Push-to-open/signal-to-open appliance door latching system with an integrated locking device

A push-to-open/signal-to-open latching and integrated locking system for a door connected to an appliance comprising:

• an appliance door supported on an appliance by a hinge, wherein the appliance door may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position to allow access to an appliance cavity and wherein the appliance door includes a pawl;
• a push-to-open latch/signal-to-open and locking device connected to the appliance which is capable of engaging the pawl on the appliance door,
• a controller which is electrically connected to the push-to-open latch and locking device;
• wherein the push-to-open latch and locking device comprises:
• a latch mounting bracket comprising a flat planar surface and a vertical side edge;
• a carriage frame connected to the flat planar surface of the latch mounting bracket, wherein the carriage frame comprises a bottom surface, a side surface, a top surface having a top end and a bottom end;
• a rotating cam having an exterior surface connected to the latch mounting bracket and rotatable with respect to the latching mounting bracket, wherein the rotating cam comprises:
• a latching slot integrated within the exterior surface for engaging the pawl;
• a guiding ramp on the exterior surface of the rotating cam;
• a catch surface;
• a secondary ramp;
• a latching finger having a first end which is attached to the carriage frame and a second end having a projection, wherein the second end of the latching finger is capable of being lifted by the secondary ramp upon rotation of the rotating cam in a first direction when a user engages the rotating cam with the pawl, wherein complete rotation of the rotating cam in the first direction results in the secondary ramp engaging the catch surface of the rotating cam, wherein the latching finger may be released from the catch surface by a user pushing in the appliance door near the push-to-open latch to induce rotation of the rotating cam in a second opposite direction, wherein rotation of the rotating cam in the second direction guides the latching finger to the secondary ramp and results in lifting the latching finger to release the latching finger from the catch surface;
• a linear solenoid positioned on the bottom surface of the carriage frame adjacent to the rotating cam;
• a locking slide positioned on the bottom end of the top surface of the carriage frame;
• slots within the top surface of the carriage frame which allow the locking slide to travel between a retracted position and an extended position;
• a locking pin extending downward from the locking slide between the solenoid and the rotating cam;
• a locking slot integrated within the exterior surface of the rotating cam,
• wherein activation of the solenoid induces a force upon the locking slide causing the locking slide to travel to the lock-on position within the slot and causing the locking slide pin to engage the locking slot of the rotating cam;
• and
• a pivoting toggle connected to the locking slide, wherein the pivoting toggle may alternately toggle between a lock-on position and a lock-off position with linear movement of the locking slide between the retracted position and the extended position.