Patent Description:
Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. In addition, refrigerator appliances include one or more doors rotatably hinged to the cabinet to permit selective access to food items stored in chilled chamber(s). The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber.

Refrigerator appliances are commonly positioned within a recess in a row of cabinets mounted to a wall in a kitchen. In order to improve the appearance of the refrigerator appliance and minimize protrusion into kitchen walkways, certain refrigerator appliances are designed to be flush mount, where the front of the appliance door sits substantially flush with a front of the cabinets when the doors are closed. In addition, such refrigerators may be designed for receiving a cabinet panel, such that the front appearance of the refrigerator appliance matches the appearance of the cabinetry. However, conventional refrigerator appliances include doors that pivot around a single pivoting axis or hinge, which may cause the door or the panel mounted thereon to rub or conflict with adjacent cabinetry. In addition, refrigerator doors may frequently experience gasket rub or wear as the door is opened and closed repeatedly. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose such refrigerators of the prior art.

Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with an improved hinge assembly would be useful. More particularly, a hinge assembly that reduces the likelihood of contact between the refrigerator door and adjacent cabinetry would be particularly beneficial.

The invention is defined by the features of independent claim <NUM>. Further embodiments of the invention are defined by the appended dependent claims.

As used herein, the term "or" is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., "A or B" is intended to mean "A or B or both"). The terms "first," "second," and "third" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an appliance <NUM>, such as a refrigerator appliance, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As may be seen in <FIG>, appliance <NUM> includes a housing or cabinet <NUM> that extends between a top <NUM> and a bottom <NUM> along a vertical direction V, between a first side <NUM> and a second side <NUM> along a lateral direction L, and between a front side <NUM> and a rear side <NUM> along a transverse direction T. Each of the vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular to one another.

Cabinet <NUM> generally defines one or more chilled chambers <NUM> for receipt of food items for storage. Cabinet <NUM> may be insulated and refrigerator appliance <NUM> may further include a sealed system (not shown) that is operable to cool chilled chamber <NUM> and food items stored therein. Although refrigerator appliance <NUM> is illustrated as a single compartment refrigerator, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to other types of refrigerator appliances, such as bottom mount, top mount, and side-by-side refrigerator appliances. Moreover, aspects of the present disclosure may be used for any other suitable appliance that includes a rotating door. For example, aspects of the present disclosure may be used in or with French door oven appliances, dishwasher appliances, etc. to mount a door to a cabinet, such as a base, a tub, etc..

Referring still to <FIG>, a door <NUM> is coupled to cabinet <NUM> with one or more linear hinge assemblies <NUM> (e.g., located at a top and a bottom of door <NUM>). A user may rotate door <NUM> open to access and interior of cabinet <NUM> (e.g., chilled chamber <NUM>), and the user may rotate door <NUM> closed to seal the interior of cabinet <NUM>. Door <NUM> may also include a handle <NUM> that a user may pull when opening and closing door <NUM>. Linear hinge assemblies <NUM> will be described herein in more detail according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, linear hinges are used to allow doors to translate away from adjacent cabinetry or appliances in addition to rotating open and closed. By translating in addition to rotating, interference between the doors and the adjacent cabinetry or the appliance itself can be avoided.

Referring generally to <FIG>, linear hinge assemblies <NUM> will be described in more detail according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a linear hinge assembly <NUM> in a closed position. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the same embodiment of linear hinge assembly <NUM> in an open position, while <FIG> illustrate various portions of the same embodiment. <FIG> illustrates further exemplary embodiments of linear hinge assembly. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate other exemplary embodiments of linear hinge assembly. <FIG> illustrates a portion of still other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a portion of yet other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As noted above, due to the similarity between the embodiments of linear hinge assemblies <NUM> described herein, like reference numerals will be used to refer to the same of substantially similar features between embodiments. Although only top linear hinge assemblies <NUM> are illustrated and described in detail, it should be appreciated that refrigerator appliance <NUM> may include bottom hinge assemblies that are substantially similar to the top linear hinge assemblies <NUM>.

