초록 ▼

Hinged assemblies, and children's products including at least one hinged assembly, include a base member and a hinged member operatively and pivotally coupled to the base member to define a hinge. The hinge is configured to release if an obstruction is positioned between the hinged member and the ba

Hinged assemblies, and children's products including at least one hinged assembly, include a base member and a hinged member operatively and pivotally coupled to the base member to define a hinge. The hinge is configured to release if an obstruction is positioned between the hinged member and the base member while the hinged member is being closed and if a closing torque is greater than or equal to a release torque. The hinge also may be configured to not release when an opening torque is applied when the hinged member is in its open position even when the opening torque is greater than the release torque.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hinged assembly, comprising: a base member; anda hinged member operatively and pivotally coupled to the base member to define a hinge, wherein the hinge defines a range of pivotal positions of the hinged member relative to the base member, with the range of pivotal positions including a closed

1. A hinged assembly, comprising: a base member; anda hinged member operatively and pivotally coupled to the base member to define a hinge, wherein the hinge defines a range of pivotal positions of the hinged member relative to the base member, with the range of pivotal positions including a closed position and a fully open position;wherein the hinge is configured so that if a child's finger is positioned in engagement between the hinged member and the base member while the hinged member is being urged toward the closed position by a closing force that defines a closing torque that is at least as great as a release torque, the hinge will release to detach the hinged member from the base member to prevent pinching of the child's finger; andwherein the hinge is further configured so that the hinge will not detach the hinged member from the base member when the hinged member is being urged toward or is opened to the fully open position by an opening force that creates an opening torque that is greater than the release torque and less than or equal to a maximum opening torque. 2. The hinged assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge is further configured so that it will detach the hinged member from the base member to prevent pinching of the child's finger when the child's finger is positioned in engagement between the hinged member and the base member while the hinged member is being urged toward the closed position by the closing force and when the child's finger defines a dimension between the hinged member and the base member that is in the range of 5-60 mm. 3. A children's product, comprising: a product body;a closure; andthe hinged assembly of claim 1;wherein the closure includes the hinged member, and the product body includes the base member. 4. The children's product of claim 3, wherein the product body defines a cavity and wherein the hinged member at least partially covers the cavity when the hinged member is in the closed position and at least partially uncovers the cavity when the hinged member is in the open position. 5. A hinged assembly, comprising: a base member; anda hinged member, the hinged member including: a proximal end region operatively coupled to the base member in a pivotal relationship; anda distal end region opposite the proximal end region;wherein the base member and the hinged member collectively define a hinge;wherein the hinged member is selectively pivotal relative to the base member in a range of positions that include a closed position, in which the distal end region is adjacent to the base member, and an open position, in which the distal end region is spaced farther away from the base member than when the hinged member is in the closed position;wherein the hinge is configured so that if a child's finger is placed between the hinged member and the base member when the hinged member is being moved in a closing direction from the open position toward the closed position by a closing force, the proximal end region of the hinged member will decouple from the base member if the closing force creates a closing torque that is greater than or equal to a release torque; andwherein the hinge is configured so that if an opening force is applied against the hinged member in an opening direction away from the closed position when the hinged member is in the open position to create an opening torque, the proximal end region of the hinged member will not decouple from the base member when the opening torque is less than or equal to a maximum opening torque, wherein the maximum opening torque is greater than the release torque. 6. The hinged assembly of claim 5, wherein the maximum opening torque is at least twice as great as the release torque. 7. The hinged assembly of claim 5, wherein the hinge is configured so that if a child's finger is placed between the hinged member and the base member when the hinged member is being moved in the closing direction by the closing force, the proximal end region of the hinged member will decouple from the base member without damaging either of the hinged member or the base member if the closing torque is greater than or equal to the release torque. 8. The hinged assembly of claim 5, wherein the hinged member and the base member are configured to be repeatedly decoupled from each other and recoupled to each other to define the hinge without damage to the hinged member or the base member. 9. The hinged assembly of claim 5, wherein the hinged member includes a pair of opposed hinged-member end-regions;wherein the base member includes a pair of opposed base-member hinge-regions configured to selectively mate with the opposed hinged-member end-regions;wherein the opposed hinged-member end-regions and the opposed base-member hinge-regions collectively define an axis about which the hinged member is pivotal relative to the base member; andwherein the hinged member has a hinged-member flexibility that operatively permits the opposed hinged-member end-regions to disengage from the opposed base-member hinge-regions when the closing torque is greater than or equal to the release torque when the hinged member is being moved in the closing direction and when a child's finger is placed between the hinged member and the base member. 