Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.

Whirlpool Corporation

Mansfield Assemblies Co.

Brian Scott White

James J Collene

Rohan Gajananrao Gore

A door hinge assembly includes a hinge plate including: (i) an inner portion adapted to be connected to an associated structure; and, (ii) an outer portion adapted for pivoting connection of an associated door thereto. The hinge assembly also includes a damper system with a damper connected to one of: (i) the hinge plate; (ii) the associated door. The damper is adapted to be activated by pivoting movement of the associated door in a closing direction toward a closed position of the associated door such that said damper slows movement of the associated door toward the closed position when the damper is activated.

Dampened hinge for a refrigerator door or other door

An adjustable appliance hinge receiver includes a base including spaced-apart first and second lateral walls. A slide body is slidably connected to the base and located between the lateral walls. The slide body slides relative to the base along an adjustment axis. At least one hinge mounting structure is connected to the slide body and is adapted to be engaged by an associated hinge. An adjustment system includes a first inclined ramp connected to the slide body and an adjustment shaft that extends between and that is rotatably supported by the first and second lateral walls of the base. The adjustment shaft is rotatable relative to the base about an axis of rotation. The adjustment system also includes an adjustment member engaged with the adjustment shaft and selectively movable along the axis of rotation in opposite first and second directions in response to rotational movement of the adjustment shaft in opposite first and second rotational directions such that rotation of the adjustment shaft in one of the first and second rotational directions causes the adjustment member to bear against the first ramp and induce sliding movement of the slide body relative to the base along the adjustment axis.

Side-accessible adjustable receiver for appliance hinge

A hinge assembly for an associated appliance door includes an arm and a lever pivotally connected to the arm. The lever and arm are adapted to pivot relative to each other about a main pivot axis between a first position that corresponds to a closed position of the associated appliance door and a second position that corresponds to an opened position of the associated appliance door. A slide link is located adjacent the lever. A damper engagement structure is connected to the slide link. A biasing system urges the arm and lever toward the first position. A damper system includes a damper that damps pivoting movement between the arm and the lever for at least part of the movement between the arm and the lever when the arm and lever pivot relative to each other from the first position toward the second position.

Hinge assembly with slow close and/or slow open characteristics

A receptacle for an associated appliance hinge includes a receptacle base and a breakaway lever movably connected to the receptacle base. The breakaway lever includes a cam edge. A first mounting structure is connected to the receptacle base and adapted to be engaged by an associated hinge arm. A second mounting structure connected to the breakaway lever such that the second mounting structure is movable relative to the receptacle base. The second mounting structure is adapted to be engaged by the associated hinge arm. A breakaway latch is connected to the base and includes a cam follower engaged with the cam edge. The breakaway latch further includes a spring that biases the cam follower into abutment with the cam edge. The breakaway lever is selectively movable from a first position where the cam follower is engaged with a first location on the cam edge to a second position where the cam follower is engaged with a second location on the cam edge.

Breakaway hinge receptacle

An appliance includes an appliance body having a front panel defining a connector slot. A hinge receiver is coupled with the appliance body and has opposing side walls defining a receiving space therebetween. The hinge receiver includes a first striker positioned above a second striker. The first and second strikers are aligned with the connector slot. A hinge arm assembly includes a hinge arm configured to engage with the second striker and a latch cam hingedly coupled with the hinge arm. The latch cam is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a top surface of the latch cam abuts the first striker in the engaged position. A door is rotatably coupled with the appliance body by the hinge receiver and the hinge assembly and is rotatable about a door axis between open and closed positions.

