EP3359765A1

EP3359765A1 - Adjustable hinge assembly for use in a refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP3359765A1
Application number: EP15775712.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ahmet Onur Moza; Durser Cagatay BOLUKBASI; Cahit Emre SARIOGLU; Aylin ACIKEL
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-10-08
Filing date: 2015-10-08
Publication date: 2018-08-15
Also published as: TR201612611A2; WO2017059908A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable hinge assembly (1) for use in a refrigerator comprising a main body which includes one or more refrigeration compartments and respective pivotable doors. The adjustable hinge assembly (1) comprises a base bracket (2) to be fixed to the main body. The adjustable hinge assembly (1) of the present invention further comprises an intermediate bracket (3) which is vertically movably disposed onto the base bracket (2), a bearing bracket (4) which is horizontally movably disposed onto the intermediate bracket (3), wherein the bearing bracket (4) includes a pivot (5) for engaging with the respective pivotable door.

Description

ADJUSTABLE HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A REFRIGERATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to the hinge assembly which supports the pivotable door of the refrigerator.
Refrigerators are commonly known in the art. A refrigerator generally comprises a main body which includes one or more refrigeration compartments for refrigerating the articles; and one or more pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments. The pivotable doors are mounted to the main body through respective hinge assemblies. The refrigeration compartments and the pivotable doors may be arranged side by side or alternatively one above the other.
US 8,491,070 B2 discloses a side by side refrigerator.
A common problem with the prior art refrigerator is that the relative position of each pivotable door must be adjusted during the assembly process by the assembly operator due to the manufacturing tolerances. The adjustment process is very time consuming and complicated. Moreover, after the assembly process, the service person as well as the user has no possibility to readjust the pivotable doors during the installation of the refrigerator in case of need.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hinge assembly for use in a refrigerator which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables the hinge assembly to be easily and quickly adjusted at any time and as often as required through the assembly operator, the service person or the user.
This objective has been achieved by the adjustable hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, and the refrigerator as defined in claim 7. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The adjustable hinge assembly of the present invention comprises an intermediate bracket which is vertically movably disposed onto the base bracket that is adapted to be fixed to the main body of the refrigerator; a bearing bracket which is horizontally movably disposed onto the intermediate bracket, wherein the bearing bracket includes a pivot which is adapted to engage with the counterpart pivot of the respective pivotable door; a first adjustment mechanism which is adapted to move the intermediate bracket relative to the base bracket in the vertical direction; and a second adjustment mechanism which is adapted to move the bearing bracket relative to the intermediate bracket in the horizontal direction that is parallel to the front of the main body.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the pivotable doors can be easily and quickly adjusted at any time and as often as required through the assembly operator, the service person or the user. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that each pivotable door can be continuously adjusted both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. Thereby, the pivotable doors can be mutually aligned, and thus the appearance of the refrigerator can be improved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the adjustable hinge assembly can be easily accessed from the outside and can be entirely mounted/demounted for service. With the present invention, the assembly and the maintenance of the pivotable doors have been improved.
In an embodiment, the vertical distance between the intermediate bracket and the base bracket can be increased or decreased through accordingly rotating the adjustment nut which is screwed onto the vertical adjustment screw whose upper end is fixed to the intermediate bracket and whose lower end is inserted through the threadless vertical hole on the base bracket. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the vertical adjustment can be immediately performed through a single adjustment nut.
In another embodiment, the horizontal distance between the bearing bracket and the intermediate bracket can be increased or decreased through accordingly rotating the horizontal adjustment screw which drives a spring-loaded slide that is horizontally movably disposed into the horizontal guiding channel on the intermediate bracket and fixed to the bearing bracket. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the horizontal adjustment can be immediately performed through a single horizontal adjustment screw.
In another embodiment, the spring element which biases the spring-loaded slide against the horizontal adjustment screw is provided in form of a compression coil spring. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the compression coil spring enables a secure adjustment.
