US3738727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Appliance anti-tip device
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-12-17
•
Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1991-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A free-standing appliance cabinet of the type having a door hinged to swing outwardly to provide access to the inside of the cabinet has an anti-tip arm supported within the cabinet for movement of the cabinet to a tip-preventing position. The antitip arm is interconnected with the door so that it is moved outwardly to its tip-preventing position when the door is opened and is retracted when the door is closed. The anti-tip arm is adapted to provide support to the cabinet whereby tipping of the cabinet, in a forwardly direction in response to force downwardly on the open door surface, is prevented. The anti-tip arm has means therewith operable to lock the arm to the cabinet in the event that a tipping force is exerted on some part of the machine other than the open door, such as downwardly against an outwardly extended upper rack, to further prevent tilting or upsetting of the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 M Race
- 👤 L Martiniak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:48
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L15/00; A47L15/42; A47L15/4251; A47L15/427; A47L15/4257; A47L15/4261; A47L15/4253
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An appliance cabinet structure comprising: a closure member for the cabinet movable from a closed to an open position, an anti-tip arm carried by the cabinet for movement from a retracted position to a tip-preventing position, and means acting as an incident of initially tipping the cabinet to lock the anti-tip arm in its tip-preventing position and thereby prevent upsetting of the cabinet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An appliance cabinet structure comprising: a closure member for the cabinet movable from a closed to an open position, an anti-tip arm carried by the cabinet for movement from a retracted position to a tip-preventing position, and means acting as an incident of initially tipping the cabinet to lock the anti-tip arm in its tip-preventing position and thereby prevent upsetting of the cabinet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the anti-tip arm is responsive to movement of the closure member such that the anti-tip arm moves to the tip-preventing position as the closure member is moved to the open position and retracts inwardly as the closure member is moved to the closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 further comprising a retractable stop arm for supporting the door in its open position, and wherein the anti-tip arm is an extending portion of the stop arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the anti-tip arm, in its retracted position, is contained entirely within the cabinet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the locking means is releasable automatically as an incident of uprighting the cabinet to its normal erect position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the locking means includes a notch provided in the anti-tip arm and a ridge portion on the cabinet structure that seats in the notch in response to the initial tilting of the cabinet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
An appliance cabinet structure of the type adapted to be free-standing and self-supporting on a floor surface, comprising: a closure member for the cabinet pivotally movable from a closed to an open position, an anti-tip arm in the cabinet adapted to move from between a retracted position and an extended position in unison with opening and closing of the closure member, the cabinet having a front side with the closure member extending in a generally vertical plane thereon when in its closed position and a recessed front toe kick area below the closure member, the anti-tip arm being disposed whereby, when extended, an end thereof extends across the toe kick area and toward the floor surface beneath the cabinet structure and terminates substantially within the toe kick area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
An appliance cabinet structure of the type adapted to be free-standing and self-supporting on a floor surface, comprising: a closure member for the cabinet pivotally movable from a closed to an open position, an anti-tip arm in the cabinet adapted to move from between a retracted position and an extended position in unison with opening and closing of the closure member, the cabinet having a front side with the closure member extending in a generally vertical plane thereon when in its closed position and a recessed front toe kick area below the closure member, the anti-tip arm being disposed whereby, when extended, an end thereof extends across the toe kick area and toward the floor surface beneath the cabinet structure and terminates substantially within the toe kick area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure of claim 7 further comprising a stop arm adapted to limit the pivotal opening movement of the closure member and support the closure member in the open position, and the stop arm being integral with the anti-tip arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3150905A
Cited
US3150904A
Cited
US3322480A
Cited
US3393950A
Cited
US3639025A
Cited
US3603658A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |