HINGE FOR AN APPLIANCE

• US 20130214660A1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Coxon, David John
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/228
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/067 gooseneck shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0238 with parts engaging profile grooves
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/06 Bent flaps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/312 for washing machines

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a hinge for an appliance. The hinge is rotatably mounted to a cabinet of the appliance. The hinge includes a foot configured for receipt by a door of the appliance. Specifically, the foot has a tip that is configured for receipt into a cavity of the door and a substantially planar portion configured to be positioned adjacent a pocket of the door.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a front panel;

a drum rotatably mounted within said cabinet, said drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles;

a door configured for permitting selective access to the chamber of said drum, said door defining a pocket, said door also defining a cavity positioned adjacent the pocket of said door;

a hinge assembly rotatably mounting said door to the front panel of said cabinet, said hinge assembly configured for rotation about an axis, said hinge assembly comprising;

an extension portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of said extension portion positioned adjacent the axis;

an arcuate portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said arcuate portion positioned adjacent the second end of said extension portion; and

a foot positioned adjacent the distal end of said arcuate portion, said foot having a substantially planar segment extending between said arcuate portion and a tip of said foot, the tip of said foot disposed at least partially within the cavity of said door, the substantially planar segment of said foot positioned adjacent the pocket of said door; and

a fastener configured for selectively securing said door to said hinge.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the tip of said foot defines a notch configured for receiving a portion of the door of the appliance in order to impede vertical translation of said door.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said foot has a draft such that sidewalls of said foot and the substantially planar segment are not perpendicular.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein said door deforms when said foot is disposed in the pocket.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said fastener extends through said foot into said door in order to selectively secure said door to said hinge.

6. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a nut received into a slot defined by said door, said fastener extending through said foot and said nut such that said fastener and said nut cooperate to selectively secure said door to said hinge.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the tip of said foot and a bottom surface of the tip of said foot are positioned immediately adjacent said door.

8. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

an additional hinge assembly longitudinally spaced apart from said hinge assembly, said additional hinge assembly also rotatably mounting said door to the front panel of said cabinet, said additional hinge assembly also configured for rotation about the axis, wherein;

said door defines an additional pocket and an additional cavity positioned adjacent the additional pocket of said door, a tip of a foot of the additional hinge assembly being disposed at least partially within the additional cavity of said door, a substantially planar segment of the foot of said additional hinge assembly being positioned adjacent the additional pocket of said door.

9. The appliance of claim 7, further comprising an elongated member extending between said hinge assembly and said additional hinge assembly, said elongated member connecting said hinge assembly and said additional hinge assembly together such that said hinge assembly and said additional hinge assembly rotate in unison about the axis.

10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a dryer appliance.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a washing machine appliance.

12. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a front panel;

a drum rotatably mounted within said cabinet, said drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles;

a door configured for permitting selective access to the chamber of said drum, said door defining a pair of pockets, said door also defining a pair of cavities, each of said pair of cavities positioned adjacent a respective one of the pair of pockets;

a pair of hinges rotatably mounting said door to the front panel of said cabinet, said pair of hinges configured for rotation about an axis, each of said pair of hinges comprising;

an extension portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of said extension portion positioned adjacent the axis;

an arcuate portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said arcuate portion positioned adjacent the second end of said extension portion; and

a foot positioned adjacent the distal end of said arcuate portion, said foot having a substantially planar segment extending between said arcuate portion and a tip of said foot, the tip of said foot disposed at least partially within a respective one of the pair of cavities of said door, the substantially planar segment of said foot positioned adjacent a respective one of the pockets of said door; and

a pair of fasteners configured for cooperating with said pair of hinges in order to selectively secure said door to said hinge.

13. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising an elongated member extending between said pair of hinges, said elongated member connecting said pair of hinges together such that said pair of hinges rotate in unison about the axis.

14. A hinge comprising:

an elongated member extending from a first end to a second end, said elongated member configured for rotating about an axis when said elongated member is mounted to an appliance; and

a pair of hinges positioned adjacent the first end of said elongated member and the second end of said elongated member respectively, each of said pair of hinges comprising;

an extension portion extending radially from said elongated member;

an arcuate portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said arcuate portion positioned adjacent said extension portion; and

a foot positioned adjacent the distal end of said arcuate portion, said foot having a substantially planar segment extending between said arcuate portion and a tip of said foot, the tip of said foot configured for mating receipt by a door of the appliance.

15. The hinge of claim 14, wherein the tip of said foot defines a notch configured for receiving a portion of the door of the appliance.

16. The hinge of claim 14, further comprising a fastener configured for selectively extending through said foot in order to secure said hinge to the door of the appliance.

17. The hinge of claim 14, further comprising a first and second post, said first post positioned adjacent the first end of said elongated member, said second post positioned adjacent the second end of said elongated member, said first and second posts configured for supporting the hinge when the hinge is mounted to the appliance.

18. The hinge of claim 14, wherein said foot has a draft such that sidewalls of said foot and the substantially planar segment are not perpendicular.