In another embodiment, the spring-loaded slide and the horizontal guiding channel have cylindrical shapes. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the horizontal adjustment can be performed smoothly.
In another embodiment, the bearing bracket is fixed to the spring-loaded slide through the fixing means that extends through the horizontal slot on the intermediate bracket. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the bearing bracket can be stably fixed to the slide.
In other alternative embodiments, the fixing means comprises a releasable form-fitting connection and/or a releasable force-fitting connection. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the bearing bracket can be easily assembled with or dissembled from the spring-loaded slide for service.
In another embodiment, the horizontal adjustment screw is threadably received in the threaded horizontal bore on one of the left/right covers which are fastened to the intermediate bracket through the fastening means so as to bound the horizontal guiding channel and partly compress the spring element. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the spring-loaded slide and the spring element can be easily assembled with the intermediate bracket.
In other alternative embodiments, the fastening means comprises a releasable form-fitting connection and/or a releasable force-fitting connection. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the spring-loaded slide can be easily assembled with or dissembled from the intermediate bracket for service.
In another embodiment, the horizontal adjustment screw comprises a commonly used screw head that matches a commonly used universal hand tool. Similarly, in another embodiment, the adjustment nut comprises a commonly used shape that matches a commonly used universal hand tool. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the adjustment can be easily performed through the user by way of using a universal hand tool.
In another embodiment, the adjustable hinge assembly has a threaded foot that carries the refrigerator. The threaded foot is threadably received in the threaded vertical hole on the base bracket. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the adjustable hinge assembly can also be used at the bottom of the main body so to engage with the pivot of the respective pivotable door.
In another embodiment, the threaded foot has a grip. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the grip facilitates the manual height adjustment of the threaded foot, and thus the need for using a hand tool has been obviated.
In another embodiment, the refrigerator comprises two side by side refrigeration compartments and two side by side pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments. In this embodiment, the side by side pivotable doors are supported through two adjustable hinge assemblies which are disposed onto the bottom of the main body. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the relative positions of the side by side pivotable doors can be correctly adjusted.
In other alternative embodiments, the adjustable hinge assembly is used at the top of the main body, at the bottom of the main body or in between the top and the bottom of the main body in accordance with the particular arrangement of the pivotable doors.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the adjustable hinge assembly and the refrigerator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a schematic partial perspective view of an adjustable hinge assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 – is a schematic exploded perspective view of the adjustable hinge assembly of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 – is a schematic front view of the adjustable hinge assembly of Fig. 1;
Figure 4 – is a schematic sectional view of the adjustable hinge assembly of Fig. 3, taken along the line A-A;
Figure 5 – is a schematic sectional view of the adjustable hinge assembly of Fig. 3, taken along the line B-B.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.
1. Adjustable hinge assembly
2. Base bracket
2a. Mounting means
3. Intermediate bracket
3a. Left cover
3b. Right cover
3c. Body
4. Bearing bracket
5. Pivot
6. 1^st adjustment mechanism
7. 2^nd adjustment mechanism
8. Vertical adjustment screw
8a. Upper end
8b. Lower end
9. Threadless vertical hole
10. Horizontal guiding channel
11. Spring-loaded slide
12. Horizontal adjustment screw
12a. Hexagonal socket
13. Spring element
14. Horizontal slot
15. Fixing means
15a. Threadless vertical bore
15b. Threaded vertical bore
15c. Fixing screw
16. Fastening means
16a. Threaded horizontal bore
16b. Counterpart threaded horizontal bore
16c. Fastening screw
17. Threaded horizontal hole
18. Threaded vertical hole
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) is suitable for use in a refrigerator (not shown).
The refrigerator comprises a main body which includes one or more refrigeration compartments (not shown), a refrigeration circuit (not shown) for refrigerating each refrigeration compartment and one or more pivotable doors (not shown) for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments.
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) comprises a base bracket (2) which is adapted to be fixed to the main body of the refrigerator from the outside through a mounting means (2a) (Fig. 1).
