Patent Publication Number: US-9885514-B2

Title: Foldable hinge for refrigerator door

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Often, during transport and installation of refrigerators and appliances, doors of the appliance may be removed in order to facilitate movement through doors and other confined spaces. Removal of the hinges may result in improper alignment of the refrigerator doors when reattached. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator is provided that includes a cabinet having a cabinet wrapper, a door coupled to the cabinet and operable between substantially open and closed positions, and a hinge assembly operatively coupled to the cabinet and to the door. The hinge assembly includes a hinge body defining a door portion and a cabinet portion, the door portion coupled to the door and the cabinet portion coupled to an external side of the cabinet wrapper. A foldable hinge connects the door portion and cabinet portion of the hinge body such that the door portion may rotate relative to the cabinet wrapper. A reinforcement member is positioned on an internal side of the cabinet wrapper and coupled to the hinge body. A locking mechanism is positioned on the door portion. The locking mechanism is configured to engage the reinforcement member and lock the door portion in place. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator is provided that includes a cabinet having a cabinet wrapper, a door coupled to the cabinet, and a hinge assembly operatively coupled to the cabinet and to the door. The hinge assembly has a hinge body defining a door portion and a cabinet portion, the door portion comprising a hinge pin to which the door is rotatably coupled. The cabinet portion is coupled to the cabinet. A foldable hinge connects the door portion and cabinet portion of the hinge body such that the door portion is rotatable. A reinforcement member defines a protrusion extending through the cabinet wrapper and the hinge body. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator door hinge assembly is provided that includes a hinge body defining a door portion and a cabinet portion. The door portion and cabinet portion are coupled through a foldable hinge such that the door portion may pivot relative to the cabinet portion. The door portion defines an aperture. A reinforcement is coupled to the hinge body, the reinforcement defining a protrusion configured to pass through the aperture of the door portion. A locking mechanism is positioned on the door portion and configured to engage the protrusion such that the relative motion between the door portion and the cabinet portion is prevented. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Drawings are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the disclosure may be exaggerated in scale or shown in schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a refrigerator, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A , is a top perspective view of a hinge assembly, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly taken at line IIB of  FIG. 2A  in an unfolded configuration; 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly taken at line IIB of  FIG. 2A  in a folded configuration; 
         FIG. 2D  is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly taken at IID of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of the hinge assembly, according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly taken at line IIIB of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of the hinge assembly according to yet another embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly taken at line IVB of  FIG. 4A ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart for operating the hinge assembly, according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design and some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. 
     As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination. 
     It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present disclosure will be established by the appended claims. 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivates thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in  FIG. 1 , unless stated otherwise. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2D , depicted is a refrigerator  10  having a cabinet  14  and a cabinet wrapper  18 . A door  22  is coupled to the cabinet  14  and operable between substantially open and closed positions. A hinge assembly  26  is operatively coupled to the cabinet  14  and to the door  22 . The hinge assembly  26  includes a hinge body  30  defining a door portion  34  and a cabinet portion  38 . The door portion  34  is coupled to the door  22  and the cabinet portion  38  is coupled to an external side  51  of the cabinet wrapper  18 . A foldable hinge  42  connects the door portion  34  and cabinet portion  38  of the hinge body  30  such that the door portion  34  may rotate relative to the cabinet wrapper  18 . A reinforcement member  46  is positioned on an internal side S 2  of the cabinet wrapper  18  and coupled to the hinge body  30 . A locking mechanism  50  is positioned on the door portion  34 . The locking mechanism  50  is configured to engage the reinforcement member  46  and lock the door portion  34  in place. