The present disclosure generally relates to hinge covers that include features for limiting the rotation of a door and preventing damage to the door or cabinet on which they are positioned.
According to one aspect, the disclosure provides a hinge cover for a refrigerator hinge assembly. The hinge cover includes a main body covering at least a portion of the refrigerator hinge assembly, a first portion extending from the main body, and a second portion extending from the main body. The first portion is disposed along a hinge axis of the refrigerator hinge assembly and the second portion being configured to engage a refrigerator door in a stop position.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a refrigerator including a cabinet having at least one opening for access to an inner portion of the cabinet, at least one door for accessing the inner portion of the cabinet, a hinge assembly for coupling the door to the cabinet and having a hinge axis, and a hinge cover. The hinge cover includes a main body, a first portion extending from the main body, and a second portion extending from the main body. The first portion is disposed along the hinge axis. The second portion is configured to engage the at least one door in a stop position.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for limiting movement of an inner door and an outer door, where the inner door and outer door are attached to a top surface of a refrigerator by at least one hinge assembly. The method includes providing a hinge cover for the at least one hinge assembly having a stopper portion that is offset from a hinge axis of the at least one hinge assembly. The method further includes engaging a first location on the outer door with the stopper portion when the outer door is opened substantially independently of the inner door. Additionally, the method includes engaging a second location on the outer door with the stopper portion when the outer door is opened substantially together with the inner door.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
The present disclosure provides a hinge cover with a door stopping mechanism. As described herein, the hinge cover may be used to cover at least a portion of a hinge assembly attaching a cabinet door to a cabinet, providing a more integrated and aesthetically pleasing look for the cabinet. In addition to improving an overall appearance for the cabinet, the hinge cover may also incorporate a stop surface for the cabinet door when opened. In some cases, a hinge cover as described herein may be used for a utility cabinet such as a kitchen cabinet or other utility-type cabinet. In other cases, the hinge cover may be configured for use with an appliance, such as a refrigerator. For example, as described in more detail below, a hinge cover and door stopper may be used to cover a hinge assembly on a side-by-side style refrigerator, and also limit the opening of a refrigerator door that is attached to the refrigerator by the hinge assembly. In at least one case, referring to
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and method steps related to a hinge cover with a stopper member. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. For example, an element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
According to one embodiment described herein, door assembly 105 includes an outer door 104 and an inner door 106. In operation, outer door 104 and the associated inner door 106 may be opened together, at the same time, or independently. Accordingly, an outer door 104 may be configured such that a person can access select portions of an inner cavity 107. For example, refrigerator 100 may be configured such that the opening of outer door 104, independently of an inner door 106, allows for selective access to a drink shelf or a specific refrigerator drawer. Selective access can serve to minimize the escape of cooled air and allow more efficient operation of the refrigerator. In such a case, outer door 104 may be configured for opening independently of inner door 106 about a first, or outer hinge axis 108 associated with an outer hinge assembly 122. Alternatively, when a person wants to access the entire inner cavity, inner door 106 and outer door 104 may be opened together about a second, inner hinge axis 110 associated with an inner hinge assembly 120. In the illustrated embodiment, inner hinge assembly 120 and inner hinge axis 110 are aligned with extended member 20 of hinge cover 10, and are located behind outer hinge axis 108. Thus, as described in more detail below, outer door 104 and inner door 106 may be opened together, with the two doors serving a single door function. Outer door 104 may also be opened independently of inner door 106, with inner door 106 remaining in a closed position and maintaining more of a temperature seal for the inner cavity. In addition, in some cases, outer door 104 and inner door 106 may also be opened at the same time, yet independently of each other.