As illustrated, linear hinge assembly <NUM> includes at least one bearing assembly <NUM> mounted to cabinet <NUM>. As an example, bearing assembly <NUM> may be fastened or otherwise suitably fixed to cabinet <NUM>. More specifically, as illustrated, bearing assembly <NUM> includes a front bearing <NUM> and a rear bearing <NUM> spaced apart along a translation axis A, which may correspond to the transverse direction T of appliance <NUM> (or another suitable direction). Although bearing assembly <NUM> is illustrated as including two linear slide bearings, it should be appreciated that bearing assembly <NUM> may include any suitable number and type of bearing configuration, such as ball bearings, low friction sleeves, or any other suitable slide or linear shaft bearings.

An elongated shaft <NUM> is received within bearing assembly <NUM>. In particular, elongated shaft <NUM> may slide along translation axis A on or within bearing assembly <NUM>. Thus, for example, elongated shaft <NUM> may extend and retract along the translation axis A on bearing assembly <NUM> as door <NUM> opens and closes. Notably, as described below, this translation provides clearance or minimizes interference between door <NUM> and adjacent cabinetry or other structures. Elongated shaft <NUM> may be formed from any suitably rigid material or materials. For instance, elongated shaft <NUM> may include a rigid translation body <NUM> (e.g., formed from cylindrical steel bar). Additionally or alternatively, a shaft bracket <NUM> may be provided at a distal end portion <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM> (e.g., in fixed attachment to rigid translation body <NUM>). Optionally, one or more portions of elongated shaft <NUM> may be coated in any suitable coating, such as anodized aluminum or another suitable corrosion resistant coating.

As shown, elongated shaft <NUM> extends along the translation axis A between a proximal end portion <NUM> and the distal end portion <NUM>. When assembled, distal end portion <NUM> may be cantilevered from bearing assembly <NUM> while proximal end portion <NUM> is generally positioned rearward from bearing assembly <NUM> (e.g., above cabinet <NUM>). At or adjacent to the distal end portion <NUM>, multiple pivot axes may be defined to direct movement of door <NUM>.

Generally, distal end portion <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM> is rotatably connected to door <NUM> (e.g., at shaft bracket <NUM>). In particular, door <NUM> is rotatable about a door axis D offset from and translatable relative to elongated shaft <NUM>. The door axis D may be perpendicular to the translation axis A. For example, the door axis D may be vertically oriented (e.g., parallel to the vertical direction V), and the translation axis A may be horizontally oriented.

As shown, door <NUM> is connected to cabinet <NUM> with linear hinge assembly <NUM> such that door <NUM> is translatable along the translation axis A relative to cabinet <NUM> and is also rotatable about the door axis D relative to cabinet <NUM>. Door axis D itself may also be translatable (e.g., horizontally) relative to translation axis A as door <NUM> moves forward/rearward along translation axis A. Thus, for instance, when door <NUM> includes an outer panel that is flush mounted with adjacent cabinetry, linear hinge assembly <NUM> may translate door <NUM> along the translation axis A away from cabinet <NUM> as door <NUM> is rotated open about the door axis D. Translating door <NUM> away from cabinet <NUM> as door <NUM> rotates open notably assists with reducing interference between door <NUM> and adjacent cabinetry. In addition, translating door <NUM> away from cabinet <NUM> and relative to translation axis A as door <NUM> rotates open may also advantageously assist with limiting scraping of door <NUM> on a gasket (not shown) that extends between cabinet <NUM> and door <NUM> to seal the interior of cabinet <NUM>.

As noted above, multiple (e.g., parallel) pivot axes may be defined at or adjacent to distal end portion <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM>. Elongated shaft <NUM>, in particular, defines two or more shaft pivot axes coupled to separate linkages (e.g., via corresponding connection pins). For instance, elongated shaft <NUM> may define a first shaft pivot axis P1 at which a door linkage <NUM> is pivotally connected (e.g., via a corresponding connection pin extending along first shaft pivot axis P1) to couple door <NUM> to elongated shaft <NUM>. Additionally, elongated shaft <NUM> may define a second shaft pivot axis P2 at which a cabinet linkage <NUM> is pivotally connected (e.g., via a corresponding connection pin extending along second shaft pivot axis P2) to couple cabinet <NUM> to elongated shaft <NUM>.

Generally, first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2 are perpendicular to the translation axis A. Moreover, first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2 may be parallel to each other. As shown, first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2 may be vertically oriented (e.g., parallel to the vertical direction V). In some embodiments, the first shaft pivot axis P1 is spaced apart from the second shaft pivot axis P2, as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. Specifically, first shaft pivot axis P1 may be positioned apart from second shaft pivot axis P2 along the translation axis A. For instance, first shaft pivot axis P1 may be positioned forward from second shaft pivot axis P2 such that first shaft pivot axis P1 is closer to door <NUM> relative to the transverse direction T than second shaft pivot axis P2. In other words, first shaft pivot axis P1 may proximal to door <NUM> in comparison to second shaft pivot axis P2 along the translation axis A. In alternative embodiments, first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2 are coaxial or concentric with each other, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In certain embodiments, a third shaft pivot axis P3 is defined on elongated shaft <NUM>. For instance, third shaft pivot axis P3 may be defined parallel to first shaft pivot axis P1 or second shaft pivot axis P2 (e.g., vertically oriented). In some embodiments, third shaft pivot axis P3 is defined forward from first shaft pivot axis P1 or second shaft pivot axis P2 along the translation axis A (e.g., as the forwardmost shaft pivot axis). As shown, an offset link <NUM> (e.g., rigid linkage bar) may pivotally connect to elongated shaft <NUM> at a joint <NUM> defining third shaft pivot axis P3 (e.g., as or including a corresponding connection pin extending along third shaft pivot axis P3) to further couple elongated shaft <NUM> to door <NUM>. In some such embodiments, offset link <NUM> also pivotally connects to door <NUM> at door axis D (e.g., via a corresponding connection pin extending along door axis D). Thus, as door <NUM> rotates, offset link <NUM> may rotate about both door axis D and third shaft pivot axis P3.

As shown, door linkage <NUM> generally includes one or more rigid arms or gears that join elongated shaft <NUM> to door <NUM> while being pivotable about first shaft pivot axis P1. In some embodiments, door linkage <NUM> extends (e.g., horizontally) between a shaft end <NUM> proximal to distal end portion <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM> and a guided end <NUM> disposed on door <NUM> (e.g., distal to distal end portion <NUM>). For instance, shaft end <NUM> may be disposed at or adjacent to first shaft pivot axis P1. By contrast, guided end <NUM> may be slidably disposed along a guide path <NUM> defined on the door <NUM>.

Optionally, one or more slider pins <NUM> (e.g., a pair of slider pins <NUM>) may be fixed to door linkage <NUM> while extending (e.g., vertically) through guide path <NUM>, which may be defined on a support bracket <NUM> fixed to door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Alternatively, however, a single rigid slider bar <NUM> may be fixed to door linkage <NUM> while being slidably mated to a rail <NUM> defining a guide path (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>), or another suitable sliding connection may be formed as would be understood.

When door <NUM> is in the closed position, guide path <NUM> may extend, at least in part along the lateral direction L (e.g., at a nonorthogonal angle relative thereto). Thus, opposite path ends <NUM>, <NUM> of guide path <NUM> may be laterally spaced apart when door <NUM> is in the closed position. An outer end <NUM> of guide path <NUM> may be distal to door axis D while an inner end <NUM> of guide path <NUM> is proximal to door axis D (e.g., along a horizontal direction, such as the lateral direction L). In the closed position, guided end <NUM> of door linkage <NUM> (e.g., at least one slider pin <NUM>) may be disposed at or proximal to the outer end <NUM>. By contrast in the open position, guided end <NUM> (e.g., at least one slider pin <NUM>) may be disposed at or proximal to the inner end <NUM>. Thus, as door <NUM> is rotated open, guide path <NUM> may be rotated outward and guided end <NUM> may slide along guide path <NUM> to move the guided end <NUM> away from the outer end <NUM> and closer to the inner end <NUM>. Similarly, as door <NUM> is rotated closed, guide path <NUM> may be rotated inward and guided end <NUM> may slide along guide path <NUM> to move the guided end <NUM> away from the inner end <NUM> and closer to the outer end <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, door linkage <NUM> is arranged such that at least a portion of the rotational force of door linkage <NUM> about first shaft pivot axis P1 is directed to cabinet linkage <NUM>. Specifically, shaft end <NUM> of door linkage <NUM> may be in mechanical communication with an extendable end <NUM> of cabinet linkage <NUM>.

