Dampened hinge system for appliance door

A dampened hinge system for connecting an appliance door to an appliance body, said hinge system comprising:

• first and second hinge portions each comprising a guide member adapted for connection to an associated appliance door, a claw pivotably connected to the guide member and adapted for engagement with an associated appliance body, and a link pivotably connected to the claw;
• a spring having a first end connected to said link of said first hinge portion and a second end connected to said guide member of said first hinge portion;
• and,
• a dampener operably connected between said link of said second hinge portion and said guide member of said second hinge portion, wherein:
• said first and second hinge portions are movable to a first operative position corresponding to a closed position of said associated appliance door, a second operative position corresponding to a broil-stop position of said associated appliance door and a third operative position corresponding to an opened position of said associated appliance door;
• said claw of said first hinge portion is connected to a first end of said link of said first hinge portion and said spring is connected to a second end of said link of said first hinge portion, and wherein said claw of said second hinge portion is connected to a first end of said link of said second hinge portion and said dampener is connected to a second end of said link of said second hinge portion;
• said first hinge portion comprises a first link control member connected to said guide channel, and wherein said link of said first hinge portion defines a first edge that rides on the first link control member when said guide channel of said first hinge portion is pivoted relative to said claw of said first hinge portion;
• said second hinge portion comprises a second link control member connected to said guide channel, and wherein said link of said second hinge portion defines a first edge that rides on the second link control member when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is pivoted relative to said claw of said second hinge portion;
• said second end of said link of said first hinge portion defines a dwell point for receiving and retaining said first link control member when said guide channel of said first hinge portion is pivoted to said third operative position relative to said claw of said first hinge portion;
• said second end of said link of said second hinge portion defines a dwell point for receiving and retaining said second link control member when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is pivoted to said third operative position relative to said claw of said second hinge portion;
• said claw of said first hinge portion is pivotably connected to said guide channel of said first hinge portion by a first fastener, and wherein said link of said first hinge portion defines a second edge, opposite said first edge, that abuts said first fastener when said first hinge portion is moved to said third operative position;
• and,
• said claw of said second hinge portion is pivotably connected to said guide channel of said second hinge portion by a second fastener, and wherein said link of said second hinge portion defines a second edge, opposite said first edge, that abuts said second fastener when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is moved to said third operative position.

An appliance comprising:

• a body;
• a door;
• first and second hinge portions for pivotably connecting the door to the body, each of said first and second hinge portions comprising a guide member adapted for connection to the door, a claw pivotably connected to the guide member and adapted for engagement with the body, and a link pivotably connected to the claw;
• a spring having a first end connected to said link of said first hinge portion and a second end connected to said guide member of said first hinge portion;
• and,
• an unbiased dampener operably connected between said link of said second hinge portion and said guide member of said second hinge portion, said claw of said second hinge portion and said guide member of said second hinge portion being unbiased relative to each other.

An appliance comprising:

• a body;
• a door;
• first and second hinge portions for pivotably connecting the door to the body, each of said first and second hinge portions comprising a guide member adapted for connection to the door, a claw pivotably connected to the guide member and adapted for engagement with the body, and a link pivotably connected to the claw;
• a spring having a first end connected to said link of said first hinge portion and a second end connected to said guide member of said first hinge portion;
• and,
• a dampener operably connected between said link of said second hinge portion and said guide member of said second hinge portion, wherein:
• said first and second hinge portions are movable to a first operative position corresponding to a closed position of said door, a second operative position corresponding to a broil-stop position of said door and a third operative position corresponding to an opened position of said door;
• said claw of said first hinge portion is connected to a first end of said link of said first hinge portion and said spring is connected to a second end of said link of said first hinge portion, and wherein said claw of said second hinge portion is connected to a first end of said link of said second hinge portion and said dampener is connected to a second end of said link of said second hinge portion;
• said first hinge portion comprises a first link control member connected to said guide channel, and wherein said link of said first hinge portion rides on the first link control member when said guide channel of said first hinge portion is pivoted relative to said claw of said first hinge portion;
• said second hinge portion comprises a second link control member connected to said guide channel, and wherein said link of said second hinge portion rides on the second link control member when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is pivoted relative to said claw of said second hinge portion;
• said second end of said link of said first hinge portion defines a dwell point for receiving and retaining said first link control member when said guide channel of said first hinge portion is pivoted to said third operative position relative to said claw of said first hinge portion;
• said second end of said link of said second hinge portion defines a dwell point for receiving and retaining said second link control member when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is pivoted to said third operative position relative to said claw of said second hinge portion;
• said claw of said first hinge portion is pivotably connected to said guide channel of said first hinge portion by a first fastener, and wherein said link of said first hinge portion abuts said first fastener when said first hinge portion is moved to said third operative position;
• and,
• said claw of said second hinge portion is pivotably connected to said guide channel of said second hinge portion by a second fastener, and wherein said link of said second hinge portion abuts said second fastener when said guide channel of said second hinge portion is moved to said third operative position.