SLOW OPEN SLOW CLOSE APPLIANCE HINGE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A slow open slow close hinge assembly for an appliance, comprising:
- a first hinge assembly comprising;
a base;
a tab projecting outwardly from said base in a first direction;
a support projecting outwardly from said base in a second direction;
a hinge arm pivotably connected to said tab via a first pivot point;
a tail portion extending through an opening in said base;
a slow open slow close dampener operably connected between said support at a second pivot point and said tail portion at a third pivot point;
wherein a neutral position for the dampener occurs when said first, second and third pivot points are aligned substantially in a straight line.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slow open slow close hinge assembly for an appliance includes a first hinge assembly including a base; a tab projecting outwardly from the base in a first direction; a support projecting outwardly from the base in a second direction; a hinge arm pivotably connected to the tab via a first pivot point; a tail portion extending through an opening in the base; a slow open slow close dampener operably connected between the support at a second pivot point and the tail portion at a third pivot point; wherein a neutral position for the dampener occurs when the first, second and third pivot points are aligned substantially in a straight line.
An appliance includes a body; a door; first and second hinge positions for pivotably connecting the door to the body; wherein each of the first and second hinges includes a base; a tab projecting outwardly from the base in a first direction; a support projecting outwardly from the base in a second direction; a hinge arm pivotably connected to the tab via a first pivot point; a tail portion extending through an opening in the base; a slow open slow close dampener operably connected between the support at a second pivot point and the tail portion at a third pivot point; wherein a neutral position for the dampener occurs when the first, second and third pivot points are aligned substantially in the same plane.
A slow open slow close dampener for an appliance hinge includes a body and a rod selectively extensible from and retractable into the body, wherein when the hinge moves from a first operative position, the rod retracts into the body, then the hinge moves to a neutral position and then the hinge moves to a second operative position and the rod extends out of the body.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A slow open slow close hinge assembly for an appliance, comprising:
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a first hinge assembly comprising; a base; a tab projecting outwardly from said base in a first direction; a support projecting outwardly from said base in a second direction; a hinge arm pivotably connected to said tab via a first pivot point; a tail portion extending through an opening in said base; a slow open slow close dampener operably connected between said support at a second pivot point and said tail portion at a third pivot point; wherein a neutral position for the dampener occurs when said first, second and third pivot points are aligned substantially in a straight line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An appliance comprising:
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a body; a door; first and second hinge positions for pivotably connecting said door to said body; wherein each of said first and second hinges comprises; a base; a tab projecting outwardly from said base in a first direction; a support projecting outwardly from said base in a second direction; a hinge arm pivotably connected to said tab via a first pivot point; a tail portion extending through an opening in said base; a slow open slow close dampener operably connected between said support at a second pivot point and said tail portion at a third pivot point; wherein a neutral position for the dampener occurs when said first, second and third pivot points are aligned substantially in the same plane. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A slow open slow close dampener for an appliance hinge comprising:
a body and a rod selectively extensible from and retractable into said body, wherein when said hinge moves from a first operative position, said rod retracts into said body, said hinge moves to a neutral position and then said hinge moves to a second operative position and said rod extends out of said body.
Specification