초록 ▼

Uniform compression of a refrigerator door seal against the peripheral surface of the cabinet opening is realized by a pair of spaced hinge assemblies coupled for synchronized operation which, in automatic response to opening the door, shifts the hinge axis outwardly prior to permitting pivotal move

Uniform compression of a refrigerator door seal against the peripheral surface of the cabinet opening is realized by a pair of spaced hinge assemblies coupled for synchronized operation which, in automatic response to opening the door, shifts the hinge axis outwardly prior to permitting pivotal movement of the door about the hinge axis, and requires the door to be moved linearly inwardly while being maintained parallel to the plane of the cabinet opening during final closing of the door.

대표청구항 ▼

A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a cabinet opening defined by a peripheral surface and permitting the door to pivot about a hinge axis between open and closed positions, which assembly comprises: a) a housing for attachment to the cabinet; b) a mounting plate for attachment to the door, the m

A hinge assembly for mounting a door to a cabinet opening defined by a peripheral surface and permitting the door to pivot about a hinge axis between open and closed positions, which assembly comprises: a) a housing for attachment to the cabinet; b) a mounting plate for attachment to the door, the mounting plate including a pivot pin; c) an elongate bar slidably disposed in the housing for extension and retraction relative thereto between a maximum extension position and a full retraction position, limiting means for determining the maximum extension position of the bar, and the bar including an outer end engageable with the pivot pin to define a pivotal hinge axis for the door, whereby extension and retraction of the bar causes a respective outward and inward shifting of the hinge axis relative to the cabinet; d) an elongate arm slidably disposed in the housing for extension and retraction relative thereto, the arm being extendable from the housing to a full withdrawal position, and including an outer end rigidly secured to the mounted plate; and e) locking means operable in response to disposition of the arm in the full withdrawal position and initial pivoting of the door for securing the bar against retraction in the maximum extension position and permitting the door to pivot outwardly about the hinge axis into the open position only when the full withdrawal position is reached.