"DOOR HINGE FOR AN APPLIANCE HAVING A WATER DISPENSER AND A REFRIGERATING APPLIANCE" Field of the Invention

The invention relates to refrigerating appliances, such as refrigerators and combined refrigerator- freezers, having a door provided with a dispenser for cold water and in which the supply of water to the dispenser is carried out by way of one of the hinges of the door. The invention is particularly related to a hinge construction for the doors of such appliances. Background of the Invention

There are available on the market today various types of household appliances, which supply cold water to a user. The most common types of these appliances include the known side-by-side, top mount or bottom mount combined refrigerator-freezers. A side-by-side combined refrigerator-freezer is characterized as having a freezer compartment located laterally adjacent to a refrigerator compartment for fresh food storage. A top mount combined refrigerator-freezer includes a refrigerator compartment vertically arranged above a freezer compartment . A bottom mount combined refrigerator-freezer has a refrigerator compartment disposed below a freezer compartment. There are also known the appliances comprising a stand alone refrigerator compartment and that do not _\ have a freezer compartment.

In each of these types of combined refrigerator- freezer and stand alone refrigerator appliances, it is known the provision of a water dispenser, which is directly accessible from the outside of the appliance cabinet. In such appliances, a water dispenser is located: on the cabinet door of .the side by side combined refrigerator-freezer; on the larger door of a combined refrigerator-freezer appliance with the

refrigerator and freezer compartments vertically located one above the other; or also on the door of a stand alone refrigerator. The water dispenser takes the form of a spigot only or a spigot combined with an ice-cube dispenser and sometimes with a crushed ice supply device. In any of these cases, it is necessary to supply cold water to the dispenser spigot. In a combined refrigerator-freezer or stand alone refrigerator, water from a source, such as in a household water pipe, is supplied via metal or plastic tube to a reservoir provided in the interior of the appliance, usually in the refrigerator compartment, where the water is chilled. The chilled water is supplied to the spigot of the dispenser device provided in the door of the refrigerating appliance, by way of a further tube which is routed through the insulation of the door, from the reservoir outlet until reaching the spigot of the dispenser device. Refrigerating appliances such as the combined refrigerator-freezers and stand alone refrigerators are sold to the consumer in a competitive marketplace. Therefore, in the manufacture of such appliances, it is desired to reduce costs. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide such combined refrigerator- freezer or stand alone refrigerators appliances that are able to dispense the provision of a reservoir for the chilled water, as well as the operations related to the supply of water to the spigot of the water dispenser, simplifying said supply. Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a solution for supplying chilled water to a water dispenser mounted in a door of a household refrigerating appliance, such as a combined refrigerator-freezer or a stand alone refrigerator, using a novel hinge for mounting the

door in which is provided the water dispenser of the appliance cabinet. In accordance with the invention, the hinge comprises a leaf to be mounted to the frame of the appliance cabinet and a housing extending from the leaf and internally presenting a water passage provided with an inlet and an outlet .

In a preferred embodiment, the water passage inlet of the hinge housing receives water directly from a coil shaped water chilling device provided in the interior of the appliance by way of a metal or plastic tube which is connected between the chilling coil outlet and an inlet fitting provided on the hinge leaf and that is part of the water passage inlet. There is also provided an outlet fitting as part of the water passage outlet of the hinge housing and to which one end of a tube is connected, the other end of said tube being connected to the spigot of the water dispenser. The hinge is mounted to the appliance frame by means of screws passing through the hinge leaf. The water passage inlet of the hinge housing extends transversely through the hinge leaf and the inlet fitting extends horizontally into the appliance frame so as to be accessible to allow the tube from the chilling coil to be connected, without having to provide any curvature in said tube so that it can be adapted to the inlet fitting in the water passage of the hinge. A hinge pin is formed on the hinge housing on which is pivotally mounted the refrigerating appliance door in which is provided the water dispenser. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge pin presents a through hole which communicates with the water passage of the hinge housing to serve as the outlet and there is also provided an outlet fitting which takes the form of an

extension of the hinge pin.

Also according to a preferred embodiment, the hinge is mounted at the top end of the door provided with the water dispenser so that a conduit from the water passage outlet of the hinge housing runs downwardly for a relatively short distance until reaching the spigot of the water dispenser.

The horizontal inlet fitting of the hinge of the present invention permits the tube from the chilling coil to be horizontal and straight at its attachment point with the inlet fitting. This avoids the inlet tube from having to be bent to be coupled to the inlet fitting or the need for additional fittings. The vertical outlet fitting of the hinge directed to the spigot of the water dispenser can be positioned upwardly or downwardly, depending on the type of refrigerating appliance and there is a direct vertical run of the tube connecting the outlet fitting to the spigot of the water dispenser. The horizontal inlet fitting of the hinge, the internal water passage and the vertical outlet fitting effectively form a 90° piping elbow. This facilitates the mounting of the inlet tube from the chilling coil in the upper or in the lower portion of the cabinet frame. The provision of a chilling coil inside the refrigerator compartment and connected to the water dispenser in the door is already know in the art. However, in the known constructions, the hinge does not provide a horizontal inlet fitting for connecting the inlet tube, requiring that the inlet tube be curved with a minimum radius of curvature to permit water to flow and thereby requiring the provision of additional fittings or the existence of a free vertical gap next to the cabinet in order to permit the fixation of a curved portion of the tube.

