Patent Publication Number: US-2007119021-A1

Title: Hinge assembly and door mounting system including same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/758,474, filed Jan. 15, 2004, and the disclosure of this prior application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      The present development relates to a hinge assembly and door mounting system including same, particularly adapted for use in operatively and releasably connecting an appliance door to an appliance body so that the door is manually movable between opened and closed positions relative to a chamber (e.g., a cooking chamber) defined by the body. The hinge assembly and door mounting system are simplified, more reliable and more cost-effective as compared to conventional arrangements.  
     SUMMARY  
      In accordance with one aspect of the present deveopment, a hinge assembly comprises a claw and a body pivotally connected to the claw and movable to and between a first operative position and a second operative position. A link assembly operably interconnects the claw and the body. The link assembly comprises at least one link pivotally connected to the claw and a spring connected between the link and an anchor point. A latch is movably connected to the claw, and the latch is movable to and between a locked position where it is adapted to engage an associated mounting receptacle to prevent separation of the claw from the mounting receptacle, and an unlocked position.  
      In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a door mounting system comprises a hinge assembly and a mounting receptacle adapted to mate with the hinge assembly. The mounting receptacle comprises a base defining an opening having a lower edge and an upper edge. The hinge assembly comprises a claw that is adapted for insertion into the opening of the mounting receptacle to couple the hinge assembly to the mounting receptacle. A body is pivotally connected to the claw and movable to and between a first operative position and a second operative position. A link assembly operably interconnects the claw and the body. A latch is movably connected to the claw and is movable to and between a locked position where it prevents separation of the claw from the mounting receptacle, and an unlocked position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The development comprises various components and arrangements and combinations of components as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a hinge assembly formed in accordance with the present development in its first operative position;  
       FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but shows the hinge assembly in its install/remove position;  
       FIG. 3  shows the hinge assembly in its second operative position;  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a mounting receptacle adapted to receive and retain the hinge assembly of  FIG. 1  and that forms a part of a door mounting system in accordance with the present development;  
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are isometric views that correspond respectively to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and show the hinge assembly operatively connected to the mounting receptacle of  FIG. 4  (the biasing spring of the hinge assembly is not shown);  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are side elevational views that show the hinge assembly as in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , respectively, and that show the hinge assembly operably mated to the mounting receptacle of  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIGS. 1-3  show a hinge assembly H formed in accordance with the present development. The hinge assembly H comprises a hanger or claw C adapted to be releasably connected to a mating receptacle M ( FIG. 4 ) that is connected to and/or formed as a part of an appliance body. To this end, the claw C comprises one or more slots S 1 , S 2  defined therein that receive portions of the mating receptacle. The claw C is preferably defined as a one-piece metal stamping construction, but other materials (e.g., polymeric) and/or methods of manufacture (e.g., multi-piece assemblies, forgings, castings, extrusions, etc.) are contemplated.  
      A hinge body or channel B, defined from the same or similar materials as the claw C, is pivotally connected to the claw C by a pin or rivet R 1  or other fastener so that the channel B is adapted to pivot relative to the claw along an arc A to and between at least a first operative position as shown in  FIG. 1  and a second operative position as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the hinge assembly H is in use, typically as part of a pair, an appliance door D (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 1 ) is connected to the body B thereof and moves therewith on the arc A between a closed position that corresponds to the first operative position of the body B and an opened position that corresponds to the second operative position of the body. The body B can also be positioned in one or more intermediate positions located between the first and second operative positions and, typically, the hinge body B and door D will counterbalance in at least one such “intermediate” position so as to define a partially opened “broil” position for the door D.  
      With brief reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it can be seen that the hinge body B preferably defines a U-shaped channel, typically defined by a stamping operation, having an inner wall W 1  and first and second sidewalls W 2 , W 3 , between which an open recess BR is defined. The wall W 1  of body includes openings to allow the claw C and related components described below to pass therethrough as required for operation of the hinge assembly. The body B is preferably U-shaped for strength, ease of manufacture, and weight/material reduction.  
