Abstract:
A home appliance having an adjustable door and including an appliance body defining a cavity therein, defining an access opening to the cavity and carrying the door, with the door being movable between a generally vertical covering relationship with the access opening and a generally horizontal open relationship with the access opening; and at least one hinge assembly operatively associated with the door, the hinge assembly including an adjustable hinge receiver and a claw mounted to the hinge receiver and the door to extend therebetween, the hinge receiver including an adjustment assembly operatively connected to the claw for at least one of raising the door and lowering the door with respect to the appliance body, the adjustment assembly including a user-accessible adjustment member, wherein the adjustment member and the claw are in general vertical alignment and the adjustment member is disposed above the claw.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to home appliances having adjustable structural features, and, more particularly, to a range having an adjustable door while providing convenient access to the adjustment apparatus. 
     As is generally known, ranges that are used in cooking typically include an oven chamber for roasting, broiling or baking. The oven chamber in modern ovens is covered by a movable door. The door is movable between an open position for range access and a closed position for cooking and pyrolytic cleaning. Such movement is facilitated by a hinge including a hinge claw that extends from the door to the range body. The hinge claw must be supported by the range body, and this is accomplished by a hinge receiver that is mounted within the range body. 
     Often, the door over the oven is not the only door on the range, and door alignment becomes a factor in the overall appearance of the range. The range body may include cavities other then the oven, such as a second oven with a door, a steamer compartment with a door, or an open cavity containing a warming drawer. Even in a single-door range, there may be cabinet drawers that are located sufficiently close to the oven door to look unsightly if the top portions of the drawers are not aligned with the door. Therefore, many oven doors are made adjustable in a vertical direction for alignment of the door with an adjacent structure. The more similar the structures the more visually important is the adjustability. The hinge receivers facilitate that adjustability. 
     Hinge receivers can include an adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the position of the door relative to the range body. These adjustment mechanisms are generally located in the hinge receiver vertically below where the hinge receiver receives and supports the hinge claw. Positioning of the adjustment mechanism in this location requires space below the area where the hinge claw is received and this limits the size and position of the door. Further, such adjustment mechanisms are difficult to access to perform any door height adjustment. Other ranges, such as those with tall doors and visible feet may not have the room for traditional adjustable hinges. Accordingly, there exists a need for hinges that fit within the allotted space of the range and are accessible in a more straightforward manner than past hinges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is intended to provide a hinge that provides space below the claw receiving area of a range, such as the range discussed above with taller doors and visible feet. 
     The present invention is further intended to provide a hinge having an adjustment feature with operational access available to a user when the door is open yet mounted to the range. 
     To those ends, the present invention is directed to a home appliance having an adjustable door. The home appliance includes an appliance body defining a cavity therein, defining an access opening to the cavity and carrying the door, with the door being movable between a generally vertical covering relationship with the access opening and a generally horizontal open relationship with the access opening. Further provided is at least one hinge assembly operatively associated with the door. The hinge assembly includes an adjustable hinge receiver and a claw mounted to both the hinge receiver and the door to extend therebetween. The hinge receiver includes an adjustment assembly operatively connected to the claw for at least one of raising the door and lowering the door with respect to the appliance body. The adjustment assembly also includes a user-accessible adjustment member, wherein the adjustment member and the claw are in general vertical alignment and the adjustment member is disposed above the claw. 
     Preferably, the hinge assembly includes an outer pocket and an inner pocket, wherein the outer pocket is mounted to the range body and the inner pocket is mounted within the outer pocket for movement relative to the outer pocket. Further, the claw is preferably fitted to the inner pocket for movement therewith. The outer pocket may be formed with a claw slot for projection of the claw therethrough for free movement of the claw within the slot relative to the outer pocket. 
     It is preferred that the adjustment assembly is mounted to the inner pocket with the adjustment member projecting through an adjustment member opening in the outer pocket, wherein the adjustment member opening and the claw slot are in generally vertical alignment with the adjustment member opening being disposed above the claw slot. Preferably, the adjustment member is a screw and the adjustment assembly includes a traveling riser and a base pin with the traveling riser being threadedly attached to the screw and in abutment the base pin. The inner pocket may further include a traveling plate disposed vertically above and in abutment with the traveling riser for generally vertical movement therewith responsive to rotation of the adjustment screw. 
     Preferably, the claw is mounted to the hinge receiver assembly using at least one claw pin mounted to the inner pocket for movement therewith. In addition, the outer pocket may include slots formed in sidewalls thereof with the at least one claw pin disposed slidably therein. 
