Door lock assembly

Abstract

To provide a door lock assembly allowing a user to open and close a door not only by a push-push method from the outside of the door but also by a push-pull method.SOLUTION: A cam can rotate in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction around a cam shaft. When the cam rotates in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction, a slider is fitted to and engaged with the cam so that the slider reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the slider in conjunction with the rotation of the cam. The slider has a moving guide groove to define a conventional moving path including a first segment of the conventional moving path and a second segment of the conventional moving path. The moving guide groove further defines an alternative moving path. An end of a pin assembly can move with respect to the slider in conjunction with reciprocating movement of the slider on the alternative moving path defined by the first segment of the conventional moving path and the moving guide groove, but does not move on the second segment of the conventional moving path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1D

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a door lock assembly, and more particularly to a door lock assembly for opening an electrical appliance door in a variety of ways. [Background technology]

[0002] A door lock assembly may be used to lock or open the door of an electrical appliance (such as a dryer, a washing machine, or a dishwasher). To operate properly, electrical appliances have many requirements for the appliance's door lock assembly. For example, it is necessary to provide users with a variety of convenient ways to open the appliance's door while ensuring reliable operation of the appliance in a variety of conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure provides a door lock assembly that allows a user to open and close a door not only in a push-push manner from the outside of the door, but also in a push-pull manner. When the door is in a closed (locked) state, the door can also be pushed open from the inside of the door.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a door lock assembly is provided. The door lock assembly is configured to lock an electrical equipment door and includes a cam, a slider, and a pin assembly, the cam is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about a camshaft, the slider is configured to fit and engage the cam such that the slider can move reciprocally along the length of the slider with the rotation of the cam as the cam rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the slider includes a travel guide groove defining a conventional path of travel, the conventional path of travel including a first segment of the conventional path of travel and a second segment of the conventional path of travel connected to one another, the pin assembly is configured such that an end of the pin assembly can move relative to the slider in the conventional path of travel defined by the travel guide groove with the reciprocating movement of the slider, the travel guide groove further defines an alternative path of travel, and the pin assembly is further configured such that an end of the pin assembly can move relative to the slider in the first segment of the conventional path of travel and the alternative path of travel defined by the travel guide groove with the reciprocating movement of the slider, but not in the second segment of the conventional path of travel.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the moving guide groove is a heart-shaped guide groove, and the conventional moving path is a heart-shaped moving path, on which four path points are provided, including a heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, a heart-shaped first side path vertex B, a heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and a heart-shaped second side path vertex D in order; The alternative travel path is disposed between the heart-shaped top intersection point C and the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, thereby allowing the pin assembly to travel directly from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A without passing through the heart-shaped second side path vertex D.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the first segment of the conventional movement path is a heart-shaped first side path, and the second segment of the conventional movement path is a heart-shaped second side path; A heart-shaped first side path is formed from a heart-shaped bottom intersection point A through a heart-shaped first side path apex B to a heart-shaped top intersection point C; A heart-shaped second side path (CDA) is formed from the heart-shaped top intersection point C through the heart-shaped second side path vertex D to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A; The heart-shaped first side path and the heart-shaped second side path (CDA) are protruding moving paths, and the heart-shaped first side path apex B and the heart-shaped second side path apex D are the highest protruding points of the heart-shaped first side path and the heart-shaped second side path (CDA), respectively; From the heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path vertex D, a concave path is formed.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the heart-shaped movement path is a unidirectional movement path, and movement in the heart-shaped movement path passes through a heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, a heart-shaped first side path vertex B, a heart-shaped top intersection point C, and a heart-shaped second side path vertex D in sequence, and finally returns to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, when the door is in an open position, the pin assembly is located at the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A; When the door is in the closed position, the pin assembly is located at the upper intersection point C of the heart shape. When the door hook of the door is in the maximum insertion position, the pin assembly is located at the heart-shaped first side path apex B or the heart-shaped second side path apex D; When the door is subjected to a first inward force in the open position, the pin assembly moves from the top bottom intersection point A to the heart-shaped first side path apex B, and the door hook moves to a maximum insertion position; After the first inward force is removed, the pin assembly moves from the heart-shaped first side path apex B to the heart-shaped top intersection C, and the door moves to a closed position; When the door receives a second inward force in the closed position, the pin assembly moves from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path apex D, and the door hook again moves to the maximum insertion position; After the second inward force is removed, the pin assembly moves from the heart-shaped second side path apex D back to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A and the door returns to the open position.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the alternative movement path is a release guide groove provided on the slider.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the diameter of the end of the pin assembly is greater than the groove width of the release guide groove; When the door is in the closed position and receives an outward force, the pin assembly is configured to apply a pressing force to two side walls of the release guide groove, thereby expanding the release guide groove in the groove width direction and allowing the pin assembly to move in the release guide groove from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, when the door is in a closed position and receives an outward force, the door hook of the door pulling the cam outward makes the cam have a tendency to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the slider to have a tendency to move in a first direction, so that the pin assembly can press the release guide groove of the slider at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and the pin assembly can press the release guide groove of the slider toward the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, which is transmitted to a pressing force toward the two side walls of the release guide groove, and the pressing force presses the groove width of the release guide groove to expand sufficiently to accommodate the ends of the pin assembly, thereby allowing the slider to move in the first direction relative to the pin assembly without hindering the counterclockwise rotation of the cam, and finally allowing the door to open, and at the same time, the pin assembly moves in the release guide groove of the slider from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the release guide groove is a hollow groove or a solid groove.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the release guide groove is a linear guide groove.