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator  10  may take a variety of configurations, including French door, side-by-side, top freezer, bottom freezer, counter depth, compact, built-in, and other types of refrigerators. The door  22  may be either a refrigerator door or a freezer door. Although the hinge assembly  26  is depicted as positioned on left side of the refrigerator  10 , the hinge assembly  26  may be used on a right side of the refrigerator  10 , as well as other locations (top, center, bottom, or sides). In various embodiments, the hinge assembly  26  may be hidden or concealed using a cover which may be more aesthetically pleasing than the hinge assembly  26 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the hinge assembly  26  operatively couples the door  22  to the cabinet wrapper  18  of the cabinet  14 . The hinge assembly  26  includes the hinge body  30  and the reinforcement member  46 . The hinge assembly  26  includes a hinge pin  66  positioned at an end of an arm  70 . The hinge pin  66  and the arm  70  are both positioned on the door portion  34  of the hinge assembly  26 . The hinge pin  66  is configured to mate with a door insertion hole  74  defined by the door  22 . The hinge pin  66  and the door insertion hole  74  may be configured to snap together such that the door  22  may rotate between substantially open and closed positions relative to the cabinet  14  about a first axis A 1 . The hinge pin  66  may be removed from the door insertion hole  74  such that the door  22  may be removed from the refrigerator  10 . In various embodiments, the hinge pin  66  may be configured to move vertically along the first axis A 1  (e.g., up and down) through the arm  70  in order to assist (e.g., decrease interference between the hinge pin  66  and the door insertion hole  74 ) with the removal of the hinge pin  66  from the door insertion hole  74 . The arm  70  of the door portion  34  extends from the hinge pin  66  toward the foldable hinge  42  of the hinge body  30 . Disposed through the cabinet portion  38  of the hinge body  30  is at least one fastener  78 . The fasteners  78  are disposed through the hinge body  30 , the cabinet portion  38 , the cabinet wrapper  18  and are fastened to the reinforcement member  46  such that tightening of the fasteners  78  cause the hinge body  30  and the reinforcement member  46  to tighten on the cabinet wrapper  18 . The fasteners  78  may be screws, bolts, shanks, rivets, cotter pins and/or other suitable fasteners. Use of the fasteners  78  couples the hinge body  30  to the cabinet wrapper  18  such that the cabinet portion  38  may not move. The reinforcement member  46  may have a “floating” configuration, or may be partially supported by insulation within the cabinet  14  of the refrigerator  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the hinge body  30  of the hinge assembly  26  includes the foldable hinge  42  which pivotally couples the door portion  34  to the cabinet portion  38 . The foldable hinge  42  is configured to allow the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  to pivotally rotate about a second axis A 2  away from the cabinet  14  such that the hinge body  30  may rotate between an unfolded configuration ( FIG. 2B ) and a folded configuration ( FIG. 2C ). The snap fit connection between the door  22  and the hinge pin  66  may be separated such that the door  22  can be removed from coupling with the hinge assembly  26  prior, during or after rotation of the door portion  34  away from the cabinet  14 . As explained above, the hinge pin  66  may be configured to move along the first axis A 1  relative to the arm  70 . In one embodiment, the hinge pin  66  and a hole in the arm  70  may be threaded such that rotational motion of the hinge pin  66  results in the hinge pin  66  moving through the arm  70 . In other embodiments, the hinge pin  66  may be configured to slide through the arm  70 . Movement of the hinge pin  66  through the arm  70  out of the door insertion hole  74  may be advantageous in providing more room for the hinge pin  66  to rotate out of the hole  70  without becoming jammed due to interference. Additionally or alternatively, the hinge pin  66  may have a chamfered end to decrease or minimize interference between the hinge pin  66  and the door insertion hole  70 . Use of the movable and/or chamfered hinge pin  66  may allow easier removal from the door insertion hole  74  while the arm  70  is rotating. After removal of the door  22 , the hinge body  30  may be rotated into the folded configuration via rotation about the second axis A 2 . The hinge assembly  26 , in various embodiments, permits easy removal of the door(s)  22  such that the depth of the refrigerator  10  ( FIG. 1 ) may be reduced and the refrigerator  10  may be moved through confined spaces. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2D , the locking mechanism  50  may be used to lock the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  in the unfolded configuration. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism  50  may include a slide lock  90  having a lock handle  94  and a lock tab  98 . The slide lock  90  may be slidably disposed through a lock keeper  102 . The lock keeper  102  may be integrally defined by the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  or may be coupled thereto. The slide lock  90  extends through the lock keeper  102 , and a lock aperture  104  defined by holes in the hinge body  30 , the cabinet wrapper  18  and the reinforcement member  46 . The slide lock  90  may be slid between engaged and disengaged configurations through use of the lock handle  98 . In the engaged position, the lock tab  98  engages an underside of the reinforcement member  46 . Engagement of the lock tab  98  with the reinforcement member  46  prevents the door portion  34  from pivoting. Once the slide lock  90  is slid to the disengaged configuration, the lock tab  98  is aligned with the lock aperture  104  such that rotation of the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  allows the slide lock  90  and lock tab  98  to be removed from the reinforcement member  46 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , another embodiment of the hinge assembly  26  is depicted as hinge assembly  26 A. The hinge assembly  26 A includes a slide bolt  120  slidably disposed within a bracket  