US3766599A

US3766599A - Button hinge

Info

Publication number: US3766599A
Application number: US00167615A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Ullman
Original assignee: Mullins Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Mullins Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1971-07-30
Filing date: 1971-07-30
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23

Abstract

A hinge assembly is disclosed for releasably and pivotally interconnecting a closure member with support means therefor. The hinge assembly includes a bracket member adapted to be mounted on the support means and which is provided with a flange having an aperture therethrough. The closure member has an opening adapted to be aligned with the bracket aperture, and a sleeve component of resilient material such as nylon is adapted to be inserted through the opening in the closure member and is supported thereby. A headed pin is inserted through the bracket aperture and thence into the sleeve component. The corresponding inner ends of the sleeve and pin are provided with releasably interengagable projection and groove means which provide for the sleeve to releasably restrain displacement of the pin means relative to the hinge assembly. When the pins are removed from a pair of such hinge assemblies associated with opposite ends of a closure member, the latter is released for removal from the support means.

Description

United'St ates Patent [1 1 [111 3,766,599 Ullman, Jr. Oct. 23, 1973 BUTTON HINGE Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman [75] Inventor: Myron E. Ullman, Jr., Canfield, Attorney james H Tube"), et aL Ohio [73] Assignee: Mullins Manufacturing Company,

Salem, Ohio ABSTRACT [22] Filed: July 30,1971 A hinge assembly is disclosed for releasably and pivotally interconnecting a closure member with support means therefor. The hinge assembly includes a 21 Appl. No.: 167,615

bracket member adapted to be mounted on the sup- [52] US. Cl. 16/171, 16/169 port means and which is provided with a flange having [51] Int. Cl. E05d 1/06 an aperture therethrough. The closure member has an [58] Field of Search 16/43, 171, 169, opening adapted to be aligned with the bracket aperl6/2; 85/5; 24/217, 208 A ture, and a sleeve component of resilient material such as nylon is adapted to be inserted through the opening WW. a. in the closure member and is supported thereby. A

[56] References Cit d headed pin is inserted through the bracket aperture UNITED STATES PATENTS and thence into the sleeve component. The corre- 3 389 424 6/1968 Fenwock 16/170 spending inner ends of the sleeve and pin are provided 12/1963 Poem 85/5 with releasably mterengagable pro ection and groove 10/1960 Macy 16 means which provide for the sleeve to releasably re- 3042961 7/1962 Tied 16/128 strain displacement of the pin means relative to the 3,299,573 l/l967 Gustafson 16/135 hinge assemblywhen the P are removed from a 2,824,464 2/l958 Remmington 16/169 pa of su ng ass mblies associated with opposite ends of a closure member, the latter is released for removal from the support means.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures .PAIENIEuncmamu I 3.766.599

SHEET 1nF2 INVENTOR. MYRON E. ULLMAN,JR.

zzfiw wvy ATTORN E YS.

BUTTON HINGE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to the art of hinges and,

more particularly, to hinges adapted to releasably and pivotally interconnect a pair of relatively movable components such as a closure member and support means therefor.

The ability to remove a closure member from its support means for the purpose of replacement, repair or the like, is extremely desirable. For example, cabinets having hinged closure members and especially cabinets and closures which are of sheet metal construction, are subject to damage during manufacture thereof and during shipment thereof from the point of manufacture to the point of use or sale. Such damage, for example, may be in the form of denting, scratching, enamel chipping, misalignment of components, separation of joined sheet metal parts, and the like. Moreover, such cabinetry is subject to similar damage during installation and use and during display thereof in a showroom or the like. Thus, it is both desirable and advantageous to provide for cabinet and closure components to be readily separable to permit replacement, repair, interchanging of components or the like. It will be appreciated too, that in conjunction with the display and selling of cabinetry the ability to readily remove and replace a closure member for a cabinet provides the seller with the ability to demonstrate different possible combinations of closure and cabinet design or color to a prospective purchaser.

Hinge assemblies have been provided heretofore which permit separation of a closure element from its support means. Among such hinge assemblies are those having a pair of hinge leaves and a fixed pintle therebetween. The leaves are fastened one to the closure and the other to the cabinet usually by threaded. fasteners such as screws. Thus, separation of .the closure and cabinet involves a time consuming operation to achieve removal of fastener elements or the like. Accordingly, while separation of components is possible the cost thereof from the standpoint of the time required is objectionable. Further, it will be appreciated that the manipulation of fastener elements and the like subjects the cabinetry to the possibility of paint chipping, scratching or other damage unless the workman is extremely careful.

Other hinge assemblies heretofore provided for the purpose of releasably mounting a closure member relative to support meansthercfor have included assemblies wherein the closure member is provided with spring biased pintle members which are adapted to be depressed into a recess in the closure and then released to project therefrom and into an aperture provided in a bracket component mounted on the support means for the closure member. Such assemblies, while facilitating the removal of the closure from the support means, have certain disadvantages which render the as semblies undesirable. Among these disadvantages is the fact that the assemblies require a considerable number of parts-which must be properly assembled and interrelated during manufacture thereof, whereby the cost of such assemblies is relatively high. Further, such assemblies necessitate the use of axially slidable pintles and associated sleeve-like housings and when the closure is mounted on the cabinet a considerable length of pintle is exposed at least at one end of the closure member.

This detracts from the appearance of the cabinetry and, moreover, the weight of the door places stresses on the pintle and its sleeve housing subjecting these components to an undesirable degree of wear. Further, in providing for axial sliding movement between the pintle and sleeve, radial clearances exist therebetween which result in an undesirable degree of lateral play between the closure and its mounting brackets.

Accordingly, it is an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a hinge assembly which facilitates readily connecting or disconnecting a pair of relatively movable members.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of, a hinge assembly of the above character which is comprised of a minimum number of parts and is inexpensive to produce.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hinge assembly of the above character which provides for connection or disconnection of a closure member or the like and support means therefor to be achieved with a minimum expenditure of time and physical energy.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hinge assembly of the above character wherein the components of the hinge assembly are structurally interrelated in a manner whereby a minimum of component wear and quiet hinge operation are achieved.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a hingeassembly of the above character which is adapted to be associated with a closure member and support means therefor in a manner whereby the components of the hinge assembly are substantially hidden from view when the closure member is in its closed disposition relative to the support means.

The foregoing objects and advantages, and others, are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a hinge assembly which is comprised in its entirety of a bracket component, a sleeve component and pin means. The bracket component is mountable on one of the two members to be pivotally interconnected and is provided with an aperture for the pin means. The other member to be pivotally interconnected with the one member is provided with an opening which, when the members are in the assembled relationship, is in axial alignment with the aperture in the bracket component. The opening in the other member is adapted to receive the sleeve component, and the pin means is introduced through the bracket aperture and into the sleeve means disposed in the opening of the other member. The sleeve means and pin means are adapted to interengage with one another in a manner whereby the pin means is releasably restrained from withdrawal from the sleeve means. Two such assemblies will, of course, be provided between the two members and in spaced apart relationship with the pin means in axial alignment. Thus, the axes of the pin means define a hinge axis which permits the two interconnected members to pivot relative to one another. Further, separation of the two members is achieved simply by introducing a tool such as a screw driver between the pin means and corresponding bracket component to displace the pin means outwardly relative to the sleeve means to cause a release of the interengagement therebetween.

The foregoing objects and advantages will in part be obvious and in part more fully pointed out hereinafter in conjunction with the description of the accompanying drawing of preferred embodiments of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of cabinet and closure members adapted to be pivotally interreonnected by the hinge assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a hinge assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of a preferred structure of pin and sleeve components of the hinge assembly and wherein the pin and sleeve are depicted in the unseated positions thereof;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, of one side of the cabinet member taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and illustrating bracket components of a pair of hinge assemblies mounted on the cabinet member;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the cabinet and closure members and illustrating the hinged relationship therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the cabinet and closure members taken along line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view of a modified form of the pin and sleeve components illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional elevation views of further modifications of the sleeve and pin components of the hinge assembly of the present invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates cabinet and

closure members

10 and 12, respectively, adapted to be pivotally interconnected adjacent one side thereof by top and bottom hinge assemblies 14 made in accordance with the present invention. Hinge assemblies 14 interconnect closure member 12 with cabinet member 10 in a manner whereby the closure member is supported for horizontal pivotal movement between open and closed positions relative to the front of the cabinet member.

The components of hinge assembly 14 are illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing and, in this respect, include bracket means 16, sleeve means 18 and headed pin means 20. Bracket means 16 is a metal component adapted to be mounted on one of the cabinet and closure members as set forth more fully hereinafter and includes a plate portion 22 having aperture means 24 extending therethrough. Further, the bracket means includes a mounting plate portion 26 which, in the embodiment illustrated, is disposed substantially at right angles to plate portion 22 and is provided with opening means 28 adapted to receive fastener means or the like by which the bracket means is attached to an underlying support surface.

Sleeve means 18 preferably is produced from resilient plastic material such as nylon. However, the sleeve may be produced from metal and, moreover, plastic materials other than nylon may be employed. Sleeve 18 includes cylindrical wall means 30 depending from a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange portion 32. The lower end of wall means 30 is provided with longitudinally extending slot means 34 for the purpose set forth more fully hereinafter.

Pin means preferably is a metallic component having a thin head portion 36 and a shank portion 38 depending therefrom. The lower end of shank portion 38 terminates in camming surface means in the form of a conical nose portion 40 above and adjacent to which is provided a circumferential recess 42 which provides for the pin means and sleeve means to be cooperatively interengaged upon assembly of the hinge components.

The preferred interengaging relationship between sleeve means 18 and pin means 20 is best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. In this respect, the lower end of wall means 30 and the lower end of shank portion 38 of pin means 20 are provided with releasably interengagable detent means. The detent means is provided by recess 42 in pin means 20 and radially inwardly extending projection means 48 provided adjacent the lower end of sleeve wall means 30. Projection means 48 is integral with wall means 30 and preferably is in the form of an annular flange which is interrupted by slot means 34 in wall means 30. Further, projection means 48 provides a narrow opening at the bottom of the sleeve means which defines the narrowest interior crossseetional dimension of the sleeve means. Still further, projection means 48 includes inclined upper surface means 50 adapted to be engaged by conical nose portion 40 of pin means 20 in a manner whereby wall means 30 is deflected radially outwardly to permit nose portion 40 to pass projection means 48. The diameter of shank portion 38 and the peripheral edge of nose portion 40 correspond substantially to the inner diameter of wall portion 30 of sleeve means 18 ahead of projection means 48. Peripheral groove 42 in shank 38 has a radial depth corresponding substantially to the radial inward length of projection means 48. Thus, upon insertion of pin means 20 into sleeve means 18, nose portion 40 engages projection means 48 to displace wall portion 30 of the sleeve radially outwardly as nose portion 40 passes the projection means. When nose portion 40 passes projection means 48, the resilience of the material of the sleeve means causes wall means 30 to return radially inwardly, whereby projection means 48 enter groove 42 to releasably interengage the components. The axial length of pin recess or groove 42 and projection means 48 may be such as to permit relative axial movement therebetween or may be so dimentioned as to prevent any axial play. Withdrawal of pin means 20 from sleeve means 18 is achieved, for example, by inserting a screwdriver or other suitable tool between bracket plate 22 and pin head 36 and applying a prying force to axially separate the pin and sleeve. If desired, the lower inner end of projection means 48 or the upper end of nose portion 40 can be inclined to facilitate radial outward displacement of wall means 30 by nose portion 40 during withdrawal movement of pin means 20.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the preferred manner in which the hinge assembly of the present invention is associated with cabinet and closure members. Although the cabinet and closure members are illustrated herein as being of sheet metal construction, it will be clearly understood that the hinge assembly is adapted to be used with other cabinet and closure structures such as, for example, wooden cabinet and closure structures.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, cabinet member 10 includes a top wall 52 which terminates in a downwardly and inwardly extending trim flange 54 and a bottom wall 53 which terminates in a downwardly and inwardly extending trim flange 55. The top and bottom corners of the cabinet are provided with openings 56 which extend through

trim flanges

54 and 55. Brackets 16 are adapted to be attached to trim

flanges

54 and 55 in a manner whereby mounting plate portions 26 thereof are disposed behind the trim flange and apertured plate portions 22 project forwardly through openings 56. Brackets 16 may be suitably interconnected with the corresponding trim flange such as by means of threaded fasteners 58 which extend through the trim flanges and into threaded engagement with openings 28 in the bracket mounting plate. When so mounted, brackets 16 are positioned for aperture means 24 thereof to be in spaced apart axial alignment.