[0014] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the release guide groove includes a baffle near the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and the pin assembly is configured to apply a force to the baffle; When the force applied to the baffle exceeds a threshold that the baffle can withstand, the baffle breaks, thereby allowing the pin assembly to move in the release guide groove from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door lock assembly further comprises a housing, with the cam, slider and pin assembly disposed within the housing.

[0016] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a pin assembly includes a pin housing and a pin, a portion of the pin is received in the pin housing, and a bottom end of the pin protrudes from a bottom of the pin housing; The pin is configured to move in a heart-shaped path of motion.

[0017] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, the housing has a pin cavity in which the pin housing is received, the pin cavity being configured to restrict movement of the pin assembly within the pin cavity in the length direction of the slider but allow the pin assembly to move within the pin cavity in the width direction of the slider.

[0018] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the cam comprises a locking hook configured to engage the door hook to lock the door hook, the door hook being attached to the door; The door hook is configured to engage or disengage with the locking hook when the door is closed or opened, thereby allowing the cam to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0019] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the housing includes a lock hole, and the door hook passes through the lock hole and engages with the lock hook.

[0020] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door lock assembly further includes a microswitch disposed in the housing. The microswitch is in an off state when the door is in an open position. During the process of closing the door, the pin moves along the first side path from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A to the heart-shaped top intersection point C, and the microswitch is turned on; During the door opening process, the pin travels along the second side path from the heart-shaped top intersection C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection A and the microswitch is turned off.

[0021] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the slider has a microswitch actuation portion disposed at one end thereof, The clockwise rotation of the cam causes the slider to move unimpeded in the second direction during the door closing process, thereby allowing the slider to move in the second direction to cause the microswitch actuator to trigger the microswitch, thereby turning on the microswitch; or Counterclockwise rotation of the cam drives the slider to move in a first direction during the door opening process to disengage the microswitch actuator from the microswitch, thereby allowing the microswitch to be turned off.

[0022] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a door lock assembly includes a cam torsion spring configured to engage a cam and provide a driving force to drive the cam to rotate counterclockwise; a slider spring configured to engage the slider and provide a driving force to drive the slider to move in the second direction; It further comprises:

