Counterbalance assembly for a dishwasher door and associated method
First Claim
1. An appliance, comprising:
- an appliance body;
a door pivotably engaged with the appliance body; and
a counterbalance assembly coupled to the appliance body for facilitating pivoting of the door about the engagement with the appliance body, the counterbalance assembly comprising;
a first and a second biasing member, each biasing member being coupled to the appliance body;
a guide member coupled to the appliance body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley element rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member being parallel to and offset from the second guide track of the pulley element along the axis thereof;
a first flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the first biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about the pulley element and about a first side of the fixed arcuate member, so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, whereafter a second end of the first flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is coupled to the door; and
a second flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the second biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track, the second side of the fixed arcuate member being substantially opposite the first side thereof, whereafter a second end of the second flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is coupled to the door.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dishwasher is provided, comprising a door pivotably engaged with a body and a counterbalance assembly coupled therebetween for facilitating pivoting of the door. The counterbalance assembly includes a first and second biasing member, each coupled to the body and serially engaged with a respective first and second flexible element coupled to the door. A guide member is secured to the body and includes a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track. The first flexible element is at least partially wrapped about each of the fixed arcuate member and the pulley so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks. The second flexible element is at least partially wrapped about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An appliance, comprising:
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an appliance body; a door pivotably engaged with the appliance body; and a counterbalance assembly coupled to the appliance body for facilitating pivoting of the door about the engagement with the appliance body, the counterbalance assembly comprising; a first and a second biasing member, each biasing member being coupled to the appliance body; a guide member coupled to the appliance body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley element rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member being parallel to and offset from the second guide track of the pulley element along the axis thereof; a first flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the first biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about the pulley element and about a first side of the fixed arcuate member, so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, whereafter a second end of the first flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is coupled to the door; and a second flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the second biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track, the second side of the fixed arcuate member being substantially opposite the first side thereof, whereafter a second end of the second flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is coupled to the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for facilitating pivoting of a door with respect to a body of an appliance, the body including a guide member secured thereto, the guide member including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track and a pulley element rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member being parallel to and offset from the second guide track of the pulley element along the axis thereof, the method comprising:
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coupling each of a first and a second biasing member to a body of an appliance, the body having a door pivotably engaged therewith; serially engaging a first end of each of a first and a second flexible element with the respective first and second biasing member; coupling a second end of each of the first and second flexible elements to the door, the second ends being opposed to the respective first ends of the first and second flexible elements; wrapping the first flexible element at least partially about the pulley element and about a first side of the fixed arcuate member, such that the first flexible element serially engages the first and second guide tracks; and wrapping the second flexible element at least partially about a second side of the fixed arcuate member, such that the second flexible element engages the first guide track, the second side of the fixed arcuate member being opposite the first side. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A counterbalance assembly coupled between a door and a body of an appliance, for facilitating pivoting of the door with respect to the body, the counterbalance assembly comprising:
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a first and a second biasing member, each biasing member being adapted to be coupled to the body; a guide member adapted to be coupled to the body and including a fixed arcuate member defining a first guide track, and a pulley element rotatable about an axis and defining a second guide track, the first guide track of the fixed arcuate member being parallel to and offset from the second guide track of the pulley element along the axis thereof, a first flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the first biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about the pulley element and about a first side of the fixed arcuate member, so as to serially engage the first and second guide tracks, whereafter a second end of the first flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is adapted to be coupled to the door; and a second flexible element having a first end serially engaged with the second biasing member and extending therefrom to at least partially wrap about a second side of the fixed arcuate member so as to engage the first guide track, the second side of the fixed arcuate member being substantially opposite the first side, whereafter a second end of the second flexible member, opposed to the first end thereof, is adapted to be coupled to the door. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification