Hook-mounted hinge mechanism for oven doors

• US 5,822,925 A
• Filed: 11/07/1995
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Scott, McKinney, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Curtis A.
• Application Number:
  US08/554,827
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 126/194, 126/190, 126/197, 126/198, 126/192, 312/319.1, 312/319.2, 312/327, 312/328, 49/386, 49/387, 16/321, 16/322, 16/334, 16/344
• US Class Current: 49/386
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/488 Traction springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/30 for domestic appliances
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 7/00 Doors

Abstract

A door hinge mechanism is easily fastened to an oven door at its top and bottom, for example, using a hook-like engagement, and providing along the length of the oven door sidewalls rigid structural members and support, and thermal isolation of the oven door sidewalls from the oven door interior.

Claims

1. A door hinge mechanism used with an oven door having an outer panel and a door liner cooperating to define an interior region having a height and a width, the door liner including a plurality of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the mechanism comprising:

means for coupling the hinge mechanism to an oven;

a resilient member disposed inside the interior region;

means coupled to the resilient member for stretching the resilient member in response to movement of the door from a closed position to an open position; and

means extending along the height of the door liner and cooperating with the door liner for enclosing the resilient member within the interior region, said enclosing means including a channel member having a first end formed to include hook means for attaching the enclosing means to the door liner, said hook means including a hook opening away from the door liner, and said door liner including an aperture for receiving the hook.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the channel member includes a back wall and pair of parallel channel walls extending orthogonally from the back wall to define a U-shaped channel, the channel walls being positioned in abutment with the door liner to provide structural support to the door liner, the U-shaped channel being oriented to face the door liner when the hook is received by the aperture.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the enclosing means is disposed adjacent a sidewall and includes means for reducing thermal heat transfer between the interior region and the sidewall adjacent the enclosing means.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the stretching means includes a spring tensioner pivotally coupled to the coupling means.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 further including stop means coupled to the enclosing means for engaging the spring tensioner to prevent the oven door from opening beyond a fully open position, the fully open position being predetermined by the placement of the stop means relative to the spring tensioner.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein the spring tensioner is formed to include a tip end and the stop means includes a stop pin and the tip end engages the stop pin when the oven door reaches the open position.

7. A door hinge mechanism used with an oven door having an outer panel and a door liner cooperating to define an interior region having a height and a width, the door liner including a plurality of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the mechanism comprising:

means for coupling the hinge mechanism to an oven;

a resilient member disposed inside the interior region;

means coupled to the resilient member for stretching the resilient member in response to movement of the door from a closed position to an open position, said coupling means including a mounting plate pivotally coupled to the enclosing means, the mounting plate including a plurality of retaining pin-engaging notches;

means extending along the height of the door liner and cooperating with the door liner for enclosing the resilient member within the interior region; and

a hinge pocket having a mounting plate-receiving slot and a plurality of retaining pins for engaging the retaining pin-engaging notches, the hinge pocket being disposed adjacent an outer wall surrounding an oven cavity.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein the hinge pocket is oriented to expose the mounting plate-receiving slot to the mounting plate, said mounting plate being configured to extend through the door liner and into the mounting plate-receiving slot to position the notches for engagement with the retaining pins.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the hinge pocket further includes locking plate means for retaining the mounting plate in engagement with the retaining pins.

10. A door hinge mechanism used with a door having an outer panel and a door liner cooperating to define an interior region having a length and a width, the door liner including a plurality of sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall, the mechanism comprising:

a spring disposed in the interior region and coupled to the door liner for urging the door to a closed position;

a heat transfer barrier positioned adjacent a first sidewall and extending along the length of the sidewall for reducing heat transfer between the interior region and the first sidewall; and

a hook for attaching with a pivotal coupling arrangement the heat transfer barrier to the door liner;

wherein the door liner further includes a tab extending into the interior region for attaching the heat transfer barrier to the door liner, the tab being formed to include an aperture positioned and configured to engagably receive the hook.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the heat transfer barrier includes a U-shaped channel, the U-shaped channel being attached to and cooperating with the door liner to form an enclosed region within the interior region, the spring being disposed within the enclosed region.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the U-shaped channel includes a first end formed to include the hook.

13. An oven door hinge used with an oven door having a front panel and a door liner cooperating to define an interior region, the door liner including a pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the hinge comprising:

a spring coupled to the door liner for urging the oven door from an open position to a closed position;

a structural support member extending along the length of and adjacent one of the sidewalls for providing structural support for the oven door, said structural support member including a plurality of hooks; and

a plurality of apertures formed in the door liner for engagably receiving the hooks to retain the structural support member in abutment with the door liner.

14. An oven door hinge mechanism used with an oven having inner and outer walls surrounding an oven cavity and an oven door, the oven door having an outer panel and a door liner cooperating to define an interior region having a length and a width, the door liner including a plurality of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the mechanism comprising:

a pocket-forming member including a plurality of retaining pins, the pocket-forming member being attached to the oven cavity adjacent the outer walls; and

a mounting plate pivotally coupled to the oven door and extending into the pocket-forming member for engaging the retaining pins to attach the oven door to the oven.

15. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the mounting plate includes a plurality of notches sized and configured to receive the retaining pins.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 further including a spring coupled to the oven door and a spring tensioner coupling the spring to the mounting plate.