Door mechanism of a cooking appliance
By introducing an offset component and a guiding structure into the oven door mechanism, the problem of the latch failing to engage due to abnormal use is solved, ensuring normal oven operation and reducing maintenance needs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BREVILLE HLDG PTY LTD
- Filing Date
- 2021-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
AI Technical Summary
The existing oven door's soft-closing mechanism may not engage properly when the door is used abnormally, causing the oven to malfunction and requiring repair.
A door mechanism for a cooking appliance is designed, employing an offset member and a guide structure to ensure that the latch remains in the released configuration when in the extended position and moves slowly to the retracted position via a soft-closing mechanism, avoiding engagement failure caused by rapid or forced opening of the door.
It effectively prevents the lock from failing to re-engage due to rapid or forced opening of the door, ensuring the oven can operate normally and reducing maintenance needs.
Smart Images
Figure CN116324110B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to door mechanisms for cooking appliances, and more specifically, to a soft-closing door mechanism for ovens such as microwave ovens. Background Technology
[0002] Soft-close oven doors utilize friction or damping elements in the door's retraction mechanism to slow the final stage of the door's movement to the closed position. As the latch extending from the oven door enters the oven body through a slot, it is engaged by the soft-close mechanism, which then slowly pulls the door closed by the action of a retracting spring. If the latch disengages from the soft-close mechanism during this slow retraction into the oven body, the user may be unable to re-engage it. If the latch fails to re-engage the inner latch, the door cannot fully close the oven, triggering a fault condition that prevents operation. Therefore, the oven is inoperable until serviced by a qualified person.
[0003] The applicant sought to address these problems by developing soft-closing mechanisms, such as those described in WO 2019006487 A1, filed June 29, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. While these door mechanisms provide a secure engagement between the door latch and the internal latch within the furnace body, it has been found that the mechanism may malfunction if the door is used improperly, such as by opening it unnecessarily quickly and forcefully.
[0004] When the oven door is closed, the latch and the latch inside the oven body engage. Under normal use, opening an oven door with a soft-close mechanism requires pulling the latch and the inner latch together from the retracted position to the extended position inside the oven body. In the extended position, the latch reconfigures to a release configuration, allowing the latch to disengage from the latch so that the door can be fully opened. The latch needs to remain in the released configuration in the extended position until the door is closed again, at which point the latch re-engages with the latch and is slowly pulled back to the retracted position, thus completing the soft-close operation.
[0005] Unfortunately, if the door is opened too quickly or too forcefully, the latch will not remain in the released position after disengaging from the latch. If the latch is not in the released position, it cannot re-engage the latch once the door is closed again. Furthermore, if the latch returns to the engaged position, it will slowly retract to the retracted position, although not with the latch. As mentioned above, this will render the oven inoperable until a qualified person performs maintenance. Summary of the Invention
[0006] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a cooking appliance, comprising:
[0007] A main body having an interior for holding food to be cooked, the main body having an opening for access to the interior;
[0008] A door connected to the body is selectively opened and closed; the door has a latch, and the body has a latch for engaging the latch, the latch being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and the latch being configurable for an engagement configuration for engaging the latch and a release configuration for disengaging the latch; and
[0009] The main body has an offset member that engages with the latch when the latch is in the unfolded position; wherein...
[0010] The biasing member is adapted to bias the latch to the deployed position and to bias the latch to the released configuration.
[0011] Preferably, the latch is configured to disengage the biasing member from the latch when the latch is engaged with the latch.
[0012] Preferably, during use, as the door is closed, the contact between the latch and the latch causes the latch to move into the engagement configuration.
[0013] Preferably, during use, the latch is in the engaged configuration when moving between the extended position and the retracted position.
[0014] Preferably, the body has a soft-closing mechanism for biasing the latch to the retracted position when the door closes the opening.
[0015] Preferably, the soft-closing mechanism has a retraction spring and a damper to allow the latch to move slowly to the retracted position via the retraction spring.
[0016] Preferably, the body has a guide structure for guiding the latch between the extended position and the retracted position, the guide structure being configured to rotate the latch to the release configuration in the extended position.
[0017] Preferably, the biasing member has a swing arm and a torsion spring, such that when in the deployed position and the released configuration, the swing arm rotates to engage with the latch bias.
