Abstract:
A hinge assembly is provided for pivotably attaching a door to a domestic appliance. The hinge assembly includes a hinge body having two side walls; a damper; a foot pivotably attached to the damper, the foot being configured to engage a foot receiving portion of the appliance body such that the hinge body and the door pivot relative to the appliance body; a pivot member that locationally fixes an eyelet of the damper to the hinge body; and two spacer bushings located on opposite sides of the eyelet and between the eyelet and the side walls of the hinge body. The pivot member extends through the side walls, the spacer bushings and the eyelet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is directed to a hinge assembly for a domestic appliance. The hinge assembly has spacer bushings to ensure proper alignment of a damper in the hinge body. 
         [0002]    An example of an application for the invention is a hinge assembly used with a door of a domestic appliance. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many domestic appliances, such as built in ovens, have one or more doors that swing open about a horizontal axis such that the door swings downward into an open position. Such a door is often heavy and uses springs of significant strength to counteract a portion of the weight of the door so that it is easier for a user to open and close the door. These springs often act to slam the door into the closed position after the door has passed a particular rotational position when moved upward toward the closed position. This slamming is undesirable for at least the reasons that it can make a loud noise, it can damage the appliance over time, and it gives the appearance of low quality. The result of such slamming is usually that the user continues to hold the door until it has reached the closed position. 
         [0004]    To prevent the undesirable slamming, soft-close hinges can be employed. Soft-close hinges often include some type of damper that slows the movement of the door for a predetermined distance before the door reaches the closed position. This damping prevents the slamming of the door and results in a much more desirable appliance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Some dampers include a spring mounted inside a cylinder. The spring is often very long compared to its diameter in order to fit inside the cylinder. The damper can include a rod that moves relative to the cylinder when the damper is operated. A hinge assembly can include a damper, a spring, a hinge body, and a hinge foot. Often a domestic appliance, an oven for example, is provided with one hinge assembly on each side of an opening which is covered by the door. The hinge foot can be provided with an engagement portion that engages a foot receiving portion on the body of the domestic appliance. Due to the spring and damper forces acting on the foot and the foot receiving portion, and the weight of the door, a strong and secure locating system for the end of the damper is required. 
         [0006]    The invention recognizes the existence of the above described forces acting on the damper and recognizes the need for a strong and secure locating system for the end of the damper. The invention recognizes that even minor movements of the end of the damper can cause the damper cylinder to contact the hinge body which can result in undesirable noise, can change the closing time of the door, and can make it more difficult to remove the door. Also, minor movements of the end of the damper can cause the spring/damping force to become misaligned with the damper rod. This misalignment can cause wear, can cause undesirable noise, can change the closing time of the door, and can make it more difficult to remove the door. 
         [0007]    Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to a hinge assembly for pivotably attaching a door to a domestic appliance having an appliance body. The hinge assembly includes a hinge body having two side walls; a damper having a central longitudinal axis and including a damper cylinder, the damper cylinder having a rod partially located inside the cylinder and partially located outside the cylinder, and a coil spring located inside the cylinder and around the rod such that the rod extends through a center of a coil of the coil spring, the damper damping the movement of the rod relative to the cylinder, the rod extending along the central longitudinal axis of the damper, and the damper being pivotably attached to the hinge body at an attachment end; a foot pivotably attached to the damper at an end of the damper opposite to the attachment end, the foot being configured to engage a foot receiving portion of the appliance body such that the hinge body and the door pivot relative to the appliance body; a pivot member that locationally fixes an eyelet at the attachment end of the damper to the hinge body; and two spacer bushings located on opposite sides of the eyelet and between the eyelet and the side walls of the hinge body. The pivot member extends through the side walls, the spacer bushings and the eyelet. 
