> is cured into a stable shape.

The household appliance according to an embodiment of another aspect of the present disclosure includes a door <NUM> and a handle assembly arranged on the door <NUM>. In an embodiment, the household appliance may also be a disinfection cabinet, a microwave oven, and a baking oven, apart from the refrigerator <NUM> described above.

Further, the pre-mounted member <NUM> is integrated with the door <NUM>, simplifying the installation process of the handle <NUM>, ensuring that the handle <NUM> is easier to mount, and reducing the space occupied by the packaged household appliance, thus contributing to lower transportation cost. The mounting and dismounting processes of the handle assembly on and from the refrigerator <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

When the handle <NUM> needs to be mounted, the pre-mounted member <NUM> is first mounted on the door <NUM>, and then the limiting boss <NUM> of the handle <NUM> is inserted into the handle groove <NUM> of the pre-mounted member <NUM>. At this time, the position relationship between the door <NUM> and the handle <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. Then, the handle <NUM> is moved towards a lower side of the door <NUM>, so that the short boss <NUM> of the limiting boss <NUM> of the handle <NUM> slides into the limiting step 1111a, and the inclined guide surface of the retractable element <NUM> comes out of the handle groove <NUM> under the pressure of the limiting boss <NUM>. When the handle <NUM> continues to move to a limited position, the long boss <NUM> is stuck between the limiting step 1111a and the groove bottom of the handle groove <NUM>, and the retractable element <NUM> is aligned with the limiting groove <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. The retractable element <NUM> is pushed into the limiting groove <NUM> under an elastic action of the elastic element <NUM>. At this time, the handle <NUM> is mounted in position and locked, so that the installation of the handle <NUM> is completed.

When the handle <NUM> needs to be dismounted, a fine rod capable of extending into the limiting groove <NUM> can be used to push the retractable element <NUM> out of the handle groove <NUM> by extending into the limiting groove <NUM>, and then the handle <NUM> is moved towards an upper side of the door <NUM>, so that the handle <NUM> is withdrawn from the handle groove <NUM>. In such a way, the dismounting of the handle <NUM> is completed.

Claim 1:
A handle assembly, comprising:
a mounting assembly (<NUM>) comprising a pre-mountable member (<NUM>) for mounting on an object and a retractable element (<NUM>), wherein a handle groove (<NUM>) is arranged in the pre-mountable member (<NUM>), and the retractable element (<NUM>) at least partially extends into the handle groove (<NUM>); and
a handle (<NUM>) comprising a limiting boss (<NUM>), wherein the limiting boss (<NUM>) is configured to be arranged in the handle groove (<NUM>) and comprises a limiting groove (<NUM>), and the limiting groove (<NUM>) is configured to secure the handle (<NUM>) when the retractable element (<NUM>) extends into the limiting groove (<NUM>), wherein a clamping slot (<NUM>) is arranged on the pre-mountable member (<NUM>) and in communication with the handle groove (<NUM>), and the retractable element (<NUM>) is configured to move in the clamping slot (<NUM>), and wherein the handle groove (<NUM>) has a first and a second limiting step (1111a), and the limiting boss (<NUM>) is a T-shaped boss and comprises a long boss (<NUM>) and a short boss (<NUM>); and wherein the long boss (<NUM>) is configured to move in the handle groove (<NUM>), and the short boss (<NUM>) is configured to be clamped between the first and second limiting steps (1111a) when the limiting groove (<NUM>) is aligned with the clamping slot (<NUM>), wherein the mounting assembly (<NUM>) further comprises an elastic element (<NUM>) coupled to the retractable element (<NUM>) and configured to push the retractable element (<NUM>) towards the handle groove (<NUM>) and wherein the retractable element (<NUM>) has an inclined guide surface (112b), wherein the inclined guide surface (112b) is configured in such a way that the handle (<NUM>) presses the inclined guide surface (112b) and the retractable element (<NUM>) is retracted from the handle groove (<NUM>) when the handle (<NUM>) moves along the handle groove (<NUM>) towards the retractable element (<NUM>), and wherein the retractable element (<NUM>) is configured to enter the limiting groove (<NUM>) from the clamping slot (<NUM>) under an elastic force of the elastic element (<NUM>) when the limiting groove (<NUM>) is aligned with the clamping slot (<NUM>).