Load limiting hinge with spring loaded gate for freestanding appliance

Abstract

A home appliance including an oven, a door pivotably coupled to the oven that is configured to rotate relative to the front of the oven about a first axis, and a rod pivotably coupled to the oven. The rod has a pin secured thereto that is configured to move along a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis as the door is rotated about the first axis. A first gate is positioned along the second axis, and a second gate is positioned along the second axis opposite the first gate. When the door is rotated to a predetermined position about the first axis, the first gate and the second gate are moved apart such that movement of the pin along the second axis is permitted.

1 . A home appliance comprising:
 an oven,   a door positioned at the front of the oven, and   a hinge assembly configured to move the door about a first axis, the hinge assembly including:
 a hinge housing secured to the door at a first end and pivotably coupled to the oven at a second end, the hinge housing having a slot extending in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, 
 a follower positioned within the slot and moveable between a first end and a second end of the slot, 
 a rod pivotably coupled to the oven, the rod being coupled to the follower, and 
 a moveable gateway positioned adjacent to the first end of the slot, the gateway being biased in a closed position to prevent movement of the follower toward the first end of the slot, 
   wherein when the door is rotated to a predetermined position, the gateway is moved to an open position such that movement of the follower toward the first end of the slot is permitted.   
     
     
         2 . The home appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a spring having a first end secured to the gateway and a second end secured to the door, and the spring biases the gateway in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The home appliance of  claim 2 , wherein when the door is rotated to the predetermined position the spring is compressed such that the gateway is moved to the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The home appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge housing is pivotably coupled to the oven at a first pivot joint defining the first axis, and the movement of the hinge housing about the first axis causes the rotation of the door relative to the front of the oven. 
     
     
         5 . The home appliance of  claim 4 , wherein (i) the rod is pivotably coupled to the oven at a second pivot joint defining a second axis, and (ii) the movement of the hinge housing about the first axis causes the rod to move about the second axis. 
     
     
         6 . The home appliance of  claim 4 , wherein movement of the hinge housing about the first axis causes the follower to move within the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The home appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the gateway includes a first gate and a second gate positioned within a track extending perpendicular to the slot,
 the first gate is configured to move along the track in a first direction, and   the second gate is configured to move along the track in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         8 . The home appliance of  claim 7 , wherein when the gateway is positioned in the closed position, the first gate contacts the second gate. 
     
     
         9 . The home appliance of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a first spring secured thereto,   the second gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a second spring secured thereto, and   the first spring and the second spring bias the first gate into contact with the second gate such that the gateway is positioned in the closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The home appliance of  claim 9 , wherein when the door is rotated to the predetermined position:
 the first gate is moved in the first direction,   the second gate is moved in the second direction, and   the follower is positioned between the first gate and the second gate.   
     
     
         11 . A home appliance comprising:
 an oven,   a door pivotably coupled to the oven, the door being configured to rotate relative to the front of the oven about a first axis,   a rod pivotably coupled to the oven and having a pin secured thereto, the pin being configured to move along a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis as the door is rotated about the first axis,   a first gate positioned along the second axis, and   a second gate positioned along the second axis opposite the first gate and contacting the first gate to prevent movement of the pin along the second axis,   wherein when the door is rotated to a predetermined position about the first axis, the first gate and the second gate are moved apart such that movement of the pin along the second axis is permitted.   
     
     
         12 . The home appliance of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a first spring secured thereto,   the second gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a second spring secured thereto, and   the first spring and the second spring bias the first gate into contact with the second gate.   
     
     
         13 . The home appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a lower frame having a number of downwardly extending legs configured to contact a floor,   a housing extending upwardly from the lower frame, the housing having the oven secured thereto and a mounting slot positioned adjacent to the opening of the oven, and   a hinge plate extending from a first end to a second end, the first end being received in the mounting slot and the second end being pivotably coupled to the door at a first pivot joint,   wherein the first pivot joint defines the first axis.   
     
     
         14 . The home appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the rod is pivotably coupled to the hinge plate at a second pivot joint. 
     
     
         15 . A home appliance comprising:
 an oven,   a door pivotably coupled to the oven, the door being configured to rotate relative to the front of the oven about a first axis,   a housing secured to the door, the housing having a slot defined therein, the slot having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first axis,   a rod pivotably coupled to the oven, the rod having a pin extending therefrom positioned within the slot and moveable along the longitudinal axis of the slot,   a first gate positioned along the longitudinal axis of the slot, and   a second gate positioned along the longitudinal axis of the slot opposite the first gate and contacting the first gate to prevent movement of the pin toward an end of the slot,   wherein (i) an angle is defined between the door and the front of the oven as the door is rotated about the first axis, and (ii) when the angle is greater than 90° the first gate and the second gate are moved apart such that movement of the pin toward the end of the slot is permitted.   
     
     
         16 . The home appliance of  claim 15 , wherein when the angle defined between the door and the front of the oven is approximately equal to 90° the pin is placed in contact with the first gate and the second gate. 
     
     
         17 . The home appliance of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first gate is positioned within a track extending perpendicular to the slot and is configured to move along the track in a first direction when moved apart from the second gate, and   the second gate is positioned within the track and is configured to move along the track in a second direction opposite the first direction when moved apart from the first gate.   
     
     
         18 . The home appliance of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a first spring secured thereto,   the second gate extends from a tip configured to contact the second gate to a base having a second spring secured thereto, and   the first spring and the second spring bias the first gate into contact with the second gate.   
     
     
         19 . The home appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the housing has a first end coupled to the door and a second end pivotably coupled to the oven at a first pivot joint defining the first axis, wherein the movement of the hinge housing about the first axis causes the rotation of the door relative to the front of the oven.