Patent ID: 6393664
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: E05D,E05F,E05Y,F25D,Y10T

Abstract:
An appliance hinge assembly comprising:a one-piece hinge body defining: (i) a mounting flange for connecting said hinge body to a first associated appliance portion; (ii) a bore; and, (iii) a stop surface; a coil spring located in said bore; a spherical actuating member located in said bore and urged by said coil spring toward a first end of said hinge body; a one-piece cam member pivotably connected to said hinge body adjacent said first end, said cam member defining: (i) a first portion including a mounting flange for connecting said cam member to a second associated appliance portion; and, (ii) a second portion that extends into said bore and contacts said spherical actuating member, said second portion defining a curved lobe portion, a recessed dwell portion, and an intermediate portion interconnecting said lobe portion and said recessed dwell portion, said cam member movable pivotably relative to said hinge body between: (i) a first position where said curved lobe portion is engaged with said spherical actuating member and urges said actuating member into said bore against a biasing force of said coil spring; (ii) an intermediate position where said spherical actuating member is urged by said coil spring into engagement with said intermediate portion of said cam member; and, (iii) a second position where said cam member is engaged with said stop surface and said spherical actuating member is seated in said recessed dwell portion and biased into engagement with said recessed dwell portion by said coil spring, said actuating member, when seated in said recessed dwell portion, inhibiting movement of said cam member out of said second position, and said stop surface, when engaged with said cam member, preventing movement of said cam member away from said first position beyond said second position.