10. The hinged assembly of claim 9, wherein the hinged member includes an axle that includes the proximal end region and the opposed hinged-member end-regions and that extends between the opposed base-member hinge-regions;wherein the axle has an axle flexibility that operatively permits the opposed hinged-member end-regions to disengage from the opposed base-member hinge-regions when the closing torque is greater than or equal to the release torque when the hinged member is being moved in the closing direction and when a child's finger is placed between the hinged member and the base member; andwherein the axle defines at least one void region between the opposed hinged-member end-regions and that at least partially facilitates the axle flexibility. 11. The hinged assembly of claim 10, wherein the base member defines a sleeve between the opposed base-member hinge-regions and within which the axle is at least partially positioned and pivots when the hinged member is moved between the open position and the closed position;wherein one of the sleeve and the axle defines at least one slot, the at least one slot having an inner edge; andwherein the other one of the sleeve and the axle includes at least one tab that extends through the at least one slot, and wherein when the hinged member is in the open position, the at least one tab is engaged with the inner edge of the at least one slot so that the opening force is transferred from the hinged member to the base member via the at least one tab and the inner edge of the at least one slot, thereby restricting decoupling of the hinged member from the base member when the opening torque is less than or equal to the maximum opening torque. 12. The hinged assembly of claim 11, wherein when the hinged member is in the open position and the opening torque is less than or equal to the maximum opening torque, the engagement between the at least one tab and the inner edge of the at least one slot restricts flexing of the axle. 13. The hinged member of claim 5, wherein the release torque is greater when the hinged member is toward the open position than when the hinged member is toward the closed position. 14. The hinged assembly of claim 5, wherein the hinged member includes an axle that defines an axis about which the hinged member is pivotal relative to the base member;wherein the base member defines a sleeve within which the axle is at least partially positioned and pivots when the hinged member is moved between the open position and the closed position;wherein one of the sleeve and the axle defines at least one slot, the at least one slot having an inner edge; andwherein the other of the sleeve and the axle includes at least one tab that extends through the at least one slot, and wherein when the hinged member is in the open position, the at least one tab is engaged with the inner edge of the at least one slot so that the opening force is transferred from the hinged member to the base member via the at least one tab and the inner edge of the at least one slot, thereby restricting decoupling of the hinged member from the base member when the opening torque is less than or equal to the maximum opening torque. 15. A children's ride-on vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body including a seat sized for a child;a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the vehicle body; andthe hinged assembly of claim 5. 16. The children's ride-on vehicle of claim 15, further comprising: at least one of a hood, a door, a trunk closure, a seat, a battery cover, or a compartment closure, wherein the at least one of a hood, a door, a trunk closure, a seat, a battery cover, or a compartment closure includes the hinged member and the vehicle body includes the base member. 17. A children's product, comprising: a product body;a closure; andthe hinged assembly of claim 5;wherein the closure includes the hinged member and the product body includes the base member. 18. The children's product of claim 17, wherein the product body defines a cavity and wherein the hinged member at least partially covers the cavity when the hinged member is in the closed position and at least partially uncovers the cavity when the hinged member is in the open position. 19. A hinged assembly, comprising: a base member; anda hinged member, the hinged member including: a proximal end region operatively coupled to the base member in a pivotal relationship; anda distal end region opposite the proximal end region;wherein the hinged member is selectively pivotal relative to the base member in a range of positions including a closed position, in which the distal end region is adjacent to the base member, and an open position, in which the distal end region is spaced farther away from the base member than when the hinged member is in the closed position; andwherein the base member and the hinged member collectively define means for decoupling the proximal end region from the base member when a child's finger is placed between the hinged member and the base member and when the hinged member is being moved in a closing direction from the open position toward the closed position by a closing force to create a closing torque that is greater than or equal to a release torque. 20. The hinged assembly of claim 19, wherein the base member and the hinged member further collectively define means for maintaining the proximal end region in engagement with the base member when an opening force is applied against the hinged member in an opening direction away from the closed position and when the hinged member is in the open position to create an opening torque that is less than or equal to a maximum opening torque, and wherein the maximum opening torque is greater than the release torque. 21. A children's product, comprising: a product body;a closure; andthe hinged assembly of claim 20;wherein the closure includes the hinged member and the product body includes the base member; andwherein the product body defines a cavity and wherein the hinged member at least partially covers the cavity when the hinged member is in the closed position and at least partially uncovers the cavity when the hinged member is in the open position.