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US 2016/0123052 A1Published application
Latch assembly
AssigneesGeneral Electric Company, emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
InventorsRonald Scott Tarr, Srinivas Mallampalli, Anthony Durfee, Peter Nitsche
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch assembly includes coplanar pairs of magnets that engage each other when the latch assembly is in a closed position in order to secure the latch assembly in the closed position. A related appliance with features for selectively securing a door of the appliance in a closed position is also provided.
Claims20
A latch assembly, comprising:
- a stator having a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a first magnet positioned at the first end portion of the stator, the first magnet having an outer surface;
- a second magnet positioned at the second end portion of the stator, the second magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the second magnet positioned coplanar with the outer surface of the first magnet;
- a mover having a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a third magnet positioned at the first end portion of the mover, the third magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the third magnet positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first magnet when the latch assembly is in a closed position;
- and
- a fourth magnet positioned at the second end portion of the mover, the fourth magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the fourth magnet positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second magnet when the latch assembly is in the closed position, the outer surface of the fourth magnet positioned coplanar with the outer surface of the third magnet.
4 more elements
An appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet;
- and
- a latch assembly configured for selectively securing the door in a closed configuration, the latch assembly comprising
- a stator having a first end portion and a second end portion, the stator positioned on the cabinet;
- a first magnet positioned at the first end portion of the stator, the first magnet having an outer surface;
- a second magnet positioned at the second end portion of the stator, the second magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the second magnet positioned parallel to the outer surface of the first magnet;
- a mover having a first end portion and a second end portion, the mover positioned on the door;
- a third magnet positioned at the first end portion of the mover, the third magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the third magnet positioned at the outer surface of the first magnet when the door is in the closed configuration;
- and
- a fourth magnet positioned at the second end portion of the mover, the fourth magnet having an outer surface, the outer surface of the fourth magnet positioned at the outer surface of the second magnet when the door is in the closed configuration, the outer surface of the fourth magnet positioned parallel to the outer surface of the third magnet.
8 more elements
An appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet;
- and
- means for selectively securing the door in a closed configuration.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.