BUTEE DE PORTE POUR REFRIGERATEUR

REFRIGERATOR DOOR STOP

Abrégé français

Description d'un mécanisme à charnière et de fermeture muni d'une butée de porte intégrée qui, en combinaison avec l'élément de fermeture du mécanisme, empêche la porte d'un réfrigérateur de s'ouvrir au-delà d'une position prédéterminée. Dans une utilisation, le mécanisme comprend un élément à charnière, un élément de fermeture et une butée de porte. L'élément à charnière comprend une plaque de charnière pour la caisse du réfrigérateur et une plaque de charnière pour la porte du réfrigérateur. La plaque de la charnière pour la caisse du réfrigérateur est installée à la base de la caisse, et la plaque de la charnière pour la porte est installée sur une porte du réfrigérateur. Une tige de raccord et un pivot passent par des ouvertures correspondantes dans la plaque de la charnière pour la porte, et cette plaque est reliée à la plaque de la charnière pour la caisse par le pivot. L'élément de fermeture du mécanisme comprend un plaque de pivot relié à la plaque de charnière pour la porte par le pivot. L'élément de fermeture possède un ressort de compression et une bielle. La bielle réunit le ressort à la plaque du pivot, et les dimensions de la fente sont choisies de façon à correspondre à la position d'arrêt voulue de la porte du réfrigérateur. Une butée de tige traverse la fente qui lui est destinée et s'engage dans la plaque de la charnière pour la caisse. Plus particulièrement, la butée de tige possède une bride qui l'empêche de traverser complètement la fente prévue pour elle. La butée de tige comporte également une douille comprenant une première partie et une deuxième partie. La première partie de la douille s'étend à travers la fente afin de minimiser la friction entre la fente et la tige de butée, et une extrémité de la deuxième partie de la douille est en contact avec la plaque de charnière pour la caisse du réfrigérateur. La butée de tige possède en outre une extrémité filetée dimensionnée de manière à pouvoir être insérée dans l'ouverture de la butée de tige dans la plaque de charnière pour la caisse afin de s'engager par vissage dans la plaque de charnière pour la caisse. Lorsque la porte du réfrigérateur est ouverte, la plaque de pivot tourne en même temps que la porte. Lorsque la plaque de pivot tourne jusqu'au point où la butée de tige se trouve à l'extrémité éloignée de la fente, la butée de tige jouxte la plaque de pivot et empêche toute rotation de la porte.

Abrégé anglais

A hinge and closure mechanism with an integral door stop which,
together with the closure unit of the mechanism, stops a refrigerator door from
opening beyond a preselected position is described. In one embodiment, the
mechanism includes a hinge unit, a closure unit, and door stop. The hinge unit
includes a cabinet hinge plate and a door hinge plate. The cabinet hinge plate
is mounted to the base of the cabinet, and the door hinge plate is mounted to a
refrigerator door. A connector pin and a pivot pin extend through respective
openings in the door hinge plate, and door hinge plate is coupled to the cabinethinge plate by the pivot pin. The closure unit includes a pivot plate coupled tothe door hinge plate by the connector pin. The closure unit also includes a
compression spring and a link. The link couples the spring to the pivot plate.
A pin stop slot is located in the pivot plate, and the dimensions of the slot are
selected to correspond to the position at which it is desired to stop the
refrigerator door. A pin stop extends through the pin stop slot and is engaged
to the cabinet hinge plate. More particularly, the pin stop includes a flange
which prevents the pin stop from extending completely through the pin stop slot.The pin stop also includes a bushing having a first portion and a second portion.
The bushing first portion extends through slot for minimizing friction between
the slot and the pin stop, and the bushing second portion has an end in contact
with the cabinet hinge plate. The pin stop further includes a threaded end sizedto be inserted into the pin stop opening in the cabinet hinge plate for being
threadedly engaged to cabinet hinge plate. As the refrigerator door is opened,
the pivot plate rotates with the door. When the pivot plate rotates to a point at
which the pin stop is located at the far end of the slot, the pin stop abuts against
the pivot plate and prevents further rotation of the door.