[0023] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the electrical appliance is a dryer.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door lock assembly according to the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the door lock box of the door lock assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the door lock box top cover omitted to show more components inside the door lock box. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the door lock assembly shown in FIG. 1A in the MM direction. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1B is an exploded view showing the assembly of the door lock assembly shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider in the door lock box. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of portion N of the slider shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pin assembly in a door lock box. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pin assembly shown in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] 11 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between a door hook and a door lock box when the door is in an open state. FIG. [Figure 4B] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when the door is in an open state. [Figure 5A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the door hook and the door lock box when the door is about to be closed. [Figure 5B] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when the door is about to be closed. [Figure 6A]FIG. 2 illustrates the relative positions of the door hook and the door lock box when the door hook is in a maximum insertion state during the door closing process. [Figure 6B] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when the door hook is in a maximum insertion state during the door closing process. [Figure 7A] 11 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between a door hook and a door lock box when the door is in a closed state. FIG. [Figure 7B] 13 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when the door is in a closed state. FIG. [Figure 8A] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the door hook and the door lock box when the door hook is in the maximum insertion state during the door opening process. [Figure 8B] 13A-13C are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when the door hook is in a maximum insertion state during the door opening process. [Figure 9A] 11 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the door hook and the door lock box when an outward force is applied to the door in a closed state; FIG. [Figure 9B] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the pin assembly and the slider when an outward force is applied to the door in a closed state. [Figure 10A] 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a slider in a door lock box. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of portion O of a further embodiment of the slider shown in FIG. 10A. [Figure 11A] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a slider in a door lock box. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of portion Q of yet another embodiment of the slider shown in FIG. 11A. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dryer with a door lock assembly of the present disclosure with the door in an open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Various specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the present disclosure, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the present disclosure, directional terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear" and the like are used to describe the orientation of various exemplary structural parts and elements in the present disclosure, but it should be understood that the terms used herein are used merely for ease of description and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure can be configured in various orientations, the directional terms are merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting.

[0027] The term "comprise" and its derivatives mean to include without limitation. Unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "attach", "assemble", "connect", "connection" and variations thereof should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a mechanical or electrical connection, an internal communication between two elements, or a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood depending on the particular case. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numbers used in this disclosure refer to the same components.

[0028] To facilitate understanding of the description of the present disclosure, the door of an electrical appliance (particularly a dryer door) according to the present disclosure has at least three positions, namely an open position (see the relative position between the door hook 101 and the door lock box shown in Figures 4A and 4B and 5A and 5B), a closed position (see the relative position between the door hook 101 and the door lock box shown in Figures 7A and 7B and 9A and 9B), and a maximum insertion position of the door hook (see the relative position between the door hook 101 and the door lock box shown in Figures 6A and 6B and 8A and 8B). The open position of the door is the position of the door when the electrical appliance is in a non-operating state, the closed position of the door is the position of the door when the electrical appliance is in a normal operating state, and the maximum insertion position of the door hook is an intermediate position of the door hook or the door during the process of opening or closing the door.

[0029] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of the door lock assembly 100 of the present disclosure from various viewpoints. In these drawings, FIG. 1B shows more components inside the door lock box 102 by omitting the door hook 101 and the door lock box top cover 104 in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the door lock assembly 100 in FIG. 1A in the MM direction to show the configuration and fitting relationship of the pin assembly 114 and the pin cavity 142 inside the door lock box 102, and FIG. 1D is an exploded view showing the assembly of the door lock assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1A to show the assembly relationship between the components of the door lock assembly 100. In the following text, in order to clearly show the positional relationship between the door lock box 102 and the components, the length direction of the door lock box 102 is defined as the X direction, the width direction of the door lock box 102 is defined as the Y direction, and the height direction of the door lock box 102 is defined as the Z direction. Because the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure may be configured in a variety of orientations, the directional terms X, Y, and Z are used for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1A, the door lock assembly 100 includes a door lock box 102. The door lock box 102 has a door lock box top cover 104 and a door lock box base 106 connected to each other by a fastening device 110 (e.g., a latch). The door lock box top cover 104 includes a door lock hole 108 configured to receive a door hook 101 attached to the door of an electrical appliance. The door hook 101 is located above the door lock hole 108. When the door hook 101 is inserted into the interior of the door lock assembly 100 through the door lock hole 108 in the door lock box 102, the door hook 101 engages with a cam (see cam 112 in FIG. 1B) inside the door lock assembly 100. When the cam 112 is locked, the door of the electrical appliance is locked accordingly.

[0031] Specifically, the door hook 101 has a door hook base 105 and a door hook head 103. The door hook base 105 is attached to the door of the electrical appliance, and the door hook head 103 includes a door hook hole 107 configured to engage with a cam (see cam 112 in FIG. 1B). When the cam 112 is locked, the door hook hole 107 in the door hook head 103 is locked by the cam 112. As a result, the door hook 101 cannot move, thereby locking the door of the electrical appliance.