Again, it will be understood that the embodiment of
Referring now to
As illustrated, hinge cover 10 includes a main body 14 that is configured for positioning and securement over a portion of inner hinge assembly 120 on a top surface 112 of cabinet 102. An elbow portion 16 extends from a side of main body 14. Elbow portion may be a triangular shaped member, or otherwise shaped to coincide with the shape of a hinge assembly disposed underneath. Hinge cover 10 may also include an extended member 20 extending from a side surface 18 of main body 14 and projecting out from cabinet 102 to cover a portion of inner hinge assembly 120 that is disposed along a hinge axis for the one or more doors associated with the cabinet. In the illustrated embodiment, extended member 20 is a hook-shaped member that extends from a front surface of main body 14 and is disposed over, or along, an inner hinge axis 110 associated with door assembly 105. In the embodiment of
Referring to
Hinge cover 10 may also include provisions to limit the movement of a cabinet door as well as to protect the surface of the door when the door is opened. For example, hinge cover 10 may include a surface, a projection, or a separate member otherwise coupled thereto, to serve as a door stopper. In some embodiments, hinge cover 10 may include a door stopping mechanism integrated with main body 14. In at least one case, hinge cover 10 includes stopper member 24 extending from main body 14 along an outside side surface 23. Stopper member 24 may project outward from side surface 23 as a rectangular surface with rounded or blunt edges, configured to engage with a surface of outer door 104 in a stop position, but not damage the surface. In the illustrated embodiment, stopper member 24 may project away from side surface 23 to form a side of door stopping cavity 22 having extended member 20. As discussed in more detail below, in operation, stopper member 24 of hinge cover 10 may limit the movement of refrigerator doors 105, and in particular outer door 104, in an opened position.
Hinge cover 10 may be configured with one or more apertures or other elements for fastening the cover to a surface of the cabinet or hinge assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, hinge cover 10 includes one or more apertures 28 for receiving fasteners for securing the hinge cover to refrigerator 100 or to inner hinge assembly 120. Apertures 28 may be configured to receive a fastener such as a threaded screw, bolt, or other elongated tab. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that hinge cover 10 may be configured to fasten to the refrigerator in a variety of ways, and is not limited to those described herein.
Referring to
Hinge cover 10 may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. For example, hinge cover 10 may be constructed of a polymer such as a plastic material, a metal, a rubber material, or any other rigid or semi-rigid material configured to hold shape. Thus, it will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the components described herein is not limited to a specific material.
As discussed above, hinge cover 10 may serve both an aesthetic and functional component on a refrigerator cabinet. In at least one case, hinge cover 10 may be used to cover and protect a cabinet door hinge assembly, and may also provide a door stopping mechanism for refrigerator doors connected via one or more hinge assemblies, such as inner hinge assembly 120 and outer hinge assembly 122, as illustrated in
Referring first to
Similar to the hinge cover 10, hinge cover 40 may be configured with a top surface 42 and a side surface 48 extending perpendicularly and downward therefrom.
In some embodiments, top surface 42 may be configured as a flat surface and side surface 48 may extend around the entirety of hinge cover 40, creating a hollowed out bottom area. Hinge cover 40 may have a depth or height 60, that is proportioned to fit over or otherwise cover portions of one or more hinge assemblies, such as inner hinge assembly 120 and outer hinge assembly 122. Accordingly, in some cases, height 60 corresponds with a height of at least a portion of inner hinge assembly 120 that hinge cover 40 may be configured to cover. In other cases, however, top surface 42 may take on different geometries, including a rounded geometry, or other geometry as would be required by the surface geometry of the underlying hinge assembly. In addition, in some embodiments, side surface 48 may extend around only a portion of the hinge cover 10, may be provided with a varying geometry or angled other than perpendicularly with respect to top surface 42, or may be absent altogether.
Hinge cover 40 may also be configured with one or more apertures or other elements for fastening the cover to a surface of the cabinet or hinge assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, hinge cover 40 includes one or more apertures 58 for receiving fasteners for securing the hinge cover to refrigerator 100 or inner hinge assembly 120. Apertures 58 may be configured to receive a fastener such as a threaded screw, bolt, or other elongated tab. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that hinge cover 40 may be configured to fasten to the refrigerator in a variety of ways, and is not limited to those described herein.
Hinge cover 40 may also include a door stopping mechanism integrated with main body 44 to limit the movement of the cabinet door as well as to protect the surface of the door when the door is opened. As shown in
Hinge cover 40 may also be configured to fasten to a top surface 112 of refrigerator 100 such as over inner hinge assembly 120. In other cases, however, hinge cover 40 may be configured to cover a hinge mounted on a side surface or a bottom surface. In the illustrated embodiment, extended member 50 is positioned outward from refrigerator cabinet 102 and in a recess of outer door 104 and inner door 106. In addition, extended member 50 may be positioned over an inner hinge axis 110 and inward of outer hinge axis 108. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the placement and configuration of hinge cover 40 may be varied according to the shape and configuration of the hinge cover, and is not limited by the specific configuration shown and described herein.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes, and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.