Hinge assembly for washing or laundry machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065865-B2
Application number	US-202117536888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Nov 29, 2021
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A hinge assembly for an appliance includes a base plate, a hinge plate, a shaft, a stop block, and a stop. The base plate has a first pair of spaced-apart eyelets. The hinge plate has a second pair of spaced-apart eyelets and a central eyelet disposed between the eyelets of the second pair of eyelets. The shaft extends through each eyelet of the first pair of spaced-apart eyelets, second pair of spaced-apart eyelets, and central eyelet. The hinge plate is configured to pivot relative to the base plate via the shaft. The stop block protrudes from a first eyelet of the first pair of spaced-apart eyelets. The stop extends from the central eyelet and is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laundry appliance comprising:
a housing;
a door; and
a hinge rotatably securing the door to the housing, the hinge having a base portion affixed to the housing, a rotatable portion secured to the door, a shaft, and a travel limiter, wherein (i) the rotatable portion is configured to pivot relative to the base portion via the shaft, (ii) the base portion has two eyelets and the rotatable portion has three eyelets, (iii) the eyelets of the base portion and the eyelets of the rotatable portion are aligned via the shaft extending therethrough, (iv) each of the eyelets of the base portion are disposed between two of the eyelets of the rotatable portion, (v) the travel limiter includes a stop disposed on the rotatable portion and a stop block disposed on the base portion, and (vi) the stop is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the rotatable portion relative to the base portion.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the stop includes a partial ring that is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the rotatable portion relative to the base portion.

3. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein (i) the partial ring defines an open end and (ii) the stop block is disposed within the open end.

4. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the partial ring (i) is disposed about the shaft and (ii) extends in a direction along an axis of the shaft from at least one of the eyelets of the rotating portion.

5. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the partial ring (i) is disposed about the shaft and (ii) extends in a direction along an axis of the shaft from a middle of the three eyelets of the rotating portion.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the stop includes a flap that is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the rotatable portion relative to the base portion.

7. The appliance of claim 6 , wherein the flap (i) is disposed about the shaft and (ii) extends from at least one of the eyelets of the rotating portion.

8. The appliance of claim 6 , wherein the flap (i) is disposed about the shaft and (ii) extends from a middle of the three eyelets of the rotating portion.

9. A hinge assembly for an appliance comprising:
a base plate having a first pair of spaced-apart eyelets;
a hinge plate having (i) a second pair of spaced-apart eyelets and (ii) a central eyelet disposed between the eyelets of the second pair of eyelets;
a shaft extending through each eyelet of the first pair of spaced-apart eyelets, second pair of spaced-apart eyelets, and central eyelet, wherein the hinge plate is configured to pivot relative to the base plate via the shaft;
a stop block protruding from a first eyelet of the first pair of spaced-apart eyelets; and
a stop (i) extending from the central eyelet and (ii) configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

10. The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the stop includes a partial ring that is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

11. The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein (i) the partial ring defines an open end and (ii) the stop block is disposed within the open end.

12. The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the partial ring (i) is concentric with the shaft and (ii) extends in a direction along an axis of the shaft from the central eyelet.

13. The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the stop includes a flap that (i) extends from the central eyelet and (ii) is configured to engage the stop block to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

14. A hinge assembly for a laundry appliance comprising:
a base plate having a first set of spaced-apart eyelets;
a hinge plate having a second set of spaced-apart eyelets;
a shaft extending through each eyelet of the first and second sets of spaced-apart eyelets, wherein the hinge plate is configured to pivot relative to the base plate via the shaft;
first and second stop blocks protruding from first and second eyelets of the first set of spaced-apart eyelets; and
first and second stops extending from opposing sides of a first eyelet of the second set of spaced-apart eyelets, wherein (i) the first eyelet of the second set of spaced-apart eyelets is disposed between the first and second eyelets of the first set of spaced-apart eyelets and (ii) the first and second stops are configured to engage the first and second stop blocks, respectively, to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

15. The hinge assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first and second stops include first and second partial rings, respectively, that are configured to engage the first and second stop blocks, respectively, to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

16. The hinge assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first and second partial rings define first and second open ends, respectively.

17. The hinge assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second stop blocks are disposed within the first and second open ends, respectively.

18. The hinge assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first and second partial rings (i) are disposed about and centric to the shaft and (ii) extend in opposing directions along an axis of the shaft from opposing ends of the first eyelet of the second set of spaced-apart eyelets.

19. The hinge assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first and second stops include first and second flaps that are configured to engage the first and second stop blocks, respectively, to limit radial movement of the hinge plate relative to the base plate.

20. The hinge assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first and second flaps are disposed about the shaft on opposing ends of the first eyelet of the second set of spaced-apart eyelets.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Harbrecht Ethan
• Harikrishnasamy Arunkumar
• Salunkhe Ravindra Balkrishna

Classifications

• D06F39/14 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• E05D5/04

  Flat flaps · CPC title

• E05Y2900/312

  for washing machines or laundry dryers · CPC title

• E05D3/02

  with one pin · CPC title

• E05D11/06 Primary

  Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges · CPC title