Refrigerator handle assembly with exchangeable end caps
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorForrest F. Wing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handle assembly for mounting to a door of a refrigerator includes a main body portion having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion, wherein each of the first and second end portions includes a recessed section adapted to receive an end cap. Each of the end caps includes a mounting arrangement formed therein for receiving an attachment member, such as a clip or bracket. The handle is selectively mounted to a front face or side edge of the refrigerator door depending upon the end caps and attachment members selected.
Claims20
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet defining an interior compartment;
- a door, having a front face portion and a side edge, pivotally mounted to the cabinet for selectively accessing the interior compartment;
- and
- a handle system for shifting the door relative to the cabinet, said handle system being selectively mounted to the front face portion or the side edge of the door, said handle system including:
- a main body member including first and second end portions;
- a first end cap provided between the first end portion of the main body member and the front face portion of the door;
- a second end cap provided between the second end portion of the main body member and the front face portion of the door;
- a first attachment member configured to mount the main body member to the front face portion of the door;
- and
- a second attachment different from the first attachment member and configured to mount the main body member to the side edge of the door;
- wherein the main body member is located on the front face portion and selectively fastened to one of the front face of the door and the side edge of the door by selecting one of the first and second attachment members according to the fastening location and the selected one of the first and second attachment member is used to fix the respective first and second end portions of the main body member through the respective first and second end caps.
A method of assembling a handle to a selective one of a front face and a side edge of a refrigerator door comprising:
- providing a handle;
- selecting first and second end caps;
- selecting a first attachment member, with the first attachment member to be of a first type when the handle is to be mounted to the front face of the door or of a second type when the handle is to be attached to the side edge of the door;
- selecting a second attachment member, with the second attachment member to be of the first type when the handle is to be mounted to the front face of the door or of the second type when the handle is to be attached to the side edge of the door;
- fastening the first attachment member to a first end portion of the handle with the first end cap interposed therebetween and positioned on the front face of the door, thereby securing the first end cap to the handle;
- fastening the second attachment member to a second end portion of the handle with the second end cap interposed therebetween and positioned on the front face of the door, thereby securing the second end cap to the handle;
- and
- selectively attaching the handle and the first and second end caps to the front face or the side edge of the door through the first and second attachment members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.