EP3563726A1

EP3563726A1 - Handle arrangement for a mirror cabinet and a mirror cabinet

Info

Publication number: EP3563726A1
Application number: EP19164524.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jouni Koskinen; Tuomas TOIVONEN; Timo KARHULA
Original assignee: Polaria Oy
Current assignee: Polaria Oy
Priority date: 2018-04-30
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2019-11-06
Also published as: FI12159U1

Abstract

A handle arrangement for a mirror cabinet, which mirror cabinet comprises a frame (3) and one or more mirror doors (2) hinged to it, on which door a handle (1) is installed, the handle having a U-shaped groove (9) for installing onto the edge, preferably onto the bottom edge, of the mirror door (2), and which handle (1) has a handle protrusion (7) for opening and closing the mirror door (2). The invention is implemented in such a way that the handle (1) comprises one injection-molded, two-component plastic part, one of which component parts is softer than the other.

Description

The object of the present invention is a handle arrangement for a mirror cabinet, which mirror cabinet comprises a frame and one or more mirror doors hinged to it, on which door a handle is installed, the handle having a U-shaped groove for installing onto the edge, preferably onto the bottom edge, of the mirror door. The object of the invention is also a mirror cabinet.
Mirror cabinets are typically used in bathrooms, washrooms and toilets. The name mirror cabinet comes from its doors being glass mirrors. A handle is fastened to, or formed on, the mirror doors of a mirror cabinet, generally two handles per mirror cabinet, by means of which handles a mirror door is openable and closable. Typically, the handle comprises a handle part of metal or plastic and also a soft sticker, or corresponding, coming between the mirror door and the handle. The handle can also be formed from e.g. the open bottom edge of the mirror door or from a hole in the mirror. There are also one-piece handles to be pressed into place without tools, the handles being manufactured from one material, typically metal. Metal, however, creates a risk of scratching on the mirror if the handle is able to slide on the surface of the mirror.
Usually the handle keeps the mirror door closed by means of a magnet or a so-called 'kitchen hinge', which kitchen hinge has a damper or soft-closing mechanism. A handle may be able to drop out of position if it is attached only by friction.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a handle arrangement for a mirror cabinet, which arrangement is not conjoined with the problems occurring in prior-art solutions. The handle arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the handle comprises one injection-molded, two-component plastic part, one of which component parts is softer than the other.
One preferred embodiment of the handle arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the softer component part is situated in the U-shaped groove in such a way that when the handle is attached to the mirror part the softer part comes against the mirror.
The handle arrangement according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that most of the softer component part is in a vertical attitude.
Yet another preferred embodiment of the handle arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the softer component part is formed from two or more U-shaped prongs that are connected with a horizontal rod.
Other embodiments of the invention are defined in claims 5-7.
The mirror cabinet according to the invention is characterized by what is defined in independent claim 8.
One advantage of the invention that can be mentioned is that the handle remains in position very well because the locking in the locking position supports it upwards. Additionally, the handle is easy to install without additional parts or tools and, if necessary, is also easy to detach without breaking the handle.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of some preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a handle arrangement according to the invention as viewed in the direction of the plane of the mirror door and partially sectioned.
Fig. 2 presents the handle in a situation in which the mirror door is opened.
Fig. 3 presents the handle axonometrically.
Fig. 4 presents the handle axonometrically, without the softer part.
Fig. 5 presents the softer part axonometrically.
Fig. 6 presents the handle as viewed from its end.