[0032] 1B and 1D, inside the door lock box 102, a slider 116, a pin assembly 114, a cam 112, and a microswitch 118 are arranged in this order in the length direction (X direction). The slider 116 is limited to reciprocating movement in the length direction (X direction) inside the door lock box 102 and cannot move in the width direction (Y direction), and the pin assembly 114 is limited to reciprocating movement in the width direction (Y direction) inside the door lock box 102 and cannot move in the length direction (X direction). The cam 112 has a cam rotation shaft 124 arranged in the width direction (Y direction), and the cam 112 is allowed to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the cam rotation shaft 124.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1B, the cam 112 has a lock hook configured to mate with the door hook 101 to lock the door hook 101, and a slider actuation portion 155 configured to actuate the slider 116. The lock hook has an upper lock hook 152, a lower lock hook 156, and a lock hook cavity 154. When the door is closed or opened, the door hook 101 can engage or disengage with the lock hook, thereby rotating the cam 112 clockwise or counterclockwise. Specifically, when the door is closed, the door hook head 103 of the door hook 101 hits the lower lock hook 156 downward, causing the cam 112 to rotate clockwise. Thus, the upper lock hook 152 can rotate into the door hook hole 107 of the door hook 101 to engage with the door hook 101, and at the same time, the lower end of the door hook 101 is located in the lock hook cavity 154 to engage with the cam 112. When the cam 112 is locked, the door hook hole 107 in the door hook head 103 is locked by the upper lock hook 152 of the cam 112, preventing the door hook 101 from moving, thus locking the door of the electrical appliance. When the door is opened, the door hook head 103 of the door hook 101 pulls the upper lock hook 152 upward in the lock hook cavity 154, causing the cam 112 to rotate counterclockwise, thereby releasing the door hook 101 from the lock hook cavity 154.

[0034] 1B and 1D, the door lock box 102 further includes a slider spring 122 and a cam torsion spring 120. The cam 112 and the cam torsion spring 120 are sleeve-connected to a torsion spring sleeve 126 that is configured coaxially with the cam rotation shaft 124 to ensure smooth rotation. The slider spring 122 is connected to the slider 116 at one end and to the left end of the door lock box base 106 at the other end. When the slider 116 moves rightward in the length direction of the door lock box 102 to pull the slider spring 122, the slider spring 122 can provide a pulling force (restoring force) of, for example, 2 Newtons to the slider 116 to move the slider 116 leftward in the length direction of the door lock box 102.

[0035] The cam torsion spring 120 is connected at one end to the lower lock hook 156 of the cam 112, and is fixed at the other end to the door lock box base 106. When the cam 112 rotates clockwise around the cam rotation shaft 124 and drives the cam torsion spring 120 to rotate clockwise, the cam torsion spring 120 can provide a torsion force (restoring force) to rotate the cam 112 counterclockwise.

[0036] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view in the MM direction of the door lock assembly 100 of FIG. 1A, illustrating the configuration and mating relationship of the pin assembly 114 and pin cavity 142 within the door lock box 102.

[0037] 1C, a pin cavity 142 for accommodating the pin assembly 114 is provided inside the door lock box top cover 104. The pin cavity 142 may limit movement of the pin assembly 114 within the pin cavity 142 in the length direction (X direction) of the slider 116, but allow the pin assembly 114 to move within the pin cavity 142 in the width direction (Y direction) of the slider 116.

[0038] Specifically, the slider 116 is provided with a heart-shaped guide groove 202 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B), so that the pin assembly 114 can slide in the heart-shaped guide groove 202 relative to the slider 116 along the groove track of the heart-shaped guide groove 202. The groove track of the heart-shaped guide groove 202 defines two moving directions, X and Y. When the pin assembly 114 moves in the X direction relative to the slider 116 in the heart-shaped guide groove 202, the pin assembly 114 itself does not move in the X direction relative to the door lock box 102 (door lock box top cover 104), but the slider 116 moves in the X direction relative to the door lock box 102 (door lock box top cover 104), and thus this is recognized as the pin assembly 114 moving in the X direction relative to the slider 116.

[0039] 1C and 1D , the microswitch 118 is configured to control the on and off of an electrical device and has a switch contact 128. When the slider 116 moves leftward along the length of the door lock box 102 to the leftmost position, the slider 116 can trigger the switch contact 128 to turn on the microswitch 118, thus turning on the electrical device, and when the slider 116 moves rightward along the length of the door lock box 102 to the rightmost position, the slider 116 moves out of contact with the switch contact 128 to turn off the microswitch 118, thus turning off the electrical device.

