Appliance door control mechanism

Claim 2

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure supportable juxtaposed a substantially horizontal surface and having an access opening on one side; door means normally operable between a closed position covering said access opening and an open position extending substantially horizontally from said cabinet structure spaced above said horizontal surface and hinge means including a hinge pin juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for pivotally supporting said door on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: a first gear means mounted on said door means for movement with the door means about said hinge pin; second gear means movably mounted on said cabinet structure and operatively engageable with said first gear means; and biasing means for preloading said second gear means to a predetermined position for yieldingly restraining said first and second gear means to prevent movement of said door means beyond said horizontally extending open position with less than a predetermined loading on said door means, said first gear means being operable responsive to a loading on said door means exceeding said predetermined loading for overcoming the preloaded biasing of said second gear means and effecting controlled movement of said door means to an overload position at which a portion of said door means engages said horizontal surface.

Claim 3

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said door means and said first gear means is freely movable from said closed position to said open position and wherein said first gear means is engageable with said preloaded second gear means at said open position for effectively locaTing said door means in said open position.

Claim 4

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said second gear means is mounted on a pivot pin supported by said cabinet structure and wherein said biasing means is in the form of a spring member operable as an over-center spring to preload said second gear means and resist movement of said second gear means in a first direction while oriented on one side of said pivot pin and operable for biasing said second gear means in said first direction to effectively retain said door means in said overload position after the spring passes over the pivot pin responsive to movement of said door means to said overload position.

Claim 5

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means connected between said cabinet structure and said door means for at least partially compensating for the weight of said door means as said door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure and including a first member in the form of an arm mounted on said door means for movement therewith and for movement relative to said cabinet structure, a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; and second biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said second member in said predetermined position being connectable with said first member only upon movement of said door means to said open position from said closed position whereby movement of said door means from said closed position to said open position is independent of said second biasing means, said first member and said second member being cooperable with said second biasing means at said open position to yieldably locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon, said door movement control means being operable for effecting an operative connection of said second biasing means to said door means for biasingly resisting movement of said door means toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon.

Claim 6

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means connected between said cabinet structure and said door means for at least partially compensating for the weight of said door means as said door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure and including a first member in the form of an arm mounted on said door means for movement therewith and for movement relative to said cabinet structure, a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; and second biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said second member in said predetermined position being connectable with said first member only upon movement of said door means to said open position from said closed position whereby movement of said door means from said closed position to said open position is independent of said second biasing means, said first member and said second member being cooperable with said second biasing means at said open position to yieldably locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon, said door movement control means being operable for effecting an operative connection of said second biasing means to said door means for biasingly resisting movement of said door means toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon.

Claim 7

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 4 wherein said first member includes a gear segment adjacent one end thereof and wherein said second member includes a gear portion initially engageable with the gear segment of said first member at said predetermined position to effectively locate said door means in said open position and operable as mating gears during movement of said door means from said open to said overload position.

Claim 8

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 4 wherein said first member is mounted on said door means for movement therewith, said second member is pivotally mounted on said cabinet structure, and wherein said door movement control means further includes an intermediate linkage means operatively connecting said first and second members at said predetermined position to effectively locate said door means in said open position.

Claim 9

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 4 wherein said second biasing means is further operable for yieldably maintaining said door means in said overload position.

Claim 10

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 7 wherein said second biasing means is in the form of an over-center spring operable in the overload position of said door means for applying a generally opposite force to said second member for yieldably maintaining said door means in said overload poSition and wherein said door means is manually operable from said overload position to said open position for resetting said first and second members to their respective positions corresponding to the open position of said door means for further control of said door means.