Revendications

-9-
Claims:
1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having at least one access
opening closed by a door, said door coupled to said cabinet by a hinge and
closure mechanism, said mechanism comprising:
a hinge unit comprising a door hinge plate mounted to said door and a
cabinet hinge plate mounted to said cabinet, said door hinge plate coupled to
said cabinet hinge plate, said cabinet hinge plate having a pin stop opening
therein;
a closure unit for exerting a closure force on said door, said closure unit
comprising a pivot plate coupled to said door hinge plate, said pivot plate
having a pin stop slot therein, a spring movably coupled to said pivot plate, and
a link coupling said spring to said pivot plate; and
a pin stop for assisting in stopping opening of said door, said pin stop
extending through said pin stop slot in said pivot plate and into said pin stop
opening in said cabinet hinge plate.
2. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said hinge unit
further comprises a pivot pin coupled to and extending from said door hinge
plate, a pivot pin opening in said cabinet hinge plate, said pivot pin extendinginto said pivot pin opening in said cabinet hinge plate, and a pivot pin bushinghaving a bore therethrough, said pivot pin extending through said pivot pin
bushing and said pivot pin bushing being trapped between said door hinge plate
and said cabinet hinge plate.
3. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said hinge unit
further comprises a connector pin coupled to and extending from said door
hinge plate, a connector pin opening in said pivot plate, said connector pin
extending through said connector pin opening in said pivot plate, and a
connector pin bushing having a bore therethrough, said connector pin extending

-10-
through said connector pin bushing and said connector pin bushing being
trapped between said door hinge plate and said pivot plate.
4. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 3 wherein said cabinet
hinge plate further comprises a connector pin cut-out sized to at least partially
receive said connector pin bushing.
5. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said pin stop
comprises a flange which prevents one end of said pin stop from extending
through said pin stop slot.
6. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said pin stop
further comprises a bushing extending through said slot for minimizing friction
between walls of said slot and said pin stop and for contacting the ends of saidslot.
7. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 5 wherein said pin stop
further comprises a threaded end sized to be inserted into said pin stop openingin said cabinet hinge plate and to threadedly engage said cabinet hinge plate.
8. A refrigerator in accordance with Claim 7 wherein said pin stop
further comprises a bushing having a first portion and a second portion, said
bushing first portion extending through said slot for minimizing friction between
walls of said slot and said pin stop and for contacting the ends of said slot, said
bushing second portion having an end in contact with said cabinet hinge plate.

-11-
9. A door hinge and closure mechanism for being mounted to a
refrigerator, the refrigerator including a cabinet having at least one access
opening closed by a door, said hinge and closure mechanism configured to
couple the door to the cabinet, said mechanism comprising:
a hinge unit comprising a door hinge plate mounted to the door and a
cabinet hinge plate mounted to the cabinet, said door hinge plate coupled to said
cabinet hinge plate, said cabinet hinge plate having a pin stop opening therein;a closure unit for exerting a closure force on said door, said closure unit
comprising a pivot plate coupled to said door hinge plate, said pivot plate
having a pin stop slot therein, a spring movably coupled to said pivot plate, and
a link coupling said spring to said pivot plate; and
a pin stop for assisting in stopping opening of said door, said pin stop
extending through said pin stop slot in said pivot plate and into said pin stop
opening in said cabinet hinge plate.
10. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
9 wherein said hinge unit further comprises a pivot pin coupled to and extendingfrom said door hinge plate, a pivot pin opening in said cabinet hinge plate, said
pivot pin extending into said pivot pin opening in said cabinet hinge plate, anda pivot pin bushing having a bore therethrough, said pivot pin extending throughsaid pivot pin bushing and said pivot pin bushing being trapped between said
door hinge plate and said cabinet hinge plate.
11. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
9 wherein said hinge unit further comprises a connector pin coupled to and
extending from said door hinge plate, a connector pin opening in said pivot
plate, said connector pin extending through said connector pin opening in said
pivot plate, and a connector pin bushing having a bore therethrough, said
connector pin extending through said connector pin bushing and said connector
pin bushing being trapped between said door hinge plate and said pivot plate.

