Patent Publication Number: US-8123313-B2

Title: Door motion dampening system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/059,034 entitled “Refrigerator Door Dampening System,” filed Jun. 5, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a door assembly, and more particularly, to a system for dampening movement of a secondary door, such as a home bar door, built into the door assembly, such as a main refrigerator door. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional refrigerator typically includes a main door that allows a user to gain access to contents being cooled within an interior chamber of the refrigerator. Often, the main door pivots about an axis that is aligned with respect to the height of the refrigerator. Thus, the main door is configured to swing open away from the interior chamber along this axis. 
     Often, the interior chamber of the includes additional compartments. Indeed, an interior of the main door itself may include shelves and compartments for storing items, such as cans, bottles, produce, butter and the like. A secondary door may be positioned on the main door that allows a user to gain quick access to items stored within the door, or even in the interior chamber, without opening the large main door. 
     If a user is not careful, however, the secondary door may swing open too quickly. Such movement may cause items stored within the refrigerator to shift. Further, such quick, jarring movement may cause damage to the main and secondary doors. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for dampening an opening motion of a door. The system includes a frame, an access door rotatably secured to the frame, and at least one first dampening member. The access door is configured to be moved with respect to the frame between closed and completely open positions. The at least one first dampening member is secured to the access door or the frame. The at least one first dampening member dampens movement of the access door toward the completely open position over a range of motion. 
     The at least one first dampening member may be at least one rotational damper. In this embodiment, at least one hinge is secured to the other of the access door or the frame. The at least one rotational damper connects to the at least one hinge. 
     Alternatively, the at least one first dampening member may be at least one linear damper secured to the frame. The at least one linear damper may be in an at-rest position when the access door is in the closed position. The at least one linear damper contacts the access door and exerts a resistive force into the access door during the movement of the access door toward the completely open position. 
     Optionally, the system may include at least one second dampening member. The at least one first dampening member may be at least one rotational damper, while the at least one second dampening member may be at least one linear damper. 
     The range of motion may be an entire range of motion from the closed position to the completely open position. Alternatively, the range of motion may be a portion of the entire range of motion from the closed position to the completely open position, such that an initial descent over the range of motion is undampened and a final descent over the range of motion is dampened. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator door system that includes a main refrigerator door, an access door rotatably secured to said main refrigerator door, and first dampening members secured to the access door or the main refrigerator door. 
     The main refrigerator door may be configured to rotate about a first axis that is aligned with a height of a refrigerator. The access door may be configured to rotate about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The access door is configured to be moved with respect to the main refrigerator door between closed and completely open positions. The first dampening members dampen movement of the access door toward the completely open position over a range of motion. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for dampening an opening motion of a door. The system includes a frame, an access door rotatably secured to the frame, rotational damper housings secured to the access door, and hinges secured to the frame. The access door is configured to be moved with respect to the frame between closed and completely open positions. Each of the rotational damper housings includes a case and a rotational damper within the case. The rotational damper includes a post extending from a main body. The post is rotatably and resistively secured to the main body. Each of the hinges includes a pivot member having an opening. Each rotational damper housing connects to one of the hinges by way of the posts fixedly securing into the openings. The rotational dampers dampen movement of the access door toward the completely open position over a range of motion. 
     The main body comprises a tab radially extending therefrom. The tab may be positioned with a radial channel formed through the case. The tab is allowed to move through the radial channel such that an initial descent over the range of motion is undampened and a final descent over the range of motion is dampened. 
     Alternatively, the tab may be secured from movement within a slot formed through the case, wherein the range of motion is an entire range of motion from the closed position to the completely open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric front view of an access door positioned within a frame in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric front view of an access door positioned within a frame in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric front view of a frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric front view of a hinge secured to a frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric interior view of an access door, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of a rotational damper, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an isometric view of a damper housing secured to an access door, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of a damper housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a rear view of a damper housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of a damper housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an isometric view of damper housings of an access door rotatably secured to hinges of a frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an isometric view of a frame having linear dampers, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an isometric view of a linear damper, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a front view of a linear damper secured to a frame, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric front view of an access door  10  positioned within a frame  12  in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The frame  12  may be a main door of a refrigerator, while the access door  10  may be a secondary door, such as a home bar door, rotatably secured to the frame  12 . The access door  10  is configured to swing open in the direction of arc A about axis X. If the frame is a main refrigerator door, the frame  12  may rotate open in the direction of arc B about axis Y. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric front view of the access door  10  positioned within the frame  12  in an open position. The frame  12  includes a recessed area  14  configured to receive the access door  10 . The recessed area  14  surrounds an opening  15  that allows a user to gain access through the frame  12 . A latch  16  is secured to the access door  10  and cooperates with a reciprocal latching mechanism  18  located on the recessed area  14 . The latch  16  may be released from the latching mechanism  18  through a trigger on a handle, for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the access door  10  swings away from the frame  12  in the direction of arc A when the latch  16  is released from the latching mechanism  18 . The access door  10  is rotatably secured to the frame  12  by damper housings  20  that rotatably engage hinges  22  secured to the frame  12 , thereby allowing the movement in the direction of arc A. The damper housings  20  cooperate with the hinges  22  to control the opening motion of the access door  10  with respect to the frame  12 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric front view of the frame  12 . As noted above, the frame  12  may be a main refrigerator door. The frame  12  includes lateral walls  24  integrally connected to upper and lower walls  26  and  28 , respectively. The recessed area  14  is formed within the walls  24 ,  26  and  28  and, as noted above, is configured to receive the access door  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The central opening  15  is defined by interior edges of the recessed area  14 . 
