Hinge assembly having improved stop
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly comprising:
- a channel;
a stop connected to said channel;
a door mounting lever that pivots relative to said channel about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position where said door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a first direction about said pivot axis on said arc and second operative position where said door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a second direction opposite the first direction about said pivot axis on said arc;
a glide operatively coupled to said door mounting lever and movable slidably on said stop in response to movement of said door mounting lever; and
, a spring that biases said glide into continuous engagement with said stop when said door mounting lever is located in both said first and second operative positions and when said door mounting lever moves between said first and second operative positions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge assembly for an appliance comprises a channel and a stop connected to the channel. A door mounting lever pivots relative to the channel about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a first direction about said pivot axis on the arc and second operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a second direction opposite the first direction about the pivot axis on the arc. A glide is operatively coupled to the door mounting lever, e.g., by way of a spring cam member, and is movable slidably on the stop in response to movement of the door mounting lever. A spring biases the glide into continuous engagement with the stop when the door mounting lever is located in both the first and second operative positions and when the door mounting lever moves between the first and second operative positions.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A hinge assembly comprising:
-
a channel;
a stop connected to said channel;
a door mounting lever that pivots relative to said channel about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position where said door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a first direction about said pivot axis on said arc and second operative position where said door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a second direction opposite the first direction about said pivot axis on said arc;
a glide operatively coupled to said door mounting lever and movable slidably on said stop in response to movement of said door mounting lever; and
,a spring that biases said glide into continuous engagement with said stop when said door mounting lever is located in both said first and second operative positions and when said door mounting lever moves between said first and second operative positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An appliance hinge assembly comprising:
-
a channel adapted for connection to an appliance chassis, said channel comprising a main channel member comprising first and second ends and defining a recess;
a stop located in said recess of said main channel member, said stop comprising a glide surface spaced from said main channel member;
a door mounting lever adapted for connection to an appliance door and movable relative to said channel about a pivot axis;
a glide operably coupled to said door mounting lever and movable slidably on said glide surface of said stop in response to movement of said door mounting lever relative to said channel; and
,at least one spring for biasing said door mounting lever to a first operative position and for biasing said glide into abutment with said glide surface of said stop for all pivoting operative movement of said door mounting lever about said pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A hinge assembly comprising:
-
a channel comprising first and second axially spaced-apart ends;
a door mounting lever pivotally connected to said channel for pivoting movement about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position and a second operative position;
a spring cam member connected to the door mounting lever;
a glide located at a first end of the spring cam member;
a stop connected to said channel and comprising a glide surface, wherein said glide moves slidably on said glide surface and is in continuous contact with said glide surface when said door mounting lever moves to and between said first and second operative positions on said arc.
-
Specification