WO1999026031A1 - Mounting arrangement for a door handle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting a door handle (45) on a heat insulating door (10) of a refrigerator or a freezer. The door handle (45) is fixed on the outer covering (13) of the door at at least two fixing points (I, II) by means of fixing elements. At at least one of the fixing points (II), the fixing element (20) is introduced into an area (14) cut out of the outer covering of the door (13) in such a way that it is foam-tight, and is maintained on the covering (13) with a positive fit, perpendicular thereto.

Description

Holder for a door handle

The invention relates to a holder for a door handle on a heat-insulating door of a refrigerator or freezer, with an outer door skin, on which the door handle is fixed at least two fastening points using fastening elements.

In the case of doors for refrigerators or freezers, it is known to fix their door handles to the door body with the aid of backing parts arranged on the heat insulation side, since the outer cladding, which is usually formed from a sheet steel plate of low wall thickness and serves as the outer skin of the door, is not suitable for fastening because of its small wall thickness to give the door handles the hold necessary for the load profile of the door. Through the use of backing parts, the problem of fastening the door handles to the door body has been at least largely satisfactorily resolved, but the use of backing part brings with it the problem that, until the door body is foamed, it not only fixes it in its correct position, but also with regard to it the thermal insulation material introduced in the liquid starting components must be sealed against the outer skin of the door. Both the sealing of the backing parts with respect to the outer door skin, as well as their fixing to it, entails additional work, which hinders the production flow of the doors, which, due to the possibility of being able to carry out a door hinge change, is incurred twice for each door and thus the costs for the Door production are additionally increased.

The invention has for its object to improve a holder for a door handle according to the preamble of claim 1 with simple design measures such that the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided. This object is achieved according to the invention in that the fastening element is introduced into at least one of the fastening positions in a receptacle of the outer door skin and is provided with means with which the fastening element is fixed liquid-tight on the outer door skin.

Due to the design of the fastening element according to the invention, it is fixed in a single operation, both liquid-tight, to the outer door skin formed, for example, by a thin-walled sheet steel plate, and held there in the correct position without additional holding means, even during the foaming process. By such a measure, not only is the workload for producing a refrigerator door noticeably reduced, but also the manufacturing process for this is significantly accelerated. In addition, a dependency on the individual workmanship of the production personnel in the positionally correct and liquid-tight fastening of the fastening element to the outer door skin is at least largely avoided.

The fastening element is particularly inconspicuously attached and is protected against unwanted damage during the manufacturing process if, according to a next preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the fastening element is fixed on the heat insulation side of the outer door skin and has a sealing lip which, in the fastening state of the fastening element, has the Surrounds the recording in the outer skin of the door. In addition, the recording can be particularly easily covered over the entire area by the door handle.

The fastening element on the outer door skin can be fixed particularly easily in the correct position and in a liquid-tight manner if, according to a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the means for holding the fastening element on the outer door skin are formed by at least two retaining lugs, which are able to interact with the edges of the receptacle.

According to a next preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the retaining lugs of the fastening element can be brought into engagement with the edges of the receptacle in the manner of a bayonet catch.

By means of such a fastening measure for the fastening element, it is fixed in the correct position and in a liquid-tight manner on the outer door skin by a single handle.

The holding lugs can be brought into engagement with the edges of the receptacle in a particularly simple and targeted manner if, according to a next advantageous embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the edges of the receptacle which are in engagement with the holding lugs of the fastening element are designed as projections projecting into the opening surface thereof .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the projections are stepped for thermal insulation of the door.

Due to the step-like cranking of the projections, the fastening element can be fastened flush with the visible surface of the outer door skin.

According to a next preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle is provided with at least one latching means, which secures the fastening element in its fastening position against rotation.

This ensures in a simple manner that the fastening element is not inadvertently out of its positive position during the production process. tionally correct mounting position is removed, so that the fastener remains in its correct position over the entire manufacturing process even when unwanted influence on this.

The fastening element on the outer door skin is particularly secured against rotation, in particular with regard to the introduction of fastening screws for holding the door handle, if, according to a next advantageous embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that the fastening element has receptacle pockets that can be filled with heat insulation material.

A particularly robust and at the same time easy to carry out fastening is achieved if, according to a further preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it is provided that at least one of the fastening elements is provided with a holding receptacle in which the door handle with a holding part provided thereon is positively inserted.

A particularly simple form-fitting fastening of the door handle to the fastening element results if, according to a last preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention, it is provided that the receptacle is designed as a cross-like opening into which a substantially T-shaped locking element designed as a holding part is form-fitting can be locked.

The invention is explained in the following description with reference to an embodiment shown in simplified form in the accompanying drawing.