      The claw C and the channel/body B are also operably interconnected through a link assembly LA comprising at least one link L and a spring S. The link has a first end L 1  that is pivotally connected to the claw C by way of a rivet R 2  or other fastener or means. The link member L is connected at its opposite, second end L 2  to a first end S 1  of the spring S by way of a hook formed in the first end of the spring that is engaged with an aperture or other structure defined by the link L. The opposite, second end S 2  of the spring S is connected to the channel B or other anchor point (e.g., the door D) by way of a hook formed in the second end S 2  of the spring S. As shown herein, the spring S is a tension coil spring defined from metal wire. Other types of springs, e.g., compression springs, and materials, e.g., polymeric materials, are contemplated.  
      The link L comprises a cam surface LC that engages a guide G that is secured to the body B and that spans the recess BR. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide G comprises a roller or sleeve secured to the body B by way of rivet R 3  or other fasteners that extends coaxially therethrough.  
      The spring S biases the channel B toward/into its first operative position as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the required manual force is applied to the body B, typically via attached door D, the body pivots on the arc A toward its second operative position while the spring S elongates and the link L moves relative to the guide G with the cam surface LC of the link L in contact with the guide. With reference to  FIG. 3 , pivoting movement of the body B from its first operative position ( FIG. 1 ) to the second operative position ( FIG. 3 ) on the arc A is limited by a stop. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener R 1  defines such a stop that abuts the link L as shown in  FIG. 3  to prevent further pivoting movement of the body B away from the first operative position on the arc A. In another embodiment, the link cam surface LC defines a dwell point for receiving/retaining the guide G in order to define a stop. Of course, the hinge body B can be made to abut a tab of the claw to define a stop.  
      The hinge assembly H further comprises a latch K pivotally connected to the claw C by a rivet R 4  or other fastener. As shown herein, latch K comprises at least one and preferably two tabs K 1 , K 2  ( FIG. 6 ) positioned to sandwich the claw C closely there between. The tabs K 1 , K 2  can be defined separately or as a one-piece construction (e.g., U-shaped). The latch K pivots about the fastener R 4  between a first or “locked” position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and a second or “unlocked” position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The latch K comprises a head K 3  defined at a distal end spaced from the fastener R 4 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , when the hinge body B is moved to an install/remove position on the arc A and the latch K is moved to its second “unlocked” position, the head K 3  of latch K engages the guide G and prevents movement of the body B under force of spring S or otherwise on the arc A toward its first operative position, which is useful for a purpose described below. Owing to the biasing force of spring S, the body B and guide G are urged into and maintained in engagement with the latch K until the body B is manually moved toward its second operative position so that the latch K can be moved back to its first, “locked” position. The unlocked position for the latch K is conveniently defined by the position of the latch when it abuts the claw C. This eliminates the need for a user to carefully move the latch K into the unlocked position. Instead, the latch K is simply pivoted until it abuts the claw C. Also, the shape of the head K 3  is such that the force of the guide G bearing against it causes the latch K to bear against the claw C instead of away from the claw to prevent undesired movement of the latch out of the unlocked position under force of spring S or otherwise. As an alternative to engaging the guide G to hold the body B in the install/remove position against the force of spring S, the latch K directly engages the body B and/or the door D connected to the body B when the latch K is moved to its unlocked position and thus prevents movement of the body B to its first operative position.  
      The latch K is preferably resistant to movement out of its first “locked” position. This resistance can be provided by friction between the latch K and claw C, a detent mechanism or other means. The latch K optionally defines a through-bore K 4  that is aligned with an optional aperture C 4  of the claw, and a pin or other member (not shown) can be inserted through these aligned openings to immobilize the latch K in its first position. Also, it should be noted that the claw defines an opening C 2  ( FIG. 2 ) into which a pin, rivet or other stud-like member can be inserted temporarily when the body B is moved to its install/remove position to block movement of the body B from the install/remove position to the first operative position under force of spring S as an alternative to use of latch K, if desired.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a mounting receptacle M that, together with the hinge assembly H, forms a door mounting system in accordance with the present development. The mounting receptacle M is defined by and/or connected to an oven or other appliance body O ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) and, typically, a pair of mounting receptacles M are provided adjacent opposite sides of a cooking chamber or other opening of the body O and are adapted to mate with respective hinge assemblies H.  
