Refrigerator door closing device

• US 5,138,743 A
• Filed: 06/21/1991
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: White Consolidated Industries Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US07/719,320
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 16/303, 16/304, 16/DIG. 7, 16/DIG. 13, 16/DIG. 17
• US Class Current: 16/303
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/063 with complementary, substantially identical and slidingly cooperating cam surfaces E05F1/066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1223 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/13 Plastic hinge

Abstract

A refrigerator cabinet has a door closing device integral with a door top hinge member to fit within the door. The mechanism includes a bearing member secured to the door and a cam member nonrotatably secured to the hinged pin below the bearing member and having a cam follower engaging a cam surface on the lower face of the bearing member. A spring is secured around the lower end of the hinge pin to force the cam member upward against the bearing member and its cam surface, with the cam surface and a cam follower on the cam member being configured to provide a closing bias when the door is near the closed position and detent positions when the door is opened a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A combined hinge and closing device for a door hinged on the face of a cabinet, said hinge including a hinge bracket secured to said cabinet to project from said face, a hinge pin secured to said bracket and extending parallel to and spaced from said face to define a hinge axis, a bearing member nonrotatably secured to said door and having an aperture rotatably receiving said hinge pin, said bearing member having an end face and a cam surface on said end face extending arcuately with respect to said hinge axis, a cam member nonrotatably carried on said hinge pin and slidable axially thereon, said cam member having a cam follower engageable with said cam surface, and a spring biasing said cam follower toward said cam surface to produce a force on said door tending to move said door toward a position predetermined by said cam surface, said bearing member having a projecting arm extending over said door and secured to said door a spaced distance from said hinge axis by a projection on the end of said arm extending into an opening in said door.

2. A combined hinge and closing device for a door hinged on the face of a cabinet, said door having a top wall and a recess on said top wall, said hinge including a hinge bracket secured to said cabinet to project from said face over said recess, a hinge pin secured to said bracket and extending into said recess parallel to and spaced from said face to define a hinge axis, a bearing member nonrotatably secured to said door in said recess and having an aperture rotatably receiving said hinge pin, said bearing member having an end face on its lower end and a cam surface on said end face extending arcuately with respect to said hinge axis, a cam member nonrotatably carried on said hinge pin in said recess and slidable axially thereon, said cam member having a cam follower engageable with said cam surface, and a helical spring surrounding said hinge pin and having one end abutting with said cam member and having the other end abutting with a retainer secured to said hinge pin, said spring biasing said cam follower toward said cam surface to produce a force on said door tending to move said door toward a position predetermined by said cam surface.

3. A combined hinge and closing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said device is a integral unit secured to said hinge bracket to be removable and replaceable as a unit with said hinge bracket.

4. A combined hinge and closing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bearing member is prevented from rotation with respect to said door by a projecting arm secured to said door top wall.