Torsion bar assembly
US5515876A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE05Y2900/304
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A torsion bar assembly for a dishwasher door having a stainless steel torsion bar enclosed in an elongated stainless steel tube such that the bar rotates within the tube as the door is moved between an open and a closed position. One end of the bar and tube are fixedly disposed in a rectangular boss which is fixedly attached to the dishwasher door; and a second end of the tube and bar are releasably disposed in a cylindrical boss which is welded to a door hinge. The bosses are attached on opposite sides of the interior door panel, so that the torsion bar extends substantially the width of the door. The torsion bar is protected from water by the corrosion-resistant tube, and by a pair of quad-rings which are disposed in recesses in the cylindrical boss. The quad-rings prevent water from seeping through the boss and reaching the torsion bar. When the ends of the torsion bar are disposed in the bosses, the bar is spaced within the tube to permit the bar to rotate independently of the tube. This rotation builds up torque in the torsion bar. This torque is released when the door is closed, to supplement the effort needed to close the door.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.