Abstract:
A hinge assembly for pivotably attaching a door to a home appliance includes a hinge bracket having a body; a hooking member that releasably engages a receiving feature of the home appliance; and a securing member fixed to the body. A fastener secures the securing member to the appliance in an operating position of the door and such that removal of the fastener releases the securing member from the home appliance so that the hooking member can be disengaged from the receiving feature to allow removal of the door from the home appliance, and the engagement of the hooking member with the receiving feature supports the weight of the door when the fastener is removed such that the receiving feature of the appliance supports the weight of the door to maintain a temporary vertical position of the door.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a home appliance door hinge assembly having a temporary holding feature. 
     An example of an application for the invention is a hinge assembly for a side-swing door of a home appliance that allows the door to be unfastened from the home appliance while the hinge assembly supports the weight of the door. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many home appliances, such as built in ovens, have one or more doors that swing open about a vertical axis. The door is often heavy and requires substantial attachment of the hinges to the body of the appliance. 
     Such a door is preferably removable to allow installation separate from the appliance main body, repair, or replacement. Due to the substantial weight of the door, installation or removal can be difficult or even dangerous for one person. This is because it can be difficult to support the weight of the door while removing the fasteners that attach the door to the body of the appliance. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide a system for supporting the weight of the door while the door is installed or removed from the home appliance body. 
     Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to home appliance. The home appliance includes a home appliance body having a receiving feature; a door; and a hinge assembly that pivotably attaches the door to the home appliance body. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket having a body; a hooking member fixed to the hinge bracket body, the hooking member releasably engaging the receiving feature of the home appliance body; a securing member fixed to the hinge bracket body; and a fastener securing the securing member to the home appliance body while the hooking member is engaged with the receiving feature, the fastener being removable; and a first door bracket pivotably attached to the hinge bracket and fixed to the door. The fastener secures the securing member to the home appliance body in an operating position of the door such that the hinge bracket body is immovable relative to the receiving feature, the fastener is configured such that removal of the fastener releases the securing member from the home appliance body so that the hooking member can be disengaged from the receiving feature to allow removal of the door from the home appliance body, and the engagement of the hooking member with the receiving feature supports the weight of the door when the fastener is removed such that the receiving feature of the home appliance body supports the weight of the door to maintain a temporary vertical position of the door. 
     Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a hinge assembly for pivotably attaching a door to a home appliance. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket having a body; a hooking member fixed to the body, the hooking member being configured to releasably engage a receiving feature of the home appliance; a securing member fixed to the body; and a fastener configured to secure the securing member to the home appliance while the hooking member is engaged with the receiving feature, the fastener being removable; and a first door bracket pivotably attached to the hinge bracket and configured to be fixed to the door. The fastener is configured to secure the securing member to the home appliance in an operating position of the door such that the body is immovable relative to the receiving feature, the fastener is configured such that removal of the fastener releases the securing member from the home appliance so that the hooking member can be disengaged from the receiving feature to allow removal of the door from the home appliance, and the engagement of the hooking member with the receiving feature supports the weight of the door when the fastener is removed such that the receiving feature of the home appliance supports the weight of the door to maintain a temporary vertical position of the door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a variant of the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a hinge receiver in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a haptics member in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a home appliance in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention in an open position; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a 45 degree position; and 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. 
     Many home appliances, such as, for example, built in ovens, have one or more side-swing doors that swing open about a vertical axis. These doors are often heavy and require substantial attachment of the hinges to the body of the appliance. 
     It is often preferable for the doors to be removable to allow installation separate from the appliance main body, repair, or replacement. Due to the substantial weight of the door, installation or removal can be difficult or even dangerous for one person. This is because it can be difficult to support the weight of the door while removing the fasteners that attach the door to the body of the appliance. 
     Embodiments of the invention provide a simple and safe way for one person to install or remove a door. This is achieved by providing a hooking feature on a hinge body. The hooking feature hooks in to a receiving feature on the appliance body to support the weight of the door while the more permanent fastening of the door to the appliance can be performed. In this application, the term “appliance body” can mean any part of the appliance including, but not limited to, a main body of the appliance, a frame of the appliance, or a cabinet or other framework into which the appliance is built. 
       FIGS. 1-7  show an example of a hinge assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The hinge assembly includes a hinge bracket  100 , a top door bracket  210  and a bottom door bracket  310 . 
     Top door bracket  210  and bottom door bracket  310  are configured to be fastened to a door of the home appliance. In this example, screws, bolts, or other fasteners fix a tab  240  of top door bracket  210  to the door through hole  250 . Similarly, screws, bolts, or other fasteners fix a tab  340  of bottom door bracket  310  to the door through hole  350 . Top door bracket  210  has a flange  220  that is pivotably attached to an upper flange  140  of hinge bracket  100 . This attachment can be made with a rivet, shoulder bolt, or other pivoting attachment device. An example of an appropriate pivoting attachment is a rivet through a hole  230  in flange  220  and a hole  150  in upper flange  140 . Similarly, a rivet can pivotably attach flange  320  to a lower flange  140  through a hole  330  and a hole  150 . While this example has two door brackets  210 ,  310 , other examples can have one door bracket, or three or more door brackets. 
