Patent Publication Number: US-11391078-B2

Title: Blade hinge assembly with closure mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from and benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/880,635 filed Jul. 30, 2019, and the entire disclosure of said provisional application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In certain household appliances, hinges are used to connect a door pivotally to a body or other structure that defines an interior chamber or space such that the door selectively opens and closes an access opening that leads to the interior chamber. Typically, at least two hinges are used and allow the door to pivot about a pivot axis between a closed position where the door covers and blocks the access opening and an opened position where the door is spaced from the access opening to allow access to the interior chamber through the access opening. 
     Often, a latch that is separate from the hinges is used to secure the door in its closed position. The use of a latch that is separate from the hinges can be suboptimal in that the latch is an added component that must be assembled and installed, the latch requires a mounting location on the appliance, and the latch must be relocated if the direction that the door pivots is altered such as when an appliance door is reversed to pivot about a pivot axis located adjacent a second side of the appliance body instead of an opposite first side of the appliance body. A separate latch can increase the cost of the appliance, in terms of parts and labor, and can increase complexity of assembly in that the latch must be installed, adjusted, and/or tested during the assembly process. 
     Additionally, for certain appliances such as clothes dryers and other applications, it is desirable that the hinge be completely unbiased or unrestrained so as to be freely pivotable over a maximum possible angular arc, except when the door is closed or nearly closed. In such applications, it is desirable that any biasing or latch mechanism be completely disengaged and inoperative to allow the door to pivot freely bidirectionally except when the door is pivoted to or near its closed position. 
     Accordingly, a need has been identified for a hinge that addresses the above concerns and others while providing better overall results. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present development, a household appliance hinge includes a mounting portion comprising a base adapted to be connected to an appliance body and a mounting tab that projects outwardly from the base. The mounting tab includes a peripheral edge and a pivot aperture. A cam profile is defined in said peripheral edge. The hinge assembly also includes a door mounting lever pivotally connected to the mounting tab of the mounting portion by a pivot fastener that is inserted in the pivot aperture of said mounting tab, wherein the door mounting lever pivots angularly and bi-directionally about a pivot axis in an opening direction and in an opposite closing direction and wherein said door mounting lever moves between a first operative position, a second operative position, and an engagement position located between said first operative position and said second operative position. A spring-biased control system is connected to the door mounting lever. The control system includes a spring-biased cam follower system including a cam follower that: (i) engages said cam profile in said engagement position and for all positions of said door mounting lever between said engagement position and said first operative position; and, (ii) separates from said cam profile for all positions of said door mounting lever located between said engagement position and said second operative position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a household appliance includes a body and a door pivotally connected to the body by first and second hinge assemblies, wherein at least one of the hinge assemblies comprises a mounting portion comprising a base connected to the appliance body and a mounting tab that projects outwardly from the base. The mounting tab includes a peripheral edge and a pivot aperture. A cam profile is defined in said peripheral edge. The hinge assembly also includes a door mounting lever connected to the door. The door mounting lever is pivotally connected to the mounting tab of the mounting portion by a pivot fastener that is inserted in the pivot aperture of said mounting tab, wherein the door mounting lever pivots angularly and bi-directionally about a pivot axis in an opening direction and in an opposite closing direction and wherein said door mounting lever moves between a first operative position corresponding to a closed position of the door, a second operative position corresponding to an opened position of the door, and an engagement position located between said first operative position and said second operative position. A spring-biased control system is connected to the door mounting lever. The control system includes a spring-biased cam follower system including a cam follower that: (i) engages said cam profile in said engagement position and for all positions of said door mounting lever between said engagement position and said first operative position; and, (ii) separates from said cam profile for all positions of said door mounting lever located between said engagement position and said second operative position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a household appliance including first and second hinge assemblies each provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a side-swing door of the appliance located in an opened position; 