     The present invention is also directed to a range for cooking use. To that and previously stated ends, a range having an adjustable oven door includes a body defining an oven cavity therein and an access opening to the oven cavity with the oven door being movable between a generally horizontal open relationship with the access opening and a generally vertical covering relationship with the access opening. Further, the present invention includes at least one hinge assembly operatively associated with the oven door. The hinge assembly includes an adjustable hinge receiver and a claw mounted to the oven door and the hinge receiver to extend therebetween. The hinge receiver also includes an adjustment assembly operatively connected to the claw for at least one of raising the oven door and lowering the oven door. The adjustment assembly includes a user-accessible adjustment member, wherein the adjustment member and the claw are in general vertical alignment and the adjustment member is disposed above the claw. 
     Preferably, the hinge assembly includes an outer pocket and an inner pocket, wherein the outer pocket is mounted to the range body and the inner pocket is mounted within the outer pocket for movement relative to the outer pocket. Further, the outer pocket may be formed with a claw slot for projection of the claw therethrough for free movement of the claw within the slot relative to the outer pocket 
     It is preferred that the adjustment assembly is mounted to the inner pocket with the adjustment member projecting through an adjustment member opening in the outer pocket, with the adjustment member opening and the claw slot in generally vertical alignment and the adjustment member opening is disposed above the claw slot. 
     It is preferred that the adjustment member is a screw and the adjustment assembly includes a traveling riser and a base pin with the traveling riser being threadedly attached to the screw and in abutment the base pin. Preferably, the inner pocket includes a traveling plate disposed vertically above and in abutment with the traveling riser for generally vertical movement therewith responsive to rotation of the adjustment screw. 
     Preferably, the claw is mounted to the hinge receiver assembly using at least one claw pin mounted to the inner pocket for movement therewith. In addition, the outer pocket includes slots formed in sidewalls thereof with the at least one claw pin disposed slidably therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a home appliance having an adjustable hinge according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side cutaway view of the oven door and adjustable hinge assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hinge receiver assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the inner pocket of the hinge receiver illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the hinge receiver assembly illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway view of the hinge receiver assembly taken through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the hinge receiver assembly illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a household appliance in the form of a range for cooking is illustrated generally  10  and includes a range body  12  having an oven  14  disposed therein. The body  12  further defines an access opening  16  for user access to the oven  14 . As will be explained in greater detail presently, a slot  18  is formed in the range body  12  adjacent the access opening  16  for use as a hinge opening to allow a portion of a hinge assembly to project therethrough. A generally planar door  20  is mounted to the range body  12  for movement between an open relationship with the access opening  16 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , and a closed relationship (not shown) with the access opening  16 . A gasket  22  surrounds the access opening  16  to help contain the heat within the oven during cooking and self-cleaning or pyrolysis. 
     A second door  26  is provided adjacent the first door  20  on the range body  12 . The second door  26  may cover access to a steamer, a second oven, a warming drawer or the like. According to the present invention, one or both doors are be mounted using an adjustable hinge assembly that will allow the raising and lowering of one or both doors in relation to one another so that the tops of both the doors are even, giving a clean, professional installed look. In some ranges, the second door  26  may be absent and the first door  20  may be aligned with a cabinet structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and initially to  FIG. 2 , a hinge assembly according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at  28 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the relationship between externally visible components of the hinge assembly  28  and the door  20  as seen from outside the range  12  with the door  20  open. The cutaway view of  FIG. 2  provides a more detailed version of the hinge assembly  28 . Part of the hinge assembly  28  resides in the door  20  and the other part of the hinge assembly  28  resides within the range body  12  with both portions being co-joined by a claw  36  and a cam  30 . The cam  30  is pivotably mounted to a spring assembly  34  and a cam follower  32 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the cam  30  includes two identical portions arranged side by side in a mated relationship with a portion of the claw  36  extending therebetween. The cam  30  and the spring assembly  34  are provided to bias the door into a closed position after a certain predetermined amount of angular movement from the open position to the closed position. A claw brace  52  is attached to the claw  36  adjacent the claw slot  18  for stabilizing the claw  36 .  FIG. 1  shows the claw brace  52  in a locked state. The claw braces  52  must be rotated out horizontally to be able to remove the door  20 . The claw  36  is a generally L-shaped member being pivotally mounted to the door  20  at a claw pivot pin  38  mounted to the door  20  near a base thereof when the door is in a closed position as seen in  FIG. 2 . The claw  36  projects linearly away from the range body  12  with the crook of the L facing downwardly and directing the lower portion of the L to the claw pivot pin  38 . 