[0040] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the slider 116 in the door lock box 102, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion N of the slider 116 shown in FIG. 2A.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B, the slider 116 has an elongated shape, and includes a heart-shaped guide groove 202, a cam abutment portion 212, a microswitch operating portion 208, and a spring fixing portion 210 on the upper surface of the slider 116. As shown in Fig. 2B, the heart-shaped guide groove 202 defines a unidirectional heart-shaped movement path ABCDA. The heart-shaped movement path ABCDA includes four path points, including a heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, a heart-shaped top intersection point C, a heart-shaped first side path apex B, and a heart-shaped second side path apex D. The heart-shaped movement path ABCDA includes a heart-shaped first side path ABC and a heart-shaped second side path CDA. The heart-shaped first side path ABC is formed from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A through the heart-shaped first side path apex B to the heart-shaped top intersection point C. The heart-shaped second side path CDA is formed from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C through the heart-shaped second side path vertex D to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A. The heart-shaped first side path ABC and the heart-shaped second side path CDA are outwardly protruding paths such that the heart-shaped first side path vertex B and the heart-shaped second side path vertex D protrude and are the outermost points of the heart-shaped first side path (ABC) and the heart-shaped second side path (CDA), respectively, and concave paths are formed from the heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the heart-shaped upper intersection point C and from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path vertex D.

[0042] It should be noted that in order to ensure that the heart-shaped movement path ABCDA is a unidirectional movement path, the heart-shaped first side path vertex B is located higher than the heart-shaped top intersection point C, thereby ensuring the unidirectional movement of the pin assembly 114 from point B to point C when no external force is applied. During the movement of the pin assembly 114 in the heart-shaped movement path ABCDA, the pin assembly 114 passes through the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, the heart-shaped first side path vertex B, the heart-shaped top intersection point C and the heart-shaped second side path vertex D in order, and finally returns to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0043] 2B, an alternative movement path CA is further provided between the heart-shaped top intersection point C and the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, which functions as a release guide groove 204 provided on the slider 116. The diameter of the pin assembly 114 at its bottom end is larger than the width of the release guide groove 204, so that the pin assembly 114 cannot move through the release guide groove 204 unless there is a significant pressing force between the pin assembly 114 and the release guide groove 204. In other words, the alternative movement path CA is not a passable path unless there is a significant pressing force between the pin assembly 114 and the release guide groove 204. However, if the pressing force between the pin assembly 114 and the release guide groove 204 is larger than a predetermined threshold (e.g., more than 55 Newtons), the pin assembly 114 can apply a pressing force to two side walls of the release guide groove 204. This causes the release guide groove 204 to deform and expand in the groove width direction, thereby allowing the pin assembly 114 to move directly in the release guide groove 204 from the heart-shaped top intersection C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection A, without being restricted to move in the heart-shaped movement path ABCDA. That is, when the pressing force between the pin assembly 114 and the release guide groove 204 is greater than a predetermined threshold, the pin assembly 114 can move through the alternative movement path CA.

[0044] 2A and 1C, the cam abutment 212 of the slider 116 may abut and fit against the slider actuation portion 155 of the cam 112. When the door is opened, the cam 112 rotates counterclockwise. As the slider actuation portion 155 of the cam 112 abuts against the cam abutment 212 of the slider 116, the cam 112 pushes the slider 116 to the right, thereby pulling the slider spring 122 to the right. The microswitch actuation portion 208 of the slider 116 moves out of contact with the switch contact 128, turning off the microswitch 118, thus turning off the power to the electrical device. When the door is closed, the cam 112 rotates clockwise. Thus, the slider operating portion 155 of the cam 112 has a tendency to disengage from the abutment with the cam abutment portion 212 of the slider 116, thereby causing the slider 116 to move leftward under the action of the pulling force of the slider spring 122. The microswitch operating portion 208 of the slider 116 can trigger the switch contact 128 to turn on the microswitch 118, thus turning on the power of the electrical device. Specifically, the slider spring 122 is fixed to the spring fixing portion 210 at the left end of the slider 116.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the restoring force provided by the cam torsion spring 120 to drive the cam 112 to rotate counterclockwise may be set to be greater than the restoring force of the slider spring 122 to pull the slider 116 leftward. In this way, under the condition that the door lock assembly 100 of the present disclosure is not subjected to an external force and the slider 116 is not locked, the cam 112 has a tendency to rotate counterclockwise, thus causing the slider 116 to move rightward to turn off the power of the electrical appliance. Therefore, the door hook 101 has a tendency to move upward. That is, the door of the electrical appliance has a tendency to open. When the door of the electrical appliance needs to be closed, a force needs to be applied toward the inside of the door to move the door hook 101 downward. This force must overcome the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120 to rotate the cam 112 clockwise, thereby causing the slider 116 to move leftward under the action of the restoring force of the slider spring 122, turning on the electrical device.