     A channel  30  is formed through the lower wall  28  below the recessed area  14 . The channel  30  is configured to anchor the access door (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) through a pair of hinges  22 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric front view of one of the hinges  22  secured within the channel  30  of the frame  12 . The hinge  22  includes a base  36  securely mounted to a ledge  34  defining a lower portion of the channel  30 . The base  36  integrally connects to an upright support  38  having a straight back  40  and an angled front  42 . The back  40  is securely fastened to a channel wall  43 . A beam  44  outwardly extends from a top of the upright support  38  away from the channel wall  43 . A cylindrical pivot member  46  extends perpendicularly from the an outer end of the beam  44 . A diamond shaped opening  48  is formed through at least a portion of a central axis of the pivot member  46 . The opening  48  may be various other shapes and sizes. In general, the opening  48  is configured to receive and retain a reciprocal portion of a damper. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric interior view of the access door  10 . The access door  10  includes a flat main body  50 , which may include strengthening and/or insulating slabs  52  secured thereon. The main body  50  includes lateral edges  54  integrally formed with and connected to upper and lower edges  56  and  58 , respectively. Hinge chambers  60  are formed through the lower edge  58  and are configured to receive the hinges  22 . The damper housings  20  are secured in damper chambers connected to the hinge chambers  60 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of a rotational or rotary damper  62 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rotational damper  62  is configured to be positioned within a main body  64  of the damper housing  20  (shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 ). The rotational damper  62  includes a main body  64  having a central post  66  extending therefrom. The central post  66  is shaped and sized to be securely retained within the opening  48  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the hinge  22  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The rotational damper  62  includes resistive members, such as a series of springs, torsion members or the like secured to the post  66  and an interior of the main body  64 . As such, rotational movement of the post  66  with respect to the main body  64  about a central axis Z, and vice versa, is resisted. The rotational damper  62  may be tuned depending on a particular application. That is, more or less resistive force may be implemented, depending on design considerations. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an isometric view of the damper housing  20  secured to the access door  10 . The rotational damper  62  is securely positioned within a case  68  of the damper housing  20 . The case  68  is received and retained within a damper chamber  70 . A plate  72  is fastened to the access door  10  over the damper housing  20 , thereby securing the damper housing  20  within the damper chamber  70 . The main body  64  of the rotational damper  62  may be fixed within the case  68 . As such, the post  66  is allowed to rotate with respect to the main body  64 , but movement of the post  66  with respect to the main body  64  is dampened by the resistive force of the rotational damper  62 . Optionally, the main body  64  of the rotational damper  62  may be allowed to rotate within the main body  64  of the damper housing  20  over a limited range. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of the damper housing  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The main body  64  of the rotational damper  62  may include a tab  80  radially extending therefrom. When the rotational damper  62  is inserted into the case  68  of the damper housing  20 , the tab  80  is positioned within a radial channel  82  extending from a central channel  84  into which the rotational damper  62  is positioned. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the radial channel  82  extends over a radial sweep of approximately 75°, but may extend over smaller or greater radial areas, depending on the range of undampened motion (described below) desired for a particular application. The tab  80  is allowed to move through the radial channel  82 . Thus, when the post  66  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) of the rotational damper  62  is secured within the reciprocal opening  48  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), as the access door  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) moves through the arc defined by the radial channel  82 , the entire main body  64  rotates along with the post  66 , thereby exerting no dampening resistive force. However, when the tab  80  abuts in edge  86  defining an end of the radial channel  82 , the main body  64  of the damper housing  20  is prevented from further rotation in the direction of arc B. As such, while the post  66  may continue to rotate in the direction of arc B, the rotational damper  62  dampens extended motion in this direction through the resistive members, such as springs, torsion members and the like, that connect the post  66  to an interior of the case  68 . In this manner, movement of the access door  10  may be unimpeded over an initial range defined by the radial channel  80 . However, subsequent descending movement of the access door  10  past this initial range is dampened, thereby preventing the access door  10  from slamming open. The undampened initial descent provides for quicker opening of the access door, but, similar to a skydiver using a parachute, the final descent is slowed to prevent damage. 