[0018] Preferably, the swing arm is mounted within the body such that as the door closes, contact with the latch causes the swinging arm to rotate away from the latch.
[0019] Preferably, the swing arm is configured to slide in contact with the latch, and the retraction spring has a biasing force exceeding any frictional force caused by the sliding contact.
[0020] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a cooking utensil, comprising:
[0021] A main body having an interior for holding food to be cooked, the main body having an opening for access to the interior;
[0022] A door connected to the body is used to selectively open and close the opening. The door has a latch, and the body has a latch for engaging the latch. The latch is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and the latch is configurable for engaging the latch in an engagement configuration and for disengaging the latch in a release configuration.
[0023] The main body has a guiding structure and a retraction device for applying a biasing force to the latch toward the retracted position, the guiding structure defining a path for the latch between the retracted position and the deployed position; wherein...
[0024] The biasing force is a force that tilts toward the path in the deployed position, such that the force has a component parallel to the path in the deployed position and another component that biases the latch toward the release configuration.
[0025] Preferably, the retraction device is a soft-closing mechanism, which has a retraction spring and a damper to allow the latch to slowly move to the retracted position under the biasing force of the retraction spring.
[0026] Preferably, the damper is a hydraulic cylinder having a piston connected to a rod attached to the latch.
[0027] Preferably, the guide structure is configured to rotate the latch to the release configuration in the unfolded position, and during use, as the door is closed, contact between the latch and the latch causes the latch to move to the engagement configuration.
[0028] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a cooking utensil, comprising:
[0029] A main body having an interior for holding food to be cooked, the main body having an opening for access to the interior;
[0030] A door connected to the body, selectively opening and closing the opening, the door having a latch, and the body having a latch for engaging the latch, the latch being configurable for an engagement configuration for engaging the latch and a release configuration for disengaging the latch; and
[0031] The body further includes a safety lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the latch is held in the released configuration, and in the unlocked position the safety lock allows the latch to move to the engaged configuration, the safety lock being biased to the locked position; wherein during use, the safety lock moves to the unlocked position by moving a latch to engage with the latch.
[0032] Preferably, the safety lock has an inclined surface for engaging the latch as it moves toward the latch, such that a sliding contact between the latch and the inclined surface pushes the safety lock to the unlocked position.
[0033] Preferably, the security lock has a base for contacting the latch to prevent movement of the engagement configuration.
[0034] Preferably, the latch is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, such that the latch is in the released configuration of the extended position.
[0035] Preferably, the body has a guide structure for guiding the latch between the extended position and the retracted position, the guide structure being configured to rotate the latch to the release configuration in the extended position.
[0036] Preferably, the body has a soft-closing mechanism for biasing the latch to the retracted position when the door closes the opening.
[0037] Preferably, the soft-closing mechanism has a retraction spring and a damper to allow the latch to move slowly to the retracted position via the retraction spring.
[0038] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a cooking utensil, comprising:
[0039] A main body having an interior for holding food to be cooked, the main body having an opening for access to the interior;
[0040] A door connected to the body is selectively opened and closed; the door has a latch, and the body has a latch for engaging the latch, the latch being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and the latch being configurable for an engagement configuration for engaging the latch and a release configuration for disengaging the latch; and
[0041] The main body has a guiding structure and a retraction device for applying a biasing force to the latch toward the retracted position, the guiding structure defining a path for the latch between the retracted position and the deployed position; wherein...
[0042] The guide structure has a localization formation on the path, the localization formation being configured to increase the friction between the latch and the guide structure when the latch is in the deployed position and biased to the retracted position by the retracting device.
[0043] Preferably, the localization formation is a local deviation from the path directly to the retraction position.
[0044] Preferably, the path directly to the retracted position is parallel to the bias applied by the biasing device, and the local deviation is inclined toward the biasing force.
[0045] Preferably, the local deviation is a ramp between two segments of the path. Preferably, during use, the path is generally horizontal, and the ramp causes the latch to shift upward when moving from the deployed position to the retracted position. Attached Figure Description
[0046] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0047] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a microwave oven. The microwave oven door is open, and two latches are protruding from inside the microwave oven.
[0048] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, showing the door partially open and before the lower latch tongue engages with the latch.