-15-
12. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
11 wherein said cabinet hinge plate further comprises a connector pin cut-out
sized to at least partially receive said connector pin bushing.
13. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
9 wherein said pin stop comprises a flange which prevents one end of said pin
stop from extending through said pin stop slot.
14. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
13 wherein said pin stop further comprises a bushing extending through said slotfor minimizing friction between walls of said slot and said pin stop and for
contacting the ends of said slot.
15. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
13 wherein said pin stop further comprises a threaded end sized to be inserted
into said pin stop opening in said cabinet hinge plate and to threadedly engage
said cabinet hinge plate.
16. A door hinge and closure mechanism in accordance with Claim
15 wherein said pin stop further comprises a bushing having a first portion and
a second portion, said bushing first portion extending through said slot for
minimizing friction between walls of said slot and said pin stop and for
contacting the ends of said slot, said bushing second portion having an end in
contact with said cabinet hinge plate.

-13-
17. A pin stop for a hinge and closure mechanism of a refrigerator,
the hinge and closure mechanism including a pivot plate having a slot therein,
said pin stop comprising a flange which prevents one end of said pin stop from
extending through the pin stop slot.
18. A pin stop in accordance with Claim 17 further comprising a
bushing for extending through the slot for minimizing friction between walls of
the slot and said pin stop and for contacting the ends of the slot.
19. A pin stop in accordance with Claim 17 wherein the hinge and
closure mechanism further includes a cabinet hinge plate having an opening
therethrough and said pin stop further comprises a threaded end sized to be
inserted into the pin stop opening in the cabinet hinge plate to threadedly engage
the cabinet hinge plate.
20. A pin stop in accordance with Claim 17 wherein the hinge and
closure mechanism further includes a cabinet hinge plate having an opening
therethrough and said pin stop further comprises a bushing having a first portion
and a second portion, said bushing first portion configured to extend through the
slot for minimizing friction between walls of the slot and said pin stop and forcontacting the ends of said slot, said bushing second portion having an end
configured to be in contact with the cabinet hinge plate.

Description

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR-19050
REFRIGERATOR DOOR STOP
Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to household refrigerators and more
particularly, to a door stop integral with a hinge and closure mechanism for a
5 refrigerator door.
Background of the Invention
Side-by-side household refrigerators include a fresh food storage
compartment and a freezer storage co~ -ent. Each storage compartment has
a front access opening normally closed by a fresh food door and a freezer door,
10 respec~i~ely. The doors are mounted to the cabinet by hinge mech~ . With
at least some known refrigerators, no positive stop is provided to prevent
opening the door beyond a presele~te~ position. For example, with some
known refrigerators, the door can be rotated away from the refrigerator cabinet
to a point at which the hinge mechanism itself prevents further rotation. In
15 some llouse in~tallqtions, the hinge mechani~m~ may not prevent rotation of the
refrige:rator door beyond a point at which the refrigerator door impacts against~djacellt cabinets or walls of the house.
It would be desirable to provide a positive door stop which prevents
open~ng a refrigerator door beyond a preselected position. It also would be
20 desirable to provide such a positive door stop which is easy to assemble and
does not add signifir~nt labor and material cost to the assembly of refrigeratorhinge and closure mschqni~m~.
S~lmmary of the Invention
These and other objects may be Attain~d by a hinge and closure
25 m.orhqni~rn with an integral door stop which, together with the closure unit of
the mechqni~m, stops a refrigerator door from opening beyond a prese!ecte~
position. The door stop is integMl with the hinge and closure mechanism in that

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR-19050
certain components of the mechanism also perform functions associated with the
door stop. More particularly, the hinge unit includes a cabinet hinge plate and
a door hinge plate. The cabinet hinge plate is mounted to the base of the
cabinet, and the door hinge plate is mounted to a refrigerator door. A
5 connector pin and a pivot pin extend through respective openings in the door
hinge plate, and the door hinge plate is coupled to the cabinet hinge plate by the
pivot pin. The closure unit includes a pivot plate coupled to the door hinge
plate by the connector pin. The closure unit also includes a compression spring
and a link. The link couples the spring to the pivot plate.
With respect to the door stop, a pin stop slot is located in the pivot plate,
and the di"-f .~ions of the slot are selected to correspond to the position at which
it is desired to stop the refrigerator door. A pin stop extends through the pin
stop slot and is engaged to the cabinet hinge plate. More particularly, the pin
stop includes a flange which prevents the pin stop from extending completely
15 through the pin stop slot. The pin stop also includes a bushing having a first
portion and a second portion. The bushing first portion extends through the slotfor minimi7in~ friction between the slot and the pin stop, and the bushing
second portion has an end in contact with the cabinet hinge plate. The pin stop
further in~hldes a threaded end sized to be inserted into the pin stop o~nillg and
20 threadedly engaged to the cabinet hinge plate.
As the refrigerator door is opened, the pivot plate rotates with the door
and the pin stop remains snbsL~ y stationary. When the pivot plate rotates
to a point at which the pin stop is located at the end of the slot, the pin stopabuts against the pivot plate and prevents further rotation of the door. The
25 length of the slot and the position of the pin stop can be selected to provide door
stopping at a prçselected position which typically is in a range of between about
one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty five degrees open.
With the above described hinge and closure mech~ni.cm, door stopping
is performed by the combination of the door stop and the closure unit.
30 Specifically, as the door is opened, the spring is progressively co~ ssed. As

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR- 19050
the spring is compressed, forces are transferred from the spring through the link
to the pivot plate to resist further opening of the door. These forces, in
combination with the door stop, act to stop the door when the pin stop abuts
against the end of the slot. Therefore, door stopping is not fully dependent on
the impact of the pin stop when it abuts against walls of the slot, and the impact
forces of the pin stop against the pivot plate are believed to be less than the
impact forces which would otherwise be generated if door stopping were fully
dependent on the impact of the pin stop. Such reduced impact is believed to
provide a llulllber of advantages, including reducing the forces acting on itemsstored in door upon stopping.
In addition, the above described mech~ni~m provides positive door
stopping which facilitates preventing opening a refrigerator door beyond a
preselectçd position which could cause damage to adjacent walls and cabinets.
Such mech~nicm also is easy to assemble and does not add signifi~nt labor and
material cost to the assembly of refrigerator hinge and closure mtoch~ni~m~.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a pe,~ecli~e view of a side-by-side refrigerator including a
door hinge and closure mech~nicm in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator shown in
Figure 1 including the door hinge and closure m-orh~ni~m with an integral door
stop.
Figure 3 is a top view of the door hinge and closure m~rh~ni~m with the
integral door stop shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side view of the door hinge and closure mech~ni~m with
the integral door stop shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a top view of the door hinge and closure mech~ni~m with the
integral door stop with the door open to about ninety degrees.

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-~IR-19050
Figure 6 is a top view of the door hinge and closure mechanism with the
integral door stop with the door opened beyond ninety degrees.
Figure 7 is a top view of the door hinge and closure mech~ni.cm with the
integral door stop with the door opened to the full open position.
5 Detailed Description
An exemplary embodiment of a door hinge and closure mecll~ni~m with
an integral door stop in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention is described below in detail in connection with a side-by-side
household refrigerator. Side-by-side household refrigerators are commercially
10 available from General Electric Company, Louisville, Kentucky, 40225, and
such refrigerators can be modified to incorporate the hinge and closure
mechanism with the integral door stop. The hinge and closure m~cll~ni~m with
the integral door stop, of course, can be used in many other models and types
of refrigerators, such as top mount refrigerators, other than the specific side-by-
15 side refrigerator described herein.
Although a hinge and closure mPch~ni~", with an integral door stop isdescri)~ed herein as being coupled to the bottom of the cabinet, it should be
understood that such mec1 ~ni~m could be coupled to the top of the cabinet. The
Ill~mer of coupling the mPch~ni~m to the top of the cabinet will be app~enl to
20 those skilled in the art.
Refelling now specifically to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective
view of a side-by-side refrigerator 20 including hinge and closure m~ch~nism~
22 (Somrtimps referred to herein as hinge merll~ni~m~ 22) in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention. Refrigerator 20 includes a cabinet 24
25 having a fresh food storage compartment 26 and a free~r storage cOIllp;i
28 arranged in a side-by-side configuration. Each storage compartment 26 and
28 has a front access opening normally closed by a fresh food door 30 and a
freezer door 32, respectively. Each door 30 and 32 is secured to colnpalllllent