The hinge of the invention is preferably defined in a single piece formed in a food approved material, such as 320 stainless steel, and machined to provide the internal water passage in the housing and its inlet and outlet fittings. While the hinge is preferably mounted at the top end of an appliance door containing a water dispenser, it can also be mounted at the bottom end of the door. The preferred embodiment also provides hinge pins extending in opposite vertical directions from the hinge housing, so that the hinge can be used with two doors, as it occurs in a combined refrigerator-freezer with the upper door closing the freezer compartment and the lower door provided with the water dispenser closing the refrigerator compartment, or vice-versa.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the description below, upon reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational side view showing a combined refrigerator-freezer appliance incorporating the hinge of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevational perspective view of the hinge ; Figure 3 is a rear elevational perspective view of the hinge ;

Figure 4 is a top view of the hinge;

Figure 5 is a side view of the hinge of figures 1-4, taken according to line V of figure 4 ; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the hinge taken according to line VI-VI of figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hinge with the water passage housing in a vertical cross-section; and

Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the hinge with the water passage housing in a horizontal cross-

section.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a combined refrigerator-freezer appliance 10 having a cabinet 12 on whose frame are pivotally mounted an upper door 14 and a lower door 16 closing respective front openings of the freezer compartment F and refrigerator compartment R of said appliance. The lower end of the upper door 14 and the upper end of the lower door 16 are pivotally mounted to the frame of the cabinet 12 by a hinge 20 constructed according to the present invention and to be described in detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, there is also provided a conventional hinge at each of the upper end of the upper door 14 and the lower end of the lower door 16. Thus, both doors can be swung open and closed in a well known manner .

A water dispenser WD is schematically and simplistically shown in outline form in the lower door 16. The water dispenser WD is of conventional construction and includes a conventional spigot S (not shown in detail) designed to receive cold water via a tube 31 connected to it. The water dispenser WD may also be combined with an ice cube dispenser and an ice crusher. Water enters the refrigerator compartment of the appliance 10 from a source, such as a household water pipe (not shown) , via a tube 33 which can be of metal, such as brass, stainless steel, plastic or other material adequate to be used in applications of potable water.

The outlet of the tube 33 is connected to the inlet of a water filter 35 of any conventional construction, typically of the replaceable cartridge type, and the output of the water filter 35 is connected, via tube 37, to a shut off valve 39 and then to a coil -shaped

water cooling device 41 provided in the interior of the refrigerator compartment R. A tube 43 connects the outlet of the water cooling coil device 41 to an inlet of a water passage in the hinge 20, as described below. The cabinet 12 of the appliance 10 houses all of the other components of a combined refrigerator- freezer appliance, such as a compressor, evaporator, temperature setting controls, etc. All of these elements are well known in the prior art. Figures 2-8 show the details of the hinge 20. There is provided a leaf 21 of generally rectangular contour and that presents a front side 22 and a rear side 23. The front side 22 of the leaf 21 presents a first section 22a of generally rectangular shape and uniform thickness at one end and which continues in a second section 22b of greater thickness that progressively tapers down towards the other end of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20. A countersunk hole 24a and 24b is provided in each of the first and second sections 22a and 22b of the leaf 21, to receive screws to mount the hinge 20 to the frame of the cabinet 12. The rear side 23 of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20 is provided with a continuous rib 26 which develops along the periphery of the leaf 21, there being further provided reinforcement bosses 25a and 25b through which the holes 24a and 24b are made. It should be understood that the dimensions and shape of the hinge 20 are defined according to the design and the particular type of the refrigerating appliance to which it will be mounted, further considering the provision of either one or two doors.

A water passage housing 60 is formed on the front side

22 of the second section 22b of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20. The water passage housing 60 is generally orthogonal to the leaf 21 of the hinge 20 and presents

upper and lower surfaces. As illustrated, the height of housing 60 is about one half of the height of the second section 22b of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20 and is centered on the leaf 21. However, this construction is only illustrative and other dimensions can be used. A pin 62, 64 of the hinge 20 extends outwardly from each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 60. The hinge 20 is mounted on the frame of the illustrated appliance so that the lower end of the appliance upper door 14 can swing around the upper pin 62 of the hinge 20 and the upper end of the lower door 16 can swing around the lower pin 64 of the hinge 20. As shown in figures 5-8, a water passage 70 is formed in the housing 60 of the hinge 20. The water passage 70 has a first section 72 which defines an inlet 70a and extends transversely through the leaf 21 of the hinge 20 from its rear side 23 and partially to the interior of the housing 60. An externally ribbed inlet fitting 77 is formed on the reinforcement boss 25b on the rear side 23 of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20, said inlet fitting 77 being maintained in communication with the first section 72 of the water passage 70 and defining an extension of said first section 72. The water passage 70 has a second section 74 which extends from the exterior of the housing 60 at an acute angle towards the front side 22 of the leaf 21 of the hinge 20 and which intersects and communicates with the first section 72 of the water passage 70. A plug 78 is either screw threaded into or welded to the housing 60 at the outer end of the second section 74 of the water passage 70 to hermetically seal this end.