[0046] 3A is a perspective view of pin assembly 114, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of pin assembly 114. As shown in FIG.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the pin assembly 114 includes a pin housing 302 and a pin 304. The pin housing 302 is received in the pin cavity 142. The upper end of the pin 304 is received in the internal cavity of the pin housing 302, and the bottom end of the pin 304 protrudes from the bottom of the pin housing 302. The pin 304 moves in a heart-shaped movement path ABCDA of the slider 116 as the slider 116 moves back and forth. However, the pin 304 can only move up and down (in the Z direction) in the internal cavity of the pin housing 302, and cannot move in other directions (e.g., in the X direction or the Y direction). The pin housing 302 further includes a pin spring 306 therein, which is located between the upper wall of the internal cavity of the pin housing 302 and the upper end of the pin 304 and is configured to provide a biasing force to move the pin 304 downward. Therefore, the pin 304 has a tendency to move downward when the pin 304 is not subjected to an external force. In the heart-shaped moving path ABCDA, the heart-shaped first side path vertex B is located higher than the heart-shaped upper node C, so that the pin 304 can only move from the higher heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the lower heart-shaped upper node C when the pin 304 is not subjected to an external force, instead of moving back from the heart-shaped upper node C to the heart-shaped first side path vertex B, thereby ensuring the unidirectionality of the heart-shaped moving path ABCDA.

[0048] 2A and 2B, the pin cavity 142 restricts the pin assembly 114 to move only in the width direction (Y direction) of the slider 116, so that movement of the pin 304 in the pin assembly 114 from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A of the slider 116 to the heart-shaped first side path vertex B of the slider 116 corresponds to leftward movement of the slider 116 in the length direction (X direction) of the door lock box 102, and movement of the pin 304 from the heart-shaped first side path vertex B of the slider 116 to the heart-shaped top intersection point C of the slider 116 corresponds to leftward movement of the slider 116 in the length direction (X direction) of the door lock box 102. Movement of the pin 304 from the heart-shaped top intersection point C of the slider 116 to the heart-shaped second side path vertex D of the slider 116 corresponds to rightward movement of the slider 116 in the length direction (X direction) of the door lock box 102, movement of the pin 304 from the heart-shaped second side path vertex D of the slider 116 to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A of the slider 116 corresponds to rightward movement of the slider 116 in the length direction (X direction) of the door lock box 102.

[0049] When the door of the electrical appliance in the open position is subjected to a force acting toward the inside of the door, the door hook 101 moves downward and pushes the cam 112 to rotate clockwise by overcoming the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120. The clockwise rotation of the cam 112 allows the slider 116 to move leftward under the action of the restoring force of the slider spring 122. Due to the above correspondence between the movement of the pin 304 relative to the slider 116 and the movement of the slider 116 itself, the leftward movement of the cam 112 moves the pin 304 from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A to the heart-shaped first side path apex B relative to the slider 116, thereby moving the door from the open position to the closed position. When the force acting toward the inside of the door is removed, the cam 112 rotates counterclockwise under the action of the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120 and pushes the slider 116 to move a certain distance rightward. The rightward movement of the slider 116 moves the pin 304 relative to the slider 116, under the guide of the heart-shaped first side path ABC, from the heart-shaped far side path apex B to the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and abuts against point C of the release guide groove 204, thereby keeping the door in the closed position.

[0050] When the electrical appliance door in the closed position is subjected to a force acting toward the inside of the door, the door hook 101 moves downward a certain distance, pushing the cam 112 to rotate clockwise by overcoming the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120. The clockwise rotation of the cam 112 allows the slider 116 to move leftward a certain distance under the action of the restoring force of the slider spring 122. The leftward movement of the slider 116 moves the pin 304 from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path apex D relative to the slider 116, thereby keeping the door in the closed position. After the force acting toward the inside of the door is removed, the cam 112 rotates counterclockwise under the action of the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120, pushing the slider 116 to move rightward. Movement of the slider 116 to the right moves the pin 304 relative to the slider 116 under the guidance of the heart-shaped second side path CDA from the heart-shaped second side path apex D back to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, thereby moving the door from the closed position to the open position.

