Door hinge for a household appliance
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly for mounting a door to the body of a household appliance, comprising:
- a door-mounting bracket for mounting to the door;
a hinge pin for pivoting the door about an axis between a closed position, a first open position near the closed position, and a second open position;
a body-mounting bracket for mounting to the body;
an abutment on the body-mounting bracket;
a stay bar having first and second elongate surfaces extending between opposing first and second ends of the stay bar, the first end being pivotally connected to the door-mounting bracket, at least one detent recess in the second surface proximate the first end, and a stop face projecting from the first surface proximate the second end; and
a spring mounted to the body-mounting bracket, the spring having an arm slidingly and resiliently engaging the first surface to apply a torque to the stay bar to urge the second surface into engagement with the abutment, whereinthe arm cooperates with the abutment to urge the door, in the closed position, toward the closed positionthe abutment is received in the at least one detent recess to hold the door in the first open position, andthe arm contacts the stop face to support the door in the second open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact, low-cost hinge assembly for mounting a door to a household appliance. A stay bar has first and second elongate edge surfaces extending between opposing first and second ends. The first end is pivotally connected to a door-mounting bracket on which an abutment is located. A torsion spring is mounted to a body-mounting bracket, and an arm of the spring resiliently engages the first edge surface to urge the second surface into engagement with the abutment, urging the door, in a closed position, toward the closed position. A detent recess in the second surface receives the abutment to hold the door partially open. A stop face projects from the first edge surface, and the spring arm contacts the stop face to hold the door horizontal, in a fully open position.
11 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly for mounting a door to the body of a household appliance, comprising:
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a door-mounting bracket for mounting to the door; a hinge pin for pivoting the door about an axis between a closed position, a first open position near the closed position, and a second open position; a body-mounting bracket for mounting to the body; an abutment on the body-mounting bracket; a stay bar having first and second elongate surfaces extending between opposing first and second ends of the stay bar, the first end being pivotally connected to the door-mounting bracket, at least one detent recess in the second surface proximate the first end, and a stop face projecting from the first surface proximate the second end; and a spring mounted to the body-mounting bracket, the spring having an arm slidingly and resiliently engaging the first surface to apply a torque to the stay bar to urge the second surface into engagement with the abutment, wherein the arm cooperates with the abutment to urge the door, in the closed position, toward the closed position the abutment is received in the at least one detent recess to hold the door in the first open position, and the arm contacts the stop face to support the door in the second open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeHon Way Plastic & Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd.
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Original AssigneeHon Way Plastic & Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd.
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InventorsChoi, Hon Man
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Primary Examiner(s)GHYKA, ALEXANDER G
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Application NumberUS12/603,691Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,083 DaysField of Search219/524, 162/86, 162/97, 163/33, 163/43, 163/74US Class Current219/524CPC Class CodesE05D 11/1028 for maintaining the hinge i...E05Y 2900/304 for dishwashersE05Y 2900/308 for ovensF24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hin...
