Hinge assembly

Abstract

The hinge assembly is provided with a projecting blade that is mounted on the pivotal post of the hinge assembly to abut the door mount of the hinge assembly. The blade is mounted by two shoulder screws that pass through a bracket secured within the post into rivet nuts mounted in the cover of the post. This arrangement rigidifies the mounting of the blade.

1 . A hinge assembly comprising
 a door mount for securement to a cabinet, said door mount having an upstanding wall and an outwardly projecting base, said wall having a vertical side surface;   a post for securement to a door, said post being pivotally mounted on said base of said door mount for movement between a closed position and an open position;   a blade secured to said post and projecting therefrom to abut said side surface of said upstanding wall in said open position of said post to limit movement of said post relative to said base of said door mount.   
     
     
         2 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said post includes a housing having an upstanding back, a pivot pin at a lower end of said back for rotation within said base of said door mount and a cap projecting from an upper end of said back to define a cavity and a U-shaped cover secured to said back to enclose said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a bracket secured to said back of said post within said cavity, said bracket having at least one aperture therein located within said cavity; a first fastener passing through said blade, an opposite side of said cover and said aperture of said bracket; and a mating fastener mounted on one side of said cover in alignment with said aperture of said bracket and secured to said first fastener to rigidify said cover. 
     
     
         4 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a bracket secured against said back of said post within said cavity, said bracket having at least one aperture therein located within said cavity; at least one nut mounted on one side of said cover in alignment with said aperture of said bracket and at least one screw passing through said blade, an opposite side of said cover and said aperture of said bracket into said nut to rigidify said cover. 
     
     
         5 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said bracket is removably mounted to said back of said post and includes at least one projecting ear having said aperture therein. 
     
     
         6 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of screws threadably securing said bracket to said back of said post. 
     
     
         7 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said blade extends along the height of said cover of said post. 
     
     
         8 . A hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said blade is made of metal and is of flat rectangular shape. 
     
     
         9 . In combination,
 a refrigerator cabinet having a side wall and a door; and   a hinge assembly mounting said door onto said cabinet for pivoting between a closed position relative to said cabinet and an open position relative to said cabinet with said door parallel to said side wall of said cabinet, said hinge assembly including a door mount secured to said cabinet, a post secured to said door and pivotally mounted on said door mount, and a blade projecting from said post to abut said door mount in said open position to limit movement of said post relative to said door mount.   
     
     
         10 . The combination as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said door mount has an upstanding wall secured to said cabinet and an outwardly projecting base, said wall having a vertical side surface for abutment of said blade thereagainst. 
     
     
         11 . The combination as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said post includes a housing having an upstanding back, a pivot pin at a lower end of said back for rotation within said door mount and a cap projecting from an upper end of said back to define a cavity and a U-shaped cover secured to said back to enclose said cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The combination as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a bracket secured against said back of said post within said cavity, said bracket having at least one aperture therein located within said cavity; a nut mounted on one side of said cover in alignment with said aperture of said bracket and a screw passing through said blade, an opposite side of said cover and said aperture of said bracket into said nut to rigidify said cover. 
     
     
         13 . The combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said blade extends along the height of said cover of said post. 
     
     
         14 . The combination as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said blade is parallel to said side wall of said cabinet in said open position. 
     
     
         15 . The combination as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said blade is made of metal and is of flat rectangular shape.