         FIG. 2  shows the appliance of  FIG. 1  with its door in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  shows the appliance of  FIG. 1  with its door in an intermediate position or engagement position located between the opened and closed positions; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the first (upper) blade hinge assembly according to the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure in its engagement position corresponding to the  FIG. 3  position of the appliance door (in the illustrated example, the second (lower) blade hinge assembly of the appliance of  FIG. 1  is shown herein as mirror image of the first (upper) hinge assembly, but it need not be a mirror image and need not be provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure and can instead be a known hinge); 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the first blade hinge assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is front elevational view of the first blade hinge assembly of  FIG. 4  in its opened (second operative) position corresponding to the opened position of the appliance door as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is section view of the first blade hinge assembly as taken at line A-A of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is section view that is similar to  FIG. 6A  but shows the blade hinge assembly in its engagement position corresponding to the intermediate or engagement position of the appliance door as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7B  is section view that is similar to  FIG. 7A  but shows the blade hinge assembly in its peak position where the cam roller is in contact with a peak defined between a closing recess and an engagement surface of a cam profile; 
         FIG. 7C  is section view that is similar to  FIG. 7A  but shows the blade hinge assembly in its closed (first operative) position where the cam roller is in contact with the closing recess of a cam profile corresponding to the closed position of the appliance door as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7D  is front elevational view of the first blade hinge assembly that is similar to  FIG. 6  but shows the hinge assembly positioned in its closed (first operative) position corresponding to the closed position of the appliance door as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view that corresponds to  FIG. 7C , but shows a blade hinge assembly formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present development including a torsion spring; 
         FIG. 8A  is partial front view of the alternative blade hinge assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of another alternative blade hinge assembly formed in accordance with the present development including one or more extension springs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an appliance A including first and second “blade” or “blade-type” hinges or hinge assemblies H 1 ,H 2  each provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a side-swing door D of the appliance located in an opened position. More particularly, the appliance A comprises a body B including a washing chamber, drying chamber, cooking chamber, or other internal appliance chamber C defined therein for washing or drying clothing, cooking food, or otherwise processing items. The appliance A further comprises a door D that is pivotally connected to a wall W of the appliance body B (shown as the front wall W), adjacent to an open access opening or mouth M of the chamber C that provides access to the chamber C. The door D pivots or swings angularly and bi-directionally about the pivot axis PX in an opening direction OD and an opposite closing angular direction CD about the pivot axis PX between an opened position ( FIG. 1 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 2 ), through multiple intermediate positions such as the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 3  (the position of  FIG. 3  is sometimes referred to herein as the engagement position as explained below). The door D pivots in response to manual input or motorized input exerted directly or indirectly on the door D. When in its opened position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the door D is moved away from the chamber mouth M to allow access to the mouth M and chamber C for loading and unloading. When in its closed position, the door D is moved adjacent the wall W and covers the chamber mouth M to block access to the mouth M and chamber C such as is typically desired during use of the appliance or during periods of inactivity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the door D is pivotally connected to the body B by first and second hinge assemblies H 1 ,H 2 , at least one of which is formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present development. In the case where only one of the hinge assemblies H 1 ,H 2  is provided in accordance with the present development, the other hinge assembly can be conventional, such as a simple pivot pin or the like. In the case wherein both the first and second hinge assemblies H 1 ,H 2  are provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present development, they are preferably provided as mirror-image structures with respect to each other, which allows the first and second hinge assemblies H 1 ,H 2  to be used for a door D that pivots open from either the left side of the appliance or the right side of the appliance simply by swapping the location of the hinges H 1 ,H 2  with respect to each other and installing the hinge assemblies on the opposite lateral side of the appliance body as compared to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, the appliance illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a side-swing door D that pivots about a vertical or near-vertical pivot axis PX such that the first and second hinge assemblies can be referred to respectively as “upper” and “lower” hinges. Alternatively, the appliance can include a door D that pivots about a horizontal pivot axis using at least one hinge assembly H 1 ,H 2  provided in accordance with the present development, in which case the first and second hinge assemblies are located on opposite left and right sides of the chamber mouth M, typically adjacent the left and right lateral sides of the body B. The wall W can be any wall of the body B such as a vertical front wall (as shown), a vertical side wall, a horizontal wall such as a horizontal top wall, or an angled wall that is neither horizontal nor vertical. 