Closure element 12, in the embodiment illustrated, is of suitable sheet metal construction including front and

rear walls

60 and 62, respectively, top wall 64, bottom wall 66 and end walls including end wall 68 along the hinged side thereof. Top wall 64 may be provided with suitable recess means 70 to receive components of the hinge assembly in a manner whereby the latter are not readily visible when viewing the cabinetry from the front thereof. Similar recess means 72 may be provided in bottom wall means 66 of the closure element for the same purpose. Top and

bottom walls

64 and 66 of closure element 12 are provided with opening means 74 and 76, respectively, which are adapted-to be disposed in axial alignment with the aperture means 24 of the corresponding bracket 16 when the closure is in its mounted disposition. Opening means 74 and 76 are adapted to receive sleeve means 18 in a manner whereby flange 32 of the sleeve means rests against the bottom of the

corresponding recess

70 or 72 and wall means 30 projects inwardly of the closure member. When sleeve means 18 are disposed in

openings

74 and 76, the closure member is prepared for interconnection with the cabinet member. Such interconnection is achieved by positioning closure element 12 relative to cabinet member in a manner whereby bracket aperture means 24 are in alignment with the corresponding openings in the top and bottom wall of the closure member. Pin means are then inserted through the corresponding bracket aperture means and into the corresponding sleeve means 18 until the inner ends of the sleeve means and pin means become interengaged in the manner described hereinabove. The closure and cabinet members are thus interconnected for closure member 12 to be pivotally movable relative to cabinet member 10.

The relationship between the diameter of the outer surface of wall means 30 of sleeve means 18 and the vdiameter of opening means 74 and 76 in the top and bottom walls of closure element 12 preferably is such that the sleeve means frictionally engages the inner wall surface of the opening means in a manner whereby the sleeve means is not readily displaceable from the opening means. If desired, however, the sleeve means may be loosely associated with the opening means, or means could be provided to interengage the sleeve means and closure wall means in a manner whereby the sleeve would be positively retained in place relative to the top wall or bottom wall of theclosure member. Further, the relationship between the diameter of the inner surface of wall means 30 of sleeve means 18 and the diameter of the outer surface of shank portion 38 of pin means 20 is such that the pin means and sleeve means are free to rotate relative to one another. It will be noted with regard to the hinge assembly at the lower end of closure means 12 that the weight of the closure element is borne by apertured plate 22 of the lower bracket means and that sleeve flange 32 is disposed between the bottom wall of the door and plate portion 22, whereby the flange serves as a bearing surface between the door and bracket means.

Occasionally variances in manufacturing tolerances result in the apertured plate portion of the bracket means being thicker than desired or result in the plate portions, when mounted, being spaced apart a distance greater than the corresponding dimension of the member to be pivotally attached thereto, whereby a greater space exists therebetween than is desired. Such variations in dimensional relationships may result in preventing longitudinal movement of pin means of the embodiment of FIG. 3 to the extent necessary for nose portion 40 of the pin means to pass projection means 48 of the sleeve means. Thus, the desired interengagement is not achieved. This can be avoided by axially extending the pin means for nose portion 40 to be spaced further from head portion 36. This alone is not desirable, however, because the head end of the pin means would then project above or below the plate portion of the bracket means to an undesirable extent when the dimensional relationships referred to are as designed. Such a projecton problem for an upper pin component could readily be corrected by elongating recess portion 42 of the pin means, but it will be appreciated that elongation of the recess does not alleviate the problem with regard to a lower pin component which moves longitudinally downwardly under its own weight until stopped by engagement of the end of the recess adjacent the nose portion with the projection means in the sleeve.

The desired interengaging relationship between the pin and sleeve components and the desired axial disposition of the pin means relative to the plate portion of the bracket means can be achieved to avoid the foregoing problems by the pin structure illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawing. In this respect, pin means 114 is illustrated in conjunction with sleeve means 116 and an apertured bracket plate portion 118. Sleeve means 116 is identical to sleeve means 18 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Pin means 114 includes a head portion 120 and a shank portion 122 similar to the corresponding portions of pin means 20. Pin means 114, however, includes a pair of

nose portions

124 and 126. Nose portion 124 and peripheral groove 128 therebehind correspond substantially to nose portion 40 and groove 42 of pin means 20 and, in this respect, are adapted to coact with sleeve projection means 130 in the manner described with regard to pin means 20 and sleeve means 18 to interengage these components when the dimensional relationships between the several components of an assembly are as desired. Nose portion 126 defines an axial extension of the pin means and is spaced from nose portion 124 by a peripheral groove 132 preferably corresponding in radial depth and axial configuration and length to that of recess 128. Further, nose portion 126 has a conical camming surface 134 and nose portion 124 has a conical surface 136 defined by the adjacent wall of groove 132, whereby radial outward displacement of sleeve projection means 130 is facilitated upon axial insertion of the pin into the sleeve.

