Double-pivot, constrained kinematic hinge for a front-loading laundry machine
First Claim
1. A hinge for use with a laundry machine having a front panel defining a front face with an opening therein closable by a pivotally attached door, the front panel having a relatively flat surface surrounding and defining the opening and having a generally annular shape, and a wall projecting substantially at right angles to the flat annular surface, the hinge comprising:
- a front panel bracket configured to be secured to the wall of the front panel, a door bracket secured to the door of the laundry machine, a primary arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a first axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a second axis, a control arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a third axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a fourth axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laundry machine having a front panel defining a front face with an opening therein. A pivotally attached door is arranged to selectively close the opening. The front panel has a relatively flat surface surrounding and defining the opening and has a generally annular shape. A wall projects substantially at a right angle to the flat annular surface. A hinge includes a front panel bracket secured to the wall of the front panel, a door bracket secured to the door of the laundry machine, a primary arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a first axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a second axis, and a control arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a third axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a fourth axis. The hinge components may extend into an interior of the door through an opening in a side of the door, leaving a rear face of the door unbroken.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hinge for use with a laundry machine having a front panel defining a front face with an opening therein closable by a pivotally attached door, the front panel having a relatively flat surface surrounding and defining the opening and having a generally annular shape, and a wall projecting substantially at right angles to the flat annular surface, the hinge comprising:
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a front panel bracket configured to be secured to the wall of the front panel, a door bracket secured to the door of the laundry machine, a primary arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a first axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a second axis, a control arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a third axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a fourth axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A laundry machine comprising:
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a front panel defining a front face with an opening therein, a pivotally attached door arranged to selectively close the opening, the front panel having a relatively flat surface surrounding and defining the opening and having a generally annular shape, a hinge comprising;
a front panel bracket secured to an exterior of the front panel and, at least in some positions of the door, extending into an interior of the door through an opening in a side of the door, and never extending through a rear face of the door, a door bracket secured to the interior of the door and extending out of the opening in the side of the door, and never extending through the rear face of the door, a primary arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a first axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a second axis, the primary arm being located exclusively at an exterior of the front panel of the laundry machine in all pivotal positions of the primary arm, and at least in some positions of the door, extending through the opening in the side of the door, and never extending through the rear face of the door, a control linkage pivotally connected to the front panel bracket at a third rotational axis and to the door bracket at a fourth rotational axis to constrain a pivot sequence at the first and second axes, the control linkage, in at least some positions of the door, extending through the opening in the side of the door, and never extending through the rear face of the door. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A laundry machine comprising:
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a front panel defining a front face with an opening therein, a pivotally attached door arranged to selectively close the opening, the front panel having a relatively flat surface surrounding and defining the opening and having a generally annular shape, a wall projecting substantially at a right angle to the flat annular surface, a hinge comprising;
a front panel bracket secured to the wall of the front panel, a door bracket secured to the door of the laundry machine, a primary arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a first axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a second axis, a control arm pivotally attached to the front panel bracket to rotate relative thereto about a third axis and pivotally attached to the door bracket to rotate relative thereto about a fourth axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification