Dishwasher with door latch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986976-B2
Application number	US-201816017080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2018
Priority date	Jun 25, 2018
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening and having a top wall. A door is movable between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening. A receiving collar is coupled to one of the tub or the door and has an opening and a deflecting surface accessible through the opening. A strike plate is coupled to the other of the tub or the door and received within the opening in the receiving collar in an insertion direction. The strike plate has at least one biasing element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher comprising:
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening and having a top wall;
a door movable between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening;
a receiving collar coupled to one of the tub or the door and having an opening and a deflecting surface accessible through the opening; and
a strike plate coupled to the one of the tub or the door and received within the opening in the receiving collar in an insertion direction, the strike plate having at least one biasing element biased in a first plane, the biasing element having a component in a lateral direction perpendicular to the insertion direction such that inserting the biasing element into the opening in the insertion direction results in the biasing element being biased in the lateral inward direction by the deflecting surface.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the at least one lateral biasing element comprises first and second, laterally spaced, biasing elements.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the first and second biasing elements are arranged relative to the deflecting surface such that the first and second biasing elements are biased in opposite lateral directions.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the deflecting surface comprises first and second angled surfaces, which are laterally spaced from each other, with the first angled surface biasing the first biasing element and the second angled surface biasing the second biasing element.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the first and second biasing elements are received between the first and second angled surfaces.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the first and second angled surfaces are physically separate.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the strike plate has a shape permitting only one insertion orientation.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the strike plate has an asymmetrical shape to permit the only one insertion orientation.

9. The dishwasher of claim 2 further comprising a third biasing element, which is biased in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the second plane is further perpendicular to the insertion direction.

11. A dishwasher comprising:
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening and having a top wall;
a door movable between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening;
a receiving collar coupled to one of the tub or the door and having an opening and a deflecting surface accessible through the opening; and
a strike plate coupled to the one of the tub or the door and received within the opening in the receiving collar in an insertion direction, the strike plate having at least two biasing elements biased in directions perpendicular to one another such that inserting the biasing elements into the opening in the insertion direction results in at least one of the biasing elements being biased in the lateral inward direction by the deflecting surface.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein both of the at least two biasing elements are biased in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.

13. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein one of the biasing elements comprises at least one lateral biasing element.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13 wherein the at least one lateral biasing element comprises first and second, laterally spaced, biasing elements.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14 wherein the first and second biasing elements are arranged relative to the deflecting surface such that the first and second biasing elements are biased in opposite lateral directions.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the deflecting surface comprises first and second angled surfaces, which are laterally spaced from each other, with the first angled surface biasing the first biasing element and the second angled surface biasing the second biasing element.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 wherein the first and second biasing elements are received between the first and second angled surfaces.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the first and second angled surfaces are physically separate.

19. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the strike plate has a shape permitting only one insertion orientation.

20. The dishwasher of claim 19 wherein the strike plate has an asymmetrical shape to permit the only one insertion orientation.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Nearpass Charles E
• Gatt Michael E
• O'Brien Thomas M
• Cackley Jason A

Classifications

• F16B21/086

  the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion · 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

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title