GB2044342A - An End Hinge Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has a pivot pin (15, 16) mounted in and projecting from a double skinned door (11, 12) into a hole (20) concentric with a bulge (19), the hole and bulge being formed in two layers (17, 18) of a casing in which the door is mounted. The casing may be that of clothes or dish-washing machines. Leakage at the hinge is prevented. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An End Hinge Assembly This invention relates to an end hinge assembly for mounting a door or a lid, of for example the door of a dish-washing machine.

A hinge usually has a plurality of members which require to be assembled into a functional unit. A known end hinge has a pin, a bush and brackets for the bush and pin. This kind of a hinge is used in mounting for instance a refrigerator door, but such mounting involves a risk of leakage when used for a clothes- or dish-washing machine door. End hinges are usually simple and reliable, which would make them suitable for such doors. Tightness at the hinge is needed for such doors, and stability and ready assembly are also advantages.

It is thus desirable to find a substitute for the bush and pin hinge, and according to this invention there is provided an end hinge assembly for a door or lid of a casing having two layers of material at an opening thereof, wherein the outer layer has a bulge and the inner layer a hole concentric with the bulge, a pin projecting from one end surface of the door or lid forming a pivot in the hole. In this way there may be achieved a simple construction, easy to assemble.

An embodiment of an end hinge in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which is a vertical section through an end hinge assembly.

The figure is a partial view of the journal portion at one side of a dish-washer door 10, which can be moved between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The door has a frame including parallel inner and outer portions 11, 12 along each side. The portions 11, 12 have concentric holes 13, 14 in which a pin 15 is mounted. The pin has a projecting end 16 constituting one hinge pivot. The machine has a casing of sheet metal with an opening in which the door 10 is mounted. Around the opening the sheet metal is folded into two layers 17, 18. In the outer layer 17 a cup-shaped bulge 19 is formed and in the inner layer 18 a journal hole 20 with a flange 21 is stamped. The flange enters the bulge as shown and forms a constriction therein.

The pin 15 is a loose fit in the bulge and a tight fit in the holes 13, 14. It has a lock washer 22, which maintains the spacing between the outer door portion 12 and the layer 18 and prevents the pin from moving in the holes 13, 14. The lock washer is preferably an interrupted spring ring which can be removed laterally, to free the pin which can then be pulled from the holes 13, 14.

Since the journal portion is closed outwards by the bulge 19 leakage at the end hinge is prevented. If the parts need lubrication there is a space for lubricant within the bulge. The outer layer 17 is used not only for tightening but also for reinforcement of the flange 21 around the hole 20, and the flange 21 and bulge 19 are preferably pressed in one step when the layers 17, 18 are assembled so that the flange is a close fit in the bulge.

As a variation of the above-described embodiment an end hinge may have a stiff journal pin 15, which is integral with the portions 1 1, 12.

This variation can be used at one end of the door and the above-described embodiment at the other. For assembly of the door the said embodiment is used at one end while at the other end only the stiff pin is needed.

Claims

1. An end hinge assembly for a door or lid of a casing having two layers of material at an opening thereof, wherein the outer layer has a bulge and the inner layer a hole concentric with the bulge, a pin projecting from one end surface of the door or lid forming a pivot in the hole.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hole has a flange extending into the bulge.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pin is removable from an end surface of the door or lid.

4. An end hinge assembly for the door of a dish-washing or clothes-washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An End Hinge Assembly This invention relates to an end hinge assembly for mounting a door or a lid, of for example the door of a dish-washing machine. A hinge usually has a plurality of members which require to be assembled into a functional unit. A known end hinge has a pin, a bush and brackets for the bush and pin. This kind of a hinge is used in mounting for instance a refrigerator door, but such mounting involves a risk of leakage when used for a clothes- or dish-washing machine door. End hinges are usually simple and reliable, which would make them suitable for such doors. Tightness at the hinge is needed for such doors, and stability and ready assembly are also advantages. It is thus desirable to find a substitute for the bush and pin hinge, and according to this invention there is provided an end hinge assembly for a door or lid of a casing having two layers of material at an opening thereof, wherein the outer layer has a bulge and the inner layer a hole concentric with the bulge, a pin projecting from one end surface of the door or lid forming a pivot in the hole. In this way there may be achieved a simple construction, easy to assemble. An embodiment of an end hinge in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawing, the single figure of which is a vertical section through an end hinge assembly. The figure is a partial view of the journal portion at one side of a dish-washer door 10, which can be moved between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The door has a frame including parallel inner and outer portions 11, 12 along each side. The portions 11, 12 have concentric holes 13, 14 in which a pin 15 is mounted. The pin has a projecting end 16 constituting one hinge pivot. The machine has a casing of sheet metal with an opening in which the door 10 is mounted. Around the opening the sheet metal is folded into two layers 17, 18. In the outer layer 17 a cup-shaped bulge 19 is formed and in the inner layer 18 a journal hole 20 with a flange 21 is stamped. The flange enters the bulge as shown and forms a constriction therein. The pin 15 is a loose fit in the bulge and a tight fit in the holes 13, 14. It has a lock washer 22, which maintains the spacing between the outer door portion 12 and the layer 18 and prevents the pin from moving in the holes 13, 14. The lock washer is preferably an interrupted spring ring which can be removed laterally, to free the pin which can then be pulled from the holes 13, 14. Since the journal portion is closed outwards by the bulge 19 leakage at the end hinge is prevented. If the parts need lubrication there is a space for lubricant within the bulge. The outer layer 17 is used not only for tightening but also for reinforcement of the flange 21 around the hole 20, and the flange 21 and bulge 19 are preferably pressed in one step when the layers 17, 18 are assembled so that the flange is a close fit in the bulge. As a variation of the above-described embodiment an end hinge may have a stiff journal pin 15, which is integral with the portions 1 1, 12. This variation can be used at one end of the door and the above-described embodiment at the other. For assembly of the door the said embodiment is used at one end while at the other end only the stiff pin is needed. Claims

1. An end hinge assembly for a door or lid of a casing having two layers of material at an opening thereof, wherein the outer layer has a bulge and the inner layer a hole concentric with the bulge, a pin projecting from one end surface of the door or lid forming a pivot in the hole.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the hole has a flange extending into the bulge.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pin is removable from an end surface of the door or lid.

4. An end hinge assembly for the door of a dish-washing or clothes-washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawing.