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US 11,668,125 B2Granted
Resilient retainer for a hinge assembly of an appliance door panel
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsVasudeo N. Patil, David Walter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operable panel for an appliance includes a top panel that defines a hinge receptacle. A lid includes a hinge housing. A hinge is disposed within the hinge housing and extends between the lid and the top panel. A retainer includes a cap and a resilient portion. The retainer partially surrounds the hinge and the cap encloses the hinge housing. The resilient portion of the retainer biases the hinge toward the cap and the hinge receptacle.
Claims19
A hinge assembly for an appliance, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a hinge disposed within a hinge housing of an operable panel;
- a retainer having a cap, a resilient portion and a body that extends between the cap and the resilient portion to form a single integral piece, wherein:
- the cap attaches to an outer aperture of the hinge housing to enclose the hinge housing and engages a first side of the hinge;
- the resilient portion engages an opposing second side of the hinge;
- and
- the resilient portion being compressed within the hinge housing and biasing the hinge toward the cap.
3 more elements
An appliance comprising:
- a cabinet having an interior processing chamber;
- an operable panel having a hinge housing and being rotationally operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions;
- a hinge assembly extending between the operable panel and the cabinet, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a hinge member disposed within the hinge housing and having a flange that engages the operable panel;
- a pin that extends outward from the hinge housing to engage the cabinet;
- and
- a retainer that occupies the hinge housing to rotationally secure the hinge member therein, the retainer having a cap that encloses the hinge housing and also includes a resilient portion that biases the pin through the cap, wherein the retainer includes a body that extends between the cap and the resilient portion, a slot defined within the retainer, the slot extending through the retainer within the resilient portion and the body, wherein the cap, the body and the resilient portion form a single and integral piece.
4 more elements
An operable panel for an appliance, the operable panel comprising:
- a hinge housing;
- a hinge disposed within the hinge housing and having a pin that selectively extends outward from the hinge housing;
- a retainer having a cap and a plurality of biasing undulating formations, the retainer partially surrounding the hinge and the cap enclosing the hinge housing, wherein;
- the plurality of biasing undulating formations bias the hinge toward the cap, the cap engaging a first side of the hinge and the plurality of biasing undulating formations engaging an opposing second side of the hinge;
- the hinge includes the pin that is biased through the cap by the plurality of biasing undulating formations;
- the hinge includes a flange that partially secures the hinge within the hinge housing;
- and
- the retainer includes a body that extends between the cap and the plurality of biasing undulating formations, the body engaging a third side of the hinge, wherein the cap, the body and the plurality of biasing undulating formations form a single and integral piece.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.