       FIGS. 4-7C  shows a first embodiment of the first hinge assembly H 1  provided in accordance with the present development. The second hinge assembly H 2  can be similar or identical to the first hinge assembly H 1  or can be a mirror image of the structure of the first hinge assembly H 1 . Alternatively, the second hinge assembly H 2  can be formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present development or it can be a conventional hinge structure or simple pivot pin or stud or other structure that supports the door D and allows the door to pivot about the pivot axis PX. 
     The hinge assembly H 1  comprises a stationary blade or leaf mounting portion  10  including a base  12  adapted to be connected to a mounting structure or location such as the front wall W or other part of the appliance body B. As shown herein, the base  12  of the mounting portion  10  comprises a flat structure  12   f  including one or more mounting apertures  12   a  defined therein which can be holes (as shown), open or closed slots, or other openings that are adapted to receive screws, rivets, or other mounting fasteners that are engaged with the base and appliance body B to fixedly secure the base  12  to the appliance body B. Additionally or alternatively, the flat structure  12   f  or other part of the base  12  can include slots, projections, or other structures for mating with corresponding structures on the appliance body B. Base  12  can alternatively or additionally comprise curved, angled, and/or other structures in place of or in addition to the flat portion  12   f  as required to lie adjacent or otherwise fit together with the appliance body B for mounting the base  12  thereon. 
     The mounting portion  10  further comprises a mounting tab  16  connected to and projecting outwardly from the base  12 . As shown herein, the mounting tab  16  is transversely oriented relative to the base  12 , such as perpendicularly as shown herein. The mounting tab includes an inner region  16   a  connected to and located adjacent the base  12  and includes an outer region  16   b  that is spaced from the inner region  16   a  and spaced outwardly away from the base  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the mounting tab  16  comprises a peripheral edge  16   e  that extends from a first end  16   e   1  connected to the base  12  to a second end  16   e   2  also connected to the base  12 . The stationary leaf  10 , including the base  12  and the mounting tab  16  is preferably defined as a one-piece structure as a stamped steel or other metallic structure. Alternatively, the stationary leaf  10  can be manufactured as a metallic and/or polymeric one-piece or multi-piece structure using extrusion, injection molding, powdered metal, additive manufacturing, and/or any other suitable manufacturing process. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 6A , at least part of the peripheral edge  16   e  defines a cam profile  20  including a concavely curved closing recess  20   a  that includes an inner end  20   a   1  located adjacent the base  12  (adjacent the inner portion  16   a  of the mounting tab  16 ). The closing recess  20   a  also includes an outer end  20   a   2  spaced outwardly from the inner end  20   a   1  and spaced outwardly away from the base  12 . Between the inner and outer ends  20   a   1 , 20   a   2 , the closing recess  20   a  comprises a concave internal or bottom region  20   a   3 . The cam profile  20  further comprises an engagement surface  20   b  located adjacent the outer end  20   a   2  of the closing recess  20   a  and that extends outwardly away from the base  12  and outwardly away from the closing recess  20   a . The engagement surface  20   b  can be smoothly convexly curved (as shown), flat, and/or otherwise shaped and includes an inner end  20   b   1  connected to the outer end  20   a   2  of the closing recess  20   a . The cam profile  20  further comprises a convexly curved or angled peak  20   c  ( FIG. 6A ) that is defined at the intersection of the outer end  20   a   2  of the closing recess  20   a  with the inner end  20   b   1  of the engagement surface  20   b . As noted, the inner end  20   a   1  of the closing recess  20   a  is located adjacent the base  12  and the outer end  20   a   2  of the closing recess  20   a  is spaced from the base  12  and connected to the engagement surface  20   b . The engagement surface  20   b  extends outwardly away from the closing recess  20   a  to an outer end  20   b   2  of the engagement surface that defines a convexly curved engagement location or engagement corner  20   d  ( FIG. 6A ) where the outer end  20   b   2  of the engagement surface  20   b  joins into an adjacent outer portion  16   e   3  of the peripheral edge  16   e . The distance between the closing recess  20   a  and the base  12  is less than the distance between the engagement surface  20   b  and the base  12  such that the closing recess  20   a  is located between the base  12  and the engagement surface  20   b.    