As an example, an intermediate link <NUM> may be provided, as shown in <FIG>. In some such embodiments, intermediate link <NUM> is movably mounted on elongated shaft <NUM> at a location that is between first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2 (e.g., between P1 and P2 along or relative to translation axis A). As shown, intermediate link <NUM> may extend between a first cam axis C1 and a second cam axis C2, both of which may be parallel to first shaft pivot axis P1 and second shaft pivot axis P2. Moreover, intermediate link <NUM> may be coupled to door linkage <NUM> at first cam axis C1 and to cabinet linkage <NUM> at second cam axis C2 (e.g., via discrete corresponding connection pins). First cam axis C1 of intermediate link <NUM> may specifically couple to the shaft end <NUM> of door linkage <NUM> while second cam axis C2 couples to the extendable end <NUM> of cabinet linkage <NUM>.

As another example, an intermediate gear set <NUM> may be provided, as shown in various embodiments between <FIG>. Specifically, intermediate gear set <NUM> may be enmeshed in mechanical communication between the door linkage <NUM> at the first shaft pivot axis P1 and the cabinet linkage <NUM> at the second shaft pivot axis P2. For instance, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, mated gear teeth may be provided on the shaft end <NUM> of door linkage <NUM> and the extendable end <NUM> of cabinet linkage <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, two or more scissor gear arms may be provided with one end (e.g., arm) coupled to the coaxial first and second shaft pivot axes P1, P2 and another arm coupled to door <NUM> (e.g., at a separate gear axis).

Cabinet linkage <NUM> generally includes one or more rigid arms or gears that further join elongated shaft <NUM> to cabinet <NUM>. During use, cabinet linkage <NUM> may specifically help transfer rotation of door <NUM> to linear translation of elongated shaft <NUM>. As shown, cabinet linkage <NUM> may extend (e.g., horizontally) between the extendable end <NUM> coupled to distal end portion <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM> and the rearward end <NUM> disposed on cabinet <NUM> (e.g., apart from distal end portion <NUM>). For instance, extendable end <NUM> may be disposed at or adjacent to second shaft pivot axis P2. By contrast, rearward end <NUM> may be slidably or pivotally disposed on cabinet <NUM>. In some such embodiments, such as those illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, cabinet linkage <NUM> includes multiple rigid arms pivotally coupled between extendable end <NUM> and rearward end <NUM>. Rotation at second shaft pivot axis P2 (e.g., motivated at least in part by rotation of door <NUM>) may thus motivate expansion or contract of the rigid arms depending on whether the door <NUM> is being opened or closed, respectively. In other embodiments, such as those illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> a single rigid bar is provided between extendable end <NUM> and rearward end <NUM>, which may slide horizontally (e.g., parallel to the lateral direction L) along a cabinet <NUM> guide while rotating to permit translation of extendable end <NUM> relative to cabinet <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A domestic appliance (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>); and
a linear hinge (<NUM>) coupling the door to the cabinet, the linear hinge comprising
a bearing assembly (<NUM>) mounted to the cabinet,
an elongated shaft (<NUM>) received within the bearing assembly such that the elongated shaft is slidable along a translation axis (A) on the bearing assembly, the elongated shaft defining a first shaft pivot axis (P1) perpendicular to the translation axis and a second shaft pivot axis (P2) parallel to the first shaft pivot axis,
a door linkage (<NUM>) coupling the door to the elongated shaft, the door linkage being pivotally connected to the elongated shaft at the first shaft pivot axis, and
a cabinet linkage (<NUM>) coupling the cabinet to the elongated shaft, the cabinet linkage being pivotally connected to the elongated shaft at the second shaft pivot axis (P2).