DOOR HINGE

• US 3,712,287 A
• Filed: 09/23/1970
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank P. Summers Jr
• Original Assignee: Frank P. Summers Jr
• Inventors: Summers, Frank P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US05/074,815
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 126/191,194 16/190,145,146
• US Class Current: 126/191
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

A structure especially useful as an oven door hinge comprising a spring which is self-contained within a casing and a lever system which compresses the spring upon opening of the door to develop a torque for counterbalancing.

Claims

1. A structure to be connected between two relatively rotatable members for developing a torque for rotating the members in a direction toward each other:

an elongated casing having means for connecting the casing to one of the members;

a first arm having means for connecting the arm to the other of the members;

first pivot means connecting the casing and the first arm and providing for the same to be relatively rotatable toward and away from one another;

a second arm;

second pivot means connecting the second arm to the first arm and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

a bracket slidably mounted on the casing;

third pivot means connecting the second arm and the bracket and providing for the second arm to rotate relative to the bracket;

a compression spring on said casing, one end of the spring being fixed to the casing and the other end engaging the bracket; and

the structure operating as follows;

relative rotation of said members in a direction away from one another to a position causing the arms to relatively rotate, the latter motion causing the second arm to push the bracket along the casing and thereby compress the spring, the compression of the spring developing a counteracting torque operating to rotate the members away from said position in a direction toward each other.

2. A hinge structure providing for one member to rotate relative to another in a vertical direction as between first and second positions with the weight of the rotating member being counterbalanced;

an elongated casing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on one member wherein the casing extends vertically;

a rotatable carrier arm having means for supporting the member to be rotated;

pivot means connecting the casing and the carrier arm and providing for the arm to rotate relative to the casing in a vertical direction as between the first and second positions, the weight of the member mounted on the carrier arm developing a torque to cause the member and the carrier arm to rotate about the pivot in a downward direction;

a lever arm;

pivot means connecting the lever arm to the carrier arm and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

a bracket slidably mounted on said casing;

pivot means connecting the lever arm and the bracket and providing for the same to be rotatable relative to one another; and

a compression spring on said casing, one end of the spring being fixed to the casing and the other engaging the bracket, relative rotation of the carrier arm in a downward direction causing the lever arm to push the bracket along the casing and thereby compress the spring, the compression of the spring developing a torque on the carrier arm to counter-balance the weight of the member.

3. A hinge structure for a cook oven having a hollow body with a door providing access to the body, the hinge permitting the door to rotate in a vertical direction relative to the body as between closed, broil and open positions;

an elongated casing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on the body of the oven wherein the casing extends vertically;

a rotatable carrier arm having means for supporting an oven door for rotation therewith;

pivot means connecting the casing and carrier arm and providing for the arm and the door mounted thereon to rotate in a vertical direction as between the closed, broil and open positions, the weight of the door developing a torque to cause the door and the carrier arm to rotate about the pivot in a downward direction;

a lever arm;

pivot means connecting the carrier arm and the lever arm and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

a bracket slidably mounted on the casing;

pivot means connecting the lever arm and the bracket and providing for the same to be rotatable relative to one another and to provide for relative sliding motion as between the bracket and the lever, the pivot comprising a pin mounted on the bracket and a slot on the lever arm within which the pin is disposed;

means on said carrier arm forming a closed detent and also forming a broil detent, the detents to be respectively engaged by a cam roller for establishing the closed and broil positions of the carrier arm;

a cam roller on said pin for engaging the detents respectively in the closed and the broil positions; and

a compression spring on the casing, one end of the spring being fixed to the casing and the other engaging the bracket and operating to push the bracket, the pin and cam roller along the casing in a direction toward the lever arm.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein, for the open position of the carrier arm, the pivot means connecting the lever arm and the bracket and the pivot means connecting the carrier arm and the casing lie along a straight line and the pivot means connecting the cam and lever arms lies outside of the line in a direction whereby the spring develops a torque on the carrier arm tending to rotate the arm in a downward direction and further including stop means defining the open position.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including an abutment on the pivot means connecting the casing and the carrier arm and an abutment on the carrier arm, the two abutments engaging to define the closed position.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including abutment means on the casing and abutment means on the lever arm, the two abutments engaging one another in the open position whereby to define that position.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including a flange on the lever arm engaging the casing in the open position.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including an abutment on said carrier arm which, in the open position, engages the cam roller to define the open position.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including an abutment on said carrier arm adapted to engage the lever arm in the open position whereby to define the same.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 3 further including:

a door latch arm pivotally mounted on said carrier arm;

a latch formed on the latch arm for engaging a keeper, the keeper being formed on a door mounted on said carrier arm;

a spring normally biasing the latch arm to rotate so that the latch is engaged with the keeper whereby in the open position the door cannot be removed from the carrier arm;

a cam formed on the latch arm; and

a second cam roller on said pin adapted to be engaged by the cam on the latch arm when the door is in the detent position to rotate the arm so as to disengage the latch from the keeper whereby the door can be removed from the arm.