     The mounting tab  16  further comprises a pivot aperture  16   f  defined therein, preferably at a location spaced-apart from the cam profile  20  and aligned with at least part of the engagement surface  20   b  on an engagement axis EX that passes through a center of the pivot aperture  16   f  and that lies parallel to a reference plane P 1  in which the flat structure  12   f  of the base  12  extends. 
     The first hinge assembly H 1  further comprises a door mounting lever  30  pivotally connected to the mounting portion  10  by a rivet, pin, bolt, screw, or other pivot fastener  30   f  that extends through the pivot aperture  16   f  of the mounting tab  16  of the mounting portion  10 . The door mounting lever  30  is adapted to be connected to the appliance door D for pivotally connecting the appliance door D to the mounting portion  10  and thus to the appliance body B such that the door mounting lever  30  and door D move together in the opening and closing directions OD,CD about the pivot axis PX. In the illustrated embodiment, the door mounting lever  30  comprises a channel  32  including first and second spaced-apart side walls  34   a , 34   b  that are connected to each other by a front wall  34   c  that extends between and connects the side walls  34   a , 34   b . The side walls  34   a , 34   b  can be parallel relative to each other as shown herein, with the front wall  34   c  being oriented perpendicularly to the side walls  34   a , 34   b . A space  32 S is defined between the side walls  34   a , 34   b  and the front wall  34   c . The channel  32  is adapted to be fixedly secured the appliance door by any suitable fasteners or other structure. For example, the channel  32  can include one or more slots or apertures formed in the side walls  34   a , 34   b  and/or front wall  34   c  that receive screws, rivets, or other fasteners that are engaged with the appliance door D. Alternatively or additionally, the appliance door D includes a slot or other structure that is adapted to receive and retain the channel  32  with or without the use of fasteners, clips or the like to retain the channel  32  to the door and vice versa. The channel  32  is preferably defined as a one-piece structure as a stamped steel or other metallic structure. Alternatively, the channel  32  can be manufactured as a one-piece or multi-piece metallic and/or polymeric structure using extrusion, injection molding, powdered metal, additive manufacturing, and/or any other suitable manufacturing process. 
     The channel  32  is elongated along a channel axis CX ( FIG. 6A ) and includes opposite first (inner) and second (outer) ends  32   a , 32   b  that are spaced-apart from each other along the channel axis CX. The first end  32   a  is pivotally connected to the mounting tab  16  of the mounting portion  10  by the pivot fastener  30   f  that extends through and between first and second channel mounting apertures that are defined respectively in the first and second side walls  34   a , 34   b  and that are aligned with each other on opposite sides of the channel space  32 S. As shown herein the pivot fastener  30   f  comprises a rivet, but other suitable fasteners can be used such as a pin, bolt/nut combination, screw, stud, or the like. The channel  32  is therefore adapted to pivot relative to the mounting portion  10  on an arc PA in first and second opposite angular directions about a pivot axis PX defined by the pivot fastener  30   f . The pivot axis PX can be vertical, horizontal, or otherwise oriented when the hinge assembly H 1  is in operative use. When used in connection with an appliance A that includes a side-swing door D as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the pivot axis PX is typically vertically oriented or approximately vertically oriented such as within 10 degrees of vertical. The hinge assembly H 1  can alternatively be used with an oven door or other appliance door that pivot about a horizontal axis when moving between its opened and closed positions, in which case the hinge assembly is operatively installed such that the pivot axis PX is horizontally oriented. 
     The hinge assembly H 1  further comprises a spring-biased control system  50  that controls the operative relationship between the stationary leaf mounting portion  10  and the door mounting lever  30  for at least some angular positions of the lever  30  relative to the mounting portion  10  on the pivot arc PA. More particularly, the control system  50  comprises a spring-biased cam follower system  52  operatively connected to the door mounting lever  30  that engages the cam profile  20  for certain angular positions of the door mounting lever  30  relative to the mounting portion  10  such that the cam profile  20  and cam follower system  52  cooperate with each other to apply certain forces on the door mounting lever  30  to provide the desired operational characteristics to the hinge assembly H 1  as described in more detail below. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the cam follower system  52  is located in the space  32 S of the channel  32 . The cam follower system  52  comprises a spring rod  60  that is slidably connected to the channel  32  of the lever  30  and that slidably reciprocates relative to the channel  32  in first and second opposite directions toward and away from the first and second ends  32   a , 32   b  of the channel on follower axis FX that is parallel to the channel axis CX. In the illustrated example, a portion of the front wall  34   c  of channel  32  is bent into the space  32 S to define a mounting tab  35  including an aperture  35   a  therein. The spring rod  60  extends through and is slidable in the mounting tab aperture  35   a . An outer end of the spring rod  60  is located between the mounting tab  35  and the second (outer) end  32   b  of the channel  32 . The opposite inner end of the spring rod  60  is located between the mounting tab  35  and the first (inner) end  32   a  of the channel  32 . 
