Appliance hinge counterbalance assembly with snubber

• US 10,458,167 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Collene, James J., White, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Brien, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/131,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20160230438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1075 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/20 in hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/08 with springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/10 with piston brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/00 Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/20 Brakes; Disengaging means; Holders; Stops; Valves; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/264 linear
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/686 Rods, links
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/312 for washing machines or laundry dryers

Abstract

A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge has a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. A channel is located between the first and second side walls. First and second notch portions are respectively located in the first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base and has a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, a first end located in the first notch portion and a second end located in the second notch portion. A biasing spring has an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. A spring rod includes an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lever. The lever also pivotally connects to the lobe of the cam. A damper assembly is connected to the base and having a piston which is moved between a first position and a second position by the lever contacting the piston. The piston damps movement of the counterbalance assembly.

Claims

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

a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall, said base including;

(i) a channel located between the first and second side walls;

(ii) first and second elongated slots located respectively in the first and second side walls and aligned with each other;

a rotating cam supported on the base, said cam including;

(i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said camshaft comprising a first end supported by said first side wall and a second end supported by said second side wall; and

(ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft, said lobe located in the channel between the first and second side walls of the base;

a biasing coil spring comprising an inner end engaged with the transverse face wall of the base and an outer end spaced outwardly away from the base, said outer end of said spring located outside said channel;

a spring rod that extends through an opening in said transverse face wall such that an inner end of the spring rod is located in the channel and an outer end of the spring rod is spaced from the transverse face wall, said spring rod extending coaxially through the biasing coil spring, and said outer end of said spring rod operatively coupled to an outer end of the spring and said inner end of said spring rod operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam by a lever such that said spring biases said spring rod to an extended position where said outer end is spaced a maximum distance from the transverse face wall;

a damper assembly comprising;

(i) a damper base connected to said channel;

(ii) said lever that operatively couples said inner end of said spring rod to the lobe of the cam, said lever comprising a first portion pivotally connected to said inner end of said spring rod by a pivot fastener, said lever including a tab that extends therefrom outside said channel and said lever further including a second portion pivotally connected to said lobe of said cam; and

, (iii) a piston assembly connected to said damper base and comprising a piston which is moved between a first position and a second position by said tab of said lever contacting said piston, said piston assembly comprising a piston spring that biases said piston toward its first position;

said pivot fastener that pivotally connects said lever to said spring rod comprising opposite first and second ends that are respectively slidably engaged with the first and second slots so that the pivot fastener and lever are slidably engaged with the base and adapted for reciprocal linear sliding movement relative to the base;

wherein rotational movement of the cam in a first angular direction relative to said base causes rotational movement of the lobe in said first angular direction and causes inward linear sliding movement of the lever and pivot fastener in a first direction such that said tab of said lever engages said piston and urges said piston inwardly from its first position toward its second position whereby said piston assembly damps movement of said cam in said first angular direction; and

rotational movement of the cam in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction causes rotational movement of the lobe in said second angular direction and causes outward linear sliding movement of the lever and pivot fastener in a second direction away from said piston to allow outward sliding movement of said piston in response to said piston spring biasing said piston toward its first position.