         [0008]    Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a door assembly for pivotably attaching to a domestic appliance having an appliance body. The door assembly has a door; and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a hinge body having two side walls; a damper having a central longitudinal axis and including a damper cylinder, the damper cylinder having a rod partially located inside the cylinder and partially located outside the cylinder, and a coil spring located inside the cylinder and around the rod such that the rod extends through a center of a coil of the coil spring, the damper damping the movement of the rod relative to the cylinder, the rod extending along the central longitudinal axis of the damper, and the damper being pivotably attached to the hinge body at an attachment end; a foot pivotably attached to the damper at an end of the damper opposite to the attachment end, the foot being configured to engage a foot receiving portion of the appliance body such that the hinge body and the door pivot relative to the appliance body; a pivot member that locationally fixes an eyelet at the attachment end of the damper to the hinge body; and two spacer bushings located on opposite sides of the eyelet and between the eyelet and the side walls of the hinge body. The pivot member extends through the side walls, the spacer bushings and the eyelet. 
         [0009]    Other embodiments of the invention are directed to a domestic appliance having an appliance body having a foot receiving portion; a door; and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly including a hinge body having two side walls; a damper having a central longitudinal axis and including a damper cylinder, the damper cylinder having a rod partially located inside the cylinder and partially located outside the cylinder, and a coil spring located inside the cylinder and around the rod such that the rod extends through a center of a coil of the coil spring, the damper damping the movement of the rod relative to the cylinder, the rod extending along the central longitudinal axis of the damper, and the damper being pivotably attached to the hinge body at an attachment end; a foot pivotably attached to the damper at an end of the damper opposite to the attachment end, the foot engaging the foot receiving portion of the appliance body such that the hinge body and the door pivot relative to the appliance body; a pivot member that locationally fixes an eyelet at the attachment end of the damper to the hinge body; and two spacer bushings located on opposite sides of the eyelet and between the eyelet and the side walls of the hinge body. The pivot member extends through the side walls, the spacer bushings and the eyelet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    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: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a domestic appliance in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a damper in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a domestic appliance in accordance with embodiments of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of elements of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an element of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    Many domestic appliances, such as, for example, built-in ovens, have a door that pivots relative to the body of the appliance to permit access to an internal space of the appliance. These doors are often heavy due to glass view panels, insulation, ventilating structure, and other elements. Springs are often used to reduce the effort needed from the user to close the door. These springs can be strong in order to exert a force that counteracts a large portion of the weight of a heavy door. The result of strong springs is often a slamming of the door once the door passes a particular point in the pivoting. 
         [0021]    One or more dampers can be used to damp the closing action resulting from the strong springs to eliminate the slamming that can be caused by undamped springs. The dampers can be any type of damper including, but not limited to, gas filled or liquid filled dampers. Examples of fluid (gas and/or liquid) filled dampers have a cylinder that contains the fluid and may or may not include one or more orifices through with the fluid moves to create the damping force. 
         [0022]    Some door hinge assemblies include both a spring and a damper. Some of these door hinge assemblies place the spring inside the damper cylinder to provide a compact assembly. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a domestic appliance  20  mounted in a cabinet  10 . An example of a domestic appliance  20  is a cabinet-mounted oven. In this example, domestic appliance  20  includes a door  30  pivotably attached to a body of domestic appliance  20  to selectively open and close an interior space of domestic appliance  20 . In some embodiments, door  30  is attached to the body of domestic appliance  20  by two hinge assemblies. Examples of the hinge assemblies are discussed below. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a hinge assembly  100  that can be used to pivotably attach door  30  to the body of domestic appliance  20 . In particular embodiments, two hinge assemblies  100  are used, one on each side of the opening of the interior space of domestic appliance  20 . A hinge assembly body  110  partially surrounds an assembly that includes a damper  200 , a linkage  700 ,  800 , and a foot  120 . 
         [0025]    Damper  200  includes a cylinder  300  and a rod  400 . Rod  400  is partially inside cylinder  300  and partially outside cylinder  300  and moves in a reciprocating motion relative to cylinder  300 . A bushing arrangement  900  pivotably attaches an eyelet  420  at an end  410  of rod  400  to hinge body  110 . Although this example shows rod  400  being attached to hinge body  110  by bushing arrangement  900 , it is noted that if damper  200  is positioned 180 degrees from the position shown in  FIG. 2 , an end of cylinder  300  can be attached to hinge body  110  by bushing arrangement  900 . A damping force is applied to rod  400  as it moves relative to cylinder  300  and damps the motion of rod  400  relative to cylinder  300 . This damping force can result from a fluid inside cylinder  300  being forced through at least one aperture when rod  400  moves, or from some other type of damping mechanism. 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the invention include a coil spring positioned inside cylinder  300  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  shows rod  400  extending through the center of spring  500  and including a shoulder that supports the right side end of spring  500 . As rod  400  is moved to the left in the figure, spring  500  is compressed. This movement corresponds to door  30  being moved from the closed position to the open position. As rod  400  is moved farther to the left, spring  500  becomes increasingly more compressed. 
