Patent ID: 11859434
Assignee: MANSFIELD ENGINEERED COMPONENTS, LLC
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E  F | IPC E  F

Claim 10:
11. An appliance door hinge assembly comprising:
a hinge plate including: (i) an inner portion adapted to be connected to an associated appliance structure; and, (ii) an outer portion adapted for pivoting connection of an associated door thereto;
a damper system comprising a damper connected to one of: (i) the hinge plate; (ii) the associated door;
a damper engagement structure connected to the other of: (i) the hinge plate; (ii) the associated door;
wherein said damper engagement structure is separated from the damper system when the associated door is in an opened position, said damper engagement structure contacts said damper system when the associated door is pivoted to an engagement position located between said opened position and a closed position, and said damper engagement structure contacts and activates the damper system when the associated door is pivoted toward the closed position from the engagement position such that said damper slows movement of the associated door toward the closed position when the damper is activated;
wherein the damper system further comprises a damper activation lever that pivots from a first position toward a second position in response to pivoting movement of the associated door toward its closed position, wherein said damper activation lever contacts and activates the damper upon movement of the damper activation lever from its first position toward its second position.