Pin means 114 is illustrated as being engaged with sleeve means 116 in the manner which would result when the proper dimensional relationships mentioned hereinabove exist. It will be apparent that if bracket plate 118 is thicker in the directions of the pin axis than the thickness illustrated, sleeve projection means 130 at best will not fully seat radially in groove 128 and the desired interengagement will not be achieved. If this can be determined by feel during the assembly of the components, then pin means 114 can be slightly withdrawn so that projection means 130 enters groove 132 to provide the desired interengaging relationship between the sleeve and pin means. If the improper interengagement is not detectable during assembly, as is often the case, the pin means will more than likely move axially outwardly during operation of the hinge assembly, whereby projection means 130 will enter groove 132. It will be appreciated that without groove 132 and nose portion 134, such axial movement of the pin means would cause the latter to be undesirably disengaged from the sleeve means, whereby a bottom pin component on a door, for example, would drop out of the sleeve resulting in obvious consequences.

While the sleeve means and pin means preferably are of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 and are adapted to be interengaged in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pin and sleeve means may be readily modified in accordance with the present invention. For example, FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawing illustrate possible modifications of the interengaging relationship between pin and sleeve means. In this respect, with reference first to FIG. 8, pin means and sleeve means components are illustrated which include sleeve means 80 and pin means 82. Sleeve means 80 is of resilient plastic material such as nylon. In this instance, the sleeve means is similar to sleeve means 18 previously described and, in this respect, includes a flange portion 84 and a cylindrical wall portion 86 depending therefrom. Further, the lower end of wall portion 86 is provided with projection means projecting inwardly of wall means 86. Flange means 88, in projecting inwardly of wall means 86 provides an opening in the lower end of the sleeve which defines the narrowest interior crosssectional dimension of the sleeve means. The lower end of wall means 86 may be longitudinally slotted, if desired, in a manner similar to sleeve means 18. Pin means 82, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, includes head portion 90 and shank portion 92 which depends therefrom. Shank portion 92 is of substantially uniform diameter along the length thereof and has a terminal end 94 which may be conical or otherwise exteriorly configured to define a cam surface adapted to engage flange 88 of sleeve means 82 to displace the lower end of wall means 86 radially outwardly. The diameter of shank portion 92 is greater than the narrowest interior crosssectional dimension of the sleeve as defined by the opening at the lower end thereof bounded by flange 88, whereby terminal end 94 is adapted to engage flange means 88 to displace sleeve wall means 86 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. The resiliency of the material of sleeve means 80 biases the lower ends of wall means 86 against the outer surface of pin shank 92, whereby the pin means and sleeve means are frictionally interengaged in a manner such that they are infinitely adjustable and whereby withdrawal of pin means 82 from the sleeve means is restrained.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, sleeve means 96 of resilient plastic material such as nylon includes flange means 98 and cylindrical wall means 100 depending therefrom. Wall means 100 has a conical entrance portion 101 terminating just below flange means 98 and thereafter is of uniform internal diameter throughout its length. Lower end 102 of wall means defines surface means extending radially of the axis thereof. Pin means 104 includes head portion 106 and shank portion 108 which depends therefrom. The diameter of shank 108 corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of sleeve wall 100 below the entrance portion and the shank has a terminal end defined by an enlarged head 110 having inclined surface means 112 extending radially of the pin axis. Head 110 is larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the portion of sleeve wall 100 below entrance portion 101. In this embodiment, shank portion 108 is inserted through sleeve means 96 until head 110 projects below surface 102 of sleeve wall 100. During movement through sleeve wall 100, head 110 will slightly radially expand wall 100, and the resilience of the material of the sleeve will bias the wall toward shank 108 when head 110 passes beyond the lower end of the sleeve. Again, wall 100 may be axially slotted to facilitate radial expansion or displacement thereof. When thus assembled, sleeve surface 102 and head surface 112 cooperate to interengage the pin means and sleeve means in a manner whereby withdrawal of the pin means is restrained.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the fact that the bracket means of the hinge assembly is mounted on a cabinet member, it will be clearly understood that the bracket means may be mounted on any suitable support means and that the member pivotally mounted on the support means may be other than a door member. Further, it will be appreciated that the bracket means of the hinge assembly could be mounted on the closure member and that the cabinet member or other support means could be provided with opening means functioning to receive the sleeve means of the hinge assembly. Still further, it will be appreciated that bracket structures other than the specific structure illustrated herein could be employed.

