GB2252787A

GB2252787A - Door hinge mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB2252787A
Application number: GB9102930A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Frank Gostelow
Original assignee: Stoves PLC
Current assignee: Stoves PLC
Priority date: 1991-02-12
Filing date: 1991-02-12
Publication date: 1992-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-12
Also published as: GB9102930D0; GB2252787B

Abstract

A door hinge mechanism hinging a door along one side thereof comprises a door frame, and a pair of door mounting members. The door is pivotally attached to the members at points along the length of the downturned ends and at positions spaced from the edge of one side. Helical springs associated with the members bias the latter so as to exert a closing force on the door. During opening and closing movement of the door the edge slides along the adjacent surface of the door frame. Detent means (now shown) may be incorporated to hold the door in a partly open position and further detent means may be incorporated to hold the mounting members in the open position while the whole door is removed for cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or relatina to Door Hinae Mechanisms.

This invention relates to hinge mechanisms for doors and has particular reference to hinge mechanisms for the doors of domestic appliances, for example gas and electric cookers and microwave ovens.

In such appliances, the way in which doors are currently mounted makes it difficult for a user to clean properly both sides of the door and the area of the door frame immediately beneath the door opening.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a door hinge mechanism that overcomes, to a large extent, the difficulties just described.

According to the present invention a door hinge mechanism hinging a door along one side thereof comprises a door frame, a pair of door mounting members each of which is pivotally attached to the door at or adjacent a different end of the one side at a point spaced from the edge of the one side, the mounting members being mounted for movement into and out of the frame, and in which the arrangement is such that during opening and closing movement of the door, the edge slides along the adjacent surface of the frame.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a side view in schematic form only of a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of part of a second embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the part shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows, in schematic perspective only, an enclosure 1 with a front opening 2 giving access to the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure may be that of a microwave oven for example or it may be the oven or grill chamber of a gas or electric cooker.

The opening 2 is closable by a door 3 pivotally mounted adjacent its lower edge on pins 4 carried by door mounting members 6 of generally elongate form that extend rearwardly through openings 7 in the vertical sides 8 of the front of the enclosure 1. The front forms a frame for the door 3.

The members 6 are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement outwardly and inwardly through the openings 7 from and into spaces in the sides of the enclosure behind the door frame. The members 6 are biassed to inward positions by helical springs 9 that encircle portions of the lengths of the members 6 between inner faces 10 of the sides 8 of the enclosure 1 and discs 11 that are secured to the members 6 adjacent the inner ends of the latter.

Fig. 2 shows, on a slightly larger scale, a modified form of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in which the members 6 have downturned ends 5 that extend at right angles to the remainder of the length of the members. The door 3 is pivotally attached to the members 6 at points along the length of the portions 5.

In its closed position shown in Fig. 2 as dotted lines 12, the door 3 is held firmly in contact with the door frame by the springs 9.

To open the door 3, a handle 13 located on the outer face of the door adjacent the upper edge thereof is pulled outwardly in a direction away from the front of the enclosure. That causes the door to swing outwardly in the direction of arrow 14. The door pivots about its lower edge 15 which slides upwardly over the surface 16 of the front of the door frame of the enclosure. As the door swings outwardly, the members 6 are gradually extended outwardly from the sides 8 through the openings 7 against the action of the springs 9 until the door reaches a substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 by the dotted lines 17. The members 6 are then fully extended and the portions 5 occupy positions indicated by the dotted lines 18.In that horizontal position, the door lies in a plane that is level with the lower edge of the opening 2, and the lower edge 15 of the door lies along and in contact with the lower edge of the opening 2.

In the embodiments of Figs 1 and 2, the pivotal connections between the door 3 and the pins 4 are such that the door may be lifted off the pins 4 and removed for cleaning for example. To facilitate removal and replacement of the door 3, the members 6 both have locking notches 18 in their upper surfaces at positions close to the portions 5. Latches, for example of generally U-shape, are provided, and, when a user wishes to remove a door, the latter is opened sufficiently to impart enough movement of the members 6 to reveal the notches and the latches are then placed in the notches so holding the members 6 against any return inward movement and thereby holding the door in an inclined position in which it may be lifted off the pins 4. The latches also prevent any return inward movement of the members 6 subsequent to the lifting off of the door.To replace the door, it is simply relocated back onto the pins 4 and can be closed after removal of the latches.

Where the enclosure is an oven or grill chamber, spring loaded detents described in more detail below are fitted to the members 6 to allow the door 3 to be releasibly held in an intermediate position between positions 12 and 17 and which is shown in full lines at 19 in Fig. 1 and 2. The intermediate position is used when, for example, a grilling operation is to be carried out.

Preferably, the hinge mechanisms are fitted with dampers which restrict the speed at which the door will close under the action of the springs. Thus, in the event that a user to releases the door after closing movement of the latter has been initiated, the door will close slowly under the sole action of the springs 9.

The dampers may be of any suitable design, and Fig.

2 shows a damper comprising a cylinder 20 into which the member 6 extends. The inner end of the member has a piston head 21 which fits the cylinder 20 with a small clearance.

The closed end of the cylinder 20 has a flap valve 22 arranged to open when the member moves outwardly i.e. to the left as seen in Fig. 2 so that opening movement of the door is not impeded, and to close when the member moves inwardly i.e. to the right as seen in Fig. 2, thereby reducing considerably the rate at which the door closes.

It will be understood that, in practice, the pivotal connections between the door 3 and the members 6 will not be located on the side edges of the door as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The door construction will be such that the pivotal connections are housed within the door at locations spaced inwardly of the side edges. In that way, the door, when closed, will conceal the openings 7.