     The inner end of the spring rod  60  includes a cam follower  62  connected thereto and/or formed as a part thereof. The follower  62  is movably supported relative to or movably connected to the channel  32  of the lever  30 . The follower  62  is adapted to engage and move along the cam profile  20  for at least certain positions of the door mounting lever  30  relative to the mounting portion  10 . The follower  62  can be provided by and/or include a tip or inner end of the spring rod  60 , itself, and/or can comprise a polymeric or other slide member connected to or defined as part of the spring rod  60 . As shown herein, the follower  62  preferably comprises a polymeric or other roller  64  that is rotatably connected to the inner end of the spring rod  60  and that is adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation that is oriented parallel to the pivot axis PX. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the inner end of the spring rod  60  comprises a bifurcated leg structure or yoke  60   y  ( FIG. 7D ) including spaced apart legs between which the roller  64  is located and supported for rotation by a follower support shaft  66  which can be provided by any suitable elongated member such as a pin, bolt, rivet (as shown), or the like. The first and second side walls  34   a , 34   b  of the channel  32  respectively include first and second elongated slots S 1 ,S 2  that are aligned with each other and elongated along the channel axis CX. The opposite first and second ends of the follower support shaft  66  are respectively engaged with the first and second elongated slots S 1 ,S 2  and the follower shaft  66  extends through the channel space  32 S between the channel side walls  34   a , 34   b , and also extends through the legs of the yoke  60   y  and through the roller  64 . As such, the roller  64  is rotatably supported in the channel space  32 S on the shaft  66  at the inner end of the spring rod  60 . The yoke  60   y  and roller  64  are captured in the channel space  32 S by the engagement of the follower support shaft  66  in the first and second elongated slots S 1 ,S 2 . The spring rod  60 , including the yoke  60   y  and roller  64  rotatably connected thereto, is adapted to linearly reciprocate in the channel space  32 S in first and second opposite directions D 1 ,D 2  ( FIG. 7D ) toward and away from the pivot axis PX, respectively, as permitted by the sliding engagement of the follower support shaft  66  in the elongated slots S 1 ,S 2 . 
     A spring  68  is operatively engaged with the spring rod  60  or otherwise operatively engaged with the follower  62  and exerts a biasing force on the spring rod  60  that urges the spring rod  60  and follower  62  (roller  64 ) in the first direction D 1  toward the first (inner) end  32   a  of the channel (toward the pivot axis PX) to the maximum extent permitted by the sliding movement of the follower support shaft  66  in the elongated slots S 1 ,S 2  (referred to herein as the “extended position” of the spring rod  60 ). The spring rod  60  and follower  62  (roller  64 ) are selectively moveable in the direction D 2  toward a retracted position. In particular, the spring rod  60  and follower  62  are selectively moveable in the second direction D 2  away from the extended position toward the opposite second (outer) end  32   b  of the channel  32  (away from the pivot axis PX) against the biasing force of the spring  68  to the extent permitted by the sliding movement of the follower support shaft  66  in the elongated slots S 1 ,S 2 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-7C , the spring biased control system  50  comprises a helical compression coil spring  68  coaxially positioned about the spring rod  60  between the mounting tab  35  and the yoke  60   y , but any other suitable spring and/or spring arrangement can be used instead to bias the spring rod  60  and follower  62  (roller  64 ) toward the extended position, such as a torsion spring, extension coil spring, or the like. For example,  FIGS. 8 &amp; 8A  show an alternative embodiment H 1 ′ that is identical to the hinge assembly H 1  except as otherwise shown and/or described herein, and similar structures are identified with similar reference numbers/characters that include a primed (′) designation. Instead of the coaxial coil spring  68  and spring rod  60 , the spring-biased control system  50 ′ of the hinge assembly H 1 ′ comprises at least one torsion spring  68 ′ operatively engaged between the channel  32 ′ and the follower support shaft  66 ′ or other part of the follower  62 ′. The torsion spring  68 ′ comprises a first leg  68   a ′ that is operatively engaged with the follower  62 ′ such as being engaged with the follower support shaft  66 ′ as shown herein. The torsion spring  68 ′ further comprises a second leg  68   b ′ that is operatively engaged with the channel  32 ′ of the lever  30 ′ such as with a tab  35 ′ that projects into the space  32 S′ from the front wall  34   c ′ or another fixed anchor structure of the channel  32 ′. As such, the torsion spring  68 ′ acts to bias the follower  62 ′ in the direction D 1  toward the extended position as described above. As can be seen in  FIG. 8A , the torsion spring  68 ′ can comprises a double torsion spring with first and second helical coils and  69   a ′, 69   b ′, wherein each coil  69   a ′, 69   b ′ comprises the first and second legs  68   a ′, 68   b ′ extending outwardly therefrom, but a single-coil torsion spring can be used instead. 