11. A hinge structure for a cook oven having a hollow body with a door providing access to the body, the hinge permitting the door to rotate in a vertical direction as between open and closed positions;

an elongated casing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on the body of the oven wherein the casing extends vertically;

a rotatable carrier arm having means for supporting an oven door for rotation therewith;

pivot means connecting the casing and carrier arm and providing for the arm and the door to rotate in a vertical direction as between open and closed positions;

a bracket slidably mounted on the casing;

a compression spring on the casing, one end of the spring being fixed to the casing and the other engaging the bracket;

means connected between the carrier arm and the bracket to cause the bracket to slide along the casing with rotation of the carrier arm;

a door latch lever arm pivotally mounted on said carrier arm;

a latch formed on the latch arm;

a keeper for the latch formed on the door;

a spring normally biasing the latch arm to rotate to disengage the latch from the keeper whereby in the detent position the door can be removed from the carrier arm;

a cam formed on the latch arm; and

a cam roller on the bracket and adapted to be engaged by the cam on the latch arm when the door is in the open position to rotate the arm so as to insert the latch in the keeper whereby to prevent the removal of the door.

12. A hinge structure for a cook oven having a hollow body with a door providing access to the body, the hinge permitting the door to rotate in a vertical direction relative to the open body as between closed and open positions, the weight of the door being counterbalanced during the movement and the structure comprising:

an elongated casing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on the body of the oven wherein the casing extends vertically;

a rotatable carrier arm having means for supporting an oven door for rotation therewith;

pivot means connecting the casing and the carrier arm and providing for the arm and the door mounted thereon to rotate in a vertical direction as between closed and open positions, the weight of the door developing a torque to cause the door and carrier arm to rotate about the pivot in a downward direction;

a lever arm;

pivot means connecting the lever arm to the carrier arm and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

a bracket slidably mounted on said casing;

pivot means connecting the lever arm and the bracket and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

means on said lever arm to accept one end of a tension spring, the other end of which is adapted to be connected to the body of the oven;

rotation of the carrier arm in a downward direction causing the lever arm to rotate on the carrier arm and slide the bracket along the casing, the movement of the lever arm being resisted by the tension spring, the tension of the spring developing a torque on the carrier arm to counterbalance the weight of the door.

13. A construction in accordance with claim 1 having a construction whereby the members when moved relatively apart to a predetermined position, the first and third pivot means lie in the same straight line and the second pivot means lies outside of the line and the said pivot positions causing the torque developed by the spring to move the members relatively in a direction away from one another.

14. A hinge structure for a cook oven having a hollow body with a door providing access to the body, the hinge permitting the door to rotate relative to the body in a vertical direction as between open and closed positions, the hinge comprising:

an elongated casing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position on the body wherein the casing extends vertically and mounts the hinge on the oven;

a rotatable carrier arm constructed to support an oven door for rotation therewith;

pivot means connecting the casing and the carrier arm and providing for the arm to rotate relative to the casing in a vertical direction as between the open and closed positions;

to provide for the door to be rotatable as between the open and closed positions;

a lever arm;

pivot means connecting the lever arm to the carrier arm and providing for the arms to be rotatable relative to one another;

a bracket slidably mounted on said casing;

pivot means connecting the lever arm and the bracket and providing for the same to be rotatable relative to one another;

a compression spring mounted on the casing, one end of the spring being fixed to the casing and the other end engaging said bracket and the force of said spring being transmitted to the carrier arm via the bracket and lever arm; and

the parts operating as follows;

when the carrier arm rotates toward the open position, the lever arm also rotates and the bracket slides along the casing in a direction whereby the spring is compressed; and

when the carrier arm rotates toward the closed position, the lever also rotates and the bracket slides along the casing in a direction whereby the spring expands.