[0049] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the first implementation scheme, showing the lower latch blade of the door engaging with the latch and simultaneously disengaging the swing arm from the latch.
[0050] Figure 4 This is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door moved to the retracted position and engaged with a convex corner of a rotating cam to activate the safety switch;
[0051] Figure 5 This is a partial sectional view showing the door in the closed position, with the lower latch and latch in the retracted position inside the furnace.
[0052] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the first embodiment, showing the door before entering the furnace body (e.g. Figure 2 The lower locking tongue (as shown);
[0053] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the first embodiment, showing the lower latch blade of the door engaging with the latch while simultaneously disengaging the spring-biased swing arm from the latch, as shown. Figure 3 As shown;
[0054] Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the first embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door engaged with the latch moving to... Figure 4 The retracted position is shown in the figure;
[0055] Figure 9 This is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment, showing the lower latch engaged with the latch in the retracted position, so that the door is in a... Figure 5 The indicated closing position;
[0056] Figure 10 This is a partial exploded perspective view of the rocker arm and torsion spring, used to bias the latch to the deployed position and release configuration;
[0057] Figure 11 This is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment, showing the upper and lower latches of the door before entering the furnace body;
[0058] Figure 12 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door engaging with the latch while rotating the latch into the engagement configuration;
[0059] Figure 13 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door moving to the retracted position and engaging with a convex corner of the rotating cam to activate the safety switch;
[0060] Figure 14 This is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment, showing the door in the closed position and the lower latch and latch in the retracted position inside the furnace.
[0061] Figure 15 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the second embodiment, showing the door before entering the furnace body (e.g. Figure 11 The lower locking tongue (as shown);
[0062] Figure 16 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the second embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door engaging with the latch while rotating the latch to the engaging configuration, as shown. Figure 12 As shown;
[0063] Figure 17 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the second embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door engaged with the latch moving to... Figure 13 The retracted position is shown in the figure;
[0064] Figure 18 This is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment, showing the lower latch engaged with the latch in the retracted position, so that the door is in a neutral position. Figure 14 The indicated closing position;
[0065] Figure 19This is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment, showing the upper and lower latches of the door before entering the furnace body;
[0066] Figure 20 This is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment, in which the lower latch of the door engages with the latch, while simultaneously rotating the latch into the engagement configuration;
[0067] Figure 21 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the third embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door moving to the retracted position and engaging with a convex angle of the rotating cam to activate the safety switch;
[0068] Figure 22 This is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment, showing the door in the closed position and the lower latch and latch in the retracted position inside the furnace.
[0069] Figure 23 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the third embodiment, showing the door before entering the furnace body (e.g. Figure 19 The lower locking tongue (as shown);
[0070] Figure 24 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the third embodiment, showing the door in the closed position and the lower latch and buckle in the retracted position inside the furnace, as shown. Figure 22 As shown;
[0071] Figure 25 This is a partially enlarged plan view of the third embodiment, showing the front and rear guide pins of the latch in the guide rail in the release configuration, viewed from the side opposite the latch, such that the movement to the retracted position is to the left in the figure, as shown.
[0072] Figure 26 This is a partial sectional view of the fourth embodiment, showing the upper and lower latches of the door before entering the furnace body;
[0073] Figure 27 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment, in which the lower latch of the door engages with the latch, while simultaneously rotating the latch into the engagement configuration;
[0074] Figure 28 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door moving to the retracted position and engaging with a convex corner of the rotating cam to activate the safety switch;
[0075] Figure 29 This is a partial sectional view of the fourth embodiment, showing the door in the closed position and the lower latch and latch in the retracted position inside the furnace.
[0076] Figure 30 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the fourth implementation scheme, showing the upper and lower latches of the door before entering the furnace body, such as... Figure 26 As shown;
[0077] Figure 31 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the fourth embodiment, in which the lower latch of the door engages with the latch, simultaneously rotating the latch to the engagement configuration, as shown. Figure 27 As shown;
[0078] Figure 32 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the fourth embodiment, showing the lower latch of the door moved to the retracted position and engaging with a convex angle of a rotating cam to activate the safety switch, as shown. Figure 28 As shown;
[0079] Figure 33 This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the fourth embodiment, showing the door in the closed position, with the lower latch and latch in the retracted position inside the furnace, as shown. Figure 29 As shown;
[0080] Figure 34 This is an exploded perspective view of the safety lock according to the fourth embodiment, shown separately for clarity; and
[0081] Figures 35A to 35C This is a plan view of the part where the safety lock and the bolt engage when the door is closed. Detailed Implementation
[0082] Figure 1 An oven, such as a microwave oven 100, is shown, with its hinged door 101 attached to the body 102 via a hinge on the left side of an oven opening 113. The opening 113 leads to an interior 114 or cavity in which food to be cooked is placed. The door 101 has a frame 112 surrounding a central window 103. A vertical outer portion 105 of the frame 112 carries a handle 104. The same vertical portion 105 of the frame 112 carries a pair of latches in the form of bolts 106 and 107. When the door swings closed, the bolts 106 and 107 pass through a cooperating slot 210 (see...). Figure 2 The latch 106 enters the body 102, causing the head 108 of the lower latch 106 to engage with the latch 202. The latch is further pulled into the body 102 of the oven 100 by a retraction mechanism in the form of a soft closing mechanism 200, causing the door to move at a controllable speed to close the opening 113. The oven 100 also has a user interface 109, with user input 110 and a display 111, such as a graphic display screen.
[0083] Spring bias arm
[0084] Figures 2 to 10 An embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the spring-biased arm assembly is used to actuate the latch 202 into its release configuration and into the deployed position 236 (e.g., Figure 2 (As shown).
[0085] When the door 101 is closed, the lower latch 106 extends into the body 102 of the oven 100 through the slot 210. The head 108 of the lower latch 106 has a generally hook-like structure for engaging with the groove 211 of the latch 202. The latch 202 is configured such that the distal end of the lower latch 106 contacts the trigger formation 209 of the latch 202. As the latch 106 moves in the closing direction 300, the trigger formation 209 is positioned in the path of the latch. When the latch pushes the trigger formation, the latch 202 rotates in a controlled manner to the engaging configuration along the guide rail 206 in the body 102.
[0086] The latch 202 is provided with a front guide pin 204 and a rear guide pin 205 extending from both sides of the latch 202 to slide in the track 206. A skilled worker will understand that the track 206 is actually two parallel tracks on both sides of the latch 202, but for clarity, only one side of the track 206 is shown. The track 206 defines a path 240 between the deployed position 236 and the retracted position 238 (see...). Figure 4 and 5 Track 206 also has a branch 242 extending from path 240 for the front guide pin 204, so that when in the deployed position 236, the latch 202 rotates into the engaged configuration.
[0087] When the latch 106 abuts against the trigger forming object 209, the latch 202 moves away from the deployed position 236 and toward the retracted position 238. This movement toward the retracted position rotates the latch 202 from the released configuration to the engaged configuration (see...). Figure 3 , 4 (5, 7, 8, and 9). In the engagement configuration, the head 108 of the lower latch 106 is retained in the groove 211. (As shown...) Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, pressing the head 108 of the lower latch 106 onto the trigger formation 209 of the latch 202 also disengages the rocker arm 214 from the latch 202.
[0088] The retraction spring 304 is installed inside the furnace body 201 and attached to the latch 202 so that the latch 202 is biased toward the retracted position 238 (see [link]). Figure 4 and 5 A damper in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 305 (with its connecting rod 306 extending between the piston and latch 202 within the cylinder) slows and controls the movement of latch 202 toward the retracted position 238. This provides an effective soft-closing mechanism for the door when it moves to the closed position, thereby covering the opening 113 of the furnace body 201 (see [link]). Figure 5 ).
[0089] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, when the lower latch 106 moves in the closing direction 300, the head 108 of the lower latch engages with the rotatable cam 402. The rotatable cam 402 has two protrusions 401 and 404, both of which are used to activate switches 311 and 312, which notify the processor (not shown) that the door is in the closed position. When the latch 106 pushes the lower protrusion 401, the cam 402 rotates in the switch activation direction 404 to press down the respective buttons on switches 311 and 312. When the door 101 is closed, the upper latch 107 independently presses down the button on switch 310. However, it will be understood that when the lower latch 106 moves to the retracted position 238 to allow switches 311 and 312 to be activated, the lower latch needs to engage with the latch 202.