     Optionally, the system may be configured so that a first resistive force is exerted by the rotational dampers over an initial descent, such as the first 45° of motion, while an increased second resistive force is exerted over the final descent, such as a final 45° of motion. That is, rotational dampers may exert some resistive force as the tab  80  moves through the radial channel  82 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a rear view of the damper housing  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the case  68  of the damper housing  20  includes a slot  90  connected to the central channel  84 . The tab  80  of the main body  64  is keyed into this slot  90 . As such, the tab  80 , and therefore the main body  64 , are prevented from rotating with respect to the case  68 . In this embodiment, the rotational damper  62  provides resistive dampening over an entire range of motion of the access door  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Unlike the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , there is no portion of the descending motion of the access door  10  that is not dampened. 
     Thus, the embodiment of the damper housing  20  shown in  FIG. 9  provides dampening resistance over an entire range of motion, while the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  provides for an undampened initial descent and dampened final descent. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of the damper housing  20 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 10 , the cylindrical pivot member  46  is positioned within a central reciprocal opening  92  formed in the case  68 .  FIG. 11  illustrates an isometric view of damper housings  20  of the access door  10  rotatably secured to the hinges  22  of the frame  12 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 ,  7 ,  10  and  11 , outer walls of the pivot members  46  rotatably abut against interior surfaces of outer cylindrical walls  94  defining the opening  92 . The posts  66  are securely positioned within the openings  48 . That is, the posts  66  are prevented from rotating with respect to the pivot members  46 . In this manner, when the access door  10  is opened, the hinges  22  and posts  66  remain fixed in position, while the cases  68  rotate about the pivot members  46 , thereby causing the main bodies  64  of the rotational dampers  62  to rotate in response. The rotational dampers  62  dampen motion of the access door  10 , as described above with respect to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a system that ensures that the access door  10  does not slam open. Instead, the system ensures that the access door comes to a controlled, safe stop. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may use more or less than two damper housings  20  and two hinges  22 . That is, the access door  10  may include one damper housing  20 , for example, while the frame  12  may include one hinge  22  connected to the damper housing  20 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an isometric view of the frame  12  having linear dampers  100 . The frame  12  is similar to that described above, except it includes the linear dampers  100 . The linear dampers  100  may be used with, or instead of, the rotational dampers  62 , described above. The linear dampers  100  extend downwardly from an upper wall  101  defining the channel  30  formed through the lower wall  28  (the ledge  34  has been removed to clearly show the linear dampers  100 ). 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an isometric view of the linear damper  100 .  FIG. 14  illustrates a front view of the linear damper  100  secured to the frame  12 . Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , the linear damper  100  includes a main casing  102  that is anchored within the frame  12  (shown in  FIG. 12 ). A beam  104  extends axially from the main casing  102  and is configured to move in linear directions denoted by line D. The beam  104  is connected to springs or other resistive members secured within the main casing  102 . Each linear damper  100  may be similar to a shock absorber. 
     A distal end  106  of the beam  104  abuts into a lower end of the access door  10  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) when the access door  10  is opened. When the access door  10  is closed, the beams  104  do not abut the access door  10 . However, as the access door  10  begins to open, the distal ends  106  come into contact with the lower end of the access door  10 . During this motion, the linear damper  100  exerts a resistive force into the access door  10  that slows the opening motion of the access door  10  with respect to the frame  12 . As the access door  10  continues to open, the access door  10  pushes the beam  104  further into the main casing  102 . Consequently, the resistive force exerted by the linear damper  100  increases with increased opening movement of the access door  10 . 
     As noted above, the linear dampers  100  may be used by themselves to dampen opening motion of the access door  10 . Alternatively, the linear dampers  100  may be used in conjunction with the rotational dampers  20 . 
     Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a system of dampening opening motion of an access door with respect to a frame. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with respect to a secondary door, such as a home bar door, positioned on a refrigerator door. 
     Embodiments of the present invention keep the access door from slamming down into an open position. As the door rotates from its closed position to a completely open position, through a range of motion of, for example, 90°, the dampers may control the initial rate of descent at a first rate, and the final descent at a second rate, in order to compensate for the momentum of the opening door. The variable dampening system, whether through rotational dampers that allow for variable rates of dampening, and/or linear dampers, controls the opening of the door at varying rates of deceleration, depending on the weight of the access door and the desired effect. Moreover, additional dampers providing an increased or decreased dampening effect may also be used. 
     While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.