# US 10,478,040 B1 · Handle assembly for an appliance door > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,040 B1 - Document ID: US10478040B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/104,984 - Filed: 2018-08-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-20 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Bradley Duane Ford, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478040B1 ## CPC - A47L 15/4257: {Details of the loading door} - A47L 15/4259: {Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open} - E05B 1/0015: {Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS ## Abstract A handle assembly for an appliance door includes a handle frame mounted over a handle aperture defined in an outer door. The handle frame defines a pocket recess positioned within a door gap and being configured for receiving a separately manufactured pocket handle. Specifically, the pocket handle includes a horizontal arm extending from a rear of the pocket recess toward a front of appliance door substantially along a horizontal direction and a grip extending from the horizontal arm substantially along a vertical direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handle assembly for an appliance door, the appliance door comprising an outer door and an inner door spaced apart by a door gap, the outer door defining a handle aperture, the handle assembly comprising: a handle frame mounted to the outer door over the handle aperture, the handle frame defining a pocket recess positioned within the door gap; a pocket handle mounted to the handle frame within the pocket recess, the pocket handle comprising: a horizontal arm extending from a rear of the pocket recess toward a front of the appliance door substantially along a horizontal direction; and a grip extending from the horizontal arm substantially along a vertical direction, wherein a front surface of the grip sits flush with a front of the outer door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the horizontal arm is positioned proximate a top wall of the handle frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the horizontal arm and the top wall of the handle frame are spaced apart along a vertical direction to define an illumination gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The handle assembly of claim 3, wherein a light pipe is positioned within the illumination gap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The handle assembly of claim 3, wherein a top surface of the horizontal arm is slanted relative to the horizontal direction such that the illumination gap is tapered toward the front of the appliance door. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle frame comprises a rear wall defining a cutout proximate a top wall of the handle frame, a rear end of the horizontal arm being received within the cutout. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the grip defines a maximum grip thickness along the transverse direction and the horizontal arm defines a maximum arm height along a vertical direction, wherein the grip thickness is greater than three times the arm height. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the pocket recess defines a maximum recess depth measured along the transverse direction, the grip thickness being greater than approximately one-quarter of the recess depth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the pocket handle and the handle frame are separate parts joined together with one or more mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the pocket handle further comprises: one or more screw bosses defined on a rear side of the grip for receiving one or more mechanical fasteners passed through the handle frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the appliance door is a dishwasher door. ### Claim 12 A method of manufacturing a handle assembly for an appliance door, the method comprising: manufacturing a handle frame defining a pocket recess; manufacturing a pocket handle comprising a horizontal arm and a grip extending from the horizontal arm; and assembling the pocket handle and the handle frame such that the horizontal arm extends from a rear of the pocket recess substantially along a horizontal direction and the grip extends from the horizontal arm substantially along the vertical direction, wherein a front surface of the grip sits flush with a front of the appliance door. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising: mounting the handle assembly over a handle aperture of an outer door of the appliance door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the horizontal arm and a top wall of the handle frame are spaced apart along a vertical direction to define an illumination gap, the method further comprising: mounting a light pipe within the illumination gap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a top surface of the horizontal arm is slanted relative to the horizontal direction such that the illumination gap is tapered toward the front of the appliance door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the grip defines a maximum grip thickness along the transverse direction and the horizontal arm defines a maximum arm height along a vertical direction, wherein the grip thickness is greater than three times the arm height. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the pocket handle and the handle frame are separate parts and assembly the pocket handle and the handle frame comprises: attaching the pocket handle to the handle frame using one or more mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 18 A handle assembly for an appliance door, the appliance door comprising an outer door and an inner door spaced apart by a door gap, the outer door defining a handle aperture, the handle assembly comprising: a handle frame mounted to the outer door over the handle aperture, the handle frame defining a pocket recess positioned within the door gap; a pocket handle mounted to the handle frame within the pocket recess, the pocket handle comprising: a horizontal arm extending from a rear of the pocket recess toward a front of the appliance door substantially along a horizontal direction; and a grip extending from the horizontal arm substantially along a vertical direction; and an appearance piece mounted to a front surface of the grip, wherein the appearance piece sits flush with a front of the outer door.