Claim 11

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure supportable juxtaposed a substantially horizontal surface and having an access opening on one side; door means normally operable between a closed position covering said access opening and a substantially horizontal open position spaced above said horizontal surface; hinge means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means operative between said cabinet structure and said door means at least partially compensating for the weight of said door means as said door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: a first member in the form of an arm mounted on said door means for movement therewith and for movement relative to said cabinet structure; a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure; stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; and second biasing means for biasing said second member into a preloaded engagement with said stop means, said second member in said predetermined position being engageable with said first member only upon movement of said door means to said open position from said closed position whereby movement of said door means from said closed position to said open position is independent of said second biasing means, said first member and said second member being operable at said open position for connecting said second biasing means to said door means to locate said door means in said open position and to effectively prevent movement of said door means beyond said substantially horizontal open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon, said second member being movable from said predetermined position in cooperation with said first member responsive to loading on said door means exceeding said predetermined loading for maintaining the connection of said second biasing means to said door means during at least a portion of the movement of said door means between said open position and an overload position for applying a force to said door means in a direction opposing movement of said door means toward said overload position and assisting in the return of said door means toward said open position and thereby effecting controlled movement of said door means between said open position and said overload position at which a portion of said door means engages said horizontal surface.

Claim 12

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure supportable juxtaposed a substantially horizontal surface and having an access opening on one side; door means normally operable between a closed position covering said access opening and a substantially horizontal open position spaced above said horizontal surface; hinge means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means operative between said cabinet structure and said door means at least partially compensating for the weight of said door means as said door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: a first member in the form of an arm mounted on said door means for movement therewith and for movement relative to said cabinet structure; a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure; stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; and second biasing means for biasing said second member into a preloaded engagement with said stop means, said second member in said predetermined position being engageable with said first member only upon movement of said door means to said open position from said closed position whereby movement of said door means from said closed position to said open position is independent of said second biasing means, said first member and said second member being operable at said open position for connecting said second biasing means to said door means to locate said door means in said open position and to effectively prevent movement of said door means beyond said substantially horizontal open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon, said second member being movable from said predetermined position in cooperation with said first member responsive to loading on said door means exceeding said predetermined loading for maintaining the connection of said second biasing means to said door means during at least a portion of the movement of said door means between said open position and an overload position for applying a force to said door means in a direction opposing movement of said door means toward said overload position and assisting in the return of said door means toward said open position and thereby effecting controlled movement of said door means between said open position and said overload position at which a portion of said door means engages said horizontal surface.

Claim 13

In a front opening appliance as defined in claim 9 wherein said second biasing means is in the form of an over-center spring connected between said second member and said cabinet structure and operable for resisting movement of said door means from said open position to said overload position and further operable for yieldably maintaining said door means in said overload position upon movement of said door means to the overload position.

Claim 14

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet structure between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure to locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and to control movement of said door means toward said overload ns position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon, said door movement control means including a first memBer mounted on said door means for movement therewith, a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member for engagement with said first member at the open position of said door means, and biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said biasing means comprising an over-center spring connected between said cabinet structure and said second member for operative connection to said door means through said first and second members at said open position of said door means, said over-center spring having a preloaded condition to effectively locate said door means in said open position and operable for resisting movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position, said over-center spring being movable relative to said cabinet structure as said door means moves toward said overload position and operative in said overload position for biasing said second member away from said stop means to yieldably maintain said door means in said overload position.

Claim 15

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet structure between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure to locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and to control movement of said door means toward said overload ns position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon, said door movement control means including a first memBer mounted on said door means for movement therewith, a second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member for engagement with said first member at the open position of said door means, and biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said biasing means comprising an over-center spring connected between said cabinet structure and said second member for operative connection to said door means through said first and second members at said open position of said door means, said over-center spring having a preloaded condition to effectively locate said door means in said open position and operable for resisting movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position, said over-center spring being movable relative to said cabinet structure as said door means moves toward said overload position and operative in said overload position for biasing said second member away from said stop means to yieldably maintain said door means in said overload position.

