Patent Publication Number: US-11662137-B2

Title: Refrigerator with hinge assembly having an external hinge pin

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/765,720, filed on May 20, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,243,022, entitled “REFRIGERATOR WITH HINGE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN EXTERNAL HINGE PIN,” which is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2017/062576, filed on Nov. 20, 2017, entitled “REFRIGERATOR WITH HINGE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN EXTERNAL HINGE PIN,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present device generally relates to a refrigerator with a hinge assembly for hinging a door to a cabinet, and more specifically, to a hinge assembly in which a hinge pin is provided external to the door. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes at least one hinge assembly configured to hinge a door to a cabinet. The at least one hinge assembly includes a mounting block coupled to, and that extends at least partially along, the door. A hinge bracket is coupled to the cabinet. The hinge bracket is coupled to a top panel of the cabinet and includes an upward extending flange that spans a width of the cabinet and that is coplanar with a front panel of the door. A hinge pin is disposed between the mounting block and the hinge bracket and is coupled thereto such that the entirety of the hinge pin is external to the door and is positioned between the door and the hinge bracket. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a hinge assembly for hinging a door to a cabinet of a refrigerator includes an exposed door frame that extends at least partially about a top panel and opposing side panels of the door. A mounting block is configured to be coupled to the top panel of the door. The mounting block is positioned in a cutout of the exposed door frame that is disposed between the opposing side panels. A hinge support bracket extends across a width of the cabinet and is coupled thereto. A hinge bracket is configured to be coupled to the hinge support bracket. A hinge pin is disposed between the mounting block and the hinge bracket and engaged thereto such that the entirety of the hinge pin is external to the door. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator configured to be disposed beneath cabinetry includes a vacuum insulated cabinet, a door, and at least one hinge assembly configured to hinge the door to the cabinet. The at least one hinge assembly includes a mounting block that is coupled to a top panel of the door. A hinge mounting bracket is coupled to the cabinet and has an orthogonally-extending flange that spans a width of the cabinet and is coplanar with the door. The flange is configured as a cosmetic cover to conceal a gap between the refrigerator and the cabinetry. A hinge bracket is operably coupled to the hinge mounting bracket. A hinge pin is disposed between the mounting block and the hinge bracket and is coupled thereto such that the entirety of the hinge pin is external to the door. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with one or more hinge assemblies configured to hinge a door to a cabinet; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of the refrigerator and a first hinge assembly generally provided at a front upper right corner of the refrigerator shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a top isometric view of the refrigerator and the first hinge assembly; 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom view of the refrigerator and a second hinge assembly generally provided at a front bottom right corner of the refrigerator shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom isometric view of the refrigerator and the second hinge assembly; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates the first hinge assembly fully assembled; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an exploded view of the first hinge assembly; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an alternative embodiment of the first hinge assembly; and 
         FIG.  9    is a front view of the refrigerator equipped with the hinge assembly shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in  FIG.  1   . However, it is to be understood that the device may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, 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. 
     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. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 5   , a refrigerator  10  is generally shown as a single door refrigerator. The refrigerator  10  includes a cabinet  12  in which stored items such as food and drink are cooled. The cabinet  12  includes a top panel  14 , a bottom panel  16 , a rear panel  18 , and opposing side panels  20  and  22 . A door  24  is hinged to the cabinet  12  and includes a top panel  26 , a bottom panel  28 , a front panel  30 , and opposing side panels  32  and  34  partially enclosed by a door frame  36 . The door  24  may include a handle, a recessed grip, or other conventional structure to enable a user to access the contents of the cabinet  12 . As is known, the cabinet  12  and the door  24  may define a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, and stored items may be placed on shelving or inside drawers provided by the cabinet  12  and/or the door  24 . In some embodiments, the cabinet  12  and/or the door  24  may be vacuum-insulated. 
     The door  24  is hinged to the cabinet  12  using one or more hinge assemblies exemplarily shown as first hinge assembly  38 A and second hinge assembly  38 B. As depicted, hinge assembly  38 A is generally provided at a front upper right corner of the refrigerator  10  and hinge assembly  38 B is generally provided opposite hinge assembly  38 A at a front bottom right corner of the refrigerator  10 . In such a configuration, the door  24  opens and closes in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction, respectively. Hinge assemblies  38 A,  38 B each include a corresponding mounting block  40 A,  40 B, hinge bracket  42 A,  42 B, and hinge pin  44 A,  44 B. 
