Linear hinge for an appliance

An appliance includes a linear hinge that couples a door to a cabinet. The linear hinge includes a bearing and an elongated shaft received within the bearing such that the elongated shaft is slidable along a translation axis. A distal end portion of the elongated shaft is rotatably connected to the door such that the door is rotatable about a rotation axis that extends through the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. A first linkage arm is rotatably connected to the bearing. A second linkage arm is rotatably connected to the elongated shaft and to the first linkage arm. The distal end portion of the elongated shaft is spaced from the bearing by a gap along the translation axis when the door is closed, and a sum of a length of the first linkage arm and a length of the second linkage arm is greater than the gap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to linear hinges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Integrated refrigerator appliances allow panels to be mounted on doors of the integrated refrigerator appliances. The panels may sit flush with adjacent cabinetry when the doors are closed. The doors in integrated refrigerator appliances are frequently mounted on hinges such that the doors rotate open and closed.

Linear hinges allow the doors to translate away from adjacent cabinetry in addition to rotating open and closed. By translating in addition to rotating, interference between the doors and the adjacent cabinetry can be avoided. However, known linear hinges have several drawbacks, such as being bulky and allowing hard slamming of the doors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first example embodiment, an appliance includes a cabinet and a door. A linear hinge couples the door to the cabinet. The linear hinge includes a bearing mounted to the cabinet. An elongated shaft is received within the bearing such that the elongated shaft is slidable along a translation axis on the bearing. A distal end portion of the elongated shaft is rotatably connected to the door such that the door is rotatable about a rotation axis that extends through the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The linear hinge also includes a pair of linkage arms. A first linkage arm of the pair of linkage arms is rotatably connected to the bearing such that a first end portion of the first linkage arm is positioned at the bearing. A second linkage arm of the pair of linkage arms is rotatably connected to the elongated shaft such that a first end portion of the second linkage arm is positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The first linkage arm is rotatably connected to the second linkage arm such that a second end portion of the first linkage arm is positioned at a second end portion of the second linkage arm. The first linkage arm defines a length between the first and second end portions of the first linkage arm, and the second linkage arm defines a length between the first and second end portions of the second linkage arm. The distal end portion of the elongated shaft is spaced from the bearing by a gap along the translation axis when the door is closed, and a sum of the length of the first linkage arm and the length of the second linkage arm is greater than the gap.

In a second example embodiment, an appliance includes a cabinet and a door. A linear hinge couples the door to the cabinet. The linear hinge includes a bearing mounted to the cabinet. An elongated shaft is received within the bearing such that the elongated shaft is slidable along a translation axis on the bearing. A distal end portion of the elongated shaft is rotatably connected to the door such that the door is rotatable about a rotation axis that extends through the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The linear hinge also includes a pair of linkage arms. A first linkage arm of the pair of linkage arms is rotatably connected to the bearing such that a first end portion of the first linkage arm is positioned at the bearing. A second linkage arm of the pair of linkage arms is rotatably connected to the elongated shaft such that a first end portion of the second linkage arm is positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The first linkage arm is rotatably connected to the second linkage arm such that a second end portion of the first linkage arm is positioned at a second end portion of the second linkage arm. The first linkage arm defines a length between the first and second end portions of the first linkage arm, and the second linkage arm defines a length between the first and second end portions of the second linkage arm. The length of the second linkage arm is oriented perpendicular to the translation axis when the door is closed. The distal end portion of the elongated shaft is spaced from the bearing by a gap along the translation axis when the door is closed, and a sum of the length of the first linkage arm and the length of the second linkage arm is greater than the gap. The length of the first linkage arm is greater than the length of the second linkage arm. The length of the first linkage arm and the length of the second linkage arm are selected such that the door translates along the translation axis as the door rotates from a closed position towards an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an appliance100according to an example embodiment of the present subject matter. As may be seen inFIG. 1, appliance100includes a base or cabinet110and a door120. Door120is coupled to cabinet110with one or more linear hinges200, e.g., at a top and bottom of door120. A user may rotate door120open to access and interior of cabinet110, and the user may rotate door120closed to seal the interior of cabinet110.

In certain example embodiments, appliance100may be a refrigerator appliance. Thus, e.g., cabinet110may be an insulated cabinet with a chilled chamber112positioned within cabinet110. A sealed system (not shown) may be operable to cool chilled chamber112and food items stored therein. It will be understood that appliance100may be any other type of appliance in alternative example embodiments. In particular, while described in greater detail below in the context of appliance100, it will be understood that linear hinge200may be used in or with any suitable appliance in alternative example embodiments. For example, linear hinge200may be used in or with French door oven appliances, dishwasher appliances, etc. to mount a door to a cabinet, such as a base, a tub, etc. As discussed in greater detail herein, linear hinge200includes features for limiting hard slamming of door120and/or is less bulky than known hinges.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of linear hinge200.FIGS. 3 through 5are top, plan views of appliance100with door120shown in various positions. As may be seen inFIG. 2, linear hinge200includes at least one bearing210, an elongated shaft220, and a pair of linkage arms230. Bearing210is mounted to cabinet110. As an example, bearing210may be fastened or otherwise suitably fixed to cabinet110. Elongated shaft220is received within bearing210. In particular, elongated shaft220may slide along a translation axis T on bearing210. Thus, e.g., elongated shaft220may extend and retract along the translation axis T on bearing210as door120opens and closes.

