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US 7,306,266 B2Granted
Appliance latch having a rotating latch hook mounted on a linear slide
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsKenyon A. Hapke, Jarod Michael Sulik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An appliance door latch provides a rotating hook supported on a linear carriage that may move along a line toward and away from a strike. A release of the strike from the rotating hook requires a compression of springs biasing the linear carriage which are then retained in a compressed state by a catch surface on the rotating hook. Re-engagement of the strike with the rotating hook releases the catch surface, causing the springs to pull the rotating hook and strike inward to aid in compressing a door gasket or the like.
Claims22
An appliance latch for retaining a strike, the latch comprising:
- a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance;
- a carriage slideably held by the latch frame to move along a line substantially parallel to an axis along which the latch receives the strike;
- at least one spring biasing the carriage along the line in a direction which the latch receives the strike;
- a rotating hook supported by the carriage to move with the carriage and to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line, the rotating hook rotating to capture a portion of the strike in a capture position when the strike enters a hook opening and rotating to release the strike in a release position when the strike exits the hook opening;
- a catch holding the carriage in a first position along the line with the spring in a high state of compression when the rotating hook is in the release position and releasing the carriage to a second position along the line with the spring in a lower state of compression when the rotating hook is in the capture position;
- whereby energy stored in the spring in opening the latch is returned to aid in closing the latch;
- wherein multiple compression springs bias the carriage in a direction along which the latch receives the strike and the multiple compression springs are placed at corners of a rectangle surrounding the rotating hook.
4 more elements
An appliance latch for retaining a strike, the latch comprising:
- a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance;
- a carriage slideably held by the latch frame to move along a line substantially parallel to an axis along which the latch receives the strike;
- at least one spring biasing the carriage along the line in a direction which the latch receives the strike;
- a rotating hook supported by the carriage to move with the carriage and to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line, the rotating hook rotating to capture a portion of the strike in a capture position when the strike enters a hook opening and
- rotating to release the strike in a release position when the strike exits the hook opening;
- a catch holding the carriage in a first position along the line with the spring in a high state of compression when the rotating hook is in the release position and releasing the carriage to a second position along the line with the spring in a lower state of compression when the rotating hook is in the capture position;
- whereby energy stored in the spring in opening the latch is returned to aid in closing the latch;
- wherein the carriage slides on rails fixed with respect to the latch frame and wherein two compression springs symmetrically flank each rail.
5 more elements
An appliance latch for retaining a strike, the latch comprising:
- a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance;
- a carriage slideably held by the latch frame to move linearly without rotation substantially parallel to an axis along which the latch receives the strike;
- wherein the carriage slides on rails fixed with respect to the catch frame
- at least one spring biasing the carriage along the line in a direction which the latch receives the strike;
- a rotating hook supported by the carriage to move with the carriage and to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line, the rotating hook rotating to capture a portion of the strike in a capture position when the strike enters a hook opening and
- rotating to release the strike in a release position when the strike exits the hook opening;
- a catch holding the carriage in a first position along the line with the spring in a high state of compression when the rotating hook is in the release position and releasing the carriage to a second position along the line with the spring in a lower state of compression when the rotating hook is in the capture position;
- whereby energy stored in the spring in opening the latch is returned to aid in closing the latch and wherein the carriage is injection molded thennoplastic.
5 more elements
An appliance latch for retaining a strike, the latch comprising:
- a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance;
- a carriage slideably held by the latch frame to move along a line substantially parallel to an axis along which the latch receives the strike;
- at least one spring biasing the carriage along the line in a direction which the latch receives the strike;
- a rotating hook supported by the carriage to move with the carriage and to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line, the rotating hook rotating to capture a portion of the strike in a capture position when the strike enters a hook opening and
- rotating to release the strike in a release position when the strike exits the hook opening;
- a catch holding the carriage in a first position along the line with the spring in a high state of compression when the rotating hook is in the release position and releasing the carriage to a second position along the line with the spring in a lower state of compression when the rotating hook is in the capture position;
- whereby energy stored in the spring in opening the latch is returned to aid in closing the latch further including a lock having a locked and unlocked state, the lock preventing the strike from exiting the latch when the lock is in a locked state.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.