IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,618,274
Granted Patent B2
US 12,618,274 · App. 18/482,905 · Granted May 5, 2026

Hinge assembly and opening and closing device

Inventors: Benlei Liang (Hefei, CN); Chao Liu (Hefei, CN)
Assignees: HEFE! MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.; HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD.; MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
E05D3/02E05F3/18E05F3/20F25D23/028F25D2323/024
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,618,274
App. No.
18/482,905
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present application relates to the field of household appliance technologies and discloses a hinge assembly and an opening and closing device. The hinge assembly includes a first matching member and a second matching member rotatably connected. The first matching member has a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end, and the second matching member has a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end. The first matching member and the second matching member have a first state and a second state. The first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface.

Claims (50)

1 . A hinge assembly configured to be used in an opening and closing device, the opening and closing device comprising a cabinet and a door body, the cabinet having an opening, the door body hinged to the opening of the cabinet through the hinge assembly:

wherein the hinge assembly comprises:

a first matching member provided in the door body, and provided with a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end of the first matching member;

a second matching member provided in the cabinet, and provided with a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end of the second matching member; and

an elastic member located at a side of the second matching member away from the first matching member; wherein

the elastic member applies the axial force to the second matching member and the first matching member;

the hinge assembly has a first state and a second state, and the first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state; and in the first state, the door body is open, and the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a first acting force under an axial force, the first acting force having opposite direction as gravity; and in the second state, the door body is close, and the second curved surface abuts against and is matched with the fourth curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a second acting force under the axial force, the second acting force having same direction as gravity;

the door body is configured to suspend in the first state;

the second matching member has a stop surface connected to an end of the fourth curved surface and extends to the first matching member; and

when the door body rotates until the first matching member and the second matching member are in the second state, the stop surface is configured to match with the first curved surface to limit the first matching member from continuing to rotate towards direction of closing the door body.

2 . The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface, and the fourth curved surface are helical surfaces, the first curved surface and the second curved surface have opposite helical directions, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface have opposite helical directions, the first curved surface and the third curved surface have the same helical direction, and the second curved surface and the fourth curved surfaces have the same helical direction.

3 . The hinge assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface all extend helically in a direction of the first axis.

4 . The hinge assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface are disposed along a circumferential direction of the first matching member, and the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface are disposed along a circumferential direction of the second matching member, and both the circumferential direction of the first matching member and the circumferential direction of the second matching member are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis.

5 . The hinge assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first matching member further has a first matching surface disposed between the first curved surface and the second curved surface;

the second matching member further has a second matching surface disposed between the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface; and

both the first matching surface and the second matching surface are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis, and the hinge assembly has a third state between the first state and the second state; and in the third state, the first matching surface abuts against and is matched with the second matching surface.

6 . The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein both the first curved surface and the second curved surface are provided on a side of the first matching surface away from the second matching member, and both the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface are provided on a side of the second matching surface away from the first matching member.

7 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first matching member comprises a plurality of first protrusion portions disposed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the first matching member, and each of the plurality of first protrusion portions is provided with the first curved surface and the second curved surface;

the second matching member comprises a plurality of second protrusion portions disposed at intervals along a circumferential direction of the second matching member, and each of the plurality of second protrusion portions is provided with the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface; and the plurality of the first protrusion portions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of the second protrusion portions; and

both the circumferential direction of the first matching member and the circumferential direction of the second matching member are perpendicular to the direction of the first axis.

8 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface or the fourth curved surface is provided with an oil storage tank.

9 . The hinge assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first hinge seat, wherein the first hinge seat is connected to the first matching member, and the first hinge seat rotates synchronously with the first matching member;

a second hinge seat, wherein the second hinge seat is connected to the second matching member, and the second hinge seat rotates synchronously with the second matching member;

wherein the first hinge seat is rotatably connected to the second hinge seat, and the first matching member is slidably connected to the first hinge seat in a direction of the first axis and/or the second matching member is slidably connected to the second hinge seat in a direction of the first axis.

10 . The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first hinge seat is provided with a first accommodating cavity extending in a direction of the first axis, and the second hinge seat is provided with a second accommodating cavity extending in a direction of the first axis, and the first accommodating cavity communicates with the second accommodating cavity, and the first matching member is disposed in the first accommodating cavity, and the second matching member is disposed in the second accommodating cavity;

wherein the elastic member is provided in the second accommodating cavity.

11 . The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first hinge seat is integrated with the first matching member, and the second matching member is slidable within the second accommodating cavity in the direction of the first axis.

12 . The hinge assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first hinge seat comprises a first lock plate and a first hinge portion, and the first lock plate is integrated with the first hinge portion, and the first accommodating cavity is provided in the first hinge portion;

the second hinge seat comprises a second lock plate and a second hinge portion, and the second lock plate is integrated with the second hinge portion, and the second accommodating cavity is provided in the second hinge portion; and

the first hinge portion is rotatably connected to the second hinge portion.

13 . The hinge assembly of claim 12 , wherein a relief hole is disposed at an end of the first hinge portion away from the second hinge portion, and the relief hole communicates with the first accommodating cavity; and/or

a relief hole is disposed at an end of the second hinge portion away from the first hinge portion, and the relief hole communicates with the second accommodating cavity.

14 . The hinge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first hinge seat is provided with a first positioning portion, and the second hinge seat is provided with a second positioning portion; and the second positioning portion is matchable with the first positioning portion to position the first hinge seat and the second hinge seat at an initial mounting angle, and the first positioning portion is disconnectable from the first hinge seat, and/or the second positioning portion is disconnectable from the second hinge seat.

15 . An opening and closing device, comprising:

a cabinet, having an opening; and

a door body, hinged to the opening of the cabinet through a hinge assembly;

wherein the hinge assembly comprises:

a first matching member provided in the door body, and provided with a first curved surface and a second curved surface at one end of the first matching member;

a second matching member provided in the cabinet, and provided with a third curved surface and a fourth curved surface at one end of the second matching member; and

an elastic member located at a side of the second matching member away from the first matching member; wherein

the elastic member applies the axial force to the second matching member and the first matching member;

wherein the hinge assembly has a first state and a second state, and the first matching member and the second matching member are rotatable relative to each other around a first axis to be switchable between the first state and the second state; and in the first state, the door body is open, and the first curved surface abuts against and is matched with the third curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a first acting force under an axial force, the first acting force having opposite direction as gravity; and in the second state, the door body is close, and the second curved surface abuts against and is matched with the fourth curved surface to make the first matching member and the second matching member have a second acting force under the axial force, the second acting force having same direction as gravity;

the door body is configured to suspend in the first state;

the second matching member has a stop surface connected to an end of the fourth curved surface and extends to the first matching member; and

when the door body rotates until the first matching member and the second matching member are in the second state, the stop surface is configured to match with the first curved surface to limit the first matching member from continuing to rotate towards direction of closing the door body.

16 . The opening and closing device of claim 15 , wherein the opening and closing device is a freezer.

17 . The opening and closing device of claim 15 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface, and the fourth curved surface are helical surfaces, the first curved surface and the second curved surface have opposite helical directions, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface have opposite helical directions, the first curved surface and the third curved surface have the same helical direction, and the second curved surface and the fourth curved surfaces have the same helical direction.

18 . The opening and closing device of claim 17 , wherein the first curved surface, the second curved surface, the third curved surface and the fourth curved surface all extend helically in a direction of the first axis.

19 . The hinge assembly of claim 5 , wherein opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state is configured to be a threshold between suspending the door body and being unable to suspend, and when the opening angle of the door body is greater than the opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state, the door body is configured to suspend; and when the opening angle of the door body is less than the opening angle of the door body corresponding to the third state, the door body is not configured to suspend.

Priority Claims (1)
CN 202310746653.3 · Jun 20, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240426151A1 · Dec 26, 2024
References Cited (38)
US 3975794A · Kaiser · 1976 [cited by examiner]
US 4215449A · Loikitz · 1980 [cited by examiner]
US 7062817B2 · Lee · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 7320152B2 · Lowry · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 7383618B2 · Lu · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 7818845B2 · Hu · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 8444234B2 · Kim · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 8745820B2 · Janak · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8770675B2 · Vom Stein · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9290880B2 · Park · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9291385B2 · Hwang · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9394645B2 · Park · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9416574B2 · Mitchell · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9957743B2 · Chen · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 9995069B2 · Ghantous · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 11435024B2 · Chen · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11767694B2 · Naganuma · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 12139951B2 · Lehti · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20050091794A1 · Kang · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060032022A1 · Minami · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060242792A1 · Kienle · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20090126154A1 · Lin · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20240068286A1 · Larson · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240209664A1 · Liang · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20240426151A1 · Liang · 2024 [cited by examiner]
CN 107165516A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 110593687A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 217950072U · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 116146062A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 3384116B1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
IT 201900005910A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 100688943B1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
KR 101236011B1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
KR 20140030760A · 2014 [cited by examiner]
KR 101920970B1 · 2018 [cited by examiner]
KR 102773217B1 · 2025 [cited by examiner]
First search report received in Chinese priority application No. 202310746653.3; mailed Jan. 22, 2025. [cited by applicant]
EESR received in EP Application No. 23203662.4, mailed Mar. 18, 2024. [cited by applicant]