Patent ID: 11970895
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  F | IPC E  F

Claim 17:
18. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:
an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction;
an anchor plate engaged with the appliance wrapper, wherein the anchor plate includes:
a retention member received by the first receiving space, wherein the retention member includes a body portion and an arm, and wherein the body portion and the arm define a retention space therebetween;
a first flange received by the second receiving space; and
a second flange received by the third receiving space;

a hinge plate coupled with the anchor plate and including a protrusion received by a slot defined by the body of the retention member of the anchor plate, wherein the appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor plate and the hinge plate; and
a locking arm selectively engaged with the anchor plate and the hinge plate and rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the locking arm is a unitary structure and includes:
a body including an upper portion and a lower portion having at least one fin extending perpendicular to the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is received within the retention space of the retention member and engages the arm of the retention member in the locked position, and wherein the lower portion abuts an upper surface of the hinge plate in the locked position; and
a nose extending from the lower portion opposite the upper portion, wherein the nose includes a base portion inclined toward the anchor plate in the locked position, an angular portion inclined away from the base portion at a vertex, and a surface positioned at the vertex to abut and apply pressure to the anchor plate when in the locked position.