The lower pin 64 presents a vertical through hole 65

(see Figure 7) which communicates with the water passage 70 to form the water passage outlet 70b. An externally ribbed outlet fitting 79 is formed from the

lower pin 64 of the hinge 20, said outlet fitting 79 being maintained in communication with the through hole 65 and defining an axial extension of the latter. While the inlet fitting 77 and the outlet fitting 79 are shown in the form of externally ribbed tubular extensions, with the ribs used to receive and hold the end of a flexible tube, they can present other shapes, such as a bayonet lock compression type fitting. As can be seen, water supply to the inlet fitting 77 can be made through the first and second sections 72 and 74 of the water passage 70 to the vertical through hole 65, to exit from the outlet fitting 79. The hinge 20 is preferably manufactured by casting it as a single piece of a material acceptable for human use to convey potable water in an acceptable sanitary manner. A suitable material is the 320 stainless steel. After the hinge body is cast it is suitably machined by any conventional process to form the inlet fitting 77 and the outlet fitting 79. A hole is made through the inlet fitting 77 and into the interior of the housing 60 to form the first section 72 of the water passage 70. Another hole is made from the exterior of the housing 60 and into its interior to form the second section 74 of the water passage 70. The open end of the second section 74 of the water passage 70 is sealed by the plug 78, as described above. A hole is also machined through the vertically disposed outlet fitting 79 and through the lower pin 64 of the hinge 20 to make the outlet passage 65 which intersects the water passage 70 in the housing 60. The machining steps are performed according to any desired sequence .

A refrigerating appliance having a hinge 20 is made in a conventional manner. However, as can be seen from the above description, the appliance of the invention

does not present a reservoir for chilled water but has a coil shaped water cooling device 41 preferably mounted in the refrigerator R compartment of the combined refrigerator-freezer. The frame of the cabinet 12 has a recess to receive the housing 60 of the water passage 70 of the hinge 20 and a horizontal opening in the frame of the cabinet 12 to receive and provide access to the inlet fitting 77. The lower end of the upper door 14 has a knuckle (not shown) to fit on the upper pin 62 of the housing 60 of the hinge and the upper corner of the lower door 16 presents a hinge knuckle (not shown) to fit on the lower pin 64 of the hinge 20. The lower door 16 has also a vertical recess to receive the outlet fitting 79. The leaf 21 of the hinge 20 is mounted by screws to the frame of the cabinet 12. The tube 43 extends from the outlet of the water cooling coil device 41 to the inlet fitting 77 of the water passage 70 and is horizontally disposed on the region for attachment to the inlet fitting 77. The tube 31 generally extends vertically downwardly in the door 16 from the outlet fitting 79 of the water passage 70 to the spigot S of the water dispenser WD. While the hinge 20 is illustratively shown mounted above the water dispenser WD, it can be mounted below it, that is, at the bottom of the door having the water dispenser. In this case, the outlet fitting 79 will be preferably oriented upwardly. As previously indicated, the hinge 20 can be used with any type of door configuration in a refrigerating appliance having two doors or only one door.

The hinge 20 having the inlet fitting 77 horizontally disposed avoids that the chilled water inlet tube 43 from the cooling device 41 has to be bent to be coupled to the inlet fitting 77 or that additional

fittings are necessary to make said coupling. The vertical outlet fitting 79 can be positioned upwardly or downwardly, depending on the type of appliance in which the hinge 20 will be applied. The inlet fitting 77, the water passage 70 and the outlet fitting 79 effectively form a 90° piping elbow. This facilitates the mounting of the tube 43 that supplies chilled water in the upper part or in the lower part of the frame of the cabinet 12. The hinge 20 can be used as an upper, lower, right or left hinge as a result of its shape. If the hinge is used with a single door refrigerating appliance, it will be formed without one of the upper pin 62 or lower pin 64 or said unnecessary pin will be eliminated by machining. The hinge 20 also presents a construction that allows it to be used as a normal hinge. In this case, the machining and drilling operations for providing the inlet and outlet fittings and also the water passages are not necessary and the inlet 77 and outlet 79 fittings can be eliminated by machining operations.

The hinge of the invention presents the advantage of simplifying the manufacture by making the run of the tube to the spigot of the water dispenser need only a short distance without any curvature, as well as the assembly of all of the tubes at the hinge to serve as a water distribution point.

Specific features of the invention are shown in one or more of the drawings for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with other features in accordance with the invention. Alternative embodiments will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are intended to be included within the scope of the claims that accompany the present specification. Accordingly, the above description should be construed as

illustrating and not limiting the scope of the invention. All such obvious changes and modifications in the presented solution should be considered within the scope defined by the appended claims.