HINGE ASSEMBLIES FOR A DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR

• US 20130249371A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: MANN, JULIE A., LIVELY, ERIC D., REUTER, DARYL LEE
• Application Number:
  US13/587,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249371A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/404
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges

Abstract

A domestic appliance includes a cabinet with a door positioned at a front of the cabinet, a closer assembly secured to the door, a mounting bracket coupled to the front of the cabinet, a hinge pin extending upwardly from the mounting bracket, and a coupler body. The closer assembly includes a downwardly-extending shaft. The coupler body has a first inner sidewall defining a lower aperture that receives an upper end of the hinge pin, and a second inner sidewall defining an upper aperture that receives a lower end of the shaft. The shaft of the closer assembly has a first plurality of splines formed thereon, and the second inner sidewall of the coupler body has a second plurality of splines formed thereon. The second plurality of splines of the coupler body engages the first plurality of splines of the shaft.

Claims

1. A domestic refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,

a door positioned at a front of the cabinet, the door being operable to pivot about an axis of rotation between (i) a closed position in which user access to the temperature-controlled compartment is limited and (ii) an open position in which user access to the temperature-controlled compartment is permitted,

a closer assembly including a base secured to the door and a downwardly-extending shaft moveably coupled to the base,

a mounting bracket coupled to the front of the cabinet,

a hinge pin defining the axis of rotation and extending upwardly from the mounting bracket, and

a coupler body having (i) a first inner sidewall defining a lower aperture that receives an upper end of the hinge pin, and (ii) a second inner sidewall defining an upper aperture that receives a lower end of the shaft,

wherein (i) the shaft of the closer assembly has a first plurality of splines formed thereon, and (ii) the second inner sidewall of the coupler body has a second plurality of splines formed thereon, the second plurality of splines engaging the first plurality of splines to prevent relative axial rotation between the coupler body and the shaft.

2. The domestic refrigerator of claim 1, wherein:

the coupler body has a third plurality of splines that extend inwardly from the first inner sidewall,

the hinge pin includes (i) a shaft having an upper end positioned in the lower aperture of the coupler body, and (ii) a plurality of longitudinal slots defined in the shaft, and

each spline of the third plurality of splines is received in a corresponding longitudinal slot of the hinge pin to prevent rotation of the coupler body about the axis of rotation.

3. The domestic refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to move the door vertically relative to the cabinet between a first position and a second position.

4. The domestic refrigerator of claim 3, wherein:

the hinge pin has a passageway defined therein, and

the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded rod positioned in the passageway of the shaft, the threaded rod having an upper end engaged with the coupler body.

5. The domestic refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the coupler body includes a central shaft positioned in the lower aperture, the central shaft having a lower end that is (i) positioned in the passageway of the shaft and (ii) engaged with the upper end of the threaded rod.

6. The domestic refrigerator of claim 4, wherein:

the threaded rod has a plurality of outer threads, and

the hinge pin includes an inner wall that defines the passageway therethrough, the inner wall of the hinge pin having a plurality of inner threads defined therein that are engaged with the outer threads of the threaded rod such that (i) rotation of the threaded rod in a first direction causes upward movement of the coupler body and the door, and (ii) rotation of the threaded rod in a second direction causes downward movement of the coupler body and the door.

7. The domestic refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a stop configured to prevent upward movement of the threaded rod beyond a predetermined position corresponding to the second position of the door.

8. The domestic refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the stop includes a substantially smooth section of the inner wall of the hinge pin, the substantially smooth section being positioned above the plurality of inner threads.

9. The domestic refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the closer assembly includes a biasing element having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end coupled to the base, the biasing element being configured to inhibit movement of the door about the axis of rotation.

10. The domestic refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of splines include six splines.

11. A domestic refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,

a door operable to pivot about an axis of rotation to an open position in which user access to the temperature-controlled compartment is permitted,

a closer assembly including a base secured to the door and a downwardly-extending shaft moveably coupled to the base, and

a hinge assembly including a hinge pin defining the axis of rotation and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the door vertically between a first position and a second position, the adjustment mechanism including;

a coupler body positioned over the hinge pin, the coupler body including an inner side wall that defines aperture receiving the shaft of the closer assembly,

a threaded rod positioned in a passageway defined in the hinge pin, the threaded rod being configured to rotate in (i) a first direction to cause upward movement of the door and (ii) a second direction to cause downward movement of the door, and

a stop positioned in the passageway defined in the hinge pin, the stop being configured to prevent upward movement of the threaded rod beyond a predetermined position corresponding to the second position of the door.

12. The domestic refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the coupler body includes a central shaft having a lower end that is (i) positioned in the passageway of the hinge pin and (ii) engaged with an upper end of the threaded rod.

13. The domestic refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the hinge pin includes a longitudinal slot defined in an outer surface thereof, and the coupler body includes a spline extending from an inner wall thereof, the spline being received in the longitudinal slot of the hinge pin.

14. The domestic refrigerator of claim 13, wherein (i) the shaft of the closer assembly has a spline formed thereon, and (ii) the coupler body has a second spline formed thereon, the spline of the shaft engaging the second spline of the coupler body to prevent relative axial rotation between the coupler body and the shaft.

15. The domestic refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the closer assembly includes a biasing element having a first end coupled to the shaft and a second end coupled to the base, the biasing element being configured to inhibit movement of the door about the axis of rotation.

16. The domestic refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the biasing element includes a coil spring.

17. The domestic refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the shaft of the closer assembly includes an upper surface having the spline formed thereon and a lower surface that is substantially smooth.

18. The domestic refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal slot includes at least six longitudinal slots, and the spline includes at least six splines extending from the inner wall of the coupler body, each of the splines being received in a corresponding longitudinal slot of the hinge pin.

19. A domestic appliance comprising:

a cabinet,

a door positioned at a front of the cabinet,

a closer assembly secured to the door, the closer assembly including a downwardly-extending shaft,

a mounting bracket coupled to the front of the cabinet,

a hinge pin extending upwardly from the mounting bracket, and

a coupler body having (i) a first inner sidewall defining a lower aperture that receives an upper end of the hinge pin, and (ii) a second inner sidewall defining an upper aperture that receives a lower end of the shaft,

wherein (i) the shaft of the closer assembly has a first plurality of splines formed thereon, and (ii) the second inner sidewall has a second plurality of splines formed thereon, the second plurality of splines engaging the first plurality of splines.

20. The domestic appliance of claim 19, wherein:

the hinge pin includes (i) a shaft having an upper end positioned in the lower aperture of the coupler body, and (ii) a plurality of longitudinal slots defined in the shaft, and

the coupler body has a third plurality of splines that extend inwardly from an inner wall, each spline of the third plurality of splines being received in a corresponding longitudinal slot of the hinge pin.