# US 10,246,922 B2 · Dampener for an appliance

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- Number: US 10,246,922 B2
- Document ID: US10246922B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/462,953
- Filed: 2017-03-20
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-20
- Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Adam Raymond Mora; Michael Wuttikorn Ekbundit
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246922B2

## CPC

- E05F 3/16: with friction brakes
- D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
- E05D 11/082: {with substantially radial friction, e.g. cylindrical friction surfaces}
- E06B 3/38: with a horizontal axis of rotation at the top or bottom of the opening {(E06B3/5036 takes precedence)}
- F16F 9/145: {involving only rotary movement of the effective parts (wing closers or openers with fluid brakes of the rotary type E05F3/14)}
- D06F 23/04: and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
- D06F 37/42: Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
- E05Y 2900/312: for washing machines or laundry dryers
- F16F 7/02: with relatively-rotatable friction surfaces that are pressed together (F16F7/01 takes precedence; one of the members being a spring F16F13/02 {; friction devices between relatively-movable parts of a hinge E05D11/08; braking devices for wings E05F5/00})
- F16F 2232/02: Rotary
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A dampener, and an appliance with a dampener, wherein the dampener provides resistance against the movement of a door of the appliance between an open and closed position. The dampener can be incorporated into the door of the appliance in manner than provides strength for proper operation while also allowing for streamlined aesthetics and less bulk.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An appliance defining at least one compartment, the appliance comprising:
a door attached to the appliance and configured for pivoting movement about an axis of rotation between i) an open position where a user can access the compartment through an opening defined by the appliance and ii) a closed position whereby the door precludes access to the compartment through the opening, the door defining a chamber;
a bushing positioned adjacent to the chamber of the door;
at least one dampener received into the chamber and configured for providing resistance against the pivoting movement of the door about the axis of rotation between the open position and the closed position, the dampener comprising
a dampener housing comprising a first end and a second end that oppose each other along an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the shaft positioned at the first end, the dampener housing defining a pair of opposing, planar walls positioned near the second end, the dampener housing defining a pair of opposing notches, each notch positioned at the second end of the dampener housing within one of the planar walls;
at least three ribs positioned on an exterior of the dampener housing and extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the three ribs spaced apart from each other about the exterior; and
a shaft extending from the dampener housing and received into the bushing, the shaft rotatable about the axis of rotation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of grooves extending parallel to the axis of rotation and configured for complementary receipt of the at least three ribs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the chamber includes a first end having an opening for insertion of the dampener and has a second end separated along the axis of rotation from the first end, wherein an interior surface of the chamber defines multiple detents extending into the chamber near the second end and configured for contact with the opposing, planar walls of the dampener housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The appliance of claim 3, wherein the appliance defines vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, and wherein the door includes a pair of opposing sides separated from each other along the lateral direction, and wherein the opening of the chamber is positioned along one of the opposing sides.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The appliance of claim 4, wherein the chamber is defined by a chamber housing formed integrally with the door.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The appliance of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of braces positioned adjacent to each other and spaced apart along the lateral direction, the braces attached to the door and to the chamber housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The appliance of claim 6, wherein the braces are formed integrally with the door and the chamber housing.

### Claim 8

A dampener for an appliance having a door configured for pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position, the door defining a chamber adjacent to a bushing, the dampener comprising:
a dampener housing configured for receipt into the chamber, the dampener housing comprises a first end and a second end that oppose each other along an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the rotatable shaft extending from the first end, the dampener housing defining a pair of opposing, planar walls positioned near the second end, the dampener housing defines a pair of opposing notches, each notch positioned at the second end of the dampener housing within one of the planar walls;
at least three ribs positioned on an exterior of the dampener housing and extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the three ribs spaced apart from each other about the exterior; and
a shaft extending from the dampener housing and configured for receipt into the bushing, the shaft rotatable about the axis of rotation and providing a resistance against such rotation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The dampener for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein the ribs are formed integrally with the dampener housing.

### Claim 10

An appliance, comprising:
a cabinet that includes at least one compartment;
a door attached to the appliance and configured for rotating between an open position and a closed position to provide selective access to the compartment, the door having a pair of corners, wherein at each corner the appliance includes a chamber housing defining a chamber therein and includes a dampener assembly, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of grooves extending parallel to the axis of rotation and configured for complementary receipt of the at least three ribs of the dampener, and wherein each dampener assembly comprises:
a dampener positioned in the chamber, the dampener including a dampener housing,
at least three ribs positioned on an exterior of the dampener housing and extending parallel to each other, the three ribs spaced apart from each other about the exterior,
a shaft extending from the dampener and rotatable about an axis of rotation; and
a bushing attached to the cabinet and configured for receipt of the shaft;
wherein the dampener assembly is configured for providing resistance against rotating movement of the door about the axis of rotation between the open position and the closed position;
wherein the chamber housing comprises a first end and a second end that oppose each other along an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the rotatable shaft of the dampener positioned at the first end, the dampener housing defining a pair of opposing, planar walls positioned near the second end; the dampener housing also defining a pair of opposing notches, each notch positioned at the second end of the dampener housing within one of the planar walls.