Oven hinge mechanism including detent lock

• US 4,194,321 A
• Filed: 12/05/1977
• Issued: 03/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kitchenaid Incorporated (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Chambers Corporation
• Inventors: Hess, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kannan, Philip C.
• Application Number:
  US05/857,614
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 49/381, 49/389, 49/465, 126/194, 126/191
• US Class Current: 49/389
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/10 for swinging wings , e.g. counterbalance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens

Abstract

A mechanism for use with a removable hinged oven door is provided and includes a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven housing. A channel frame is secured within the oven door and is adapted to receive the hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with the hinge bracket for movement between a door closed position and a door open position. A lever is pivotally secured to the hinge bracket for movement between first and second positions. In the first position the lever engages the channel frame to prevent removal of the door from the hinge bracket. In the second position the lever disengages from the channel frame to permit removal of the door from the hinge bracket and further maintains the hinge bracket in a predetermined position with respect to the oven structure when the door is removed from the hinge bracket.

Claims

1. In a removable hinged door for an oven housing having an access opening to be covered by the door, the door movable through a plurality of positions between a substantially vertical closed position over the access opening and a substantially horizontal open position to provide access to the oven housing the combination comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven housing;

a channel frame secured within the door for receiving said hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with said hinge bracket for movement between the door closed position and the door open position;

a lever secured to said hinge bracket for movement between first and second positions, such that in said first position said lever engages said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket, and in said second position said lever disengages from said channel frame to permit removal of the door from said hinge bracket and further maintains said hinge bracket in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the oven housing when the door is removed from said hinge bracket; and

means extending from said lever for moving said lever between said first and second positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lever includes detent means for engaging said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket in said first position.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lever further includes stop means for maintaining said hinge bracket in said predetermined fixed position in said second position.

4. In a removable hinged door for an oven housing having an access opening to be covered by the door, the door movable through a plurality of positions between a substantially vertical closed position over the access opening and a substantially horizontal open position to provide access to the oven housing the combination comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven housing;

a channel frame secured within the door for receiving said hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with said hinge bracket for movement between the door closed position and the door open position;

a lever secured to said hinge bracket for movement between first and second positions, such that in said first position said lever engages said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket, and in said second position said lever disengages from said channel frame to permit removal of the door from said hinge bracket and further maintains said hinge bracket in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the oven housing when the door is removed from said hinge bracket; and

said lever including detent means for engaging said hinge bracket to maintain said hinge bracket in said predetermined fixed position in said second position.

5. In a removable hinged door for an oven housing having an access opening to be covered by the door, the door movable through a plurality of positions between a substantially vertical closed position over the access opening and a substantially horizontal open position to provide access to the oven housing the combination comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven housing;

a channel frame secured within the door for receiving said hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with said hinge bracket for movement between the door closed position and the door open position;

a lever secured to said hinge bracket for movement between first and second positions, such that in said first position said lever engages said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket, and in said second position said lever disengages from said channel frame to permit removal of the door from said hinge bracket and further maintains said hinge bracket in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the oven housing when the door is removed from said hinge bracket; and

means for biasing said lever to said hinge bracket.

6. A mechanism for use with a removable hinged door for an oven structure having an access opening to be covered by the door, the door movable through a plurality of positions between a substantially vertical closed position where the door closes the access opening and a substantially horizontal open position to permit access to the oven structure, comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven structure;

a channel frame secured within the door and dimensioned for slidable engagement with said hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with said hinge bracket for movement between the door closed position and the door open position;

a lever operatively associated with said hinge bracket having first and second ends and movable between first and second positions;

said first end of said lever including first detent means for engaging, in said first lever position, said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket; and

said second end of said lever including second detent means for engaging, in said lever second position, said hinge bracket to maintain said hinge bracket in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the oven structure when the door is removed from said hinge bracket.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said second end of said lever further includes means for moving said lever between said first and second positions.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said lever further includes stop means for maintaining said hinge bracket in said predetermined fixed position when the door is removed from said hinge bracket.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 and further including spring means attached between said lever and said hinge bracket for biasing said lever to said hinge bracket.

10. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein said lever is housed within said hinge bracket.

11. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein said lever further includes finger means for receiving said spring means.

12. A mechanism for use with a removable hinged door for an oven structure having an access opening to be covered by the door, the door movable through a plurality of positions between a substantially vertical closed position where the door closes the access opening and a substantially horizontal open position to permit access to the oven structure, comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven structure;

a channel frame secured within the door and dimensioned for slidable engagement with said hinge bracket for rendering the door pivotally cooperative with saaid hinge bracket for movement between the door closed position and the door open position;

a lever operatively associated with said hinge bracket and having first and second ends movable between first and second positions;

said first end of said lever including first detent means for engaging, in said first lever position, said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket and for disengaging, in said second lever position, said channel frame to permit removal of the door from said hinge bracket;

said second end of said lever including second detent means for engaging, in said lever second position, said hinge bracket to maintain said hinge bracket in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the oven structure when the door is removed from said hinge bracket; and

said second end of said lever further including means for moving said lever between said first, and second positions.

13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said lever further includes stop means for maintaining said hinge bracket in said predetermined fixed position when the door is removed from said hinge bracket.

14. The mechanism of claim 12 and further including spring means attached between said lever and said hinge bracket for biasing said lever to said hinge bracket.

15. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein said lever is housed within said hinge bracket.

16. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein said lever further includes finger means for receiving said spring means.

17. A mechanism for use with a removable hinged door for an oven structure comprising:

a hinge bracket pivotally secured to the oven structure;

a channel frame secured within the door for slidable engagement with said hinge bracket for removably mounting the door thereto;

a lever having first and second ends housed within said hinge bracket and pivotally secured to said hinge bracket at a point centrally disposed between said lever first and second ends for movement between first and second positions;

said first end of said lever including first detent means extending from said hinge bracket in said lever first position for engaging said channel frame to prevent removal of the door from said hinge bracket and being retractable into said hinge bracket in said second position to disengage from said channel frame to permit removal of the door from said hinge bracket;

said second end of said lever including second detent means extending from said hinge bracket in said second position for engaging said hinge bracket to maintain said hinge bracket in a predetermined position with respect to the oven structure when the door is removed from said hinge bracket, said second detent means being retractable within said hinge bracket when the door is mounted to said hinge bracket;

means mounted to said second end of said lever extending outwardly from said hinge bracket and the door for actuating said lever for movement between said first and second lever positions and for maintaining said hinge bracket in said predetermined fixed position in said third lever position to accept return of the door; and

spring means having first and second ends contained within said hinge bracket for biasing said lever to said hinge bracket, said first end of said spring means being attached to said hinge bracket and said second end of said spring means being attached to said lever.

18. The mechanism of claim 17 wherein said lever further includes finger means for receiving said second end of said spring means.

19. The mechanism of claim 18 wherein said lever includes a slotted aperture centrally disposed between said first and second lever ends for pivotally mounting said lever to said hinge bracket and for allowing of said lever between said first and second positions.