       FIG. 9  shows another alternative embodiment H 1 ″ that is identical to the hinge assembly H 1  except as otherwise shown and/or described herein, and similar structures are identified with similar reference numbers/characters that include a double-primed (″) designation. Instead of the coaxial coil spring  68  and spring rod  60 , the spring-biased control system  50 ″ of the hinge assembly H 1 ″ comprises at least one extension spring such as the illustrated first and/or second helical coil springs  68   a ″, 68   b ″ operatively engaged between the channel  32 ″ and the follower support shaft  66 ″ or other part of the follower  62 ″ to bias the follower  62 ″ (roller  64 ″) in the first direction D 1  toward its extended position. The springs  68   a ″, 68   b ″ include respective hooks or loops at their opposite ends or are otherwise configured to be connected at their respective first (inner) ends  70   a ″, 70   b ″ directly or indirectly to the channel  32 ″. As shown herein, the inner end  70   a ″, 70   b ″ of the respective spring  68   a ″, 68   b ″ is indirectly connected to and operably engaged with the channel  32 ″/lever  30 ″ through the pivot fastener  30   f ″ or other structure (such as the mounting tab  16 ″ or other part of the mounting portion  10 ″) that is fixedly secured to the channel  32 ″. The opposite, outer end  72   a ″, 72   b ″ of the respective spring  68   a ″, 68   b ″ is operatively indirectly engaged with the follower  62 ″ such as by being engaged with the follower support shaft  66 ″ as shown herein. As such, each extension spring  68   a ″, 68   b ″ acts to bias the follower  62 ″ in the direction D 1  toward the extended position as described above. As noted, either one of the extension springs  68   a ″, 68   b ″ can be provided without the other without departing from the scope and intent of the present development. 
     Regardless of the particular spring arrangement and structure used for the spring-biased control system  50 , 50 ′, 50 ″, the roller  64  or other follower  62  is continuously biased toward its extended position. In at least one angular position of the door mounting lever  30  relative to the mounting tab  16  of the stationary leaf mounting portion  10 , the cam profile  20  and cam follower  62  are engaged with each other and are operative and co-act with each other to induce a closing force or closing moment F 1  (see  FIGS. 7C &amp; 8 ) in the door mounting lever  30  that urges the lever  30  toward its first operative (closed) position ( FIG. 7C ), corresponding to the closed position of the appliance door D as shown in  FIG. 2 . In particular, the outer portion  20   a   2  of the closing recess  20   a  of the cam profile  20  includes a sloped or inclined portion or surface  20   a   4  ( FIG. 6A ) adjacent the peak  20   c  that can be flat as shown and that extends inwardly toward the base  12  (toward the inner portion  16   a  of the mounting tab  16 ) as it extends deeper into the closing recess  20   a  toward the concave central portion  20   a   3  and that is otherwise conformed and dimensioned such that when the follower  62  is resiliently urged into contact therewith by the spring-biased control system  50 , 50 ′, 50 ″, the spring-biased control system  50  induces the closing moment F 1  in the door mounting lever  30  that urges the lever  30  and door D connected thereto toward the closed position. The hinge assembly H 1  and/or appliance is configured such that when the appliance door D is in its closed position ( FIG. 2 ), the hinge assembly H 1  and the door mounting lever  30  are also in the closed (first operative) position ( FIG. 7C ) and the follower  62  remains in contact with the inclined portion  20   a   4  of the closing recess  20   a  such that the lever  30  and door D connected thereto are continuously urged in the closing direction by the closing moment F 1 , i.e., the follower  62  preferably does not seat in the bottom  20   a   3  of the closing recess  20   a  when the appliance door D is fully closed as would eliminate the closing moment F 1 ). 
