Handle assembly for floor supported appliances
AssigneeAB Electrolux
InventorCarla B. Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handle assembly having a one piece molded handle that is mounted to an extension tube and that has an integrated switch for use with a floor supported appliance is provided. The handle includes a loop-shaped grip portion, an elongated portion in which an extension tube is mounted, and a switch mounting port for mounting the switch in the handle. The handle includes a minimum number of parts and does not require fasteners for mounting it to the extension tube. A method for making the handle is also provided.
Claims32
A handle assembly for use with a floor supported appliance including a one piece molded handle and an extension tube to which said handle is mounted, said handle being formed by a method comprising the steps of:
- injecting a predetermined amount of molten plastic into a mold having a cavity in which is located a core section having a tip portion, said cavity having the shape of said handle and a surface area, said handle comprising:
- a loop-shaped grip portion,
- an elongated portion having a passage for receiving said extension tube, said passage having a surface, a longitudinal axis, and being defined by said core section,
- a switch mounting port located in said grip portion in communication with said passage, said switch mounting port being defined by said tip portion, and
- a fluid injection port, said switch mounting port being adapted to receive a switch;
- injecting a fluid having a fluid pressure into said predetermined amount of plastic at a flow rate through said fluid injection port, thereby forcing said molten plastic to flow in said cavity to create a fluid channel inside said plastic before said plastic completely hardens in said cavity, at least a portion of said channel being in said grip portion;
- and
- packing said plastic against said cavity surface area with fluid pressure for a time period less than a molding cycle.
A method for making a one piece molded handle mounted to an extension tube for use with a floor supported appliance, said method comprising the steps of:
- injecting a predetermined amount of molten plastic into a cavity the shape of a handle, said cavity having a surface area, said handle comprising:
- a loop-shaped grip portion,
- an elongated portion having a passage for receiving said extension tube,
- a switch mounting port located in said grip portion in communication with said passage, said passage and said switch mounting port being formed by a core section having a tip portion and a longitudinal axis, and
- a fluid injection port;
- injecting a fluid having a fluid pressure
- into said plastic at a flow rate through said fluid injection port, thereby forcing said molten plastic to flow in said cavity to create a fluid channel inside said plastic before said plastic completely hardens in said cavity, at least a portion of said channel being in said grip portion;
- packing said plastic against said cavity surface area with fluid pressure for a time period less than a molding cycle;
- and
- mounting said handle to said tube, said step of mounting comprising the steps of:
- retracting said core section from said cavity to form said passage having a longitudinal axis, and
- inserting a first end of an extension tube into said passage.
A handle assembly having a one piece molded handle for use with a floor supported appliance, said handle being mounted to an extension tube and having an integrated electrical control switch, said handle comprising:
- a loop-shaped grip portion, said grip portion being at least partially hollow;
- an elongated portion having a longitudinal axis and a passage for receiving said extension tube that is connected to the floor supported appliance;
- and
- a switch mounting port for mounting said switch to said grip portion, said mounting port being in communication with said passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.