Hinge support assembly

• US 10,598,424 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Dherde, Eric J., Fiori, Michael A., Hunter, Lynne F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tefera, Hiwot E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doyle, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US15/577,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 312405
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/266 comprising two pivots placed at opposite edges of the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/081 the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/021 French doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a cabinet having a wrapper, a liner, and a trim breaker. The wrapper, the liner, and the trim breaker define an insulating cavity therebetween. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity. A frame includes an upper frame portion, a vertical frame portion, and a lower frame portion. The frame is at least partially disposed within the insulating cavity. An upper hinge mount is disposed on the upper frame portion. A lower hinge mount is disposed on the lower frame portion. The lower frame portion has a closed outer periphery. A door is rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mounted to the lower hinge mount.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a wrapper, a liner, and a trim breaker, wherein the wrapper, the liner, and the trim breaker define an insulating cavity therebetween;

an insulating material disposed within the insulating cavity;

first and second doors rotationally mounted to the cabinet;

first and second independent frames spaced apart and disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein the first and second independent frames correspond with the first and second doors, respectively, each frame of the first and second independent frames including;

a vertical frame portion positioned parallel with a vertical edge of a respective door of the first and second doors;

a generally planar upper frame portion extending perpendicularly from an upper end of the vertical frame portion and extending partially along a width of the respective door when the respective door is closed; and

a lower frame portion extending perpendicularly from the vertical frame portion and extending partially along the width of the respective door when the respective door is closed, wherein the lower frame portion has a closed outer periphery;

an upper hinge mount integrated within the upper frame portion; and

a lower hinge mount integrated within the lower frame portion, wherein a hinge of the respective door is directly coupled with one of the upper hinge mount and the lower hinge mount, and further wherein the upper hinge mount and the lower hinge mount each include a hermetically sealed attachment receptacle extending in transverse directions.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein for each frame of the first and second independent frames, the upper frame portion, the vertical frame portion, and the lower frame portion are all formed from a single component.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the upper hinge mount of each frame of the first and second independent frames is positioned proximate opposing left and right sidewalls, respectively, of the cabinet, and wherein the lower hinge mount of each frame of the first and second independent frames is positioned proximate the right and left sidewalls, respectively, and wherein the first and second doors define a pair of French doors.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein each frame of the first and second independent frames is positioned within the right and left sidewalls, respectively, so as to be fully received by the insulating cavity.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the insulating material is configured as a vacuum insulated structure.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the insulating cavity is a hermetically sealed cavity.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the attachment receptacles each maintain a fastener therein that is separated from the insulating cavity by the attachment receptacles.

8. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an insulating cavity;

a frame including a vertical frame portion positioned along an edge of the cabinet, an upper frame portion extending perpendicularly from a first end of the vertical frame portion, and a lower frame portion extending perpendicularly from a second end of the vertical frame portion, the second end opposite the first end, wherein the lower frame portion has a closed outer periphery;

a first attachment receptacle disposed on the upper frame portion, the first attachment receptacle extending into the insulating cavity in a first direction;

a second attachment receptacle disposed on the lower frame portion, the second attachment receptacle extending into the insulating cavity in a second direction, the second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein the first attachment receptacle and the second attachment receptacle are each sealed to be air non-permeable; and

a door rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper frame portion and a lower hinge mounted to the lower frame portion, wherein a first fastener is vertically received by the first attachment receptacle and a second fastener is laterally received by the second attachment receptacle.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein a top section of the lower frame portion is coupled to an inner section of the lower frame portion to form the closed outer periphery.

10. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the first and second attachment receptacles at least partially define the insulating cavity.

11. The appliance of claim 8, wherein a wrapper defines first and second apertures that correspond to the first and second attachment receptacles, respectively.

12. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the frame is one of a pair of symmetrically positioned C-shaped frames.

13. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the upper frame portion is a first material and the lower frame portion is a second, different material.

14. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the lower frame portion is coupled to the vertical frame portion through one or more fasteners that are disposed within hermetically sealed coupling receptacles.

15. The appliance of claim 8, wherein engagement of the upper hinge with the upper frame portion maintains an at least partial vacuum within the insulating cavity.

16. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an insulating cavity;

a frame disposed within the insulating cavity and including an upper frame portion extending along a top portion of the cabinet, a vertical frame portion extending downward from the upper frame portion and along a vertical wall of the cabinet, and a lower frame portion extending perpendicularly from the vertical frame portion, the lower frame portion having a closed outer periphery;

an upper hinge mount disposed on the upper frame portion, the upper hinge mount including a first attachment receptacle extending in a first direction;

a lower hinge mount disposed on the lower frame portion, the lower hinge mount including a second attachment receptacle extending in a second direction, the second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein the first and second attachment receptacles are sealed to be air non-permeable;

a first fastener vertically received by the first attachment receptacle and configured to couple an upper hinge to the upper hinge mount;

a second fastener laterally received by the second attachment receptacle and configured to couple a lower hinge to the lower hinge mount; and

a door rotationally mounted to the cabinet via the upper and lower hinges.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the first hinge is a first type of hinge and the second hinge is a second type of hinge, wherein the first type of hinge is different than the second type of hinge.

18. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the insulating cavity is a hermetically sealed cavity.

19. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the first and second attachment receptacles each maintain the first and second fasteners separated from the insulating cavity.

20. The appliance of claim 16, wherein a wrapper defines a plurality of apertures that correspond to the first and second attachment receptacles on the frame.