SELF-CLOSING DOOR APPARATUS

• US 20150119634A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,757,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/005 with movable walls, e.g. for accessing the inside, removable walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/006 by pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/009 with hand insertion windows, e.g. in the walls

Abstract

A door retention system for an infant care device includes a plurality of links pivotably coupling a door with an infant care device, and an energy storage device secured to at least one of the links. The energy storage device is configured to apply a force tending to open the door exclusively when the door is in close proximity to a fully-open position. The energy storage device is also configured to apply a force tending to close the door exclusively when the door is in close proximity to a fully-closed position.

Claims

1. A door retention system for an infant care device comprising:

a plurality of links pivotably coupling a door with an infant care device; and

an energy storage device secured to at least one of the plurality of links;

wherein the energy storage device is configured to apply a force tending to open the door exclusively when the door is in close proximity to a fully-open position;

wherein the energy storage device is configured to apply a force tending to close the door exclusively when the door is in close proximity to a fully-closed position.

2. The door retention system of claim 1, wherein the infant care device is an infant incubator, and wherein the door is an incubator door.

3. The door retention system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of links includes a first link pivotably secured to the infant care device,

4. The door retention system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of links includes a second link pivotably secured to both the first link and the door.

5. The door retention system of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device is secured at a first end to the infant care device and at a second end to the first link.

6. The door retention system of claim 5, wherein the energy storage device comprises a spring.

7. The door retention system of claim 5, wherein the energy storage device comprises an elastomeric band.

8. The door retention system of claim 1, further comprising a door stop.

9. The door retention system of claim 1, wherein the door stop is configured to engage the door with minimal noise.

10. The door retention system of claim 1, further comprising a handle secured to one of the plurality of links, wherein the handle is positioned for engagement by a user as the door is opened.

11. The door retention system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of links are configured to resist a force applied directly to the door that would otherwise tend to open the door, when the door is in the fully-closed position.

12. The door retention system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of links are configured to release the door from the fully-closed position when a force is applied directly to the handle.

13. An incubator door retention system comprising:

a first link pivotably secured to an incubator;

a second link pivotably secured between the first link and an incubator door; and

an energy storage device secured between the incubator and the first link;

wherein the energy storage device is configured to apply a force tending to open the incubator door exclusively when the incubator door is in close proximity to a fully-open position;

wherein the energy storage device is configured to apply a force tending to close the incubator door exclusively when the incubator door is in close proximity to a fully-closed position.

14. The incubator door retention system of claim 13, wherein the energy storage device comprises a spring.

15. The incubator door retention system of claim 13, wherein the energy storage device comprises an elastomeric band.

16. The incubator door retention system of claim 13, further comprising a door stop.

17. The incubator door retention system of claim 16, wherein the door stop is configured to engage the door with minimal noise.

18. The incubator door retention system of claim 13, further comprising a handle secured to one of the plurality of links, wherein the handle is positioned for engagement by a user as the door is opened.

19. The incubator door retention system of claim 18, wherein the first and second links are configured to resist a force applied directly to the incubator door that would otherwise tend to open the incubator door, when the incubator door is in the fully-closed position.

20. The incubator door retention system of claim 18, wherein the first and second links are configured to release the incubator door from the fully-closed position when a force is applied directly to the handle.