     To open the appliance door D, manual opening force in an opening direction OD ( FIG. 7C ) is exerted on the door D by a human user to move the door D and door mounting lever  30  in the opening direction OD from the closed door (first operative) position ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 7C ) toward the opened door (second operative) position ( FIGS. 1 &amp; 6A ), and such manual opening force must be sufficient to move the roller  64  or other follower  62  out of the recess  20   a , over the peak  20   c , and into contact with the engagement surface  20   b  of the cam profile  20  against the biasing force of the spring-biased control system  50 , 50 ′, 50 ″ (see  FIG. 7B  which shows a “peak position” where the follower  62  is in contact with the cam peak  20   c ). Due to the closing moment F 1  as described above, and due to the presence of the peak  20   c , the hinge assembly H 1  is self-latching in its closed or first operative position such that the appliance door D does not require a separate latch to hold the door D in its closed position during use of the appliance which can provide various advantages in terms of parts and/or assembly cost, ease of service, reversibility of the door D as described above, improved aesthetics and user feel, and/or other advantages. 
     As the door D and door mounting lever  30  are moved further in the opening direction OD toward the door opened (second operative) position from the peak position of  FIG. 7B , the follower  62  moves smoothly along the engagement surface  20   b  of the cam profile until the follower  62  reaches the engagement position ( FIG. 7A ) where the follower  62  is in contact with the engagement corner  20   d . Further movement of the door D and lever  30  in the opening direction OD cause the follower  62  to separate from the cam profile  20  and the follower  62  is then biased to its normal, fully extended position as shown in  FIG. 6A  (referred to as the second operative position of the lever  30  and hinge assembly H 1 ). Once the follower  62  separates from the cam profile  20 , the door mounting lever  30  pivots or rotates freely relative to the mounting portion  10  in the opening direction OD without interference by or influence of the spring-biased cam follower system  50 ,  50 ′, 50 ″ and the door D and lever  30  can be pivoted completely to the door opened position. 
     When the door D and door mounting lever  30  are manually pivoted by a user in a closing direction CD ( FIG. 6A ) from the door-opened position shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 6A  toward the door-closed position, the lever  30  reaches an “engagement position” as shown in  FIG. 7A  where the roller  64  or other follower  62  makes initial contact with the engagement location  20   d  of the cam profile  20  (referred to as the engagement position of the lever  30  and hinge assembly H 1 ). Further movement of the door D and lever  30  in the closing direction CD from the engagement position ( FIG. 7A ) toward the closed (first operative) position ( FIG. 7C ) causes the follower  62  to move along the engagement surface  20   b  of the cam profile  20  to the “peak position” ( FIG. 7B ) where the follower  62  is in contact with the peak  20   c  of the cam profile  20 . 
     Further manual pivoting movement of the door D and lever  30  in the closing direction CD from the peak position forces the follower  62  over the peak  20   c  and into the closing recess  20  where the follower  62  engages the inclined surface  20   a   4  of the closing recess  20   a  as described above such that the lever  30  and hinge assembly H 1  are in the first operative position corresponding to the closed position of the door D. 
     The development has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, but it is not intended that the invention be limited to only the preferred embodiments. The following claims should be interpreted as broadly as possible while maintaining their validity.