Show it 1 is a top view of a refrigerator door with an outer skin on which a door handle is fixed at two fastening positions, of which the fastening position provided in the middle of the door has a fastening element,

2 shows an enlarged sectional view of the refrigerator door with the fastening element fixed on the heat insulation side on the outer door skin in plan view,

3 shows an enlarged detail of the outer door skin and the fastening element in the unlocked, pulled-apart state, in a spatial view from the side,

Fig. 4 detail of the outer door skin and the fastening element in the locked state in a sectional view from the side and

Fig. 5 detail of the outer door skin and the fastening element in the locked state in a front view.

According to FIG. 1, a refrigerator door 10 is shown, which has an inner cladding 11 produced by chipless shaping of a plastic circuit board, a heat insulation layer 12 and an outer cladding connected to the inner cladding 11 to form a door body and serving as the outer skin 13, which, due to the wetting effect of the heat insulation layer 12 the inner lining 11 is connected to a dimensionally stable structure. On the outer skin 13, a bow-shaped door handle, explained in more detail below, is fixed at two fastening positions I and II, of which the fastening position I is provided on the side walls of the outer skin 13 which run vertically in the installed position of the refrigerator door 10, while the fastening position II is approximately in the center Width of the door 10 is provided on the front side formed by the outer skin 13. How in particular FIG. 3 shows the outer skin 13 formed from steel sheet without cutting for this purpose with an essentially circular receptacle 14 designed as an opening, in the opening area of which two protrusions 15, which are at least approximately opposite one another and which are integrally formed on the outer skin, project in a stepped manner in the direction are offset towards the heat insulation layer 12 by cropping. Adjacent to the offset projections 15 are serving as latching means 16, opposing fixing and holding lugs, which, like the projections 15, protrude into the opening surface of the receptacle 14, but, in contrast to this, are made flat. The receptacle 14 serves to hold and to make accessible a fastening element 20 which is fixed on the outer door skin 13 on the heat insulation side. This has a first disk-like section 21 which comprises an annular, integrally molded edge section serving as an elastic sealing lip 22 and which holds the fastening element 20 on the Has outer door skin arranged on a circular path around its center Z retaining lugs 23. These are angular in cross-section with unequal legs 24 and 25, of which the shorter leg 24 is fixed to the end face of the disk-like section 21, while the longer leg 25 is spaced with its inside to the end face of the section 21, so that there is a groove-like receptacle 26 with a height h, which essentially corresponds to the material thickness of the projections 15. Following each of the retaining lugs 23 there is a latching receptacle 27 which is arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry and which is generated by an open-edge recess in a segment part 28 which is integrally connected to the retaining lugs. Between the retaining lugs 23, the disk-like section 21 has a cross-slot-like opening 30, starting from its center Z and arranged symmetrically to its center of gravity axes S2 and S3, with opening legs 31 and 32 of unequal length, of which the longer opening legs are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of gravity S3. while the shorter opening legs 32 run symmetrically to the axis of gravity S2. The cross-slot-like opening 30 continues after the disk-like section 21 within a tube-like connecting element 33 which is integrally connected to the disk-like section 21 and in the interior of which a receiving area 34 is provided following the part length taken up by the cross-slot-like opening 30. The connecting element 33 is provided on its outer side facing away from the interior with walls 35 which extend radially therefrom and are arranged at uniform angular intervals of 90 °, through whose angular distance from one another receiving pockets 36 are formed. The walls 35 which delimit the receiving pockets 36 and are integrally connected to the connecting element 33 are likewise integrally connected to a second disk-like section 37 provided at the free end of the connecting element 33. This is provided on its outside with a collar-like extension 38, on the inside of which a circumferentially arranged latching lug 39 is provided, with the aid of which an end cover 39 connected to the extension 38 in the production state via a not shown film-hinge-like band is liquid-tight against the end face of section 37 is pressed, so that entry of the thermal insulation material 12 which is introduced in liquid starting components into the receiving area 34 is prevented.

