US 11,814,777 B2
Hinge system for touchless commercial appliances
Mayuresh P. Arankalle, Pune (IN); Mohsin M. Attar, Kolhapur (IN); Ameya S. Kshirsagar, Pune (IN); Sagar Kumar, Beawar (IN); Vivek Mansing Patil, Sangli (IN); and Manish Saha, Pune (IN)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/208,741.
Prior Publication US 2022/0298713 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/14 (2006.01); E05F 3/12 (2006.01); E05F 3/20 (2006.01); E05F 3/22 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 39/14 (2013.01) [E05F 3/12 (2013.01); E05F 3/20 (2013.01); E05F 3/224 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/312 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A contactless laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet having a front panel defining an access opening configured to receive laundry items; and
a door attached to the front panel via a hinge assembly,
the hinge assembly including a hydraulic system arranged on an interior of the front panel within the cabinet configured to engage with a connecting hook arranged within the door to selectively apply an outward force on the connecting hook to open the door and an inward force on the connecting hook to close the door,
wherein the hydraulic system includes a piston and the connecting hook is fixed to the piston via a universal joint.