[0090] As discussed in the background section above, if the door is opened too quickly or with too much force, a retraction mechanism such as that shown in WO2019006487 A1 may fail to hold latch 202 in the released configuration. If latch 202 returns to the engaged configuration after releasing lower latch 106, it retracts to the retracted position 238. Here, latch 202 forms a barrier, preventing lower latch 106 from fully closing and activating switches 311 and 312. If there is no feedback from switches 310, 311, and 312 indicating that the door is closed, the processor will prevent the oven from operating.
[0091] like Figures 2 to 10 As shown, when door 101 is opened, arm 214 is biased against latch 106 until latch 202 rotates into the release configuration, thereby disengaging the latch and moving away from the latch. This causes arm 214 to contact the arcuate trailing edge 212 of latch 202, and the biasing force of torsion spring 216 simultaneously causes latch 202 to enter the release configuration and into the deployed position 236. This is more reliable than prior art systems, which rely solely on the biasing force of a retraction spring to generate sufficient friction between the front guide pin 204 and the guide rail 206 to hold latch 202 in the deployed position 236 (e.g., as shown in WO2019006487A1).
[0092] like Figure 10 As best shown, arm 214 extends radially from spring housing 220, which is rotatably mounted on pull stud 246. Torsion spring 216 has one end attached to spring anchor 218, the other end extending into arm 214, with the spring coil located within the cylinder of spring housing 220. Spring 216 is selected to provide a biasing force on arm 214 strong enough to reliably hold the latch in the deployed and released positions, but not so strong that the friction generated by the sliding contact between arm 214 and latch 106 fails to prevent retraction spring 304 from retracting latch 202. Furthermore, arm 214 has a contact surface complementary to the shape of the arcuate trailing edge 212 for better securing of latch 202 and preventing accidental movement.
[0093] Angled retraction spring
[0094] Figures 11 to 18 A second embodiment of the cooking appliance door mechanism is shown, wherein the retraction spring 304 is angled to better retain the latch 202 in the released configuration. In addition to the offset rocker arm, the latches 107 and 106 engage with the oven body 102 in the same manner as described above. Figures 2 to 10 The first embodiment is the same. The offset swing arm of the first embodiment may or may not be used with this embodiment, but for clarity, Figures 11 to 18 The structural elements of the first, third, and fourth implementation schemes are omitted.
[0095] In this embodiment, the retraction spring 304 is configured to provide a biasing force to retract the latch 202 to the retracted position, and also to bias the latch 202 toward the released position 236 when the latch 202 is in the released position 236. In this way, the retraction spring 304 provides a biasing member that biases the latch to the released configuration while also biasing it to the deployed position, and also provides the biasing force required to pull the latch to the retracted position.
[0096] like Figures 12 to 18 As shown, engagement with the latch 106 easily exceeds the additional bias to the release configuration provided by the component 414 perpendicular to path 240. Similar to the first embodiment, the head 108 of the latch 106 is held in the engaged position by the latch 202 and pulled to the retracted position 238 by the biasing component 412, defined by the guide structure 206 and parallel to path 240. The tilt of the retraction spring 304 adds some additional friction due to the biasing component 414, but not enough to prevent the latch 202 from moving along the guide structure 206. This is achieved by carefully selecting the spring stiffness and the spring's tilt relative to path 240.
[0097] Local features in the guiding structure
[0098] Figures 19 to 25 A third embodiment of the door mechanism is shown, wherein the guide structure 206 has a local feature 224 to increase the frictional force with the cover 202 in the unfolded position 236. The increased frictional force resists movement of the latch 202 toward the retracted position 238, thus making it more likely to remain in the unfolded release configuration even when the door 101 is quickly and forcibly opened (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 19 ).like Figure 19 , 23As best shown in Figure 25, the latch 202 has a front guide pin and a rear guide pin (204 and 205) that slide within the guide structure 206. In the extended position 236, the retraction bias applied by the retraction spring 304 generates a relatively large reaction force between the front guide pin 204 and the branch 242 of the guide structure 206. This reaction force generates friction between the front guide pin 204 and the guide structure 206, which is sufficient to hold the latch 202 in the extended position 236 during normal typical use of the door. However, when the latch 202 rotates to the release configuration, the forced opening of the door 101 discussed above generates a dynamic response in the movement of the latch. In these cases, it is possible that the friction between the front guide pin 204 and the branch 242 of the guide structure 206 does not prevent the retraction spring 204 from simply pulling the latch back to the retracted position 238 (see Figure 205). Figure 22 ).
