Abstract: A damped hinge assembly includes a hinge arm adapted to be connected to an associated appliance body. A channel is pivotally connected to the hinge arm and is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A damper is operatively connected between the channel and the hinge arm. The damper includes a body defining a bore and a piston slidably received in the bore. A rod is connected to the piston and projects outward from the bore. A damper fluid is contained in the bore and acts on the piston to dampen sliding movement of the piston in at least one direction in the bore. A spring is located in the bore and acts on the piston to bias the piston toward one end of the bore. An oven or other appliance includes at least one damped hinge assembly.

Abstract: A damped hinge assembly includes a hinge arm adapted to be connected to an associated appliance body. A channel is pivotally connected to the hinge arm and is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A damper is operatively connected between the channel and the hinge arm. The damper includes a body defining a bore and a piston slidably received in the bore. A rod is connected to the piston and projects outward from the bore. A damper fluid is contained in the bore and acts on the piston to dampen sliding movement of the piston in at least one direction in the bore. A spring is located in the bore and acts on the piston to bias the piston toward one end of the bore. An oven or other appliance includes at least one damped hinge assembly.

Abstract: A breakaway hinge receptacle includes a base including first and second hinge arm mounting structures. The second hinge arm mounting structure is movable between an operative position and a breakaway position. A breakaway lever is connected to the base and includes inner and outer ends, wherein the inner end is operatively engaged with the second hinge arm mounting structure. A spring is operatively engaged between the breakaway lever and the base. The spring biases the breakaway lever to a first position in which the inner end of the breakaway lever biases the second mounting structure to its operative position. The second hinge arm mounting structure is selectively movable from its operative position to its breakaway position against the biasing force exerted by the inner end of said breakaway lever and the spring. Alternatively, the second hinge arm mounting structure is defined by or is connected to or is otherwise included on the inner end of the breakaway lever.

Abstract: A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge includes a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. The base includes: (i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base. The cam includes: (i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, with a first end of the camshaft located in the first notch portion and a second end of the camshaft located in the second notch portion; and, (ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft. The hinge assembly includes a biasing spring that comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. The outer end of said spring is located outside the channel.

Abstract: A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge includes a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. The base includes: (i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base. The cam includes: (i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, with a first end of the camshaft located in the first notch portion and a second end of the camshaft located in the second notch portion; and, (ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft. The hinge assembly includes a biasing spring that comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. The outer end of said spring is located outside the channel.

Abstract: A breakaway hinge receptacle includes a base including first and second hinge arm mounting structures. The second hinge arm mounting structure is movable between an operative position and a breakaway position. A breakaway lever is connected to the base and includes inner and outer ends, wherein the inner end is operatively engaged with the second hinge arm mounting structure. A spring is operatively engaged between the breakaway lever and the base. The spring biases the breakaway lever to a first position in which the inner end of the breakaway lever biases the second mounting structure to its operative position. The second hinge arm mounting structure is selectively movable from its operative position to its breakaway position against the biasing force exerted by the inner end of said breakaway lever and the spring. Alternatively, the second hinge arm mounting structure is defined by or is connected to or is otherwise included on the inner end of the breakaway lever.

Abstract: A breakaway hinge receptacle includes a base including first and second hinge arm mounting structures. The second hinge arm mounting structure is movable between an operative position and a breakaway position. A breakaway lever is connected to the base and includes inner and outer ends, wherein the inner end is operatively engaged with the second hinge arm mounting structure. A spring is operatively engaged between the breakaway lever and the base. The spring biases the breakaway lever to a first position in which the inner end of the breakaway lever biases the second mounting structure to its operative position. The second hinge arm mounting structure is selectively movable from its operative position to its breakaway position against the biasing force exerted by the inner end of said breakaway lever and the spring. Alternatively, the second hinge arm mounting structure is defined by or is connected to or is otherwise included on the inner end of the breakaway lever.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a base and a lever pivotally connected to the base. The lever includes an outer end adapted for being connected to an associated appliance door and an inner end. A cam is pivotally connected to the inner end of the lever and includes a contoured lobe edge. A cam control member is connected to the base. A spring includes a first end connected to the cam. The spring exerts a biasing force on the cam in a first direction such that said lever is urged toward a first position and said contoured lobe edge of said cam is urged into abutment with the cam control member. The lever is selectively movable from its first position against the biasing force of the spring to a second position. The cam control member contacts a first portion of the contoured lobe edge when the lever is located in its first position, and the cam control member contacts a second portion of the contoured lobe edge when the lever is located in its second position.

Abstract: A motorized hinge system for an oven door includes first and second hinge assemblies. At least one hinge assembly is motorized. In the motorized hinge assembly, a first hinge portion is connected to the oven door and a second hinge portion connected to the oven body. A door control arm has first end connected to the first hinge portion and a second end spaced from the first end. A motor is connected to the oven body and includes an actuator that is driven by the motor. The actuator is operably coupled to the door control arm and is movable in first and second directions by the motor to move the door control arm and door in corresponding first and second directions pivotally relative to the second hinge portion. In one example, the actuator is a lead screw type actuator. A non-motorized hinge assembly is also used together with the motorized hinge assembly to connect the oven door to the body. The non-motorized hinge assembly is spring-biased to urge the door toward its closed position.

Abstract: A motorized oven latch includes a base plate. A latch member is slidably connected to the base plate by a first mounting stud or first and second mounting studs connected to the latch member and located in a contoured slot defined in the base plate. The latch member includes an inner end and an outer end, and the outer end includes a hook adapted to engage an oven door. A motor is drivingly coupled to the latch member, and the motor is selectively operative to move the latch member forward and rearward relative to said base plate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the latch member moves on a non-linear path relative to the base plate in response to movement of the first mounting stud or both the first and second mounting studs in the contoured slot when the motor moves the latch member forward to the unlocked position or rearward to the locked position.

