IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,072,956
Granted Patent B2
US 11,072,956 · App. 16/418,308 · Granted Jul 27, 2021

Hinge bracket

Inventors: Ian Pavnick (Michigan City, IN); Ryan M. Post (Coloma, MI); Michael S. Richards (St. Joseph, MI); Chad J. Rotter (Saugatuck, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
E05D11/06E05D7/081E05D7/12F25D23/028E05Y2900/31F25D2323/024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,072,956
App. No.
16/418,308
Granted
Jul 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hinge bracket assembly includes an anchor plate. A retention member extends perpendicular to the anchor plate. The anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture. A hinge plate is aligned with the anchor plate and includes a hinge arm and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm. The hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member. A locking arm is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and is configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate.

Claims (18)

1. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:

an anchor plate including a retention member extending perpendicular to the anchor plate, the retention member defining a slot and a retention space, wherein the slot is defined between the retention space and the anchor plate, and further wherein the anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture;

a hinge plate including a hinge arm and a protrusion, the protrusion extending from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm, wherein the hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by the space defined by the retention member;

a locking arm rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the retention member includes a projection at least partially defining the retention space, and a lip extending from an end of the projection to retain the locking arm when the locking arm is in the locked position, the locking arm comprising:

a body including an upper portion and a lower portion; and

a nose extending from the lower portion and positioned at an angle relative to the lower portion, wherein the nose is received by the first and second receiving apertures and the upper portion is engaged with the retention space of the retention member when the locking arm is in the locked position.

2. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a fin extending perpendicular to the upper portion and the lower portion.

3. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose includes a base portion and an angular portion.

4. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 3 , wherein the base portion is inclined toward the anchor plate and the angular portion is inclined away from the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position.

5. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose includes a raised surface abutting a lower surface of the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position, the raised surface biasing the anchor plate toward the hinge plate.

6. A hinge bracket assembly comprising:

an anchor plate including a retention member extending perpendicular to the anchor plate, wherein the anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture;

a hinge plate aligned with the anchor plate and including a hinge arm and a protrusion, the protrusion extending from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm, wherein the hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member; and

a locking arm rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate, wherein the locking arm includes a body including an upper portion and a lower portion, and a nose extending from the lower portion, wherein the nose is received by the first and second receiving apertures when the locking arm is in the locked position, and wherein the retention member includes a projection at least partially defining the retention space, and a lip extending perpendicularly from an end of the projection to retain the locking arm when the locking arm is in the locked position.

7. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:

a wrapper positioned between the anchor plate and the hinge plate and defining a wrapper receiving aperture, the wrapper receiving aperture aligned with the first and second receiving apertures, wherein the locking arm is at least partially received by the wrapper receiving aperture.

8. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 6 , wherein a flange extends upward from the anchor plate and is received by an opening defined by the hinge plate, and further wherein the flange is positioned to limit rotational movement of the hinge plate relative to the anchor plate.

9. The hinge bracket assembly of claim 6 , wherein the nose includes a base portion inclined toward the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position, an angular portion inclined away from the base portion at a vertex, and a surface positioned at the vertex to abut and apply pressure to the anchor plate when the locking arm is in the locked position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2019
From: PAVNICK, IAN; POST, RYAN M.; RICHARDS, MICHAEL S.; ROTTER, CHAD J.
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049243/0069 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200370350A1 · Nov 26, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,320,176 US 12,742,348