[0051] 4A to 8B respectively show the positional relationship between the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102, and the positional relationship between the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door of the electrical appliance is normally opened and closed. In order to show more components inside the door lock box 102, the door lock box top cover 104 has been omitted from the above figures.

[0052] Fig. 4A shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door is in the open position, and Fig. 4B shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door is in the open position. Fig. 5A shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door is about to be closed, and Fig. 5B shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door is about to be closed.

[0053] 4A and 4B, when the door is in the open position, the door hook 101 is located above the door lock box 102, the cam 112 is held at the end position that can be reached by counterclockwise rotation under the action of the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120, the slider 116 is located at the rightmost position in the door lock box 102 by the abutment of the cam 112, and the pin assembly 114 is located at the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A of the heart-shaped guide groove 202. The microswitch operating portion 208 of the slider 116 is released from contact with the switch contact 128 to turn off the microswitch 118, and therefore the electric device is in the power-off state.

[0054] When the door in the open position receives a force F acting toward the inside of the door, the door hook 101 moves downward. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the door hook 101 moves to a position where it is about to contact the cam 112, the door is in a position to be closed. At this point, the positions of the cam 112 and the slider 116 have not changed relative to the positions when the door is in the open position, and the pin assembly 114 is located at the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A of the heart-shaped guide groove 202.

[0055] FIG. 6A shows a diagram of the relative positions of the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position during the door closing process, and FIG. 6B shows a diagram of the relative positions of the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position during the door closing process.

[0056] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, when the door hook 101 is in a position where it contacts the cam 112, if the door hook 101 receives a sustained force F acting toward the inside of the door, the door hook 101 continues to move downward, pushing the cam 112 to rotate clockwise by overcoming the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120. The clockwise rotation of the cam 112 allows the slider 116 to move leftward under the action of the restoring force of the slider spring 122, triggering the switch contact 128 to turn on the microswitch 118, thus turning on the power of the electrical appliance. At this point, the pin assembly 114 reaches the heart-shaped first side path apex B by moving from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A relative to the slider 116, and the door reaches the closed position by moving from the open position, and the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position.

[0057] FIG. 7A shows a diagram of the relative positions of the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door is in the closed position, and FIG. 7B shows a diagram of the relative positions of the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door is in the closed position.

[0058] As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, when the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, if the force F acting toward the inside of the door is removed, the cam 112 rotates counterclockwise under the action of the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120, and pushes the slider 116 to move a certain distance to the right (this distance is equal to the distance between points B and C in the length direction of the slider). The rightward movement of the slider causes the pin assembly 114 to move relative to the slider 116 under the guide of the heart-shaped first side path ABC from the heart-shaped first side path apex B to the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and abut against point C of the release guide groove 204, thereby keeping the door in a closed position. In addition, the door hook 101 moves upward from the maximum insertion position to the normal insertion position under the drive of the cam 112. In this process, the slider 116 does not move far enough to the right to allow the microswitch actuator portion 208 of the slider 116 to move out of contact with the switch contacts 128, and thus the electrical device remains in a powered on state.

[0059] FIG. 8A shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position during the door opening process, and FIG. 8B shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door hook 101 is in the maximum insertion position during the door opening process.

[0060] 8A and 8B, when the appliance door is in the closed position, if the appliance door is subjected to a force F acting toward the inside of the door again, the door hook 101 moves downward a certain distance (this distance is equal to the distance between points C and D in the slider length direction) under the action of the force F, and pushes the cam 112 to rotate clockwise by overcoming the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120. The clockwise rotation of the cam 112 allows the slider 116 to move leftward a certain distance under the action of the restoring force of the slider spring 122. The leftward movement of the slider 116 causes the pin assembly 114 to reach the heart-shaped second side path apex D by moving relative to the slider 116 from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, thereby keeping the door in the closed position and moving the door hook 101 again from the normal insertion position to the maximum insertion position.