      With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , the mounting receptacle comprises a base M 1  shown as a U-shaped member defining a recess M 2 . As with the body B of hinge assembly H, the base M 1  is preferably defined by a U-shaped channel member for strength, reduced weight and ease of manufacture/assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the base M 1  comprises a stamped metal member, but it can also be defined by an extrusion or can be otherwise defined. A pin, rivet, fastener or other mounting member M 3  (referred to herein as mounting pin M 3 ) spans the recess M 2 . The central wall of base M 1  defines a mounting slot or opening M 4  partially defined by a lower region/edge M 4   a  and an upper region/edge M 4   b . The mounting opening M 4  is dimensioned to receive the claw C of a hinge assembly H. When the claw C is inserted into the opening M 4 ,.the mounting pin M 3  is received in the first slot S 1  of the claw C and the lower edge M 4   a  of slot M 4  is received into the second slot S 2  of the claw C. This result is shown in  FIGS. 5-8  wherein the claw C is fully mated to the mounting receptacle M 4 . In an alternative embodiment, the mounting receptacle comprises two of the mounting pins M 3  for respective receipt in the slots S 1 , S 2  of claw C.  
      Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that mating and separation of the claw and mounting receptacle requires movement (typically vertical movement) of the claw C in the mounting opening M 4  toward and away from the lower and upper edges M 4   a , M 4   b  thereof. More particularly, to connect the claw C to the mounting receptacle M 4 , the claw must move downward toward lower edge M 4   a  so that the slots S 1 , S 2  of the claw receive the mounting pin M 3  and edge M 4   a , respectively. For decoupling, the claw C must be moved in the opening M 4  toward the upper edge M 4   b  to disengage the pin M 3  and edge M 4   a  from the respective slots S 1 , S 2  of claw C. The latch K of the hinge assembly H is used selectively to prevent movement of the claw C within the opening M 4  required to decouple the claw from the mounting receptacle.  
      More specifically, the claw C is easily mated with or decoupled from the mounting receptacle when the latch K is in its second, “unlocked” position and, in particular, when the latch K is used to retain the body B of the hinge assembly in its install/remove position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6  and as described above. Once the claw C is fully mated with mounting receptacle M, the body B of the hinge assembly is moved sufficiently toward its second operative (opened) position so that the latch K can be pivoted to its first, “locked” position as shown in  FIGS. 5, 7  and  8 . There, it can be seen that when the latch K is moved to the “locked” position, the head K 3  thereof abuts or lies adjacent the upper edge M 4   b  of the opening M 4  so that the head K 3  contacts the edge M 4   b  upon attempted decoupling of the claw C from the mounting receptacle M to prevent movement of the claw in the opening M 4  as required to separate the claw from the mounting receptacle M. In this manner, when the latch K is in its first, “locked” position, it prevents decoupling of the claw C from the mounting receptacle M. Of course, the latch K is simply moved out of its first position to its second, “unlocked” position or to some intermediate position when separation of the claw C from the mounting receptacle is desired.  
      It is important to note that the latch K is also self-locating insofar as the locked position is concerned. When the claw C is mated with the mounting receptacle M, the locked position of latch K is defined when the latch is pivoted until it abuts the mounting pin M 3  of the mounting receptacle M.  
      The development has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is not intended that the claims be construed in a manner that limits the scope thereof to the preferred embodiments. Instead, the claims should be construed in the broadest possible manner allowed by law both literally and according to the doctrine of equivalents.