Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Elaine Marie Arens

Bart Andrew Nuss

Ronald Fernandez

Ryan Persaud

An appliance includes a cabinet, defining a food storage chamber, and a door. The appliance includes a hinge system coupling the door to the cabinet. The hinge system includes a first hinge arm fixed to the door, a second hinge arm pivotably joined with the first hinge arm, a carrier fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge arm releasably received in the carrier, and a tether cable extending between a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether cable fixed to the second hinge arm, the second end of the tether cable removably attached to a surface inside the food storage chamber. The tether cable configured such that the door may be detachable from the cabinet when the second end of the tether cable becomes detached from the surface inside the food storage chamber.

Appliances with releasable door hinges and tether systems

A releasable locking mechanism for a refrigerated unit. A latch plate is movable between a position that can be engaged by a deadbolt and a position clear of the deadbolt. The latch plate is moved by a door release accessible from an interior of the refrigerated unit. When the door release is activated, a pin blocks movement of the latch plate so that the refrigerated unit remains unlocked until the pin is reset.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Elaine Marie Arens