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US 2014/0197161 A1Published application
Door switch apparatus for microwave ovens
AssigneeStandex International Corporation
InventorMichael J. Dobie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door switch apparatus for a microwave oven that disables the microwave system while not requiring any separate “fingers” or tongs on the door face to reach into the main body of the oven to activate a switch. The switch uses stackable switches activated by a single switch lever. The switch lever is preferably made from a solid piece of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMV to keep the accuracy of the angular dimensions between the surfaces contacting the door hinge arm and the arm of switch to remain fixed.
Claims8
A latching mechanism for a microwave oven having a closable door, said mechanism comprising:
- a hinge arm that is pivotally attached to the closable door on the microwave oven;
- an actuator arm that is pivotally attached to the microwave oven with said actuator arm having a switch surface and a hinge surface with said surfaces at a predetermined fixed angular relationship to one another;
- a first switch having an activation arm that is in contact with said switch surface of said actuator arm such that when the door of the microwave is properly closed, said hinge arm, that is in contact with said hinge surface of said actuator arm, urges said actuator arm to push against said activation arm of said first switch thus causing said first switch to activate to indicate the door of said microwave is closed properly and causes said microwave to be operable.)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.