A distal end portion222of elongated shaft220may be cantilevered from bearing210, and distal end portion222of elongated shaft220is rotatably connected to door120. In particular, door120is rotatable about a rotation axis R that extends through distal end portion222of elongated shaft220. The rotation axis R may be perpendicular to the translation axis T. For example, the rotation axis R may be vertically oriented, and the translation axis T may be horizontally oriented.

As shown inFIGS. 3 through 5, door120is connected to cabinet110with linear hinge200such that door120is translatable along the translation axis T relative to cabinet110and is also rotatable about the rotation axis R relative to cabinet110. Thus, e.g., when door120includes an outer panel that is flush mounted with adjacent cabinetry, linear hinge200may translate door110along the translation axis T away from cabinet110as door110is rotated open about the rotation axis R. Translating door120away from cabinet110as door120rotates open assists with reducing interference between door120and adjacent cabinetry. In addition, translating door120away from cabinet110as door120rotates open may also assist with limiting scraping of door120on a gasket (not shown) that extends between cabinet110and door120to seal the interior of cabinet110.

Linkage arms230couple elongated shaft220to bearing210to induce sliding of elongated shaft220along the translation axis T on bearing210(and thus door120) as door120is rotated open about the rotation axis R. A first linkage arm232of linkage arms230is rotatably connected to bearing210. In particular, a first end portion240of first linkage arm232is positioned at and rotatably connected to bearing210. A second linkage arm234of linkage arms230is rotatably connected to elongated shaft220. In particular, a first end portion250of second linkage arm234is positioned at and rotatably connected to distal end portion222of elongated shaft220. First linkage arm232is also rotatably connected to second linkage arm234. In particular, a second end portion242of first linkage arm232is positioned at and rotatably connected to a second end portion252of second linkage arm234.

In certain example embodiments, elongated shaft220includes a post224at distal end portion222of elongated shaft220. Post224may extend or be elongated along the rotation axis R. Door120is rotatably connected to post224at one end of post224, and second linkage arm234is rotatably connected to post224at the opposite end of post224. For example, the one end of post224may be received within a hole defined by a bracket124of door120(e.g., on a top edge126of door120), and the opposite end of post224may be received within a hole defined by second linkage arm234at first end portion250of second linkage arm234.

First linkage arm232defines a length between first and second end portions240,242of first linkage arm232. Similarly, second linkage arm234defines a length between first and second end portions250,252of second linkage arm234. Distal end portion222of elongated shaft220is also spaced from bearing210by a gap G (FIG. 3) along the translation axis T when door120is closed. A sum of the length of first linkage arm232and the length of second linkage arm234is greater than the gap G. Thus, linkage arms230are angled relative to one another rather than being parallel when door120is closed, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

The length of first linkage arm232and the length of second linkage arm234may be selected to induce door120to translate along the translation axis T as the door rotates from a closed position (shown inFIG. 3) towards an open position (shown inFIG. 5). For example, the length of first linkage arm232may be greater than the length of second linkage arm234. In particular, the length of first linkage arm232may be no less than fifty percent (50%) greater than the length of second linkage arm234and, e.g., no more than one hundred percent (100%) greater than the length of second linkage arm234. Such relative sizing between first and second linkage arms232,234may facilitate translation of door120along the translation axis T as door120rotates open, e.g., while also providing a compact arrangement for linear hinge200.

The length of second linkage arm234may also be oriented perpendicular to the translation axis T when door120is closed, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. As used herein the term “oriented perpendicular” does not require components to be angled at exactly ninety degrees (90°) and rather encompasses a ten degree (10°) margin. The sizing and/or orientation of second linkage arm234may be selected such that second end portion244of first linkage arm232and second end portion254of second linkage arm234may be positioned no more than a quarter of an inch (0.25″) from a side122of door120when door120is closed. Thus, e.g., linkage arms230may not significantly overhang side122of door120, as shown inFIG. 3.

First linkage arm232may include a pinch guard260. Pinch guard260is positioned over a portion of elongated shaft220between bearing210and distal end portion222of elongated shaft220when door120is closed. Thus, pinch guard260may block fingers from being inserted between elongated shaft220and linkage arms230when door120is opened and/or closed. Pinch guard260may have a circular segment shape and/or may be a single piece of metal. Thus, pinch guard260may be integrally formed with first linkage arm232in certain example embodiments.

Elongated shaft220may also define a slot226that extends along the translation axis T on elongated shaft220. Bearing210may have a guide212positioned within slot210. Guide212may be a pin, shaft, etc. that constrains rotation of elongated shaft220. In particular, guide212is configured to prevent rotation of elongated shaft220on bearing210, e.g., about the translation axis T. Thus, e.g., interference between guide212and elongated shaft220at slot210may block rotation of elongated shaft220relative bearing210.