Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a mounting system for a handle, particularly a door handle for cooling cabinets, freezers, refrigerators and the like.

Background Art

US patent application US 2014/0007381 A1 discloses a foldable handle including a grip portion, two pivot units each pivotally connected with the grip portion, two support members each mounted between the grip portion and a respective one of the pivot units, and two elastic members each biased between a respective one of the pivot units and a respective one of the support members. When the grip portion is hit by a person unintentionally, the grip portion is moved and rotated relative to each of the pivot units freely to reach a folded state so as to prevent the person from being hurt when hitting the grip portion. Even though foldable handles such as those described are useful for preventing injury, hitting the foldable handle with a large and/or heavy object such as a trolley or shopping cart may, for example, damage a fragile door on which the foldable handle is mounted. When in such case the foldable handle reaches the foldable state upon impact of the large/heavy object, remaining impact energy is transferred through the two support members to the door. Korean patent application KR 10-2009-0016204 discloses a removable grip to prevent a safety accident of children or infants by only mounting the grip selectively when a user wishes to open a door or a drawer.

US patent US 8,732,910 B1 discloses a handle assembly that may be used on an appliance. The handle assembly can include a handle that is received into one or more receptacles and can be installed without tools or the use of additional fasteners such as screws, bolts, and the like. The handle assembly can be installed onto doors, drawers, or other components of a variety of different appliance types

Summary of the invention The present invention seeks to provide an improved mounting system for a handle, such as a door handle for a glass or plastic door of a cooling cabinet, refrigerator, freezer and the like. The mounting system not only prevents injury when a person hits the door handle but also prevents damage of the door provided with the mounting system when the door handle is hit by a relatively large and/or heavy object such as a shopping trolley or cart. According to the present invention, a mounting system of the type defined in the preamble is provided, wherein the mounting system comprises one or more mounting units each of which comprises: a base plate arranged for being mountable on a door, a grip part arranged for opening and closing the door, and a connecting part arranged for connection to the grip part and for a releasable connection to the base plate, wherein the base plate comprises a mating part, and wherein the connecting part comprises a plurality of deformable primary cantilever arms each of which comprises an end catch element arranged for releasable engagement with the mating part, wherein the grip part comprises an open end for receiving the connecting part, wherein the connecting part comprises a plurality of deformable secondary cantilever arms projecting substantially parallel to the plurality of primary cantilever arms, and wherein the plurality of secondary cantilever arms are configured for non-releasable snap- fit engagement with the open end of the grip part.

According to the present invention, the connecting part is arranged for releasable connection, e.g. releasable/separable snap-fit connection, to the base plate as a result of which the connecting part is able to separate from (e.g. snap off) the base plate in case of impact on the grip part. In this way impact energy is absorbed by the mounting system as a result of which physical injury and/or damage to the door is prevented. So by providing the releasable connection between the base part and the connecting part allows the mounting system to absorb energy impact of e.g. shopping cart, so that fragile doors are not damaged, such as glass or plastic doors. In particular, the connecting part is receivable in the open end of the grip part and attached thereto by a non-releasable or non-separable snap fit engagement of the secondary cantilever arms with the grip part. In this way a sufficiently strong impact on e.g. the grip part will not separate the grip part from the connecting part. Instead, since the connecting part and the grip part act as a unitary component once snapped together in non-releasable manner allows for the connecting part to break away from the base plate during a sufficiently energetic impact on the grip part. Advantageously, the mounting system of the present invention can be provided in a completely disassembled state and to allow assembly of the grip part and the connecting part on site.

Short description of drawings

The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and wherein

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of a mounting system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a first cross section of a connecting part according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a second cross section of a connecting part according to an embodiment of the present invention; and wherein

Figure 6 shows a top view of a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Description of embodiments

Figure 1 depicts a mounting system for a handle, e.g. a door handle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting system comprises one or more mounting units 1 that are configured to be mounted on a door, e.g. a glass or plastic door of a refrigerator, freezer and the like. Each mounting unit 1 of the one or more mounting units comprises a base plate 2 which is arranged and configured to be mounted on a door. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment wherein the mounting system comprises two mounting units 1 , T for connection to a door (not shown), wherein each of the mounting units 1 , T comprises a corresponding base plate 2, 2’ to be attached to a door.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base plate 2 comprises a mounting surface S which is to be affixed to a surface of a door, wherein the base plate 2 and in particular the mounting surface S thereof may be affixed to the door by using an adhesive for example.

