Refrigerator door assembly and method

• US 5,687,509 A
• Filed: 03/07/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip Konecny, SC, Money Purchase Pension Plan & Trust
• Original Assignee: Frigidyne North America, Inc.
• Inventors: Rivers, John P., Barroero, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US08/399,773
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 49/386, 49/388, 49/501, 49/DIG. 2, 16/308
• US Class Current: 49/386
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2007/0072 with sliding sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/128 the pin having a recess or through-hole engaged by a securing member
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0018 at the hinge axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/0045 in a radial direction
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/081 the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/123 with a torsion bar
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/202 for display cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6621 with special provisions for fitting in window frames or to adjacent units; Separate edge protecting strips E06B3/66347 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6625 molded on the edges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/087 Sealing strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49993 Filling of opening

Abstract

A refrigerator door assembly is mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit and comprises a door frame integrally molded about a thermo-pane in sealing relationship therewith. The door frame is hingedly mounted on the stationary frame of the refrigeration unit by a pair of upper and lower hinge pins. A torsion bar, integrally molded within the door frame and secured to one of the hinge pins, functions to constantly apply a closing force on the door frame to move the door assembly into sealing contact with the stationary frame of the refrigeration unit.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door assembly adapted to be mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit comprising;

a door frame,

a vertically aligned hinge assembly having a sheath means incorporated into the refrigerator door assembly,

two hinge pin means, and

a torsion bar wherein one end of said torsion bar is secured to one of the hinge pin means and a portion of said torsion bar is anchored to said sheath means, said torsion bar being square in section and said sheath means being deformed in a middle section of its length, thereby anchoring said torsion bar to said sheath means.

2. The refrigerator door assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath means comprises;

an elongated portion,

two hinge bodies into which said hinge pin means are inserted, and

two transition portions into which said elongated portion and said two hinge bodies are secured.

3. The refrigerator door assembly of claim 2 wherein a first of said two hinge pin means comprises a hinge pin and a torsion adjustment means comprising;

an adjustment nut at an end of the hinge pin opposite an end of said hinge pin in which the torsion bar is secured,

a locking means at a side of the adjustment nut opposite the hinge pin, and

a washer resting between the hinge body and the adjustment nut.

4. A refrigerator door assembly hingedly mounted on a stationary frame of a refrigeration unit by vertically aligned upper and lower hinge brackets, secured on said frame, for movement between closed and open positions that allows for either a right to left swing door, said door assembly comprising;

a door frame,

a thermopane, and

a hinge pin closing mechanism for constantly applying a closing force on said door frame to pivot said door assembly about a common pivot axis and into sealing relationship against said stationary frame, wherein said hinge pin closing mechanism comprises;

a sheath means integrally molded within said door frame,

two vertically aligned hinge pin means, each hinge pin means inserted into opposite ends of said sheath means and pivotally anchored in one of said upper and lower hinge brackets for mounting said door assembly for pivotal movement about said common pivot axis on said upper and lower hinge brackets, and

a torsion bar,

wherein said torsion bar is anchored to said sheath means by a deformation in a middle section of said sheath means and attached to a first of said two hinge means.

5. The refrigerator door assembly of claim 4 wherein a first of said two hinge means includes a torsion adjustment means to provide a closing force exerted on said door frame.