Door latch for a domestic electrical appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10806322-B2
Application number	US-201715643018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2017
Priority date	Jul 7, 2016
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A door latch for a domestic electrical appliance includes a latch assembly that includes a locking element arranged to be displaceable between an unlocking position and a locking position, and an arresting element which moves from its release position into the arresting position as the door is closed. The arresting element in the arresting position can be locked by means of the locking element against movement into the release position and in the locked state prevents the closed door from opening. The latch assembly further includes an electric switch which, when the door is closed, responds to a movement of the locking element from the unlocking position into the locking position, and a switch auxiliary control member which, as the door is closed, is urged by the closing body from an active position against a restoring spring force into an inactive position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door latch for a domestic electrical appliance, comprising:
a latch assembly which is configured to hold a closing body in place for holding a door of the domestic appliance closed and to release the closing body for opening of the door, wherein the latch assembly comprising:
a locking element which is arranged to be displaceable between an unlocking position and a locking position;
an arresting element which is arranged to be movable between a release position and an arresting position and which moves from its release position into the arresting position as the door is closed, wherein the arresting element in the arresting position can be locked by means of the locking element against movement into the release position and in the locked state prevents the closed door from opening;
an electric switch which, when the door is closed, responds to a movement of the locking element from the unlocking position into the locking position; and
a switch auxiliary control member which is arranged to be movable and which, as the door is closed, is urged by the closing body from an active position against a restoring spring force into an inactive position, wherein the switch auxiliary control member in the active position enforces a first switch state of the electric switch and in the inactive position allows a change in the switch state of the electric switch, wherein the switch auxiliary control member is formed by a slider component which is arranged to be linearly displaceable between the active position and the inactive position and wherein the slider component has a control path that forms an ascending control ramp wherein the switch auxiliary control member when in the active position acts on a contact element forming an electric switch contact of the electric switch by a ramp follower that follows the control path.

2. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the switch auxiliary control member is arranged to be displaceable in a plane transverse to a direction in which the closing body enters the latch assembly as the door is closed.

3. The door latch according to claim 2 wherein the plane is perpendicular.

4. The door latch according to claim 1 wherein the contact element is a leaf spring.

5. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the control path forms a first path plateau adjacent to an upper ramp end of the control ramp.

6. The door latch according to claim 5 , wherein the control path forms a second path plateau adjacent to a lower ramp end of the control ramp.

7. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the locking element forms the ramp follower.

8. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the contact element forms the ramp follower.

9. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein a pusher which is separate from the locking element and which cooperates with the contact element forms the ramp follower.

10. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the latch group comprises a gripper which is displaceable, while executing a rotational movement, between a release position and a gripping position and which in the gripping position engages behind the closing body in order to hold the door closed and in the release position releases the closing body in order to open the door, and in that the arresting element in its arresting position prevents the gripper from being transferred to the release position.

11. The door latch according to claim 1 , wherein the arresting element is a slide component which is arranged to be linearly displaceable or a rotary component which is arranged to be rotatable.

Assignees

• Emz Hanauer Gmbh & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Dirnberger Albert
• Walz Dominik
• Lang Markus

Classifications

• F24C15/022

  Latches · CPC title

• D06F37/42 Primary

  Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door · CPC title

• A47L15/4259 Primary

  Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open · CPC title

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• Y10S292/69

  Washing machine or stove closure latch · CPC title