Alternatively, the mounting surface S may even be welded to the door when possible. For example, in case the door is made of plastic, e.g. transparent plastic, and the base plate is also made of plastic, then welding the base plate 2 to the plastic door would provide a strong, distributed connection preventing highly localised stress in the door when the mounting system is subjected to impact.

As a further alternative embodiment, the base plate 2 may be provided with a recess in the mounting surface S, or the mounting surface S is further provided with a circumferential rim. This allows a glue or adhesive to be received on the surface S, e.g. in the recess, for mounting the base plate 2 to the surface of a door in a controlled manner, so that the glue or adhesive will not end up on a part of the surface of the door outside the mounting surface S perimeter. Therefore, the recess or circumferential rim prevent the glue or adhesive from being squeezed outward between the surface S and the door.

Each mounting unit 1 comprises a grip part 3 for opening and closing the door, e.g. when pulling and pushing the grip part 3, and further comprises a connecting part 4 arranged for connection to the grip part 3 and wherein the connecting part 4 is further arranged for releasable connection/engagement to the base plate 2.The releasable connection may be a separable/releasable snap-fit connection. To achieve the releasable connection, the base plate 2 comprises a mating part 5 and the connecting part 4 comprises a plurality of deformable primary cantilever arms/beams 6 each of which comprises an end catch/lug element 7 for releasable engagement, e.g. releasable snap-fit engagement, with the mating part 5.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a mounting unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Then, as depicted in Figure 1 and 2, the connecting part 4 and the grip part 3 are separate components that can be assembled. In particular, as shown the grip part 3 comprises an open end 11 for receiving the connecting part 4. The connecting part 4 then comprises a plurality of deformable secondary cantilever arms 12 that project substantially parallel to the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6, and wherein the plurality of secondary cantilever arms 12 are configured for non-releasable snap-fit engagement with the open end 11 of the grip part 3. Here, the connecting part 4 is receivable within the open end 11 of the grip part 3 and attached thereto by a non-releasable or non-separable snap-fit engagement with the grip part 3. In this way a sufficiently strong impact on e.g. the grip part 3 will not separate the grip part 3 from the connecting part 4 but allows simultaneous separation of the grip part 3 and the connecting part 4 from the base part 2.

Note that the mounting system of the present invention can be provided in a disassembled state and to assemble, e.g., the connecting part and grip part locally on site.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the mating part 5 is arranged on an opposite surface to the mounting surface S of the base plate 2. So when the base plate 2 is mounted on a door and the mating surface S engages the door, then the mating part 5 protrudes away from the door.

According to the present invention, the mounting system for a handle, such as a door handle for a refrigerator/freezer, utilizes a releasable/separable snap fit connection between the connecting part 4 and the base part 2 to provide a separable connection when impacting the mounting unit 1 (e.g. the grip part 3) to prevent a door from being damaged. Impact energy will be largely absorbed through separation of the connecting part 4 from the base part 2 and as such the door itself remains intact as any remaining impact energy will generally not be sufficient to damage the door.

As depicted, the end catch element 7 of each primary cantilever arm 6 may comprise a retention catch face 8 at a retention catch angle (a) bigger than 0° and smaller than 90° degrees for engagement with the mating part 5. Having an acute angle (a) for the retention catch face 8 allows the releasable snap-fit connection to be obtained between the connecting part 4 and the base part 2, wherein the retention catch angle (a) enables withdrawal of the connecting part 4 away from the base part 2, i.e. the mating part 5, through sufficient pulling force as the end catch element 7 moves sideways and as a result flexes the primary cantilever arm 6 sideways as well. The retention catch face 8 has a depth of between 1 and 3mm, e.g. 2 mm.

Forces required to separate the connecting part 4 and the base part 2 can be tailored by selecting a particular retention catch angle (a). For example, increasing the retention catch angle (a) increases a retention force at which the connecting part 4 and the base part 2 are connected and a such higher impact loads will be required to separate the connecting part 4 from the base part 2. So a retention catch angle (a) of around 40 to 60 degrees will yield a weaker connection than using a retention catch angel (a) of 65 - 80 degrees.

