US Patent 9408379 Bi-directional break-away boom with roller and rotary damper

A break-away apparatus for a boom arm has a main boom portion and a boom tip. The apparatus is positioned at a joint between the main boom portion and the boom tip. The apparatus allows the boom tip to assume a neutral position and to pivot to a forward position and to a rearward position with respect to the main boom portion. The apparatus includes a first plate disposed at the joint, a second plate disposed at the joint, a hinge assembly positioned between the first plate and the second plate, a cam element attached to the first plate, the cam element having an arcuate surface, and a roller attached to the second plate and positioned to roll against the arcuate surface.