     Hinge bracket  100  is secured to the appliance body by way of, in this example, two tabs  110 . Each tab  110  has a hole  120  through which a fastener such as, for example, a screw or a bolt can secure hinge bracket  100  to the appliance body. In an operating position of the door, the door is fixed to top door bracket  210  and bottom door bracket  310  such that the door cannot move relative to top door bracket  210  and bottom door bracket  310 . In the operating position of the door, hinge bracket  100  is fixed to the appliance body such that hinge bracket  100  cannot move relative to the appliance body. The pivoting movement of top door bracket  210  and bottom door bracket  310  relative to hinge bracket  100  permits the door to pivot relative to the appliance body. While this example has two tabs  110 , other examples can have one tab  110 , or three or more tabs  110 . 
     Hinge bracket  100  has a hook  130  extending from it, in this example, adjacent to tabs  110 . Hook  130  is configured to fit into a slot or other receiving feature of the appliance frame or body.  FIG. 9  shows an example of a hinge receiver  900  that can be a frame or other part of the appliance.  FIG. 9  shows two hooks  130 , one on each of separate hinge brackets  100 . The two hinge brackets  100  are fixed to an appliance door. Hooks  130  are guided into slots  910  in hinge receiver  900  as the door is moved toward the appliance. The operator can then allow the door to move downward under the force of gravity such that hooks  130  engage slots  910 . In this position, hooks  130  prevent the door from falling away from the appliance while hinge brackets  100  are secured to the appliance by way of fasteners through holes  120  into holes  920  in hinge receiver  900 . This configuration permits one operator to easily and safely mount the door to the appliance because hooks  130  support the weight of the door while hinge brackets  100  are secured to the appliance. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of an embodiment having a hook  130  that has both an downward pointing finger  131  and a upward pointing finger  132 . This embodiment can be used for a door mounted on either side of the appliance because in either mounting orientation one of the fingers  131 ,  132  will be pointing downward. The configuration of hinge bracket  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-7  is appropriate for use on only one side of the appliance due to its hook  130  having only one finger. 
       FIGS. 10-12  show an example of an embodiment having a haptics feature that provides a different feel to different positions of the door. In this example, a hinge assembly  10 ′ includes a hinge bracket  100 ′, a door bracket  500  pivotably attached to hinge bracket  100 ′, and a haptics body  410 . As described below, haptics body  410  provides force on the pivoting motion of hinge bracket  100 ′ relative to door bracket  500 . 
     A pivot pin  600  connects door bracket  500  to hinge bracket  100 ′ such that door bracket  500  can pivot relative to hinge bracket  100 ′. Pivot pin  600  has haptics cams  610  that rotate with pivot pin  600  when door bracket  500  pivots relative to hinge bracket  100 ′. As pivot pin  600  rotates, haptics cams  610  push on haptics body  410  and compress springs  420  against hinge bracket  100 ′.  FIG. 10  shows hinge assembly  10 ′ in a position in which the door is closed, and  FIG. 11  shows hinge assembly  10 ′ in a position in which the door is open.  FIG. 11  shows hinge assembly  10 ′ with haptics body  410  and springs  420  removed for clarity. 
     Similarly to hinge bracket  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , hinge bracket  100 ′ has a tab  110 ′ for securing hinge bracket  100 ′ to an appliance, and a hook  130 ′. Hinge bracket  100 ′ has, in this example, a pair of tabs  570  and a pair of tabs  580  that hold haptics body  410  in place. 
       FIG. 12  shows springs  420  being inserted into voids in haptics body  410 . 
       FIG. 13  shows an example of an appliance  1000  having a door  1010  and a control panel  1020 . Although this example shows an appliance with only one door, other examples have two or more doors. 
       FIGS. 14-16  show an example of an embodiment having a door swing limiting feature. Hinge assembly  10 ′ of  FIGS. 10-12  is used to explain this feature, but the feature can be applied to other hinge assembly embodiments.  FIGS. 14-16  are top views of door bracket  500  pivoting relative to hinge bracket  100 ′. A stopper flange  800  is fixed relative to hinge bracket  100 ′. A stopper  810  is fixed relative to door bracket  500 . As door bracket  500  (and the door) pivots from a closed position ( FIG. 16 ) to a full open position ( FIG. 14 ), stopper  810  moves with door bracket  500 . In the full open position shown in  FIG. 14 , stopper  810  contacts stopper flange  800  and prevents door bracket  500  (and the door) from pivoting any further. 
     The door swing limiting feature can also be effected by, for example, providing a bump or protrusion on the hinge bracket that interferes with the pivoting of the door bracket, or providing a bump or protrusion on the door bracket that interferes with the relative pivoting of the hinge bracket. 
     It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention.