Granted Patent B2

US 12,650,257 · App. 18/662,453 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventor: Isaiah A. Littlejohn (Louisville, KY)

Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

F25D23/028F25D2323/024

Abstract

Claims (26)

1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, the cabinet comprising a top wall, the top wall comprising a top face; and

a hinge cover assembly disposed at the top wall of the cabinet, the hinge cover assembly defining one or more enclosures at the top wall of the cabinet, and configured to cover at least a portion of a refrigerator door hinge, the hinge cover assembly comprising:

one or more tops plates hingeably connected to the top face of the cabinet,

wherein the one or more top plates are each hingeable between a corresponding open position and a corresponding closed position to selectively permit access to at least a portion of the one or more enclosures at the top wall of the cabinet, and wherein the one or more top plates are parallel to the top face in the closed position.

2 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the hinge cover assembly further comprises one or more hinge mounts positioned at the top face of the cabinet, wherein the one or more top plates are hingeably connected to the one or more hinge mounts to form a living hinge at the top face of the cabinet.

3 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the one or more hinge mounts comprises a first hinge mount and a second hinge mount, wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount are positioned at the top face of the cabinet, wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount are positioned at opposing sides of the cabinet, and wherein the one or more top plates comprises a main plate hingeably connected to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount.

4 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 3 , wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount each comprise a locating pin extending upward therefrom, wherein the main plate comprises one or more locating slots for locating the top plate to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount in the closed position.

5 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 3 , wherein the hinge cover assembly comprises one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners temporarily fasten the main plate to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount in the closed position.

6 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the hinge cover assembly further comprises one or more dedicated hinges, wherein each dedicated hinge of the one or more dedicated hinges comprises a first element and second element, wherein the first element of each dedicated hinge is hingeably coupled to the second element of each dedicated hinge, wherein the first element of each dedicated hinge is fastened to the top face of the cabinet, and wherein the second element of each dedicated hinge is coupled to the one or more top plates.

7 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 6 , wherein the cabinet comprises a front edge and a pair of opposing side edges, wherein the one or more dedicated hinges define an axis of rotation extending parallel to one of the front edge or the pair of opposing side edges.

8 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more top plates comprise a metal material.

9 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein one or more components of the refrigerator appliance are housed within the one or more enclosures.

10 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, the cabinet comprising bottom side and top side spaced apart along the vertical direction;

a hinge cover assembly disposed at the top side of the cabinet, the hinge cover assembly defining an enclosure at the top side of the cabinet, the hinge cover assembly comprising:

a first hinge mount disposed at the top side of the cabinet;

a second hinge mount disposed at the top side of the cabinet, the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount spaced apart along the lateral direction; and

a top plate hingeably connected to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount,

wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount define an axis of rotation extending parallel to the lateral direction,

wherein the top plate is hingeably connected to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount, wherein the top plate is hingeable about the axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount are configured to attach doors of the refrigerator appliance to the cabinet.

11 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the cabinet comprises a first side and a second side spaced apart along the lateral direction and a front side and a rear side spaced apart along the transverse direction, wherein the first hinge mount is positioned proximate the first side and the front side, and wherein the second hinge mount is positioned proximate the second side and the front side.

12 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount each comprise a locating pin extending upward therefrom, wherein the top plate comprises one or more locating slots for locating the top plate to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount in a closed position.

13 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the hinge cover assembly comprises one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners temporarily fasten the top plate to the first hinge mount and the second hinge mount in a closed position.

14 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein the top plate comprises a metal material.

15 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , wherein one or more components of the refrigerator appliance are housed within the enclosure.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (10)