IP Library Granted Patent US 8,857,928
Granted Patent B2
US 8,857,928 · App. 13/415,062 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Appliance with a bracket for supporting a hinge

Inventor: David John Coxon (Louisville, KY)
Assignee: General Electric Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,857,928
App. No.
13/415,062
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A washing machine appliance is provided with a door rotatably mounted to a cabinet of the appliance with a hinge. The hinge is supported by a bracket that extends between a front panel of the appliance and a flange. By extending between the front panel and the flange, the bracket can provide robust support for the hinge.

Claims (35)

1. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a door casing assembly, the door casing assembly including:

a front panel;

a side panel extending from an edge of the front panel towards said cabinet;

a flange extending from the side panel such that the flange is spaced apart from the front panel and is substantially parallel to the front panel; and

an additional flange extending from the side panel such that the additional flange is spaced apart from the front panel and is substantially parallel to the front panel;

a drum rotatably mounted within said cabinet, said drum defining a. chamber for receipt of articles;

a door configured for permitting selective access to the chamber of said drum;

a hinge for rotatably mounting said door to said door casing assembly, said hinge configured for rotation about an axis, said hinge extending between a top portion and a bottom portion;

a bracket mounted to said door casing assembly for supporting the top portion of said hinge, said bracket having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of said bracket positioned adjacent said flange, the second surface of said bracket positioned adjacent said front panel; and

an additional bracket mounted to said door casing assembly for supporting the bottom portion of said hinge assembly, said additional bracket having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of said additional bracket positioned adjacent said additional flange, the second surface of said additional bracket positioned adjacent said front panel.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein a fastener extends through the front panel into said bracket to assist in mounting said bracket to door casing assembly.

3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein a fastener extends through said flange into said bracket to assist in mounting said bracket to said front panel.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said bracket extends between a first end and a second end, the first end of said bracket mounted to said flange, the second end of said bracket mounted to said front panel.

5. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said hinge defines a post received by a hole defined by said bracket, said hinge rotating about the post in the hole.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said bracket is constructed of plastic.

7. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said door casing assembly is constructed of a plastic and said bracket assists in increasing the stiffness of said door casing.

8. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a washing machine Appliance.

9. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a door casing assembly, the door casing assembly including:

a front panel;

a side panel extending from an edge of the front panel towards said cabinet; and

a flange extending from the side panel such that the front panel, the side panel, and the flange cooperate to define a pocket and an additional pocket;

a drum rotatably mounted within said cabinet, said drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles;

a door configured for permitting selective access to the chamber of said drum;

a hinge for rotatably mounting said door to the door casing assembly of said cabinet, said hinge configured for rotation about an axis, said hinge extending between a top portion and a bottom portion;

a bracket for supporting the top portion of said hinge, said bracket mounted to said door casing assembly, at least a portion of said bracket received within the pocket of said door casing assembly such that said bracket extends between the front panel of said door casing assembly and the flange of said door casing assembly; and

an additional bracket for supporting the bottom portion of said hinge, said additional bracket mounted to said door casing assembly, at least a portion of said additional bracket received within the additional pocket, said additional bracket extending between said front panel and said flange.

10. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein a fastener extends through the front panel into said bracket to assist in mounting said bracket to said door casing assembly.

11. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein a fastener extends through the flange into said bracket to assist in mounting said bracket to said door casing assembly.

12. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein said bracket extends between a first end and a second end, the first end of said bracket mounted to the flange of said door casing assembly, the second end of said bracket mounted to the front panel of said door casing assembly.

13. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein said hinge defines a post received by a hole defined by said bracket, said hinge rotating about the post within the hole.

14. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein said bracket is constructed of plastic.

15. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein said door casing assembly is constructed of a plastic and said bracket assists in increasing the stiffness of said door casing.

16. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the appliance is a washing machine appliance.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038969/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2012
From: COXON, DAVID JOHN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027826/0874 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130234573A1 · Sep 12, 2013