Abstract: A breakaway hinge system for an appliance door includes a claw and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain the claw. The receptacle includes a support member and at least one hinge mounting structure that is engaged by the claw. The at least one hinge mounting structure is movable relative to the support member between first and second positions. A spring biases the at least one hinge mounting structure to the first operative position, and the at least one hinge mounting structure is movable to the second position in response to application of force to the hinge assembly having a magnitude sufficient to overcome the spring. The at least one hinge mounting structure can be a pin or like structure provided as part of a pair of pins connected directly or indirectly to the support member.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a claw and a body pivotally connected to the claw and movable to and between a first operative position and a second operative position. A link assembly operably interconnects the claw and the body. The link assembly includes at least one link pivotally connected to the claw and a spring connected between the link and an anchor point. A latch is movably connected to the claw, and the latch is movable to and between a locked position where it is adapted to engage an associated mounting receptacle to prevent separation of the claw from the mounting receptacle, and an unlocked position. Te hinge assembly can be provided as part of a door mounting system that also includes a mating mounting receptacle.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance includes a claw and a channel pivotably connected to the claw. A link assembly is operably connected between the claw and the channel. The link assembly includes a link connected to the claw and a lever connected to the link. A glide member is connected to the lever and movably engaged with said channel. The glide member is slidably movable between first and second operative positions in response to movement of the channel relative to the claw between first and second positions, respectively. A spring is operably connected to a first end of the lever and biases the glide member into engagement with the channel.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance comprises a channel and a stop connected to the channel. A door mounting lever pivots relative to the channel about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a first direction about said pivot axis on the arc and second operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a second direction opposite the first direction about the pivot axis on the arc. A glide is operatively coupled to the door mounting lever, e.g., by way of a spring cam member, and is movable slidably on the stop in response to movement of the door mounting lever. A spring biases the glide into continuous engagement with the stop when the door mounting lever is located in both the first and second operative positions and when the door mounting lever moves between the first and second operative positions.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for connecting an appliance door to an appliance frame includes a claw and a channel pivotally connected to the claw. A single link member is pivotally connected to the claw, and the link member defines first and second contact surfaces. The second contact surface defines an operative portion and a break-away portion separated from the operative portion by a peak. A spring is operably engaged between the link member and the channel. A link control member is connected to the channel and contacts the second contact surface of the link member. The channel is movable from a first operative position in a first direction on arc of 90 degrees or less to a second operative position where the link control member is in contact with the operative portion of the second contact surface of the link.

Abstract: A dampened hinge and hinge system for appliances is provided. The system includes first and second hinge portions, at least one of which includes a dampener. The dampener can be a push-dampener, a pull-dampener or a push/pull-dampener. The hinge system allows for movement of the door between a closed position, a fully opened position and a secondary opened position such as a broil-stop position, and the door is self-supporting in the secondary opened position. The first and second hinge portions each include a guide channel, a claw pivotably connected to the guide channel and a link having a first end connected to the claw. The first hinge portion includes a spring having a first end connected to a second end of the link and a second end connected to the guide channel. The second hinge portion includes a dampener that is operably connected between the guide channel and the second end of the link. Both the first and second hinge portions can include a dampener.

Abstract: A breakaway hinge system for an appliance door includes a claw and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain the claw. The receptacle includes a support member and at least one hinge mounting structure that is engaged by the claw. The at least one hinge mounting structure is movable relative to the support member between first and second positions. A spring biases the at least one hinge mounting structure to the first operative position, and the at least one hinge mounting structure is movable to the second position in response to application of force to the hinge assembly having a magnitude sufficient to overcome the spring. The at least one hinge mounting structure can be a pin or like structure provided as part of a pair of pins connected directly or indirectly to the support member.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance comprises a channel and a stop connected to the channel. A door mounting lever pivots relative to the channel about a pivot axis on an arc between a first operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a first direction about said pivot axis on the arc and second operative position where the door mounting lever is moved a maximum extent in a second direction opposite the first direction about the pivot axis on the arc. A glide is operatively coupled to the door mounting lever, e.g., by way of a spring cam member, and is movable slidably on the stop in response to movement of the door mounting lever. A spring biases the glide into continuous engagement with the stop when the door mounting lever is located in both the first and second operative positions and when the door mounting lever moves between the first and second operative positions.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for an appliance includes a claw and a channel pivotably connected to the claw. A link assembly is operably connected between the claw and the channel. The link assembly includes a link connected to the claw and a lever connected to the link. A glide member is connected to the lever and movably engaged with said channel. The glide member is slidably movable between first and second operative positions in response to movement of the channel relative to the claw between first and second positions, respectively. A spring is operably connected to a first end of the lever and biases the glide member into engagement with the channel.

Abstract: A dampened hinge and hinge system for appliances is provided. The system includes first and second hinge portions, at least one of which includes a dampener. The dampener can be a push-dampener, a pull-dampener or a push/pull-dampener. The hinge system allows for movement of the door between a closed position, a fully opened position and a secondary opened position such as a broil-stop position, and the door is self-supporting in the secondary opened position. The first and second hinge portions each include a guide channel, a claw pivotably connected to the guide channel and a link having a first end connected to the claw. The first hinge portion includes a spring having a first end connected to a second end of the link and a second end connected to the guide channel. The second hinge portion includes a dampener that is operably connected between the guide channel and the second end of the link. Both the first and second hinge portions can include a dampener.