In an advantages embodiment, each of the primary cantilever arms 6 are tapered cantilever arms, for distributing stress and strain more evenly through the primary cantilever arm 6 to prevent cracks therein or even rupture so that a prescribed separation force can be attained and is not compromised when the mounting unit is subjected to impact. The taper angle is between 1 and 10 degrees, e.g. 5 degrees.

As further shown in Figure 1 , the mating part 5 may comprise a circumferentially arranged or extending mating ridge 9 for engagement with the end catch element 7 of each primary cantilever arm 6. Such a circumferentially arranged mating ridge 9 simplifies connection of the connecting part 4 to the base plate 2 when the plurality of cantilever arm 6 are, for example, also circumferentially arranged along a perimeter of the connecting part 4. In the depicted embodiment, for example, the connecting part 4 comprises four primary cantilever arms 6 that are evenly distributed in circumferential fashion. By providing a circumferential mating ridge 9 simplifies alignment of primary cantilever arms 6 to the base plate 2 as there are no plurality of cantilever arms on the base plate 2 that have to match exactly with the plurality of primary cantilever arm 6.

In an embodiment, the circumferential mating ridge 9 may have a predominantly rectangular shape, so wherein a length L of the mating ridge 9 is larger than a width W of the mating ridge 9. This allows the connecting part 4 to separation/release from the base plate 2 somewhat easier in a particular direction when subjected to an impact force. On another embodiment, the circumferential mating ridge 9 may be predominantly square, e.g. wherein the length L substantially equals the width W, thereby allowing the connecting part 4 to exhibit separation/release from the base plate 2 substantially equally in all directions when the grip par 3 is subject to an impact. Of course, the circumferential mating ridge 9 may also be oval shaped having a length L larger than a width Wto differentiate separation characteristics in a particular direction. Alternatively, a substantially round/circular mating ridge 9 may be provided having a length L equal to a width W, thereby allowing substantially uniform separation characteristics in all direction.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mating ridge 9 may comprise a retention mating face 10 at a retention mating angle (b) bigger than 0° and smaller than 90° degrees for engagement with the end catch element 7 of each primary cantilever arm 6. The retention mating face 10 has a depth of between 1 and 3mm, e.g. 2 mm. In this embodiment, the retention mating angle (b) is analogous to the retention catch angle (a) in that the retention mating angle (b) may further determine the strength of the connecting between the connecting part 4 and the base plate 2. Likewise, increasing the retention mating angle (b) increases a retention force at which the connecting part 4 and the base part 2 are connected and a such higher impact loads will be required to separate the connecting part 4 from the base part 2. So a retention mating angle (b) of around 40 to 60 degrees will yield a weaker connection than using a retention mating angel (b) of 65 - 80 degrees.

In a further embodiment, the plurality of primary and secondary cantilever arms 6, 12 may be arranged in alternating fashion along a circumference of the connecting part 4, e.g. along a perimeter thereof. This embodiment is depicted in Figure 1 and shows that in this way the connecting part 4 can be evenly connected along its perimeter to the grip part 3 and at the same time be evenly connected along its perimeter to the base plate 2. As further shown, in this embodiment none of the primary and secondary cantilever arms 6, 12 overlap each other along the circumference of the connecting part 4 and as such the primary cantilever arm 6 are able to freely flex/bend in sideways fashion for snapping onto or separating from the base plate 2.

In a further embodiment, each of the plurality of secondary cantilever arms 12 may be shorter than each of the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6, thereby allowing a stronger/stiffer snap-fit engagement through higher contact forces onto each of the secondary cantilever arms 12 between the grip part 3 and the connecting part 4.

In an embodiment the base plate 2 may comprise an outer circumference C smaller than an inner circumference/perimeter P of the open end 11 of the grip part 3, so that the base plate 2 can be fully received in the open end 11 of the grip part 3. That is, through this embodiment the open end 11 may circumferentially engage the door on which the mounting system is mounted. In particular, the circumference/perimeter P of the open end 11 may firmly or tightly engage the door when the connecting parts 4 is snapped onto the base plate 2. As a result, the grip part 3 exhibits further stability as it is prevented from bending by moderate torque levels applied thereon when opening or closing a door.

Further stability of the mounting system and in particular each mounting unit may be achieved in an embodiment wherein the outer circumference C of the base plate 2 is congruent with the inner circumference/perimeter P of the grip part 3 for tight engagement there between. In this embodiment the outer circumference C of the base plate engages the inner circumference P of the open end 11 in snug and tight fashion so that any sideways movement along the door is eliminated when e.g. pulling/pushing the grip part 3 in a direction parallel to the door.

Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of a mounting system according to another embodiment of the present invention. As depicted, the one or more primary cantilever arms 6 of the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6 may comprise a base portion 6a attached to the connecting part 4 wherein the base portion 6a comprises a protruding ridge 15 for snap-fit engagement with the open end 11 of the grip part 3. In this embodiment, the base portion 6a can be seen as a portion where the primary cantilever arms 6 attaches to the rest of the connecting part 4. One or more protruding ridges 15 may then allow for snap-fit connection to the open end 11 , e.g. on an inside surface of the grip part 3. In addition to the secondary cantilever arms 12, this further prevents separation of the connecting part 4 and the grip part 3 when the grip part 3 is subjected to an impact. Comparable to the secondary cantilever arms 12, a further embodiment is conceivable wherein one or more protruding ridges 15 may be configured for non-releasable snap-fit engagement with the open end 11 of the grip part 3, thereby further facilitating a secure and reliable attachment of the connecting part 4 to the grip part 3.

In an advantageous embodiment, each primary cantilever arm 6 comprises the base portion 6a attached to the connecting part 4 wherein the base portion 6a comprises the protruding ridge 15 for snap-fit engagement with the open end 11 of the grip part 3. This allows for further increased connecting strength between the connecting part 4 and the grip part 3, particularly in an embodiment wherein the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6 are evenly distributed in circumferential fashion along the connecting part 4 as depicted.

Further embodiments are conceivable that ensure correct alignment between the base plate 2 and the connecting part 4 such that the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6 engage the mating part 5, e.g. the circumferential arranged mating ridge 9, of the base plate 2 as intended. To that end, Figure 4 and 5 show a first and second cross section, respectively, of a connecting part 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 then shows a top view of a base plate 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As depicted, in an embodiment the connecting part 4 may comprise a protruding centering member 16 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the primary and secondary cantilever arms 6, 12. The base plate 2 may then be configured for tight engagement, i.e. a close fit, with the centering member 16. By allowing the centering member 16 to be tightly received and closely fitted in the base plate 2 ensures that the base plate 2 and the connecting part 4 are laterally and rotationally/angularly aligned. This, in turn, ensures proper overall alignment between the mating part 5, e.g. mating ridge 9, and the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6 for achieving proper snap-fit engagement.

In exemplary embodiments as shown in Figure 3 and 6, the mating part 5 of the base plate 2 may comprise a recess 5a, a first pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18 protruding into the recess 5a, and an opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 19, 20 protruding into the recess 5a. A centering space 21 is then enclosed by the first and second pair of spaced apart ridges 17,

18, 19, 20 for receiving, e.g. tightly receiving, the centering member 16. In this embodiment the centering member 16 is receivable, e.g. in tight fashion, in the centering space 21 , wherein the first and opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18, 19, 20 provide both laterally and angular alignment between the mating part 5 and the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6.

In an advantageous embodiment, when the mating part 5 comprises the circumferentially arranged mating ridge 9 as mentioned earlier, then such mating ridge 9 may define/enclose the recess 5a. This embodiment conveniently provides opposing wall portions of the mating ridge 9 on which the first and opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18, 19, 20 can be provided.

In an embodiment as depicted in Figure 4 and 5, the centering member 16 may taper as it extends in the direction substantially parallel to the primary and secondary cantilever arms 6, 12. The tapered/wedge shaped centering member 16 allows for less precise initial insertion of the centering member 16 into the base plate 2, e.g. recess 5a, but where an increasing tighter fit between the centering member 16 and the base plate 2, e.g. recess 5a, is achieved upon deeper insertion of the centering member 16.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figure 4-6, the first and opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18, 19, 20 impose both lateral and angular alignment between the mating part 5 and the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6 when the centering member 16 comprises a substantially rectangular cross section, allowing the centering member 16 to tightly slide into the centering space 21 defined by the first and opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18,

19, 20. In an embodiment with a tapered/wedge shaped centering member 16 as mentioned above simplifies the initial insertion into the centering space 21 but where proper alignment is achieved upon deeper insertion therein, i.e. between the first and opposing second pair of spaced apart ridges 17, 18, 19, 20. As mentioned above, the mounting system of the present invention may comprise one or more mounting units 1 , T each of which comprising the components and features as outlined in the embodiment disclosed above. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment wherein the mounting system comprises two mounting units 1 , 1 ’ for connection to a door.