To facilitate the sliding movement of the lower edge 15 over the surface 16 of the front of the door frame, that edge may incorporate a small roller or rollers, or a rounded bearing edge of a suitable low friction material, for example, a bearing insert of a suitable plastics material which may be nylon.

Referring now to Fig. 3 which shows one of the hinge mechanisms in more detail, the side 8 of the enclosure 1 has an aperture in which a bearing member 23 is positioned. The member 23 supports the member 6 which slides to and fro in it. The member 6 is a metal strip whose downturned portion 5 is apertured at 24 to receive one end of the pin 4 on which the door 3 is pivotally mounted.

The member 6 is also supported by a second bearing 25 held in an aperture in a rear wall 26 of a small enclosure located behind the side 8. The enclosure 27 has a roof 28.

Seated against an outer face of the rear wall 26 is a stepped locating disc 29 on which seats one end of the spring 9. The other end of the spring 9 seats on a second disc 30 of a domed shape loosely mounted on the member 6.

The position of the disc 30, and hence of the at-rest compression of the spring 9 is adjustable. The member 6 has a series of longitudinally-spaced holes 31 adjacent its inner end and the position of the disc 30 is determined by a peg 32 removably held in one of the holes 30.

Fig. 3 also shows one of the notches 18 referred to above, the notch being formed in the upper edge of the member 6.

The same figure also reveals that the member 6 has, in its lower edge, a second notch 33 of rounded shape. The notch 33 cooperates with a spring-loaded detent, in the form of a ball 34, to hold the door 3 in the intermediate position described above. The ball 34 is held in the bore of a tubuiar housing 35 located in the enclosure 27 and is biassed upwardly by a helical spring 36 into contact with lips 37a at the upper end of the housing 35. The spring 36 is also positioned in the bore of the housing 35.

It will be seen from Figs. 3 and 4 that the pivotal connection between the door 3 and the members 6 is located within the depth of the door and that the latter accommodates inserts, of which one is shown at 37, which are contoured to receive the pins 4. The inserts are housed at locations spaced inwardly from the vertical side edges of the door 3 between the inner and outer panels 39, 39 thereof.

Fig. 3 also shows a bearing strip 40 of nylon postioned along the lower edge of the door. The strip is positioned so as to move over the surfa'ce 16 as the door is opened and shut.

As the door is swung outwardly against the action of the springs 9, the members 6 are extended outwardly of the sides 8. At the intermediate position of the door, the balls 34 seat in the notches 33 and the door is held there by the springs 36 so retaining the door in the intermediate position.

Fig. 3 does not show any damper mechanism for slowing down the rate of closing movement of the door, but it will be understood that the damper mechanism shown in Fig. 2 may be used.

It will be appreciated that the door hinge mechanism described above permits easy removal of the door for cleaning, and removal also gives unrestricted access to the surface 16 for easy cleaning.

In its fully opened position (shown by the dotted lines 17 in Fig. 2), the door provides a surface that is level with the lower edge of the opening 2. In addition, the lower edge of the door is in contact with the surface 16 so that there is no gap between that edge and the surface 16. Articles may, therefore, be readily slid from the interior of the enclosure on to the surface of the door.

The movement of the members 6 or of one of them may be used in connection with or to actuate switches or linkages that control safety devices or interlocks concerned with the operation of the appliance. For example, if the appliance is a microwave oven, movement of one or other of the members 6 may be used to actuate a switch which is closed only when the door 3 is fully closed. The contacts of the switch are series-connected with those of a main switch controlling the energisation of the magnetron of the microwave oven. Thus, energisation of the magnetron will occur only when the door is fully closed.

One or both of the members 6 may be associated with an interlock mechanism which prevents outward movement of the members 6 and thereby opening of the door under certain conditions of use of the appliance. For example, if the enclosure is that of a cooker oven adapted for pyrolytic cleaning, the interlock is brought into operation when a pyrolytic cleaning operation is to take place thereby locking the door in its closed position from which the door is released only when the cleaning operation is finished.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to doors other that those mounted so as to pivot about a horizontal axis located adjacent the lower edge of the door. For example, the invention may be embodied in a door mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis adjacent one of the vertical sides of the door. In that case, the lower pivotal mounting must be capable of supporting the weight of the door.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A door hinge mechanism hinging a door along one side thereof comprising a door frame, a pair of door mounting members each of which is pivotally attached to the door at or adjacent a different end of the one side at a point spaced from the edge of the one side, the mounting members being mounted for movement into and out of the frame, and in which the arrangement is such that during opening and closing movement of the door, the edge slides along the adjacent surface of the frame.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the mountings members are of generally elongate form, each having at one end thereof a portion that extends at right angles to the remainder of the member, the door being pivotally attached to the members at points within the length of the portions.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which biassing means are provided for biassing the door into a closed position.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which the biassing means are resilient means associated with the mounting members.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which means are provided for damping the rate of closing movement of the door.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 5 in which the damper means comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement.

7. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further comprising means for releasibly retaining the door in a position intermediate its fully opened and fully closed positions.

8. A mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the pivotal connection of the mounting members to the door is such that the door is detachable from the members.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which means are provided for holding the members in positions in which the door may be detached, the means retaining the members in those positions after detachment of the door.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which the means for releasibly retaining the door comprises detent means that cooperate with a mounting member to hold the door in the intermediate position.

11. A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which at least one of the mounting members has a notch along its length, and in which the detent means includes a latch resiliently biassed into contact with the member and which locates in the notch when the door reaches its intermediate position.

12. A mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which both mounting members are contoured, at locations that are exposed when the members are in said positions, to receive locking members for holding the mounting members in those positions.

13. A door hinge mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.