Appliance door hinge assembly

A damped hinge assembly includes a hinge arm adapted to be connected to an associated appliance body. A channel is pivotally connected to the hinge arm and is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A damper is operatively connected between the channel and the hinge arm. The damper includes a body defining a bore and a piston slidably received in the bore. A rod is connected to the piston and projects outward from the bore. A damper fluid is contained in the bore and acts on the piston to dampen sliding movement of the piston in at least one direction in the bore. A spring is located in the bore and acts on the piston to bias the piston toward one end of the bore. An oven or other appliance includes at least one damped hinge assembly. The appliance can include two damped hinge assemblies, each with or without the spring, arranged such that one hinge assembly provides damping primarily during opening of the appliance door and the other hinge assembly provides damping primarily during closing of the appliance door.

Slow open and/or slow close hinge assembly and hinge system

In accordance with one aspect of the present development, an adjustable receiver for an associated appliance hinge includes a base adapted to be secured to an associated appliance body. A first cross-member is connected to the base and is movable relative to the base. The first cross-member provides a first hinge mounting structure for an associated appliance hinge. A second cross-member is connected to the base and is movable relative to the base. At least one link extends between and interconnects the first and second cross-members. The first and second cross-members and the at least one link define an adjustable hinge mount that is selectively movable relative to the base along an adjustment axis. The adjustable receiver further includes an adjustment system for selectively altering a position of the adjustable hinge mount relative to the base along the adjustment axis.

Adjustable receiver for appliance hinge

A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge has a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. A channel is located between the first and second side walls. First and second notch portions are respectively located in the first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base and has a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, a first end located in the first notch portion and a second end located in the second notch portion. A biasing spring has an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. A spring rod includes an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lever. The lever also pivotally connects to the lobe of the cam. A damper assembly is connected to the base and having a piston which is moved between a first position and a second position by the lever contacting the piston. The piston damps movement of the counterbalance assembly.

Appliance hinge counterbalance assembly with snubber

An appliance hinge assembly includes an arm to mate with a receiver. A door mounting lever is adapted to be connected to an appliance door, and the lever includes an inner end pivotally connected to the arm. The lever pivots relative to the arm between a first position and a second position, through an intermediate position. A slide link is located adjacent the lever. The slide link inner end is pivotally connected to the arm at a location that is offset from the main pivot axis such that pivoting movement of the lever results in movement of the slide link relative to the lever. A biasing system includes a spring that urges the lever toward the first position. A damper system includes a damper that damps movement of the lever. Alternatively, the arm connects to the appliance door and the lever connects to the appliance body.

Hinge assembly with slow close and optional slow open characteristics

An appliance hinge assembly includes an arm to be mated with a receiver. A door mounting lever is adapted to be connected to an appliance door, and the lever includes an inner end pivotally connected to the arm. The lever pivots relative to the arm between a first position and a second position, through an intermediate position. A slide link is located adjacent the lever and includes an inner end and outer end. The slide link inner end is pivotally connected to the arm at a location that is offset from the main pivot axis such that pivoting movement of the lever about the main pivot axis results in movement of the slide link relative to the lever. A biasing system includes a spring that urges the lever toward the first position. A damper system includes a damper that damps movement of the lever.

A hinge assembly includes a lever arm and a channel connected to the lever arm. The channel is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A control link is pivotally connected to the lever arm. A slide body includes an inner end connected to the control link. The slide body is adapted for sliding movement in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first (door-closed) position and a second (door-opened) position. A spring resiliently biases the channel toward the first position. A snubber system includes at least one snubber with a piston that is biased to an extended position and moveable to a retracted position against a fluid or other damping resistance during movement of the slide body away when the channel moves from the first position to the second position.

Soft close hinge assembly

A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge has a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. A channel is located between the first and second side walls. First and second notch portions are respectively located in the first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base and has a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, a first end located in the first notch portion and a second end located in the second notch portion. A biasing spring has an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. A spring rod includes an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lever. The lever also pivotally connects to the lobe of the cam. A damper assembly is connected to the base and having a piston which is moved between a first position and a second position by the lever contacting the piston. The piston in turn compresses fluid in the damper assembly thus dampening movement of the lid hinge.

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Galion, OH, United States of America

Brian Scott White