APPLIANCE HINGE COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge, said counterbalance assembly comprising:
- a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall, said base including;
(i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and
, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls;
a rotating cam supported on the base, said cam including;
(i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said camshaft comprising a first end located in said first notch portion and a second end located in said second notch portion; and
(ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft;
a biasing spring comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base, said outer end of said spring located outside said channel;
a spring rod including an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam such that said spring biases said spring rod to an extended position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge includes a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. The base includes: (i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base. The cam includes: (i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, with a first end of the camshaft located in the first notch portion and a second end of the camshaft located in the second notch portion; and, (ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft. The hinge assembly includes a biasing spring that comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. The outer end of said spring is located outside the channel. A spring rod includes an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam such that the spring biases the spring rod to an extended position.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge, said counterbalance assembly comprising:
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a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall, said base including;
(i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and
, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls;a rotating cam supported on the base, said cam including;
(i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said camshaft comprising a first end located in said first notch portion and a second end located in said second notch portion; and
(ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft;a biasing spring comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base, said outer end of said spring located outside said channel; a spring rod including an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam such that said spring biases said spring rod to an extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge, said counterbalance assembly comprising:
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a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall, said base including;
(i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and
, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls;a rotating cam supported on the base, said cam including;
(i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said camshaft comprising a first end located in said first notch portion and a second end located in said second notch portion; and
(ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft;a biasing spring comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base, said outer end of said spring located outside said channel; a spring rod including an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam such that said spring biases said spring rod to an extended position; said lobe of said cam comprising a curved slot, and said inner end of said spring rod is operatively connected to the lobe of the cam by a fastener that is slidably engaged with said curved slot.
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Specification