         [0027]    In particular embodiments, hinge assembly  100  is attached to door  30  such that hinge body  110  does not move relative to door  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , foot  120  is pivotably attached to damper  200  by a pin  122 . An engagement end  124  of foot  120  engages a foot receiving feature (for example foot receiving portion  600  shown in  FIG. 4 ) on domestic appliance  20  to attach door  30  to domestic appliance  20 . Hinge assembly  100  and door  30  are then pivotable relative to the body of domestic appliance  20 . Foot  120  is attached in this embodiment to the end of cylinder  300  by a first linkage member  700  and a second linkage member  800  such that foot  120  can pivot relative to cylinder  300 . First and second linkage members  700 ,  800  are pivotably attached to cylinder  300  by a pin  104  and are pivotably attached to foot  120  by pin  122 . 
         [0028]    First linkage member  700  and second linkage member  800  have slots  710 ,  810 , respectively, formed in them to receive a pin  114 .  FIG. 2  shows pin  114  removed from hinge body  110  to illustrate how slots  710 ,  810  engage pin  114 . In this example, pin  114  includes a roller  116  that rotates around a center portion of pin  114  that is attached to hinge body  110  in order to provide a smooth rolling relationship between slots  710 ,  810  and pin  114 . 
         [0029]    The damping forces in conjunction with the curved shape of slots  710 ,  810  subject the hinge assembly to different forces at different points of travel of pin  114  through slots  710 ,  810 . Applicant recognized the existence of the above described forces acting on the ends of the damper and recognized the need for a strong and secure locating system for the end of rod  400 . Applicant recognized that even minor movements of the end of rod  400  can cause misalignment of damper  200  in hinge body  110 , which can cause undesirable noise, can change the closing time of the door, and can make it more difficult to remove the door. This strong and secure locating system for the end of rod  400  is more important in order to ensure the smooth operation of a damped hinge assembly than a non-damped hinge because of these differing forces. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows door  30  attached to body  25  of domestic appliance  20 , and in a partially opened position. Engagement end  124  of foot  120  is engaged with foot receiving portion  600  to keep door  30  attached to body  25 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a bushing arrangement  900  in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Bushing arrangement  900  is an example of a locating system for the end of rod  400 .  FIG. 5  shows two spacer bushings  975  having through holes  977 . Washers  980  are shown on both sides of each spacer bushing  975  to separate spacer bushings  975  from eyelet  420  and hinge body  110 . Although washers  980  are shown in four locations, it is noted that only two washers or no washers can be used. For example, washers  980  can be positioned between spacer bushings  975  and hinge body  110  or between spacer bushings  975  and eyelet  420 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a pivot member  970  that supports spacer bushings  975 . In particular embodiments, spacer bushings  975  rotates around pivot member  970 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 7 , pivot member  970  can be seen passing through two spacer bushings  975  and four washers  980  to securely position eyelet  420  between side walls of hinge body  110 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention that does not use washers between eyelet  420  and spacer bushings  975 . In this embodiment, spacer bushings  975  can rotate freely with eyelet  420  relative to the side walls of hinge body  110  because washers  980  are positioned between spacer bushings  975  and the side walls of hinge body  110 . 
         [0035]    Applicant notes that in domestic appliances that have two hinge assemblies, particularly when the hinge assemblies are located or different sides of a door opening, slightly different spring characteristics, slightly different damper characteristics, and/or uneven wear of the spring, damper, or other components, can cause the hinge assemblies to operate with different force and damping characteristics. Such differences can result in unequal forces acting on the door of the domestic appliance. These unequal forces can act to twist or skew the door relative to the appliance body. The locating system for the end of the damper in accordance with the invention resists these forces as well as the damper/spring forces discussed above. 
         [0036]    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.