Patent ID: 7017232
Filing Date: 2006-03-28
Classification: E05D,E05F,E05Y,F24C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A load limiting hinge, comprising: a substantially rigid hinge post having a hinge plate attachment portion, a spring attachment end opposite the hinge plate attachment portion, said hinge post having hinge plate pivot and hinge plate locking holes defined therein; said hinge post further including a hinge plate pivot limit fastener hole defined therein; a substantially rigid hinge plate having a pivot attachment hole, a door arm attachment hole, and threaded mechanical fuse attachment hole defined therein; said hinge plate having a pivot limit slot in the shape of an arc formed therein, the center of the arc of the pivot limit slot being located at the pivot attachment hole of said hinge plate; a hinge plate pivot limit fastener extending through the hinge plate pivot limit fastener hole of said hinge post and the pivot limit slot of said hinge plate; an elongate, substantially rigid door arm having a hinge plate attachment end with a hinge plate attachment hole defined therein; a hinge plate pivot fastener extending through the hinge plate pivot hole and the pivot attachment hole, pivotally attaching the hinge plate to the hinge post; a door arm pivot fastener extending through the door arm attachment hole and the hinge plate attachment hole, pivotally attaching the door arm to the hinge plate; and a threaded mechanical fuse extending through the hinge plate locking hole and the mechanical fuse attachment hole, the fuse having a fracture stress so that the fuse immovably affixes the hinge plate to the hinge post under normal load, and fractures when an excessive load applied to the door arm exerts tensile stress to fracture the fuse and pivot the hinge plate about the hinge plate pivot fastener.