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) of the present invention further comprises an intermediate bracket (3) which is vertically movably disposed onto the base bracket (2), a bearing bracket (4) which is horizontally movably disposed onto the intermediate bracket (3), wherein the bearing bracket (4) includes a pivot (5) which is adapted to engage with the counterpart pivot (not shown) of the respective pivotable door; a first adjustment mechanism (6) which is adapted to move the intermediate bracket (3) relative to the base bracket (2) in the vertical direction (V) and a second adjustment mechanism (7) which is adapted to move the bearing bracket (4) relative to the intermediate bracket (3) in the horizontal direction (H) that is parallel to the front of the main body (Fig. 1).
The refrigerator of the present invention comprises one or more adjustable hinge assemblies (1) (Fig. 1).
In an embodiment, the first adjustment mechanism (6) comprises a vertical adjustment screw (8) whose upper end (8a) is fixed to the intermediate bracket (3) and a threadless vertical hole (9) which is formed into the base bracket (2) and adapted to receive the lower end (8b) of the vertical adjustment screw (8) and an adjustment nut (not shown) which is adapted to be threadably received by the vertical adjustment screw (8) between the base bracket (2) and the intermediate bracket (3) and to change a distance between the intermediate bracket (3) and the base bracket (2) upon rotation (Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the second adjustment mechanism (7) comprises a horizontal guiding channel (10) which is formed into the intermediate bracket (3), a spring-loaded slide (11) which is horizontally movably disposed into the horizontal guiding channel (10), wherein the spring-loaded slide (11) is fixed to the bearing bracket (4), a horizontal adjustment screw (12) which is adapted to drive the spring-loaded slide (11) and to change a distance between the bearing bracket (4) and the intermediate bracket (3) upon rotation and a spring element (13) which is disposed into the horizontal guiding channel (10) so as to press the spring-loaded slide (11) against the horizontal adjustment screw (12) (Fig. 2 and Fig. 5).
In another embodiment, the spring element (13) is provided in form of a compression coil spring (Fig. 2 and Fig. 5).
In another embodiment, the spring-loaded slide (11) and the horizontal guiding channel (10) have cylindrical shapes (Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the adjustable hinge assembly (1) further comprises a horizontal slot (14) which is formed into the intermediate bracket (3) and which opens into the horizontal guiding channel (10) and a fixing means (15) which is adapted to fix the bearing bracket (4) to the spring-loaded slide (11) through the horizontal slot (14) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the fixing means (15) comprises one or more threadless vertical bores (15a) which are formed into the intermediate bracket (4) and one or more threaded vertical bores (15b) which are formed into the spring-loaded slide (11) and one or more fixing screws (15c) (Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the intermediate bracket (3) further comprises a left cover (3a) and a right cover (3b) which are adapted to be fastened onto the body (3c) of the intermediate bracket (3) and to bound the horizontal guiding channel (10) from the opposite sides so as to compress the spring element (13), a fastening means (16) which is adapted to fasten the left cover (3a) and the right cover (3b) to the body (3c) of the intermediate bracket (3) and a threaded horizontal hole (17) which is formed into the respective one of the left cover (3a) and the right cover (3b) and adapted to threadably receive the horizontal adjustment screw (12) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the fastening means (16) comprises one or more threaded horizontal bores (16a) which are formed into each of the left cover (3a) and the right cover (3b), one or more counterpart threaded horizontal bores (16b) which are formed into the body (3c) of the intermediate bracket (3) and one or more fastening screws (16c) (Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the horizontal adjustment screw (12) comprises hexagonal socket (12a) (Fig. 2).
In another embodiment, the adjustable hinge assembly (1) further comprises a threaded foot (not shown) and a threaded vertical hole (18) which is formed into the base bracket (2) and adapted to threadably receive the threaded foot (Fig. 1).
In another embodiment, the threaded foot has a grip (not shown).
