Hinge assembly with slow close and optional slow open characteristics

• US 10,451,291 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• 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:
  US16/140,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20190024905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 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 mate 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. 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 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. Alternatively, the arm connects to the appliance door and the lever connects to the appliance body.

Claims

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

an arm;

a lever adapted to be connected to the associated appliance door, the lever comprising an inner end pivotally connected to the arm and an outer end spaced from said inner end, said lever and arm adapted to pivot relative to each other about a main pivot axis between a first position that corresponds to a closed position of the associated appliance door and a second position that corresponds to an opened position of the associated appliance door, wherein said lever and arm pivot relative to each other through in intermediate position located between the first and second positions when the lever and arm pivot between the 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 relative pivoting movement between said lever and said arm about said main pivot axis results in movement of the slide link relative to the lever;

a biasing system for urging the arm and lever toward said first position, said biasing system comprising a spring operatively engaged with 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 and arm toward the first position;

a damper system that engages the arm and damps relative pivoting movement between the arm and the lever for at least part of the relative movement between the arm and the lever when the arm and lever pivot relative to each other from the second position toward the first position, said damper system comprising a damper that contacts said arm during at least part of the relative movement between the arm and the lever when the arm and lever pivot relative to each other from the second position toward the first position.

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 and arm are located in said second position relative to each other 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 and arm are located in said second position relative to each other, wherein said damper inner end contacts said arm when said lever and arm are located in said intermediate position and when said lever and arm are 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 lever when the lever and arm are pivoted relative to each other 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 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 arm and lever are:

(i) in said intermediate position relative to each other;

(ii) in said first position relative to each other; and

, (iii) in all positions relative to each other between said intermediate position and said first position.

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 lever.

11. The hinge assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said 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 1, wherein said damper system further comprises a damper housing secured to the 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 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 arm and lever are moved relative to each other in a door opening direction from said first position toward said second position, and wherein during at least part of a movement of the arm and lever relative to each other in said door opening direction, said damper engagement portion urges said damper fastener inwardly such that said piston and piston rod retract.

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.