124 . The slide bolt  120  includes a handle  132  which may be used to slide the slide bolt  120  back and forth through the bracket  124 . The bracket  124  is configured to hold the slide bolt  120  and keep the bolt  120  in proper alignment. In the depicted embodiment, the reinforcement member  46  integrally defines a protrusion  136  defining an eyelet  140 . It will be understood that the protrusion  136  may not be integrally defined, but rather merely coupled to the reinforcement member  46  without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The protrusion  136  is configured to extend through the cabinet wrapper  18  and the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30 . The eyelet  140  is configured to accept at least a portion of the slide bolt  120 . Insertion of the slide bolt  120  into the eyelet  140  resists and/or prevents pivotal movement of the door portion  34  relative to the cabinet  14 . By sliding the slide bolt  120  away from the protrusion  136  and out of the eyelet  140 , the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  may be placed in the folded configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , another embodiment of the hinge assembly  26  is depicted as hinge assembly  26 B. The hinge assembly  26 B is similar to the hinge assembly  26 A in that hinge assembly  26 B includes the protrusion  136  defined by the reinforcement member  46 . The protrusion  136  is threaded and configured to accept a nut  144 . The nut  144  may be a hex, wing, cap, acorn, nylon insert, jam or other type of nut  144  configured to engage the threads of the protrusion  136 . The nut  144  may be tightened down along the protrusion  136  and against the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  such that pivotal motion of the door portion  34  may be resisted. It will be understood that the threads of the protrusion  136  may be replaced by a similar structure configured to engage the nut  144  or another fastener. For example the threads may be replaced with an aperture such that a retaining clip may be inserted through, similar to a cotter pin. It will be understood that the protrusion  136  and nut  144  may be replaced by threaded holes in the hinge body  30  and the reinforcement member  46  such that a bolt or wing bolt may be screwed therethrough to secure the door portion  34  of the hinge assembly  26  to the cabinet  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , depicted is a method  200  of decreasing the depth of the refrigerator  10  by removing the door(s)  22 . The method  200  includes step  204 , step  208 , step  212 , step  216 , step  220 , and step  224 . The method  200  begins with step  204  of removing the hinge cover if present. Removal of the hinge cover permits access to the hinge assembly  26  as well as associated electrical wiring and water lines that pass between the door  22  and the cabinet  14 . Next, step  208  of disconnecting wiring connectors and/or water line connectors is performed. The wiring and water line connectors may be tucked or otherwise secured out of the way prior to removal of the door(s)  22 . In other embodiments, the water line and wiring may stay connected during the method  200 . Next, step  212  of moving the hinge pin  66  in the opposite direction of the door insertion hole  74  is performed. As explained above, the hinge pin  66  may be threaded or otherwise configured to move away from the door insertion hole  74  such that interference between the door insertion hole  74  and the hinge pin  66  is minimized when the hinge assembly  26  is folded. Next, step  216  of disengaging the locking mechanism  50  of the hinge assembly  26  is performed. To disengage the locking mechanism  50 , the slide lock  90  may be moved to the disengaged position to allow the door portion  34  of the hinge body  30  to rotate. In other embodiments of the hinge assembly  26 , the nut  144  may be removed from the protrusion  136  or the slide bolt  120  may be disengaged from the eyelet  140  in order to allow the hinge assembly  26  to fold. Next, step  220  of folding the hinge assembly  26  is performed. The hinge assembly  26  may be folded only enough to maneuver the refrigerator  10  through a confined space. Finally, step  224  of removing the door(s)  22  is performed. Removal of the doors(s)  22  may take place by allowing the door(s)  22  to remain stationary while as the hinge assembly  26  is folded. Alternatively, the door(s)  22  may rotate with the hinge assembly  26  to some degree before removal. It will be understood that the steps of the method  200  may be performed in any order and/or simultaneously without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. 
     Use of the provided disclosure may offer several advantages. For example, by utilizing the disclosed hinge body  30 , the fasteners  78  may not need to be removed when removing the door  22  from the cabinet  14 . This may be advantageous in that it eliminates an opportunity for the alignment of the door  22  to the cabinet  14  to be altered from that intended. Additionally, the use of the disclosure allows user and movers of the refrigerator  10  to quickly and easily remove the door  22  form the cabinet  14  without the need for special tools or training. It will be understood that this disclosure may be equally applied to appliances other than just the refrigerator  10 . For example, the hinge assembly  26  may be used in conjunction with a microwave oven, a conventional oven, cabinetry, commercial and residential doorways, and other uses. 
     In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     For the purposes of describing and defining the present teachings, it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” and “approximately” are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.