As depicted, in an embodiment the mounting system may comprises two mounting units 1 ,1’ each of which may further comprises a bar grip 13 having a first end 14 and an opposing second end 14’ the first end 14 being configured for connection to the grip part 3 of a first mounting unit 1 of the two mounting units 1 , 1 ’ and the second end 14’ being configured for connection to the grip part 3’ of a second mounting unit 1 ’ of the two mounting units 1 , 1’.

In Figure 1 , the second mounting unit 1’ is a mirrored version of the first mounting element, and like elements are indicated with a prime. This embodiment demonstrates the versatility of the mounting system that a single mounting unit 1 may be used as a single door knob for opening and closing a door but in further embodiments two mounting grips 1 , T may be used and connected by a bar gip 13.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 works as described earlier, e.g., when a shopping cart impacts the bar grip 13, then depending on the direction of the impact and where the impact takes place, one or both connecting parts 4, 4’ of each mounting unit 1 , ‘1 may separate from their respective base plates 2, 2’. The separation of the snap-fit connection of one or both connecting parts 4, 4’ absorb the impact energy such that the door is not damaged.

It should be noted that the two mounting units 1 , T as depicted may be considered identical, so the second mounting unit 1 ’, like the first mounting unit 1 , comprises the base plate 2’ arranged for being mounted on a door, the grip part 3’ arranged for opening and closing the door, and the connecting part 4’ arranged for connection to the grip part 3’ and for releasable connection, e.g. snap-fit connection, to the base plate 2’. The base plate 2’ comprises the mounting surface S’ to be affixed to a surface of a door and the mating part 5’ (e.g. with circumferentially arranged mating ridge 9’), and wherein the connecting part 4’ comprises the plurality of deformable primary cantilever arms/beams 6’ each of which comprises the end catch element 7’ for releasable (snap-fit) engagement with the mating part 5’. Then the grip part 3’ comprises an open end 1 T for receiving the connecting part 4’, wherein the connecting part 4’ comprises a plurality of deformable secondary cantilever arms 12’ projecting substantially parallel to the plurality of primary cantilever arms 6’, and wherein the plurality of secondary cantilever arms 12’ are configured for non-releasable snap-fit engagement with the open end 1 T of the grip part 3’.

The mounting system of the present invention may be made of various materials to meet particular speciation. For example, in an advantageous embodiment, the base plate 2, 2’, grip part 3, 3’ and connecting part 4, 4’ of each mounting unit 1 ,T may be made of plastic material, thereby providing resiliency of the primary cantilever arms 6, 6’ and secondary cantilever arms 12’ but at the same time provide sturdiness to the base plate 2, 2’, and mating part 5, 5’ thereof ,and the grip part 3, 3’. The base plate 2, 2’ connecting part 4, ‘4 and/or the grip part 3, 3’ may be made of A(amorphous)-PET for example. In a further embodiment the bar grip 13 may also be made of plastic or aluminium if desired. It was suggested in the description above that embodiments are conceivable wherein the base plate 2 may be welded to a door. In case the door is made of plastic, e.g. transparent plastic, and the base plate 2 is also made of plastic, then welding the base plate 2 to the plastic door would provide a strong and distributed connection of the base plate 2 to the door preventing localised stress and strain where the base plate 2 connects to the door when the mounting system suffers impact.

The mounting system of the present invention is beneficial for cooling cabinets, refrigerators, freezer etc. that utilize glass or plastic doors, e.g. transparent doors. However, because both glass and plastic doors may be relatively fragile, so the mounting system of the present invention is advantageous as it prevents significant damage of such doors when the mounting system is subjected to an impact from, e.g., a shopping cart. So according to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator, freezer and the like, wherein the door comprises the mounting system as described herein and wherein the door is made of glass or plastic material.

In an even further aspect the present invention also relates to a method of mounting the mounting system of the present invention to a door, particularly when the door is made of plastic, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a base plate 2 of plastic material; welding the base plate 2 to the plastic door, and pushing the connecting part 4 onto the mating part 5 of the base plate 2 until the connecting part 4 snaps into place on the mating part 5.

Welding the base plate 2 to the plastic door may, in an embodiment, be seen as melting the baseplate 2 to the plastic door, so wherein the base plate 2 and the plastic door locally fuse together.

The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.