Alignment gauge and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10288405-B2
Application number	US-201615388373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

An alignment gauge includes a generally u-shaped main body and an alignment member extending therefrom. The alignment gauge is configured to be positioned on the frame of a cabinet during installation of one or more attached components, such as attachment of a pair of doors to a refrigerator cabinet. Specifically, the alignment gauge may be positioned so that the alignment member establishes a proper spacing for the attached components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment gauge for a refrigerator, the alignment gauge comprising:
a main body having a first downward extending portion and a second downward extending portion, wherein the main body is configured to be positioned on a cabinet of the refrigerator;
an alignment member extending outwardly from the first downward extending portion, wherein a dimension of the alignment member is the same as a spacing between a pair of doors associated with the refrigerator, wherein a boss extends from an underside of the main body between the first downward extending portion and the second downward extending portion and the cabinet of the refrigerator includes an aperture that is configured to receive the boss.

2. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein:
the main body is u-shaped.

3. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein:
the second downward extending portion is configured to abut the cabinet when in use; and
the first downward extending portion overhangs a front surface of the cabinet.

4. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein:
the first downward extending portion includes a flat face; and
the alignment member extends perpendicularly outwardly from the flat face.

5. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein
a surface of each door of the pair of doors abuts at least a portion of the alignment member when coupled to the cabinet.

6. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein:
the alignment member is configured to extend between the pair of doors when in use to establish the spacing between the pair of doors.

7. The alignment gauge of claim 1 , wherein:
the cabinet of the refrigerator includes an eyebrow assembly, and wherein,
the first downward extending portion and the second downward extending portion are configured to be positioned over the eyebrow assembly.

8. An alignment gauge comprising:
a u-shaped main body that is configured to be positioned on a cabinet;
an alignment member extending outwardly from the main body, wherein the alignment member is configured to establish a spacing for at least one component attached to the cabinet, and wherein the u-shaped main body comprises:
a first downward extending portion; and
a second downward extending portion, wherein the first downward extending portion is longer than the second downward extending portion.

9. The alignment gauge of claim 8 , wherein:
the alignment member is configured to establish a spacing for at least one door attached to the cabinet.

10. The alignment gauge of claim 8 , wherein:
the alignment member extends outwardly from a face of the first downward extending portion.

11. The alignment gauge of claim 8 , wherein:
the alignment member is configured to establish a spacing for a pair of doors attached to the cabinet.

12. The alignment gauge of claim 11 , wherein:
the spacing for the pair of doors comprises a gap width between the doors, and
a dimension of the alignment member is substantially the same as the gap width.

13. The alignment gauge of claim 8 , wherein:
the u-shaped main body is configured to be positioned on an upper surface of the cabinet.

14. The alignment gauge of claim 8 , wherein:
a boss extends from an underside of the u-shaped main body; and
the cabinet includes an aperture that is configured to receive the boss.

15. A method of aligning a door on a refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising:
positioning an alignment gauge on the refrigerator cabinet;
positioning the door on the refrigerator cabinet so that a surface of the door abuts a surface of the alignment gauge;
coupling the door to the refrigerator cabinet; and
positioning a surface of the door against an alignment member, wherein the alignment gauge comprises a u-shaped main body and an alignment member extending from the main body.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
fixedly attaching the door to a hinge on the cabinet.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
using a positioning element to position the alignment gauge on the refrigerator cabinet.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Pranav
• Tamboli Manjur

Classifications

• G01B3/30

  Bars, blocks, or strips in which the distance between a pair of faces is fixed, although it may be preadjustable, e.g. end measure, feeler strip · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• G01B5/25 Primary

  for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title