[0099] In this embodiment, the guide structure 206 includes a local feature 224 that increases the reaction force between the rear guide pin 205 and the path 240 of the guide structure 206. The combined friction of the rear and front guide pins 204, 205 applies only when the latch 202 is in the deployed position 236. The combined friction is distributed between the two guide pins, making it unlikely that the latch 202 will unintentionally move to the retracted position 238. However, as Figure 23 and 25 As shown, local feature 224 is simply a small ramp between adjacent portions of path 240. In this way, once latch 106 forcibly pulls it out of the release configuration, the resistance to moving latch 202 back to retracted position 238 is minimal. Once the rear guide pin 205 has moved past ramp 224, the biasing force provided by its retraction spring 204 easily overcomes the increased friction as the front guide pin is pulled up the ramp when it reaches retracted position 238.
[0100] safety lock
[0101] Figures 26 to 3 Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the door mechanism, wherein the biasing member is provided in the form of a spring-biased safety lock 226 to hold the latch 202 in the release configuration in the unfolded position 236.
[0102] like Figure 26 and 30 As shown, the safety lock 226 is biased toward the latch 202 under the action of the spring 228 (see...). Figure 34 This allows the base 248 to prevent the latch 202 from rotating into the engaged state. The contact surface of the base 248 is complementary to the arcuate rear surface 212 of the latch 202, so that the latch 202 is biased and held in the release configuration.
[0103] As the door closes, the lower locking tongue 106 enters the furnace body 102 through the slot 210. (Refer to...) Figure 27 , 31 33 and 35a to 35c, the latch 106 has a sliding surface 232 on the side facing the safety lock 226. When the head 108 of the latch 106 moves into the pocket 211 of the latch 202, the sliding surface 232 engages with the guide surface 230.
[0104] The guide surface 230 is inclined toward the movement of the latch 106 so that the safety lock 226 retracts against the bias of the spring 228 away from the latch 202. The retraction of the safety lock 226 disengages the base 248 from the rear surface 212 of the latch 202. This allows the head 108 of the latch 106 to rotate the latch 202 into an engaged configuration.
[0105] In this configuration, the head 108 is secured in the pocket 211 of the latch 202. The retraction spring 304 pulls the latch 202 and the latch 106 together to the retracted position 238 (see [link]). Figure 29 ).
[0106] As with other implementations, moving to the retracted position 238 causes the ends 108 of the latch 106 to rotate the cam 402 until the convex angles 401 and 405 activate safety switches 311 and 312, respectively. This indicates to the processor (not shown) that the lower latch 106 is in the retracted position 238 and the door 101 has been properly closed.
[0107] Similar to the bias arm 214 in the first embodiment, the friction between the safety lock 226 and the guide surface 232 of the lower latch 106 is less than the biasing force of the retraction spring 304. This ensures that the latch 106 moves to the retracted position 238 and activates safety switches 311 and 312. To reduce friction on the latch 106, it may include a recessed surface 234 adjacent to the guide surface 232 (see FIG. 35c). The recessed surface 234 allows the safety lock 232 to partially return from full retraction, thus reducing the compression of the spring 228. Reducing the compression of the spring 228 reduces the bias on the safety lock 226, thereby reducing the contact force of the safety lock on the latch 106. The lower contact force directly reduces friction on the latch 106, thereby reducing the resistance to pulling the latch 106 to the retracted position.
[0108] The recessed surface 234 is positioned on the latch 106 such that the safety lock only begins to partially return when the base 248 disengages from the latch 202 and the latch 202 is reconfigured so that the base does not re-engage during partial return.
