SLOW OPEN AND/OR SLOW CLOSE HINGE ASSEMBLY AND HINGE SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An oven comprising:
- a body defining a cooking chamber;
first and second hinge assemblies located on respective first and second opposite sides of said body;
a door pivotally connected to said body by said first and second hinge assemblies, said door movable between a closed position where it closes a mouth of said cooking chamber and an opened position where it opens a mouth of the cooking chamber, each hinge assembly comprising a hinge arm and a channel pivotally connected to said hinge arm, wherein the hinge arm of each hinge assembly is connected to said body and the channel of each hinge assembly is connected to said door;
wherein at least one of said first and second hinge assemblies is a damped hinge assembly comprising a damper operatively connected between said channel and said hinge arm, wherein said damper comprises;
a body defining a bore;
a piston slidably received in said bore;
a rod connected to said piston and projecting outward from said bore;
a damper fluid contained in said bore and acting on said piston to dampen sliding movement of said piston in at least one direction in said bore; and
,a spring located in said bore and acting on said piston to bias said piston toward one end of said bore.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A damped hinge assembly includes a hinge arm adapted to be connected to an associated appliance body. A channel is pivotally connected to the hinge arm and is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A damper is operatively connected between the channel and the hinge arm. The damper includes a body defining a bore and a piston slidably received in the bore. A rod is connected to the piston and projects outward from the bore. A damper fluid is contained in the bore and acts on the piston to dampen sliding movement of the piston in at least one direction in the bore. A spring is located in the bore and acts on the piston to bias the piston toward one end of the bore. An oven or other appliance includes at least one damped hinge assembly. The appliance can include two damped hinge assemblies, each with or without the spring, arranged such that one hinge assembly provides damping primarily during opening of the appliance door and the other hinge assembly provides damping primarily during closing of the appliance door.
42 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An oven comprising:
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a body defining a cooking chamber; first and second hinge assemblies located on respective first and second opposite sides of said body; a door pivotally connected to said body by said first and second hinge assemblies, said door movable between a closed position where it closes a mouth of said cooking chamber and an opened position where it opens a mouth of the cooking chamber, each hinge assembly comprising a hinge arm and a channel pivotally connected to said hinge arm, wherein the hinge arm of each hinge assembly is connected to said body and the channel of each hinge assembly is connected to said door; wherein at least one of said first and second hinge assemblies is a damped hinge assembly comprising a damper operatively connected between said channel and said hinge arm, wherein said damper comprises; a body defining a bore; a piston slidably received in said bore; a rod connected to said piston and projecting outward from said bore; a damper fluid contained in said bore and acting on said piston to dampen sliding movement of said piston in at least one direction in said bore; and
,a spring located in said bore and acting on said piston to bias said piston toward one end of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A damped hinge assembly comprising:
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a hinge arm adapted to be connected to an associated appliance body; a channel pivotally connected to said hinge arm and adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; a damper operatively connected between said channel and said hinge arm, said damper comprising; a body defining a bore; a piston slidably received in said bore; a rod connected to said piston and projecting outward from said bore; a damper fluid contained in said bore and acting on said piston to dampen sliding movement of said piston in at least one direction in said bore; and
,a spring located in said bore and acting on said piston to bias said piston toward one end of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An appliance comprising:
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a body defining a chamber; first and second hinge assemblies located on respective first and second opposite sides of said body; a door pivotally connected to said body by said first and second hinge assemblies, said door movable between a closed position where it closes a mouth of said chamber and an opened position where it opens a mouth of the chamber, each hinge assembly comprising a hinge arm and a channel pivotally connected to said hinge arm, wherein the hinge arm of each hinge assembly is connected to said body and the channel of each hinge assembly is connected to said door; wherein said first and second hinge assemblies are damped hinge assemblies each comprising a damper operatively connected between its channel and its hinge arm, wherein said damper comprises a body defining a bore, a piston slidably received in said bore, a rod connected to said piston and projecting outward from said bore, and a damper fluid contained in said bore and acting on said piston to dampen sliding movement of said piston in said bore; said damper of said first damped hinge assembly configured to dampen sliding movement of said piston thereof primarily in a first direction for at least part of a stroke of said piston in said first direction; and said damper of said second damped hinge assembly configured to dampen sliding movement of said piston thereof primarily in a second direction for at least part of a stroke of said piston in said second direction.
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Specification