Door interlock system for microwave oven

In a microwave oven having a cabinet defining an oven cavity having a front opening, a door movably mounted to said cabinet for selectively closing said opening, electrically operable microwave energy generating means for supplying electromagnetic energy to said cavity, and an electrical circuit including switch means for providing electric power from an external source to said electrically operable means, improved means for selectively securing said door in a closed position wherein the door closes said opening, and selectively operating said switch means, said improved means comprising:

• a slider mounted in said cabinet and movable between released and interlocking positions.
• a plurality of latch members fixed to said door and engageable with said slider for securing said door in said closed position;
• a latching mechanism mounted on said door and selectively movable to first and second positions with respect to said door, said latching mechanism engageable with said slider with said door in said closed position to hold said slider in said actuated position when said latching mechanism is in said second position;
• a secondary door switch mounted on said slider and operated by a first of said latch members in response to the position of said slider, said secondary door switch connected in series with said power source and said generating means and operable to disable said generating means when said slider is in said nonactuated position;
• a primary door switch fixed to said cabinet and operated by said latching mechanism, said primary door switch connected in series with said external power source and said generating means and operable to disable said generating means whenever selectively (a) said door is in an open position and (b) said latching mechanism is in said first position;
• and
• monitoring means for sensing a failure of said primary door switch, said monitoring means including a monitor switch mounted in said cabinet and operated by a second of said latch members in response to the movement of said door relative to said closed position.

In a microwave oven having a cabinet defining an oven cavity having a front opening, a door movably mounted to said cabinet for selectively closing said opening, electrically operable microwave energy generating means for supplying electromagnetic energy to said cavity, and an electrical circuit including first and second switch means for providing electric power from an external source to said electrically operable means, improved means for selectively securing said door in a closed position wherein the door closes said opening, and selectively operating said switch means, said improved means comprising:

• means for mounting said first switch to said cabinet;
• a mounting member movably carried by the cabinet and carrying said second switch;
• a handle movably carried by the door;
• first means movable with said handle to move said mounting member to a latching position;
• second means movable with said handle to actuate said first switch when said door is in said closed position;
• a catch element movably carried by said mounting member;
• a latch on said door engaged by said catch element to latch said door in the closed position when the mounting member is moved by said first means to said latching position;
• and
• means for sequentially causing said second means to discontinue actuation of said first switch, and then cause movement of said mounting member from said latching position, said latch further defining means for actuating said second switch only when said movable member is in said latching position.