Fig. 1 presents a handle 1, which is fastened to the mirror door 2 from below by pressing. The frame of the mirror cabinet is marked with the reference number 3. Fig. 1 thus presents the locking position, in which the fastening protrusion 4 of the handle extends into the countershape of the frame of the mirror cabinet, the countershape being e.g. an aperture, hole or groove 5 (Fig. 2). The locking protuberance 6 at the end of the fastening protrusion extends in the closed position through the groove, in which case the mirror door 2 stays closed. The locking protuberance 6 and countershape (e.g. a groove 5) are shaped in such a way that when pulled with a gentle force from the handle protrusion 7 of the handle 1, the locking opens and the door can be opened.
The fastening protrusion 4 is spring-like and dimensioned in such a way that in the closed position of the mirror door 2 it produces a horizontal force component closing the mirror door 2 into a suitably inclined countershape, such as a groove 5 of the frame 3, via the locking protuberance 6, the force component forming a suitable locking force for the mirror door 2.
When the mirror door 2 is closed in the manner presented in Fig. 1, the flexible locking shape of the fastening protrusion 4 together with the countershape of the frame 1 try to raise the handle 1 upwards, in which case closing of the mirror door raises a handle that has shifted slightly out of place downwards, e.g. caused by user error, back into place into a position in which rising upwards again is prevented by a shape barrier.
Fig. 3 presents a handle according to the invention, the handle comprising one injection-molded, two-component plastic part. Of these component plastic parts, one is softer and the other is harder. The softer part 8 is dimensioned in such a way that fastening to a mirror door 2 succeeds in a straightforward manner by pressing without additional parts. The softer part is thus marked with the reference number 8 and its shape can be seen more particularly in Fig. 5. The other part of the handle 1 can be a harder component plastic part. What is essential is that the friction force of the softer 8 and harder part together acting on the surface of the mirror door is sufficient for keeping the handle 1 in its position in normal operating situations. The main shape of the softer part 8 is vertical, which is important for the installation, and possible detachment and re-installation, of the handle 1 to succeed without damaging the softer part.
In the handle is a U-shaped groove 9 for the mirror door. The softer part 8 is situated mainly in this U-shaped groove 9. Figs. 4 and 5 present the components of the injection-molded, two-component plastic part separated from each other. Fig. 4 thus presents the harder part and Fig. 5 the softer part 8. The softer part 8 is formed from U-shaped prongs 8', of which there are three in this case, but there can be a different number according to need. Preferably, however, at least two units. These U-shaped prongs 8' are connected by a horizontal rod 8". The shape of the softer part 8 can be other than this, but preferably the shape is at least mainly vertical, as described above.
It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but that it can be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Preferably the handle 1 is symmetrical in relation to the vertical center plane, in which case the same handle functions as both a right-hand and a left-hand version for a mirror cabinet.
The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can also, if necessary, be used separately to each other.

Claims

A handle arrangement for a mirror cabinet, which mirror cabinet comprises a frame (3) and one or more mirror doors (2) hinged to it, on which door a handle (1) is installed, the handle having a U-shaped groove (9) for installing onto the edge, preferably onto the bottom edge, of the mirror door (2), and which handle (1) has a handle protrusion (7) for opening and closing the mirror door (2), characterized in that the handle (1) comprises one injection-molded, two-component plastic part, one of which component parts is softer than the other.
Handle arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the softer component part (8) is situated in the U-shaped groove (9) in such a way that when the handle (1) is attached to the mirror door, the softer part (8) comes against the mirror door (2).
Handle arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that most of the softer component part (8) is in a vertical attitude.
Handle arrangement according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the softer component part (8) is formed from two or more U-shaped prongs (8') that are connected with a horizontal rod (8").
Handle arrangement according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the handle (1) comprises a fastening protrusion (4) extending to inside the mirror cabinet, in addition to a handle protrusion (7) extending outwards from the mirror door, which fastening protrusion detachably locks, when the mirror door (2) is closed, into a countershape, such as a groove (5), of the frame (3) of the mirror cabinet.
Handle arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that a countershape, such as a groove (5), of the frame (3) of the mirror cabinet is situated at such a height that the mirror door (2) when in the closed position tries to raise the handle (1) upwards.
Handle arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the fastening protrusion (4) is spring-like and dimensioned in such a way that in the closed position of the mirror door (2) it produces a horizontal force component closing the mirror door (2) into a suitably inclined countershape, such as a groove (5) of the frame (3), via the locking protuberance (6), the force component forming a suitable locking force for the mirror door (2).
Mirror cabinet, characterized in that the mirror cabinet has a handle arrangement according to any of claims 1-7.