Integrated pocket handle towel hook

Abstract

A hook assembly for a household appliance, the assembly including a recess, a pivoting arm, and a hook. The pivoting arm is rotatable between a retracted position and an extended position, the hook is positioned outside of the recess when the pivoting arm is in the extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hook assembly for a household appliance, the hook assembly comprising:
 a mounting panel defining a recess;   a pivoting arm rotatably mounted within the recess and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and   a hook extending from the pivoting arm, wherein the hook is positioned outside the recess when the pivoting arm is in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The hook assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting panel is a front panel of a dishwasher door. 
     
     
         3 . The hook assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting panel is a front panel of a pocket handle. 
     
     
         4 . A pocket handle for a household appliance, the pocket handle defining a lateral direction, a vertical direction and a transverse direction, the lateral, vertical, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the pocket handle comprising:
 a front wall and an opposite rear wall spaced transversely from the front wall;   a pocket extending transversely from the front wall in a general direction of the rear wall; and   a hook coupled to the pocket handle, the hook spaced from the pocket, the hook comprising an arm.   
     
     
         5 . The pocket handle of  claim 4 , wherein the hook comprises an arm, the arm further comprising:
 a first surface and an opposite second surface;   a first end and a second end; and   a retainer extending from the arm at the first end of the arm.   
     
     
         6 . The pocket handle of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the arm is supported for rotation with respect to the pocket handle about an axis parallel to the lateral direction; and   the retainer extends from the first surface of the arm.   
     
     
         7 . The pocket handle of  claim 5 , wherein the arm is supported for rotation with respect to the pocket handle about an axis parallel to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The pocket handle of  claim 6 , wherein the arm is supported for rotation between a first position in which a second surface of the arm is generally parallel with the front wall and a second position. 
     
     
         9 . The pocket handle of  claim 8  further comprising an edge formed in the front wall, the edge defining a recess extending transversely from the front wall, the recess including a recess wall extending from the edge, wherein a perimeter of the hook is substantially received in the recess in the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The pocket handle of  claim 9 , further comprising a rib disposed in the recess, the rib comprising a rib first surface spaced from a rib second surface, the first and second rib surfaces generally parallel to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The pocket handle of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the arm is supported about an axis of rotation within the recess;   a portion of the first surface of the arm abuts the first rib surface in the second position; and   a portion of the second surface of the arm abuts a portion of the edge in the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The pocket handle of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pivot axis;   a pivot boss formed on the arm, the pivot boss comprising a pivot receptacle; and   wherein the pivot axis is received in the pivot receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The pocket handle of  claim 12 , wherein the pivot axis is formed on the recess wall and extends at least partially into the pivot receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The pocket handle of  claim 12 , further comprising a pivot pin wherein the pivot pin is inserted through the recess wall at least partially into the pivot receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . A household appliance door comprising a pocket handle, the pocket handle comprising:
 a front wall and an opposite rear wall spaced transversely from the front wall;   a pocket extending transversely from the front wall in a general direction of the rear wall; and   a hook coupled to the pocket handle and spaced from the pocket, the hook comprising an arm extending opposite from the rear wall.   
     
     
         16 . The household appliance door of  claim 15 , wherein the hook comprises an arm, the arm comprising:
 a first surface and an opposite second surface;   a first end and a second end;   a retainer extending from the arm at the first end of the arm; and   wherein the arm is supported for rotation about an axis with respect to the pocket handle between a first position in which a second surface of the arm is generally parallel with the front wall and a second position.   
     
     
         17 . The household appliance door of  claim 16 , wherein the pocket handle further comprises:
 an edge formed in the front wall, the edge defining a recess extending transversely from the front wall, the recess including:
 a recess wall extending from the edge; and 
 a rib disposed in the recess, the rib comprising a rib first surface spaced from a rib second surface; 
   wherein a perimeter of the hook is substantially received in the recess in the first position; and   a portion of the first surface of the arm abuts the first rib surface in the second position, the first and second rib surfaces generally parallel to the axis.   
     
     
         18 . The household appliance door of  claim 17 , wherein the arm is supported about an axis within the recess, wherein the axis of rotation is transversely spaced from the front wall. 
     
     
         19 . The household appliance door of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the first surface of the arm abuts the first rib surface in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The household appliance door of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the second surface of the arm abuts a portion of the edge in the second position.