Oven hinge damper cooling system

Abstract

An oven includes an oven cavity, an oven door providing access to the oven cavity, and a dampening hinge member pivotably coupling the oven door to the oven. A channel encloses the dampening hinge member and provides a flow of air to the dampening hinge member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven comprising:
 an oven cavity;   an oven door providing access to the oven cavity;   a dampening hinge member pivotably coupling the oven door to the oven; and   a channel enclosing the dampening hinge member, the channel being configured to provide a flow of air to the dampening hinge member.   
     
     
         2 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer side panel and wherein the outer side panel comprises an end portion, the end portion of the outer side panel defining the channel between the outer side panel and the oven cavity, and providing the flow of air over and around the dampening hinge member. 
     
     
         3 . The oven of  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the outer side panel includes an opening, the opening configured to draw air into the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The oven of  claim 3 , wherein the opening in the end portion is disposed below a location of the dampening hinge member in the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The oven of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises an open upper end and an open lower end, the channel configured to draw air in from the open lower end and expel the air out the open upper end. 
     
     
         6 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer side panel with an end portion, and a channel wall member disposed between the oven cavity and the end portion of the outer side panel defining the channel therebetween, the dampening hinge member being disposed between the end portion of the outer side panel and the channel wall member. 
     
     
         7 . The oven of  claim 6 , further comprising an insulation member disposed between the oven cavity and the channel wall member. 
     
     
         8 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the dampening hinge member. 
     
     
         9 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan communicatively coupled to the channel and configured to force the airflow over and around the dampening hinge member. 
     
     
         10 . The oven of  claim 1 , wherein the channel extends from a lower portion of the oven to an upper portion of the oven. 
     
     
         11 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer side panel and wherein the channel is disposed on an external surface of the outer side panel. 
     
     
         12 . The oven of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer side panel and wherein a wall of the channel is formed by the outer side panel. 
     
     
         13 . A cooling system for a dampening hinge member of a door of an oven, the oven comprising an oven cavity and an enclosure surrounding the oven cavity, the enclosure comprising an outer side panel, the cooling system comprising:
 a channel member disposed adjacent to the outer side panel;   the channel member and outer side panel defining therebetween a substantially sealed air channel, the dampening hinge member being disposed within the air channel; and   each end portion of the channel member including an opening, the opening being configured to allow air to flow through the air channel and around the dampening hinge member.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the channel member is disposed between the oven cavity and the outer side panel, an end portion of the outer side panel and the channel member defining the substantially sealed air channel, the dampening hinge member being disposed within the air channel; and
 the end portion of the outer side panel including an opening, the opening configured to allow air to be drawn into the air channel.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 14 , wherein a top of the air channel includes an opening to allow air to exit the air channel. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 15 , wherein the dampening hinge member is positioned in the air channel above the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling system of  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface of the end portion of the side panel engages the channel member to form the substantially sealed air channel. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the channel member is disposed on an external surface of the outer side panel. 
     
     
         19 . A cooling system for a dampening hinge member of a door of an oven, the oven comprising an oven cavity, the cooling system comprising:
 an enclosure defining a substantially sealed air channel, the dampening hinge member being disposed within the air channel; and   the enclosure including at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening configured to allow cooling air to flow through the air channel and around the dampening hinge member.   
     
     
         20 . The cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one inlet opening is disposed beneath the hinge member and the at least one outlet opening is disposed above the hinge member.