Hinge bracket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970895-B2
Application number	US-202017095144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A hinge bracket assembly includes an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction oriented at an acute angle relative to the first direction. An anchor plate is engaged with the appliance wrapper and includes a retention member received by the first receiving space, a first flange received by the second receiving space, and a second flange received by the third receiving space. A hinge plate is coupled with the anchor plate and includes a protrusion received by a slot defined by the retention member. The appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor and hinge plates. A locking arm is selectively engaged with the anchor and hinge plates and is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:
an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first direction;
an anchor plate engaged with the appliance wrapper and including a retention member and first and second flanges, wherein the retention member is received by the first receiving space, the first flange is received by the second receiving space, and the second flange is received by the third receiving space, and wherein the retention member includes a body portion and an arm, and further wherein the body portion and the arm define a retention space therebetween;
a hinge plate coupled with the anchor plate and including a protrusion received by a slot defined by the body of the retention member of the anchor plate, wherein the appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor plate and the hinge plate, and wherein the hinge plate is configured to receive the first flange and the second flange to prevent sliding of the hinge plate when coupled to the anchor plate; and
a locking arm selectively engaged with the anchor plate and the hinge plate and rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the locking arm is a unitary structure and includes:
a body including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is received within the retention space of the retention member and engages the arm of the retention member in the locked position; and
a nose extending from the lower portion.

2. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the acute angle is about 60 degrees.

3. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate defines a first locking aperture, the hinge plate defines a second locking aperture, and the appliance wrapper defines a third locking aperture, and further wherein the first, second, and third locking apertures are vertically aligned and configured to at least partially receive the locking arm.

4. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first locking aperture is at least partially defined by an angled edge.

5. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose of the locking arm is received by the first, second, and third locking apertures when the locking arm is in the locked position.

6. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of fasteners extending through a plurality of apertures defined by the appliance wrapper and a corresponding plurality of through-holes defined by the anchor plate.

7. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate is positioned between the appliance wrapper and an insulation material of the appliance wrapper.

8. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge plate defines a first opening and a second opening, and wherein the first opening receives the first flange of the anchor plate and the second opening receives the second flange of the anchor plate.

9. The hinge bracket of claim 1 , wherein the hinge plate includes a hinge arm that extends from the hinge plate in a direction opposite of the protrusion.

10. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lower portion of the locking arm is abutting an upper surface of the hinge plate when the locking arm is in the locked position.

11. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the lower portion includes at least one fin extending perpendicular to the lower portion.

12. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 5 , wherein the nose includes a base portion inclined toward the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position, an angular portion inclined away from the base portion at a vertex, and a surface positioned at the vertex to abut and apply pressure to the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position.

13. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first locking aperture and the retention space are substantially aligned.

14. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first locking aperture is configured to allow for rotation of the locking arm from the unlocked position to the locked position.

15. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:
an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction;
an anchor plate engaged with the appliance wrapper and including a retention member and first and second flanges, wherein the retention member is received by the first receiving space, the first flange is received by the second receiving space, and the second flange is received by the third receiving space, and wherein the retention member includes a body portion and an arm, and further wherein the body portion and the arm define a retention space therebetween;
a hinge plate coupled with the anchor plate and including a protrusion received by a slot defined by the body of the retention member of the anchor plate, wherein the appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor plate and the hinge plate; and
a locking arm selectively engaged with the anchor plate and the hinge plate and rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the locking arm includes:
a body including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is received within the retention space of the retention member and engages the arm of the retention member in the locked position; and
a nose extending from the lower portion, wherein the nose is received by the first, second, and third locking apertures in the locked position.

16. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the third direction is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first direction.

17. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion of the locking arm abuts an upper surface of the hinge plate when the locking arm is in the locked position.

18. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:
an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction;
an anchor plate engaged with the appliance wrapper, wherein the anchor plate includes:
a retention member received by the first receiving space, wherein the retention member includes a body portion and an arm, and wherein the body portion and the arm define a retention space therebetween;
a first flange received by the second receiving space; and
a second flange received by the third receiving space;

a hinge plate coupled with the anchor plate and including a protrusion received by a slot defined by the body of the retention member of the anchor plate, wherein the appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor plate and the hinge plate; and
a locking arm selectively engaged with the anchor plate and the hinge plate and rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the locking arm is a unitary structure and includes:
a body including an upper portion and a lower portion having at least one fin extending perpendicular to the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is received within the retention space of the retention member and en

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Pavnick Ian
• Post Ryan M
• Richards Michael S
• Rotter Chad J

Classifications

• E05D7/123

  specially adapted for cabinets or furniture · CPC title

• B21D53/40

  hinges, e.g. door hinge plates · CPC title

• Y10T29/4995

  Nonthreaded · CPC title

• Y10T29/24

  Hinge making or assembling · CPC title

• E05D11/06

  Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges · CPC title