In another embodiment, the refrigerator comprises at least two side by side refrigeration compartments and at least two side by side pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments. In this embodiment, the two adjustable hinge assemblies (1) are each disposed onto the bottom of the main body in close proximity to the opposite side walls of the main body respectively.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the pivotable doors can be easily and quickly adjusted at any time and as often as required through the assembly operator, the service person or the user. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that each pivotable door can be continuously adjusted both in the horizontal direction (H) and in the vertical direction (V) (Fig. 3). Thereby, the pivotable doors can be mutually aligned, and thus the appearance of the refrigerator can be improved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the adjustable hinge assembly (1) can be easily accessed from the outside and can be entirely mounted/demounted for service (Fig. 1). Additional advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

An adjustable hinge assembly (1) for use in a refrigerator comprising a main body which includes one or more refrigeration compartments and one or more pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments, the adjustable hinge assembly (1) comprising a base bracket (2) which is adapted to be fixed to the main body, the adjustable hinge assembly (1) being characterized in that an intermediate bracket (3) which is vertically movably disposed onto the base bracket (2), a bearing bracket (4) which is horizontally movably disposed onto the intermediate bracket (3), wherein the bearing bracket (4) includes a pivot (5) which is adapted to engage with the counterpart pivot of the respective pivotable door, a first adjustment mechanism (6) which is adapted to move the intermediate bracket (3) relative to the base bracket (2) in the vertical direction (V) and a second adjustment mechanism (7) which is adapted to move the bearing bracket (4) relative to the intermediate bracket (3) in the horizontal direction (H) that is parallel to the front of the main body.
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first adjustment mechanism (6) comprises a vertical adjustment screw (8) whose upper end (8a) is fixed to the intermediate bracket (3) and a threadless vertical hole (9) which is formed into the base bracket (2) and adapted to receive the lower end (8b) of the vertical adjustment screw (8) and an adjustment nut which is adapted to be threadably received by the vertical adjustment screw (8) between the base bracket (2) and the intermediate bracket (3) and to change a distance between the intermediate bracket (3) and the base bracket (2) upon rotation.
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second adjustment mechanism (7) comprises a horizontal guiding channel (10) which is formed into the intermediate bracket (3), a spring-loaded slide (11) which is horizontally movably disposed into the horizontal guiding channel (10), wherein the spring-loaded slide (11) is fixed to the bearing bracket (4), a horizontal adjustment screw (12) which is adapted to drive the spring-loaded slide (11) and to change a distance between the bearing bracket (4) and the intermediate bracket (3) upon rotation and a spring element (13) which is disposed into the horizontal guiding channel (10) so as to press the spring-loaded slide (11) against the horizontal adjustment screw (12).
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a horizontal slot (14) which is formed into the intermediate bracket (3) and which opens into the horizontal guiding channel (10) and a fixing means (15) which is adapted to fix the bearing bracket (4) to the spring-loaded slide (11) through the horizontal slot (14).
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate bracket (3) further comprises a left cover (3a) and a right cover (3b) which are adapted to be fastened onto the body (3c) of the intermediate bracket (3) and to bound the horizontal guiding channel (10) from the opposite sides so as to compress the spring element (13), a fastening means (16) which is adapted to fasten the left cover (3a) and the right cover (3b) to the body (3c) of the intermediate bracket (3), and a threaded horizontal hole (17) which is formed into the respective one of the left cover (3a) and the right cover (3b) and adapted to threadably receive the horizontal adjustment screw (12).
The adjustable hinge assembly (1) according claim 1, characterized in that a threaded foot and a threaded vertical hole (18) which is formed into the base bracket (2) and adapted to threadably receive the threaded foot.
A refrigerator comprising a main body which includes one or more refrigeration compartments and one or more pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments, characterized in that one or more adjustable hinge assemblies (1) each as defined in claim 1.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, comprising at least two side by side refrigeration compartments and at least two side by side pivotable doors for accessing the respective refrigeration compartments, characterized in that two adjustable hinge assemblies (1) each disposed onto the bottom of the main body in close proximity to the opposite side walls of the main body respectively.