     The claw  36  projects inwardly into the range body  12  for mating with a hinge receiver illustrated generally at  40 . The hinge receiver  40  is seen in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5-7 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the hinge receiver assembly  40  includes an outer pocket  42  formed as a generally narrow U-shaped channel from two side walls  44  joined to a front wall  46 . The channel forming the outer pocket  42  is much taller than it is wide. A claw slot  48  is formed vertically along the front wall  46  at a lower portion thereof. As explained in greater detail hereinafter, claw support pins  54  extend in a spaced, parallel relationship through one side wall of the outer pocket  42  for mounting the claw  36  within the hinge receiver assembly  40 . A slot  56  is formed in one of the sidewalls  44  to allow projection of claw support pins therethrough and, as will be seen, to limit the travel of claw support pins  54  during door adjustment. Two mounting holes  50  are formed in the front wall  46  for receiving respective screws  58 , as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , to assist in mounting the hinge receiver assembly  40  to the range body  12 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , an inner pocket  60  is provided for movement within the outer pocket  42 . The inner pocket  60  is formed from two sidewalls  62  joined by a front wall  64  for fitment with the outer pocket  42  The inner pocket  60  includes a claw slot  66  for accommodating the claw  36  projecting outwardly therefrom as seen in  FIG. 2 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , a generally rectangular opening  68  is provided above the claw slot and for passage of an adjustment member  80  therethrough. A traveling plate  72  is formed integrally with the sidewalls  62  which will be used with the adjustment assembly as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. A pair of claw support pins  54  project through the sidewalls  62  adjacent the claw slot  66  for mounting the claw  36  thereto. The claw  36  mounting relationship with the claw pins  54  is best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4-7 , the adjustment assembly is illustrated generally at  70 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the adjustment assembly  70  includes the adjustment member  80  that is formed as an elongate screw rotatably mounted to the inner pocket  60  with a lock washer  84  that holds the adjustment member  80  in place while allowing rotation thereof. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the adjustment member projects through the inner pocket  60 , the outer pocket  42  and the range body  12  for adjustable access by a user. 
     The adjustment member  80  is threadedly engaged with a generally L-shaped riser  76  that rests on a riser pin  78 . The riser pin  78  is mounted to and extends through the sidewalls  44  of the outer pocket  42 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . Turning again to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , the crook of the L of the L-shaped member  76  rides on the riser pin  78  while an upstanding portion includes a threaded aperture which is threadedly engaged with the adjustment member  80 . An upper portion of the riser  76  is in abutment with a contact surface  74  of the traveling plate  72 . A lock nut  82  is threaded onto the adjustment member  80  to limit travel of the riser  76  when the adjustment member  80  is rotated. 
     As can be seen from the above, the claw  36  is mounted to the hinge receiver assembly  40  and is carried on pins  54  that are mounted to the inner pocket  60  for movement therewith. The claw pins  54  project through a slot  56  in the outer pocket  42  to limit movement of the claw pins  54  and thereby limit movement of the claw  36 . The adjustment assembly  70  causes movement of the traveling plate  72  and, accordingly, the inner pocket  60  to carry the claw  36 , and the door  20 , in vertical movement, either upwardly or downwardly. 
     In operation, the door  20  may be adjusted with the door  20  open yet not removed from the range  12 . The range of adjustment available to align the door  20  with other structures as discussed above, is on the order of ¼ inch, i.e., ⅛ inch in either direction, up or down. In order to move the inner pocket  60  and the claw  36 , a proper tool is engaged with the rotatable adjustment member and turned, causing the adjustment member  80  to rotate. A Torx connection is illustrated, but the head of the adjustment member  80  may have any number of configurations, each operable with equal success. 
     If the adjustment member  80  is rotated clockwise, threaded engagement with the riser  76  causes the riser  76  to retract and move closer to the door  20 . This causes the riser  76  to move upwardly against the riser pin  78  and, due to contact with the inclined traveling plate  72 , causes the traveling plate  72  to rise and the remainder of the inner pocket  60  rises with the integral traveling plate  72 . The claw support pins  54  that are firmly mounted to the inner pocket  60  also rise, thereby causing the claw  36  to rise, thereby causing the door  20  to rise. General movement of the adjustment member  80 , the riser  76  and the traveling plate  72  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  with arrows. 
     If the adjustment member  80  is rotated in an anti-clockwise manner, the riser  76  is driven outwardly and moves downwardly along the riser pin  78  thereby allowing the weight of the traveling plate  72 , inner pocket  60 , claw pins  54 , claw  36  and door  20  to drive the door  20  downwardly. As previously stated, movement of the riser  76  is limited to a movement sufficient to allow ⅛-inch up and ⅛ inch down adjustment of the door  20 . 
     By the above, the present invention provides a home appliance, such as a range, having an adjustable door with an adjustment assembly that is operably accessible with the oven door attached to the range. Further, the adjustment portion of the hinge assembly is disposed above the claw for unobstructed accessibility once the door is opened. In this manner, the factory technician or oven installer can more easily and effectively make the door of the oven even with other oven or cabinet structures thereby enhancing the value and appearance of the entire range installation. Finally, by locating the adjustment assembly above the claw, additional space is available below the claw for other uses. 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present invention is described in all currently foreseeable embodiments, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.