The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 2024
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2021
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A spring-loaded hinge assembly including a hinge support bracket and a leaf that is pivotally mounted to the hinge support bracket. A coil spring is supported on a spring support member, which includes a pivot bush. The coil spring applies a biasing force to the spring support member, which operates to push the pivot bush against a cam on the leaf. A lock configured to rotate between locked and unlocked positions includes a finger that engages an engagement feature on the hinge support bracket when the lock rotates to the locked position as the leaf swings toward the open position. In the locked position, the lock holds the coil spring in a partially compressed, pre-load condition and the pivot bush at a partially retracted position relative to the cam until the lock is subsequently released by contact between the cam and the pivot bush during subsequent closure.