     Mounting blocks  40 A and  40 B are located at a front right corner of the door  24  and are coupled to respective top and bottom panels  26 ,  28  of the door  24  through a cutout  46  of the door frame  36 . It is contemplated that the mounting blocks  40 A,  40 B may be welded to the door  24  or otherwise secured thereto. Hinge brackets  42 A and  42 B are coupled to respective top and bottom panels  14 ,  16  of the cabinet  12  via a corresponding hinge support bracket  48 A,  48 B using one or more mechanical fasteners  49  or other coupling means. Hinge support brackets  48 A and  48 B are directly coupled to the respective top and bottom panels  14 ,  16  of the cabinet  12  using one or more mechanical fasteners  50  or other coupling means. In alternative embodiments, the hinge brackets  42 A,  42 B may be directly coupled to the cabinet  12 . Hinge pins  44 A and  44 B are each disposed between a corresponding mounting block  40 A,  40 B and a corresponding hinge bracket  42 A,  42 B. The resulting couplings enable the entirety of the hinge pins  44 A,  44 B to be external to the door  24 . Additionally, the hinge pins  44 A,  44 B are free from having to be directly secured to the door  24 . Such an arrangement provides several advantages. For example, by locating the hinge pins  44 A,  44 B external to the door  24 , there is no need to alter the door  24  to provide a recess or other accommodation for receiving the hinge pins  44 A,  44 B. In embodiments where the door  24  is vacuum-insulated, recesses or other accommodations formed in the door  24  may compromise the vacuum seal of the door  24 . Accordingly, the hinge assemblies  38 A,  38 B described herein may aid in preserving the integrity of vacuum-insulated structures. 
     Optionally, additional mounting blocks  40 C and  40 D are located at a front left corner of the door  24  and are provided opposite to mounting blocks  40 A and  40 B, respectively. The mounting blocks  40 C and  40 D are coupled (e.g., welded) to respective top and bottom panels  26 ,  28  of the door  24  through a cutout  51  of the door frame  36 . In this way, hinge pin  44 A and hinge bracket  42 A may be engaged to mounting block  40 C and hinge pin  44 B and hinge bracket  42 B may be engaged to mounting block  40 D if desiring to change the direction in which the door  24  is opened and closed, for example, from a counterclockwise and clockwise direction to a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, respectively. The hinge brackets  42 A,  42 B may be engaged to the corresponding hinge support brackets  48 A,  48 B or directly engaged to the respective top and bottom panels  14 ,  16  of the cabinet  12  as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , hinge assembly  38 A is shown in greater detail along with an assembly process thereof. It will be understood that hinge assembly  38 B is similar to hinge assembly  38 A and may be assembled in like fashion. In assembly, mounting block  40 A is coupled (e.g., welded) to the top panel  26  of the door  24 . In alternative embodiments, mounting block  40 A may be engaged to the top panel  26  via mechanical fasteners or other coupling means. Mounting block  40 A includes an opening  52  for receiving a lower peg  53  of hinge pin  44 A. In the depicted embodiment, hinge pin  44 A includes the lower peg  53 , an upper peg  54 , and a shoulder  56  dividing the lower and upper pegs  53 ,  54 . The upper peg  54  is received in an opening  58  in portion  60  of hinge bracket  42 A and a bushing  63  is disposed between the shoulder  56  of hinge pin  44 A and portion  60 . Portion  60  is vertically offset and cantilevered from portion  62  of hinge bracket  42 A. As depicted, portion  60  is raised relative to portion  62 , which is engaged to hinge support bracket  48 A via one or more weld studs  64  received through corresponding openings  66  in the lower portion  62  and engaged to corresponding hinge nuts  68 . It is contemplated that hinge support bracket  48 A may be welded to the top panel  14  of the cabinet  12  or engaged thereto using one or more mechanical fasteners  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , hinge bracket  42 A of hinge assembly  38 A is shown in a planar configuration. Hinge bracket  42 A is directly engaged to the top panel  14  of the cabinet  12  via one or mechanical fasteners  70  or other coupling means. Hinge bracket  42 A includes a cantilevered portion  72  engaged to the upper peg  54  of hinge pin  44 A and extending over the door  24 . Hinge pin  44 A may be configured according to any of the embodiments described herein and is further engaged to mounting block  40 A, which may be welded to the door  24  or otherwise coupled thereto. In the depicted embodiment, hinge pin  44 A is external to the door  24  and the door  24  may be vacuum-insulated. The cantilevered portion  72  includes an upward extending flange  74  that spans a width of the cabinet  12  and is coplanar with the front panel  30  of the door  24 . The flange  74  is configured as a cosmetic cover and may be used to conceal a gap  76  between the refrigerator  10  and a cabinetry  78  positioned above the refrigerator  10  as exemplarily shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     With respect to the embodiment of  FIG.  9   , it is contemplated that hinge bracket  42 A may be alternatively coupled to mounting block  40 C using hinge pin  44 A. Likewise, hinge bracket  42 B and hinge pin  44 B of hinge assembly  38 B may be alternatively coupled to mounting block  40 D as described previously herein. In this manner, the direction in which the door  24  is opened and closed may be changed from a counterclockwise and clockwise direction to a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, respectively. With respect to the embodiments described herein, the direction in which the door  24  is opened and closed may be set by the manufacturer and later adjusted by the user or other personnel. 
     It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the hinge assembly and associated components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
     It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the hinge assembly as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
     It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the hinge assembly will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the hinge assembly. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.