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-~IR-19050
cabinet 24 by hinge mech~ni~m~ 22, and handles 34 and 36 are mounted to each
door 30 and 32 to facilitate door opening.
Refrigerator 20 includes a base 38 which forms a base channel 40. As
described below in more detail, hinge and closure m~ch~ni~m~ 22 include a
S hinge unit 42 and a closure unit 44. ~lthough only one mech~ni~m 22 is
described below in detail, it should be understood that the other hinge and
closure mech~ni~m utilized in connection with refrigerator 20 is identical to the
described mech~ni~m.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of refrigerator 20 including
10 door hinge and closure mechanism 22 with an integral door stop 46. Door stop
46 is integral with mPrh~ni~m 22 in that certain components of mP~h~nicm 22
also perform functions associated with door stop 46. More particularly, hinge
unit 42 includes a cabinet hinge plate 48 mounted to base 38 by screws 50.
Cabinet hinge plate 48 includes a pivot pin opening 52, a pin stop opening 54,
15 and a connector pin cutout 56. Hinge unit 42 also includes a door hinge plate58 mounted to door 30 by screws 60. A colm~;lor pin 62 and a pivot pin 64
extend through respective openings in door hinge plate 58. Door hinge plate 58
is coupled to cabinet hinge plate 48 by pivot pin 64 which extends from door
hinge plate 58 through a bore 66 in a bushing 68 and into pivot pin opening 52.
20 ~usl~il~g 68 includes a first, smaller ~ metPr portion 70 which is inserted into
pivot pin opening 52 and a second, larger ~i~rnPter portion 72 which prevents
IJu~ 68 from falling through opening 52. Pivot pin bushing 68 is therefore
trapped between door hinge plate 58 and cabinet hinge plate 48.
Closure unit 44 includes a pivot plate 74 having a connector pin opening
25 76 and a link opening 78. Door hinge plate 58 is coupled to pivot plate 74 byconnector pin 62 which extends through a bore 80 of a bushing 82 and through
opening 76 in pivot plate 74. A snap ring 84 snaps into a groove 86 of
com~-;lor pin 62 and substantially prevents col~e.,lor pin 62 from being lifted
away from pivot plate 74. Rllshing 82 is trapped between door hinge plate 58
30 and pivot plate 74.

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR- 19050
Closure unit 44 also includes a co.l~pl~,ssion spring 88 and a link 90.
Link 90 couples spring 88 to pivot plate 74. More particularly, link 90 extends
through opening 78 in pivot plate 74, through a slot 92 in hinge plate 48, and
through compression spring 88. A first stop washer 94 is provided to prevent
S spring 88 from moving through slot 92, and a second stop washer 96 and load
adjustrnent nut 98, which is threadedly engaged to a threaded end 100 of link
90, are provided so that the loading of spring 88 as it is colnplessed between
stop washers 94 and 96 can be adjusted.
A pin stop slot 102 is located in pivot plate 74, and the dimensions of
slot 102 are selected to correspond to the position at which it is desired to stop
opening of door 30 as described below. A pin stop 104 extends through slot
102 and is engaged to cabinet hinge plate 48. More particularly, pin stop 104
includes a flange 106 which prevents pin stop 104 from e~ten~lin~ completely
through pin stop slot 102. Pin stop 104 also includes a bushing 108 which
extends through slot 102 for minimi7ing friction between walls of slot 102 and
pin stop 104 and for cont~cting the ends of slot 102. Bushing 108 has a first
portion 110 and a second portion 112. Bushing first portion 110 extends
through slot 102 for minimi7ing friction between slot 102 and pin stop 104 and
for contacting the ends of slot 102, and bushing second portion 112 has an end
114 in contact with cabinet hinge plate 48. Pin stop 104 further includes a
threaded end 116 sized to be inserted into pin stop Openlllg 54 in cabinet hingeplate 48 for being threadedly engaged to cabinet hinge plate 48.
Figure 3 is a top view of door hinge and closure mPrll~nism 22. As
shown in Figure 3, pin stop 104 is located at one end of slot 102 when door 30
is closed. As door 30 is opened, pivot plate 74 rotates with door 30. When pin
stop 104 reaches the far end of slot 102, then pin stop 104 abuts against pivot
plate 74 and p~ further rotation of door 30. More particularly, and in the
specific embodiment described above, when door 30 rotates to a prçsele~ted
position, pin stop 104 abuts against the far end of slot 102 and prevents further
opening of door 30. The length of slot 102 and the position of pin stop 104 can

