Pilot feature for top hinge for refrigerator

Abstract

An arrangement is provided for returning a removed hinge plate to a predetermined position on a refrigerator cabinet after the hinge plate has been removed. A screw plate is loosely movably positioned on an inside side of an outer wrapper of the refrigerator cabinet in a location approximating the location for the top hinge plate. The hinge plate is positioned on an outer surface of the outer wrapper and is removably secured to the screw plate. The hinge plate includes a recess area. A pilot plate is positioned on the outer surface of the outer wrapper, secured to the screw plate and being closely received in the recess area in the hinge plate. The pilot plate remains in position relative to the screw plate and the wrapper when the hinge plate is removed from the screw plate.

1 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a cabinet with an outer wrapper, an inner liner and a foamed-in-place insulation between said wrapper and said liner,    two side-by-side cabinet doors, each connected to said cabinet with a top hinge and a bottom hinge,    a screw plate loosely captured between said insulation and said outer wrapper in a location approximating the location for one of said top hinges,    each top hinge comprising a hinge plate carrying a hinge pin engageable with one of said doors, positioned on a top surface of said outer wrapper and removably secured to said screw plate, said hinge plate including a recess area, and    a pilot plate positioned on said top surface of said outer wrapper, secured to said screw plate and being closely received in said recess area in said hinge plate.    
     
     
         2 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinge plate has non-rotatable shaped recess area and said pilot plate has a complementary shaped perimeter.  
     
     
         3 . A refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein said recess area has a square shape.  
     
     
         4 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess area comprises an opening in a central area of said hinge plate.  
     
     
         5 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said pilot plate is secured to said screw plate with a locking fastener.  
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein said locking fastener is a headed threaded fastener with locking serrations on an underside of a head of the fastener.  
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess in said hinge plate and said pilot plate are configured such that said hinge plate is not permitted to rotate relative to said pilot plate.  
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess in said hinge plate and said pilot plate are configured such that movement of said hinge plate relative to said pilot plate, in a plane parallel to said top surface of said wrapper, is restricted.  
     
     
         9 . An arrangement for returning a removed hinge plate to a predetermined position on a refrigerator cabinet after said hinge plate has been removed, comprising: 
 a screw plate loosely movably positioned on an inside side of an outer wrapper of said refrigerator cabinet in a location approximating the location for said top hinge plate,    said hinge plate positioned on an outer surface of said outer wrapper and removably secured to said screw plate, said hinge plate including a recess area, and    a pilot plate positioned on said outer surface of said outer wrapper, secured to said screw plate and being closely received in said recess area in said hinge plate, said pilot plate remaining in position relative to said screw plate and said wrapper when said hinge plate is removed from said screw plate.    
     
     
         10 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said hinge plate has non-rotatable shaped recess area and said pilot plate has complementary shaped perimeter.  
     
     
         11 . An arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein said recess area has a square shape.  
     
     
         12 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said recess area comprises an opening in a central area of said hinge plate.  
     
     
         13 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said pilot plate is secured to said screw plate with a locking fastener.  
     
     
         14 . An arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said locking fastener is a headed threaded fastener with locking serrations on an underside of a head of the fastener.  
     
     
         15 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said recess in said hinge plate and said pilot plate are configured such that said hinge plate is not permitted to rotate relative to said pilot plate.  
     
     
         16 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said recess in said hinge plate and said pilot plate are configured such that movement of said hinge plate relative to said pilot plate, in a plane parallel to said top surface of said wrapper, is restricted.  
     
     
         17 . A method of attaching a hinge plate to a refrigerator cabinet outer wrapper such that the hinge plate may be removed and replaced on the wrapper in an originally set position, comprising the steps: 
 loosely positioning a screw plate on an inside side of an outer wrapper of said refrigerator cabinet in a location approximating the location for said top hinge plate,    positioning said hinge plate on an outer surface of said outer wrapper and securing said hinge plate to said screw plate in a desired position,    positioning a pilot plate on said outer surface of said outer wrapper and in a recess area in said hinge plate,    securing said pilot plate to said screw plate, thereby when said hinge plate is removed from said outer wrapper, said pilot plate will remain in place on said wrapper and said hinge plate may be returned to said wrapper by positioning said recess area in said hinge plate around said pilot plate, thus returning said hinge plate to said desired position.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said pilot plate is secured to said screw plate with a locking fastener.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said recess in said hinge plate and said pilot plate are configured such that movement of said hinge plate relative to said pilot plate, in a plane parallel to said top surface of said wrapper, is restricted.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein said movement is restricted to less than 1 millimeter.