Claim 16

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable between a closed position covering said access opening and an open position extending generally outwardly from said cabinet structure; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for pivotally supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: a first door movement control member mounted on said door means; a second door movement control member movably mounted on said cabinet structure; stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; means for effecting operative interconnection of said first member and said second member at said open position; and biasing means in the form of an over-center spring connected between said cabinet structure and said second member and in a first posture being operable on said second member to preload said second member into engagement with said stop member, said first and second members, said interconnection means and said biasing means being cooperable to resist movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position for yieldably maintaining said door means in said open position with less than a predeterminded loading thereon and being responsive to a predetermined overload on said door means in said open position for effecting controlled movement of said door means from said open position to an overload position, said biasing means being movable to a second posture upon movement of said door means to said overload position and operable in said second posture for applying a generally opposite force to said second member to yieldably maintain said door means in said overload position, said door means being manually movable from said overload position toward said open position for resetting said first and second members and said interconnection means to positions corresponding to the open position of said door means.

Claim 17

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable between a closed position covering said access opening and an open position extending generally outwardly from said cabinet structure; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for pivotally supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: a first door movement control member mounted on said door means; a second door movement control member movably mounted on said cabinet structure; stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position; means for effecting operative interconnection of said first member and said second member at said open position; and biasing means in the form of an over-center spring connected between said cabinet structure and said second member and in a first posture being operable on said second member to preload said second member into engagement with said stop member, said first and second members, said interconnection means and said biasing means being cooperable to resist movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position for yieldably maintaining said door means in said open position with less than a predeterminded loading thereon and being responsive to a predetermined overload on said door means in said open position for effecting controlled movement of said door means from said open position to an overload position, said biasing means being movable to a second posture upon movement of said door means to said overload position and operable in said second posture for applying a generally opposite force to said second member to yieldably maintain said door means in said overload position, said door means being manually movable from said overload position toward said open position for resetting said first and second members and said interconnection means to positions corresponding to the open position of said door means.

Claim 18

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means operative between said cabinet structure and said door means at least partially compensating for weight of said door means as door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure and including a first member mounted on said door means for movement therewith, A second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member for engagement with said first member at the open position of said door means, and second biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said door movement control means being operable to locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and to control movement of said door means during movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon, said preloaded second biasing means being operable during at least a portion of the movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position for resisting continued movement of said door means with an opposing force at least as great as the force resisting movement from the open position.

Claim 19

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means operable relative to said cabinet between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure; and first biasing means operative between said cabinet structure and said door means at least partially compensating for weight of said door means as door means is moved from said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure and including a first member mounted on said door means for movement therewith, A second member movably mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member for engagement with said first member at the open position of said door means, and second biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, said door movement control means being operable to locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and to control movement of said door means during movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon, said preloaded second biasing means being operable during at least a portion of the movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position for resisting continued movement of said door means with an opposing force at least as great as the force resisting movement from the open position.

Claim 20

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means movable relative to said cabinet structure between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure, said door movement control means including a first member mounted on said door means, a second member pivotally mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position, biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, and means comprising a cable for operatively connecting said first member to said second member upon movement of said door means to the open position from said closed position whereby said biasing means becomes initially connected to said door means at the open position of said door means, said door movement control means being operable to yieldably locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and being operable through the cable connection for directly resisting movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon.

Claim 21

In a front opening appliance including a cabinet structure having an access opening on one generally vertical side; door means movable relative to said cabinet structure between a closed position covering said access opening, a normal open position, and an overload position; and hinge means juxtaposed the lower portion of said door means for movably supporting said door means on said cabinet structure, wherein the improvement comprises: door movement control means for controlling movement of said door means relative to said cabinet structure, said door movement control means including a first member mounted on said door means, a second member pivotally mounted on said cabinet structure, stop means mounted on said cabinet structure for engagement with said second member to locate said second member at a predetermined position, biasing means for biasing said second member into engagement with said stop means, and means comprising a cable for operatively connecting said first member to said second member upon movement of said door means to the open position from said closed position whereby said biasing means becomes initially connected to said door means at the open position of said door means, said door movement control means being operable to yieldably locate said door means in said open position with less than a predetermined loading thereon and being operable through the cable connection for directly resisting movement of said door means from said open position toward said overload position with greater than said predetermined loading thereon.