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR-19050
be selected to provide door stopping at a preselected position which typically is
in a range of between about one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty
five degrees open.
Figure 4 is a side view of door hinge and closure mech~ni~m 22. As
5 shown in Figure 4, the extent to which m~ch~ni~m 22 extends beyond door 30
is minim~l, which enh~nres the ~sth~tic appearance of refrigerator 22. Spring
88 may, for example, be fabricated from spring steel. Link 90 may be a
flexible wire such as cable. Door hinge plate 58, cabinet hinge plate 48, and
pivot plate 74 may be fabricated from 1045 carbon steel, for example. Of
10 course, the components of meçh~ni~m 22 may be fabricated from many other
materials.
Figure 5 is a top view of the door hinge and closure mechanism 22 with
door 30 open to about ninety degrees. In this position, spring 88 is more
coll"~lessed as compared to the collll"~ssion of spring 88 in when door 30 is in15 the fully closed position (Figure 3). Also, pivot plate 74 subst~n~i~lly freely
rotates to this position in that pin stop 104 and pivot pin bushing 68 do not
"lle.re~ with rotation of plate 74. Spring 88, of course, exerts a closure forceon door 30 through plate 74 as door 30 is opened.
Figure 6 is a top view of door hinge and closure merll~ni.cm 22 with
20 door 30 opened beyond ninety degrees. In the position shown in Figure 6, pivot
plate 74 is in contact with pivot pin bushing 68 at pivot pin 64. Particularly,
a side surface 118 of pivot plate 74 is shaped, i.e., curved, so that pivot plate
74 does not pre~e"l rotation of door 30 yet contacts bushing 68. Such contact
results in friction forces between plate 74 and bushing 68. In addition, spring
25 88 is progressively co"~p,~ssed as door 30 is rotated from the position shownin Figure S to the position shown in Figure 6. The closure forces generated by
spring 88 and the friction forces between plate 74 and bushing 68 decelerate
door 30 and act as a deterrent to further opening of door 30. Pin stop 104,
however, is still located at an interme~ te location within slot 102 and door 3030 can be opened further.

CA 02233370 1998-03-26
9D-HR-l905O
Figure 7 is a top view of door hinge and closure mech~ni~m 22 with
door 30 opened to the full open position. In the full open position, pin stop 104
abuts against the end of slot 102 and prevents further opening, or rotation, of
door 30. Door stopping, however, is not fully dependent upon the impact of
pin stop 104 against the end of slot 102. Specifically, the closure forces
generated by spring 88 and the friction between plate 74 and bushing 68
decelerate door 30 before door 30 reaches the fully open position.
With integral door stop and closure mech~ni~m 22, door stopping is
performed by the combination of door stop 46 and closure unit 44. Specifically,
as door 30 is opened, compression spring 88 gene,~tes forces which are
transferred through link 90 to pivot plate 74 to resist further opening of door
30. When door 30 is opened beyond the ninety degree opened position, pivot
plate 74 contacts pivot pin bushing 68. The closure forces generated by spring
88 and the friction forces b~lweell plate 74 and bushing 68 decelerate door 30
and act as a deterrent to further opening of door 30. These forces, in
combination with door stop 46, act to stop door 30 when pin stop 104 abuts
against the far end of slot 102. Therefore, with m~ch~ni~m 22, door stopping
is not fully dependent on the impact of pin stop 104 when it abuts against wallsof slot 102. The impact forces of pin stop 104 against pivot plate 74 are
believed to be less than the impact forces which would othenhise be ge.~eldled
if door stopping were fully dependent on the impact of pin stop 104 against
plate 74. Such reduced impact is believed to provide a number of advantages,
including reducing the forces acting on items stored in door 30 upon stopping.
From the prece~ing description of various embodiments of the present
invention, it is evident that the objects of the invention are ~ ined Although
the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly
understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only
and is not to be taken by way of limitation. Accordingly, the spirit and scope
of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Dessin représentatif