In the fastening element 20, which is made of injection molded plastic, the disk-like section 21 is attached to the inside of the outer door skin 13 facing the heat insulation layer 12 in order to produce the fastening position II provided on the front of the door 10 (see in particular FIG. 2). The holding lugs 22, which are positioned in a first assembly step in the free spaces remaining between the projections 15, serve for fastening (see FIG. 3 with the first marked arrow direction). For final attachment, the fastener 22 is against the spring force of the elastic sealing lip 22 pressed against the inside of the outer door skin in the direction of arrow 1 and then rotated in the direction of arrow 2, whereby the free end projecting into the receptacle 14 of each projection 15 engages with the groove-like receptacle 26 of the retaining lugs 23. The correct position of the fastening part 20 on the outer door skin 13 is signaled by the latching of the nose-like latching means 16 upstream of the projections in the direction of rotation into the latching receptacles 27, the fastening element 20 also being secured in position by the latching process. Due to the fastening process of the fastening element 22, which is carried out in the manner of a bayonet lock, its elastic sealing lip 22 is pressed liquid-tight against the inside of the outer door skin 13, so that the heat insulation material 12 inserted in liquid starting components between the inner lining 11 and the outer skin 13 does not have the receptacle 14 to the visible surface of the Door outer skin 13 can emerge. The fastening element 20 fixed to the outer skin 13 of the door closes flush with the outside of its retaining lugs 23 flush with the front of the outer skin 13. The flush closure is achieved by the projections 15, which are bent to the heat insulation layer 12. The liquid-tight by means of the locking lug 39 pressed against the end face of the section 37 end cover 40 prevents during the foaming process of the cavity formed by the inner lining 11 and the outer skin 13 that the heat insulation material 12, which by its introduction into the receiving pockets 36 for additional anchoring and stabilization of the Fastening element 20 contributes to the outer door skin 13, passes over the receiving area 34 into the cross-slot-like opening 30 and prevents the holding of a door handle 45 shaped like a bracket. As already mentioned, two fastening positions I and II are provided on the refrigerator door 10 for holding the door handle 45, of which the fastening position I provided on the side walls of the door 10 is formed by a thread passage (not shown in more detail) which is introduced into the outer skin of the door, while the Fastening position II is generated by the fastener 20. To fix the bracket-like door handle 45 to the fastening position II formed by the fastening element 20, it is provided on the front side of its free temple end with a T-shaped locking element 46, while it has a through hole, not shown, for holding it in the fastening position I ( see Figure 1). To fasten the door handle 45 to the fastening position II, the door handle 45, as shown in FIG. 1, is to be inserted in a first assembly step in the direction of the arrow with its locking element 46 into the cross-like opening 30, the depth of insertion being by striking the end face at the free bracket end against the outside the outer door skin 13 is limited. The insertion depth is dimensioned such that the T-shaped locking element 46 is now located within the receiving area 34. To lock the locking element 46 on the fastening element 20, the door handle is to be moved in the direction of arrow 4 until the free bracket end of the door handle 45 assigned to the fastening position I strikes the side cheek of the door 10. In this position, a positive connection is produced between the locking element 46 and the fastening element 20, which acts both perpendicularly to the door front and vertically to it, the section of the locking element formed by the T-crossbar being located within the receiving region 34 and against the horizontally extending one Bounding wall limiting opening leg 31 abuts, while the other section of the locking element is located within the opening leg 31. To fix the door handle in the horizontal direction, a fastening screw, not shown here, can be inserted into the fastening position I.

In order to be able to carry out the mandatory change of the door handle 45 after changing the door stop, all that needs to be done is to loosen the fastening screw on the side cheek of the door 10 and to move the door handle 45 against the direction of arrow 4 to the extent that the T-crossbar of the locking element 46 lies within the vertically arranged opening leg 32. In this position, the door handle 45 can be removed from the refrigerator door 10 against the direction indicated by the arrow 3. After implementation, to which the door handle 10 can only be pivoted by 180 ° with its end facing the fastening position I, the door handle 45 can be fixed again on the refrigerator door 10 in the manner described above, the locking of the locking element 46 on the fastening element 20 now has to take place against the direction indicated by arrow 4. In the respective fastening state, the end face of the bracket-like door handle 45 facing the fastening position II completely covers the receptacle 14.

As an alternative to the molded-on sealing lip 22, separate sealing rings such as e.g. O-rings or the like are conceivable as sealing means, which are then pressed during the locking process of the fastening element 20 by the heat insulation side against the outer door skin 13.

Claims

claims 1. Holder for a door handle on a heat-insulating door of a refrigerator or freezer with an outer door skin, on which the door handle is fixed at least two fastening positions using fastening elements, characterized in that the fastening element (20) in at least one of the fastening positions (II) a receptacle (14) of the outer door skin (13) is introduced and provided with means with which the fastening element (20) is fixed to the outer door skin (13) in a liquid-tight manner. 2. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening element (20) on the heat insulation side on the outer door skin (13) is fixed and provided with sealing means (14) which, in the fastening state of the fastening element (20), the receptacle (14) sealingly surrounded in the outer door skin (13). 3. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding the fastening element (20) on the outer door skin (13) are formed by at least two retaining lugs (23) which are able to interact with the edges of the receptacle (14). 4. Holder according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining lugs (23) of the fastening element (20) in the manner of a bayonet lock with the edges of the receptacle (14) can be brought into engagement. 5. Holder according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the engaged with the retaining lugs (23) edges of the receptacle (14) as protruding in the opening surface thereof (15) are formed. 6. Holder according to claim 5, characterized in that the projections (15) are stepped for thermal insulation (12) of the door (10) down. 7. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receptacle (14) with at least one locking means (16) is provided, which secures the fastening element (20) positively against rotation in its fastening position. 8. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fastening element (20) has receiving pockets (36) which can be filled with heat insulation material (12). 9. Holder according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening element (20) is provided with a holding receptacle in which the door handle (45) is positively inserted with a holding part provided thereon. 10. Holder according to claim 9, characterized in that the receptacle is designed as a cross-like opening (30) into which a locking element designed as a holding part, essentially T-shaped, can be introduced and can be locked in a form-fitting manner on the fastening element (20).