| 摘要 |
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 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. A pin stop slot is located in the pivot plate, and the dimensions of the slot ar e 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 sized to 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 a t which the pin stop is located at the far end of the slot, the pin stop abuts aga inst the pivot plate and prevents further rotation of the door.
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