[0109] When the door is opened, the latch 106 and the latch 202 are pulled from the retracted position 238 to the extended position 236 along the path 240 defined by the guide structure 206. When the latch 202 reaches the extended position 236, the front guide pin 204 is reoriented from the component 240 along the branch 242. This rotates the latch 202 from the engaged configuration to the released configuration, thereby releasing the end 108 of the latch tongue 106 from the pocket 211. When the latch 202 rotates to the released configuration, the safety lock 226 moves the base 248 to engage with the rear surface 212. This ensures that opening the oven door with excessive force will not cause the latch 202 to return to the engaged configuration and simply retract to the retracted position 238, rendering the oven inoperable until a technician performs maintenance.
[0110] This invention has been described by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the broad inventive concept.
[0111] Throughout this specification, references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an example" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an example" appearing throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example, but can be combined in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A cooking utensil, the cooking utensil comprising: A main body having an interior for holding food to be cooked, the main body having an opening for access to the interior; A door connected to the body, selectively opening and closing the opening, the door having a latch, and the body having a latch for engaging the latch, the latch being configurable for an engagement configuration for engaging the latch and a release configuration for disengaging the latch; and The body further includes a security lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, in which the latch is held in the released configuration, and in the unlocked position, the security lock allows the latch to move to the engaged configuration, the security lock being biased towards the locked position; wherein during use, The safety lock moves to the unlocked position by moving a latch that engages with the latch, wherein the safety lock is biased toward the latch by a spring such that a base holds the latch to prevent rotation to the engagement configuration, and wherein the safety lock has the base for contacting the latch to prevent the latch from moving toward the engagement configuration.
2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the safety lock has an inclined surface for engaging the latch moving toward the latch, such that a sliding contact between the latch and the inclined surface pushes the safety lock to the unlocked position.
3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the latch is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, such that the latch is in the released configuration of the extended position.
4. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the body has a guide structure for guiding the latch between the extended position and the retracted position, the guide structure being configured to rotate the latch to the release configuration in the extended position.
5. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the body has a soft-closing mechanism for biasing the latch to the retracted position when the door closes the opening.
6. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein the soft closing mechanism has a retraction spring and a damper to allow the latch to move slowly to the retracted position via the retraction spring.
7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the base is complementary to the arcuate rear surface of the latch.
8. The cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein retraction of the safety lock disengages the base from the rear surface of the latch.
9. The cooking appliance of claim 6, wherein the latch includes a latch tongue having a side surface on the side facing the safety lock.
10. The cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the guide face of the latch tongue is inclined to the movement of the latch tongue so that the safety lock retracts against the bias of the spring away from the latch.
11. The cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein the head of the latch tongue is configured to rotate the latch into an engaged configuration.
12. The cooking appliance of claim 6, wherein the retraction spring pulls the latch and the bolt together to the retracted position.
13. The cooking appliance of claim 9, wherein moving to the retracted position causes the two ends of the latch tongue to rotate a cam having two convex angles until the convex angles activate the safety switch.
14. The cooking appliance of claim 10, wherein the frictional force between the safety lock and the guide surface of the latch tongue is less than the deflection force of the retraction spring.
15. The cooking appliance according to claim 14, wherein, The frictional force ensures that the latch tongue moves to the retracted position and activates the safety switch.
16. The cooking appliance according to claim 15, wherein, Includes a recessed surface adjacent to the guide surface to reduce friction on the latch tongue.
17. The cooking appliance of claim 16, wherein the recessed surface allows the safety lock to partially return from full retraction, thereby reducing the compression of the spring.
18. The cooking appliance of claim 17, wherein reducing the compression of the spring reduces the bias of the safety lock, thereby reducing the contact force of the safety lock on the latch tongue.
19. The cooking appliance of claim 18, wherein the lower contact force directly reduces friction on the latch tongue, thereby reducing resistance to pulling the latch tongue to the retracted position.
20. The cooking appliance of claim 16, wherein the recessed surface is positioned on the latch tongue such that the safety lock begins to partially return only when the base disengages from the latch and the latch is reconfigured so that the base does not re-engage upon partial return.
21. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein when the door is opened, the latch and latch are pulled from the retracted position to the extended position along a path defined by the guide structure.
22. The cooking appliance of claim 21, wherein when the latch reaches the unfolded position, the front guide pin is redirected from the path along the branch.
23. The cooking appliance of claim 7, wherein when the latch is rotated to the release configuration, the safety lock moves the base to engage with the rear surface.