US 12,421,648 B2
Hinge system for a laundry machine
Iftkhar Ahamad, Pune (IN); William Buscarato, Rio Claro (BR); Emmanuel Gonzaga, Rio Claro (BR); Vinayak Jadhav, Pune (IN); Helton Rossi, Rio Claro (BR); Chaitanya Salve, Pune (IN); and Hector A. Villarreal, Monterrey (MX)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,134.
Prior Publication US 2024/0191420 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. D06F 39/14 (2006.01); E05D 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 39/14 (2013.01) [E05D 3/02 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/312 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laundry machine comprising:
a cabinet defining an internal cavity;
a lid configured to transition between open and closed positions, wherein the lid covers an opening to the internal cavity in the closed position and provides access to the opening in the open position, wherein the lid includes (i) an upper panel, (ii) a web extending downward from a side edge of the upper panel, and (iii) a flange extending inward from the web, and wherein the upper panel, web, and flange collectively define a C-channel; and
a hinge rotatably securing the lid to the cabinet such that the lid transitions between the open and closed positions via the hinge, the hinge comprising,
a post secured to the cabinet, and
an L-shaped bracket secured to the lid and configured to rotatably receive the post such that the L-shaped bracket and lid are rotatable about the post to transition the lid between the open and closed positions, wherein (i) the L-shaped bracket includes first and second legs, (ii) the first leg is disposed within the C-channel, (iii) the second leg is disposed along a back edge of the lid, (iv) the second leg rotatably receives the post, (v) the second leg defines a notch, (vi) the post is disposed within the notch, (vii) a first internal surface of the L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch and defines a bushing orifice extending away from the notch, (viii) the post includes a base and a pin protruding outward from the base, (ix) the pin is disposed within the bushing orifice such that the L-shaped bracket and lid are rotatable about the post via the engagement between the pin and bushing orifice, (x) a second internal surface of the L-shaped bracket partially defines the notch and is adjacent to the first internal surface, and (xi) the second internal surface is configured to engage the base to limit a rotational range of the lid and maintain the lid in the open position.