Vertically translating hinge mechanism for a built-in oven
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsTushar Jadhav, Sachin Karade, Atul Nalawade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heating appliance includes an appliance cabinet having a plurality of sidewalls that defining a heating cavity. A door is operably connected to at least one of the sidewalls and operable between open and closed positions. A vertical translating assembly extends from the appliance cabinet to the door. The vertical translating assembly includes drive and offset arms and a power assist mechanism in operable communication with the drive arm. The power assist mechanism at least partially operates the door between the open and closed positions.
Claims20
A heating appliance comprising:
- an appliance cabinet having a plurality of sidewalls that define a heating cavity;
- a door operably connected to at least one of the sidewalls and operable between open and closed positions;
- and
- a vertical translating assembly extending from the appliance cabinet to the door, wherein the vertical translating assembly includes drive and offset arms and a power assist mechanism in operable communication with the drive arm, and wherein the power assist mechanism at least partially operates the door between the open and closed positions.
A heating appliance comprising:
- an appliance cabinet defining a heating cavity;
- upper and lower door panels operably connected to the appliance cabinet, the upper and lower door panels operable to define a closed position, wherein the upper and lower door panels enclose the heating cavity, and an open position, wherein the upper and lower door panels are vertically translated in opposite directions from one another and are distal from the heating cavity;
- and
- a vertical translating assembly extending from the appliance cabinet to each of the upper and lower door panels, wherein the vertical translating assembly includes an upper translation mechanism attached to the upper door panel and a lower translation mechanism coupled to the lower door panel, and wherein the vertical translating assembly defines simultaneous operation of the upper and lower translation mechanisms such that operation of one of the upper and lower door panels operates both of the upper and lower door panels between the open and closed positions.
A vertically-translating, door-operating assembly comprising:
- upper and lower door panels operably connected to respective door plates, the upper and lower door panels operable to define a closed position, wherein a bottom side of the top door panel engages the top side of the bottom door panel, and an open position, wherein the upper and lower door panels are vertically translated in opposite directions from one another;
- an upper translation mechanism attached to the upper door panel;
- and
- a lower translation mechanism coupled to the lower door panel, wherein operation of one of the upper and lower door panels defines simultaneous operation of both of the upper and lower door panels between the open and closed positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.