Breakaway hinge system for appliance door

• US 20040172787A1
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mansfield Engineered Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mansfield Assemblies Co.
• Inventors: Collene, James J., Habegger, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/289
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/022 allowing an additional lateral movement, e.g. for sealing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1276 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: E05F 5/08 with springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/47 Springs; Spring tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/13 by motors, magnets, springs, weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/424 against unintended use
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/308 for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/023 Mounting of doors, e.g. hinges, counterbalancing

Abstract

A breakaway hinge system for an appliance door includes a claw and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain the claw. The receptacle includes a support member and at least one hinge mounting structure that is engaged by the claw. The at least one hinge mounting structure is movable relative to the support member between first and second positions. A spring biases the at least one hinge mounting structure to the first operative position, and the at least one hinge mounting structure is movable to the second position in response to application of force to the hinge assembly having a magnitude sufficient to overcome the spring. The at least one hinge mounting structure can be a pin or like structure provided as part of a pair of pins connected directly or indirectly to the support member.

Claims

1. A receptacle for mounting a hinge assembly, said receptacle comprising:

a support member;

a second member movably connected to said support member, said second member movable relative to said support member between at least a first position and a second position;

at least one hinge mounting structure connected to the second member for movement therewith relative to said support member, said at least one hinge mounting structure adapted for connection to an associated hinge assembly; and

,

a spring that normally biases said second member into its first position.

2. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second member is pivotally connected to said support member and wherein said at least one hinge mounting structure moves on a arc relative to said support member between said first and second positions.

3. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one hinge mounting structure comprises a hinge mounting pin that is connected to and moves with said second member relative to said support member.

4. The receptacle as set forth in claim 3, wherein said hinge mounting pin is a second pin of a set comprising first and second hinge mounting pins, wherein said first hinge mounting pin pivotally connects said second member to said support member.

5. The receptacle as set forth in claim 4, wherein said support member and said second member comprise separate U-shaped members, and wherein said second member is movably nested within a recess of said support member.

6. The receptacle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first and second hinge mounting pins extend completely through both said support member and said second member, said support member defining an aligned pair of elongated apertures through which said second hinge mounting pin extends and in which said second hinge mounting pin moves when said second member moves between said first and second positions.

7. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one hinge mounting structure comprises a rivet.

8. The receptacle as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second hinge mounting pins each comprises a rivet.

9. The receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring.

10. A breakaway hinge system for an appliance door, said system comprising:

a hinge assembly comprising a claw;

a receptacle adapted to receive and retain said claw of said hinge assembly, said receptacle comprising;

a support member;

at least one hinge mounting structure that is engaged by said claw of said hinge assembly, said at least one hinge mounting structure movable relative to said support member between first and second positions; and

,

a spring that biases said at least one hinge mounting structure to said first operative position, said at least one hinge mounting structure movable to said second position in response to application of force to said hinge assembly having a magnitude sufficient to overcome said spring.

11. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said at least one hinge mounting structure is connected to a second member, and said second member is movably connected to said support member.

12. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said at least one hinge mounting structure comprises a second hinge mounting pin from a group of first and second hinge mounting pins, wherein said first hinge mounting pin pivotally connects said second member to said support member and wherein said second hinge mounting pin moves with said second member on an arc about said first hinge mounting pin.

13. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first and second hinge mounting pins each comprise rivets.

14. A breakaway hinge system for an appliance door, said system comprising:

a support member;

a hinge mounting structure connected to said support member and movable between first and second positions, said hinge mounting structure adapted to be engaged and retained by associated hinge assembly; and

,

a spring that exerts a biasing force on said hinge mounting structure to bias said hinge mounting structure to said first position, said hinge mounting structure selectively movable to said second position against said biasing force of said spring.

15. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said hinge mounting structure is provided as a second hinge mounting structure of a pair of first and second hinge mounting structures, wherein both said first and second hinge mounting structures are connected to said support member.

16. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said hinge mounting structure is provided as a second hinge mounting structure of a pair of first and second hinge mounting structures, wherein said first and second hinge mounting structures are separated from each other by a distance that remains constant when said second hinge mounting structure moves from said first position to said second position.

17. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said hinge mounting structure is provided as a second hinge mounting structure of a pair of first and second hinge mounting structures, wherein second hinge mounting structure is connected to a second member that is movably connected to said support member.

18. The breakaway hinge system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first hinge mounting structure pivotally interconnects said second member to said support member.

19. A receptacle for mounting a hinge assembly to an appliance, said receptacle comprising:

first and second mounting structures to be engaged by an associated hinge assembly, said second mounting structure movable between first and second positions; and

,

a spring for biasing said second mounting structure toward said first position, said second mounting structure movable from said first position toward said second position when a breakaway force is applied to said hinge assembly sufficient to overcome a biasing force of said spring.

20. The receptacle as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second mounting structure moves on a circular arc section relative to said first mounting structure so that a distance between said first and second mounting structures is constant when said second mounting structure moves from said first position to said second position.