As many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made and as many possible changes may be made in the embodiments herein described, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing description is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the present invention and not as a limitation.

I claim:

1. A hinge assembly for releasably interconnecting a pair of relatively pivotal members one of which members is provided with opening means, said hinge assembly comprising bracket means mountable on the other of said members, said bracket means having an aperture therethrough axially alignable with said opening means in said one member, resilient sleeve means insertable in said opening means, removable pin means insertable successively through said aperture and into said sleeve means to pivotally interconnect said members, said sleeve means and pin means including means interengaging upon insertion of said pin means into said sleeve means to releasably restrain withdrawal of said pin means from said sleeve means.

2. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin means includes shank means having a crosssectional dimension along at least a portion of the length thereof which is greater than the narrowest interior cross-sectional dimension of said sleeve means, whereby said pin means frictionally interengages with said sleeve means.

3. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve means and said pin means have releasably interengagable detent means.

4. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said detent means includes projection means on one of said sleeve and pin means extending radially of the axis thereof, and surface means on the other of said sleeve and pin'means extending radially of the axis thereof.

5. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said projection means extends radially inwardly with respect to the inner surface of said sleeve means, and said surface means extends radially inwardly with respect to the outer surface of said pin means.

6. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection means is integral with said sleeve means, and said surface means is defined by a peripheral groove in said pin means.

7. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said sleeve means is longitudinally slotted across said projection means.

8. A hinge assembly for releasably and pivotally interconnecting a closure member with support means therefore and which closure member includes wall means having opening means therein, said assembly comprising bracket means having an aperture therethrough, said bracket means being mountable on said support means for said aperture to be axially aligned with said opening means in said closure member, resilient sleeve means insertable in said opening means for a portion of said sleeve means to extend into said closure member, and headed pin means removably insertable through said aperture in said bracket means and thence into said sleeve means to pivotally interconnect said closure member and support means, said pin means and sleeve means including means cooperable to releasably restrain withdrawal of said pin means from said sleeve means.

9. The hinge assembly of claim 8, wherein said portion of said sleeve means includes radially expandible wall means and said cooperable means includes interengaging projection and recess means on said pin means and sleeve wall means.

10. The hinge assembly of claim 9, wherein said projection and recess means includes projection means integral with and extending radially inwardly of the inner surface of said wall means of said sleeve means, and recess means defined by peripheral groove means extending radially inwardly of the outer surface of said pin means.

11. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said wall means of said sleeve means has an inner end spaced from said opening means, said projection means being disposed adjacent said inner end, said pin means including a terminal end adapted to project beyond said inner end of said wall means, said peripheral groove means including a groove disposed adjacent said terminal end of said pin means, and camming surface means on said pin means extending from said groove toward said terminal end and adapted to engage said projection means and radially displace said sleeve wall means to facilitate interengagement of said projection means and groove.

12. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said sleeve wall means is provided with longitudinal slots extending from said inner end toward the other end thereof and across said projection means.

13. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said sleeve means is nylon.

14. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection means is integral with said sleeve means, and said surface means is defined by axially spaced apart peripheral grooves in said pin means.

15. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said groove means includes a pair of axially spaced apart peripheral grooves in said pin means.

Claims

2. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin means includes shank means having a cross-sectional dimension along at least a portion of the length thereof which is greater than the narrowest interior cross-sectional dimension of said sleeve means, whereby said pin means frictionally interengages with said sleeve means.

4. The hinge assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said detent means includes projection means on one of said sleeve and pin means extending radially of the axis thereof, and surface means on the other of said sleeve and pin means extending radially of the axis thereof.