Hinge assembly with slow close and optional slow open characteristics

• US 10,082,298 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Brian S., Collene, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L
• Application Number:
  US15/498,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20180216832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 16286, 16289, 16 54, 16 50, 16 82, 16 85, 16 72, 16 80, 3123192, 126194
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/256 with pistons or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/412 for the final closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

An appliance hinge assembly includes an arm to be mated with a receiver. A door mounting lever is adapted to be connected to an appliance door, and the lever includes an inner end pivotally connected to the arm. The lever pivots relative to the arm between a first position and a second position, through an intermediate position. A slide link is located adjacent the lever and includes an inner end and outer end. The slide link inner end is pivotally connected to the arm at a location that is offset from the main pivot axis such that pivoting movement of the lever about the main pivot axis results in movement of the slide link relative to the lever. A biasing system includes a spring that urges the lever toward the first position. A damper system includes a damper that damps movement of the lever.

Claims

1. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:

an arm adapted to be mated with an associated appliance receiver;

a door mounting lever adapted to be connected to an appliance door, said door mounting lever comprising an inner end pivotally connected to the arm and an outer end spaced from said inner end, said lever adapted to pivot relative to the arm about a main pivot axis between a first position and a second position, and through an intermediate position located between said first and second positions;

a slide link located adjacent the lever and comprising a slide link inner end and a slide link outer end spaced from said slide link inner end, said slide link inner end pivotally connected to the arm at a location that is offset from said main pivot axis such that pivoting movement of said lever about said main pivot axis results in movement of the slide link relative to the lever;

a biasing system for urging the lever toward said first position, said biasing system comprising a spring operatively engaged between the lever and the slide link, said spring exerting a biasing force on the slide link relative to the lever that urges the slide link toward the outer end of the lever and that urges the lever toward its first position;

a damper system that damps movement of the lever for at least part of a movement of the lever about said main pivot axis in a door closing direction from its second position toward its first position, said damper system comprising a damper that contacts said arm during at least part of the movement of the lever in said door closing direction to slow movement of the lever in said door closing direction.

2. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said damper is engaged with said arm when said lever is located in said intermediate position and in said first position, and when said lever is located between said intermediate position and said first position.

3. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said damper is disengaged from said arm when said lever is located in said second position and when said lever is located between said second position and said intermediate position.

4. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said damper comprises an inner end that is spaced from said arm when said lever is located in said second position and that contacts said arm when said lever is located in said intermediate position and when said lever is located in said first position.

5. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said damper is connected to said slide link and moves with said slide link relative to said mounting lever when said mounting lever is pivoted relative to said arm about said main pivot axis.

6. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said damper further comprises a follower connected to said damper inner end.

7. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said follower comprises a roller.

8. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing system further comprises a spring rod that comprises an inner end connected to said slide link outer end, said spring rod comprising an outer end including a stop, wherein said spring is coaxially positioned about the spring rod and captured between said stop and a transverse wall of said door mounting lever, said spring resiliently biasing said spring rod and slide link outwardly away from the main pivot axis.

9. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said damper comprises a follower roller connected thereto and wherein said follower roller contacts said arm when said door mounting lever is in said intermediate position, said first position, and between said intermediate and first positions.

10. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said following roller is connected to said damper by a follower fastener that is engaged with said door mounting lever.

11. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said door mounting lever comprises first and second side walls, and said first and second side walls respectively comprising first and second elongated slots that are aligned with each other, and wherein said follower fastener comprises opposite first and second ends that are respectively located in said first and second elongated slots.

12. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said damper comprises a piston that reciprocates in a bore and a piston rod connected to said piston and that projects outwardly from said bore, and wherein said first and second elongated slots each extend linearly along respective axes that lie parallel to a central axis of the damper bore.

13. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said damper system further comprises a damper housing secured to the door mounting lever, and said damper comprises a body that is slidably supported by said damper housing.

14. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a damper fastener that connects said damper housing to said door mounting lever, wherein said piston rod abuts said damper fastener.

15. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said first and second side walls respectively further comprise third and fourth elongated slots that are aligned with each other, and wherein damper fastener comprises opposite first and second ends that are respectively located in said third and fourth elongated slots.

16. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said slide link comprises a damper engagement portion that moves inwardly toward said main pivot fastener when said door mounting lever is moved in a door opening direction from said first position toward said second position, and wherein during at least part of a movement of the door mounting lever in said door opening direction, said damper engagement portion urges said damper fastener inwardly such that said piston and piston rod retract and said damper is activated when said door mounting lever is moved in said door opening direction.

17. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said damper system further comprises a damper return spring that biases said piston toward an extended position where said piston rod extends from said bore a greater distance as compared to said retracted position.