Door opening apparatus for heating appliance

A door opening apparatus for a heating appliance comprising:

• a housing having a heating cavity therein, said heating cavity having an opening;
• a door supported on said housing for selectively opening and closing said heating cavity;
• at least one locking member disposed in the door;
• at least one engaging member disposed in the housing to be engaged with said locking member to lock the door in its closed position;
• at least one releasing member for releasing the engagement of said locking member and engaging member to unlock the door;
• a plunger solenoid for moving said releasing member;
• a power supply circuit to supply a power voltage to said plunger solenoid;
• a foot switch disposed outside of the housing and connected to said power supply circuit to supply said power voltage in response to the operation of said switch;
• at least one safety switch disposed proximate said releasing member for stopping the heating operation of said appliance when the door is opened, said releasing member being spaced from said safety switch when the door is in the open position so that the heating operation of the appliance is prevented and being brought in contact with the safety switch to change the condition of the switch when the door is closed so that the heating operation of the appliance can be initiated;
• at least one stop switch for stopping the operation of the plunger solenoid when the door is opened;
• and
• at least one spring for coupling said plunger solenoid and said releasing member,
• whereby once the door is opened by the operation of the plunger solenoid, the solenoid and the appliance are rendered inoperative.

A door opening apparatus for a microwave oven comprising:

• a housing having a heating cavity therein, said heating cavity having an opening:
• a door supported on said housing for selectively opening and closing said heating cavity;
• at least one locking member disposed in the door;
• at least one engaging member disposed in the housing to be engaged with said locking member to lock the door in its closed position;
• at least one releasing member for releasing the engagement of said locking member and engaging member to unlock the door;
• a door opening button mounted on the door for moving said releasing member when said button is depressed;
• a plunger solenoid for moving said releasing member when said solenoid is activated;
• a power supply circuit to supply a power voltage to said plunger solenoid;
• a foot switch disposed outside of the housing and connected to said power supply circuit to supply said power voltage to operate the plunger solenoid in response to the depression of said foot switch;
• at least one safety switch disposed proximate said releasing member for stopping a heating operation of said appliance when the door is opened, said releasing member being spaced from said safety switch when the door is in the open position so that the heating operation of the appliance is stopped and being brought into contact with the safety switch to change the condition of the switch when the door is closed so that the heating operation of the appliance can be initiated;
• at least one stop switch for stopping the operation of the plunger solenoid when the door is opened;
• and
• at least one spring for coupling said plunger solenoid and said releasing member,
• whereby the door may be selectively opened either manually or automatically and once the door is opened, the solenoid is inoperative even if the foot switch is depressed.