Breakaway hinge receptacle

• US 10,145,157 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan, Emily M
• Application Number:
  US14/170,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 16233, 16286, 16289, 16292
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/12 to allow easy detachment of the hinge from the wing or the frame E05D15/507 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1261 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/404 against component faults or failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/406 against deformation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/424 against unintended use
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/30 for domestic appliances
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

A receptacle for an associated appliance hinge includes a receptacle base and a breakaway lever movably connected to the receptacle base. The breakaway lever includes a cam edge. A first mounting structure is connected to the receptacle base and adapted to be engaged by an associated hinge arm. A second mounting structure connected to the breakaway lever such that the second mounting structure is movable relative to the receptacle base. The second mounting structure is adapted to be engaged by the associated hinge arm. A breakaway latch is connected to the base and includes a cam follower engaged with the cam edge. The breakaway latch further includes a spring that biases the cam follower into abutment with the cam edge. The breakaway lever is selectively movable from a first position where the cam follower is engaged with a first location on the cam edge to a second position where the cam follower is engaged with a second location on the cam edge.

Claims

1. A breakaway receptacle for an associated appliance hinge, said receptacle comprising:

a receptacle base;

a breakaway lever movably connected to the receptacle base, wherein said breakaway lever comprises an inner end and an outer end spaced apart from each other, and said breakaway lever is pivotally connected to said receptacle base by a pivot fastener located between said inner end and said outer end of said breakaway lever such that said inner and outer ends of the breakaway lever are selectively rotatable about said pivot fastener, said outer end of said breakaway lever comprising a cam edge;

a first mounting structure connected to the receptacle base and adapted to be engaged by a lower edge of an associated hinge arm;

a second mounting structure provided by said inner end of said breakaway lever such that said second mounting structure is part of and movable with said inner end of said breakaway lever when said breakaway lever rotates about said pivot fastener relative to the receptacle base, said second mounting structure adapted to be engaged by an upper edge of the associated hinge arm;

a breakaway latch connected to the receptacle base, said breakaway latch comprising;

(i) a latch base including first and second spaced apart side walls and a transverse wall, said first and second side walls respectively including elongated slots defined therein that are aligned with each other;

(ii) a spring rod located between the first and second side walls and adapted for sliding reciprocation, wherein said spring rod extends through an aperture defined in said transverse wall and is slidably connected to said latch base;

(iii) a cam follower connected to said spring rod, said cam follower comprising a follower fastener that is engaged with the spring rod and that extends between said first and second side walls and through the aligned elongated slots defined respectively therein; and

(iv) a spring coaxially positioned about said spring rod such that said spring biases said cam follower into abutment with said cam edge;

said breakaway lever selectively rotatable relative to said receptacle base about said pivot fastener when a breakaway force is exerted on said inner end of said breakaway lever through said second mounting structure from a first position where said cam follower is engaged with a home location on said cam edge to a second position where said cam follower is engaged with a breakaway dwell location on said cam edge, said cam edge further comprises a transition surface that extends between the home location and the breakaway dwell location, wherein said cam follower is in contact with said transition surface when said breakaway lever is located between said first position and said second position.

2. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second mounting structure comprises a slot defined in the inner end of the breakaway lever that is adapted to accommodate a tip portion of the associated hinge arm.

3. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inner end of said breakaway lever comprises first and second lobes between which said slot is defined, wherein said second mounting structure is provided by at least said first lobe.

4. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said follower fastener contacts and engages said cam edge of said breakaway lever when said breakaway lever rotates from its first position to its second position.

5. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 4, wherein said latch base and said receptacle base are defined together as a one-piece construction.

6. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam follower comprises said follower fastener and at least one of a roller, a bushing, or a slide member that is connected to said follower fastener and that is engaged with said cam edge.

7. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said latch base and said receptacle base are defined together as a one-piece construction.

8. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coil spring is coaxially positioned about said spring rod between said transverse wall of said latch base and said cam follower.

9. The breakaway receptacle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said latch base and said receptacle base are defined together as a one-piece construction.