[0061] After the force F acting toward the inside of the door is removed, the cam 112 rotates counterclockwise under the action of the restoring force of the cam torsion spring 120, pushing the slider 116 to move rightward. Thus, the microswitch operating portion 208 of the slider 116 moves out of contact with the switch contact 128 to turn off the microswitch 118, thus turning off the power of the electrical device. At this point, the pin assembly 114 moves from the heart-shaped second side path apex D under the guide of the heart-shaped second side path CDA relative to the slider 116 to reach the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, thereby causing the door to move from the closed position to reach the open position shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0062] FIG. 9A shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the door hook 101 and the door lock box 102 when the door in the closed position is subjected to an outward force, and FIG. 9B shows a diagram of the positional relationship between the pin assembly 114 and the slider 116 when the door in the closed position is subjected to an outward force.

[0063] In the prior art, the slider 116 of the door lock assembly only includes a heart-shaped guide groove 202 that defines a one-way heart-shaped movement path ABCDA, and does not include a release guide groove 204 that defines an alternative movement path CA. Therefore, when the door is in the closed position, the pin assembly 114 is located at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C. At this point, the force P acting on the door toward the outside of the door is 0 When subjected to a force (e.g., an outward pushing force applied by a child inside the dryer drum), the door hook 101 pulls the cam 112 outward, causing the cam 112 to have a tendency to rotate counterclockwise, thus driving the slider 116 to have a tendency to move rightward. The tendency of the slider 116 to move rightward causes the pin assembly 114 to press the slider 116 at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C of the heart-shaped guide groove 202. Since there is no additional movement space (movement path) at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, the pin assembly 114 is blocked at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C and cannot move relative to the slider 116. Thus, the slider 116 is locked, the cam 112 is locked by the slider 116, and the door hook 101 is locked by the cam 116 and cannot be pulled out, preventing the door from being opened normally. Therefore, in the prior art, if a child accidentally enters the dryer and is trapped inside the drum of the dryer, the door cannot be opened by applying a pushing force from inside the door, and the child may face the risk of suffocation.

[0064] In contrast, in the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the slider 116 not only includes a heart-shaped guide groove 202 that defines a one-way heart-shaped movement path ABCDA, but also includes a release guide groove 204 that defines an alternative movement path CA. When the door is in the closed position, the pin assembly 114 is located at the heart-shaped upper intersection point C. A force P acting on the door toward the outside of the door is 0When subjected to a force (e.g., an outward pushing force applied by a child inside the dryer drum), the door hook 101 pulls the cam 112 outward, causing the cam 112 to have a tendency to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the slider 116 to have a tendency to move rightward. The tendency of the slider 116 to move rightward causes the pin assembly 114 to press the release guide groove 204 of the slider 116 at the heart-shaped top intersection point C, at which time the pin assembly 114 presses the release guide groove 204 of the slider 116 towards the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A. The pressing by the pin assembly 114 generates a pressing force P 1 When the pressing force is large enough (e.g., 55 Newtons), the groove width of the release guide groove 204 may be expanded to be sufficient to accommodate the end of the pin 304 of the pin assembly 114 (i.e., the groove width is larger than the diameter of the end of the pin 304), allowing the slider 116 to move rightward relative to the pin 304 of the pin assembly 114. After the slider 116 moves rightward, the abutment of the cam abutment portion 212 of the slider 116 against the slider actuation portion 155 of the cam 112 is released, and thus the counterclockwise rotation of the cam 112 is not impeded. The counterclockwise rotation of the cam 112 allows the door hook 101 to be released, and the door can finally be opened. During the above process, the pin assembly 114 moves in the release guide groove 204 of the slider 116 from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A. After the pin assembly 114 moves through the release guide groove 204, the release guide groove 204 is released from the pressure and the release guide groove 204 and its groove width can elastically restore to their original size.

[0065] If a child accidentally enters a dryer equipped with the door lock assembly of the present disclosure and becomes trapped inside the drum of the dryer, it will be appreciated that the door can be pushed open by applying a pushing force from inside the door. The force required to push open the door (the pushing force threshold) may be set or adjusted in the following manner.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to more easily push open the door from the inside, the release guide groove 204 is designed as a hollow linear guide groove penetrating the slider 116, so that the release guide groove 204 can more easily deform to allow passage of the alternative travel path CA. However, at least for those skilled in the art, the release guide groove 204 can also be designed as a non-hollow guide groove (see the embodiment shown in Figures 11A and 11B), and by using appropriate materials, the release guide groove of the slider can deform under a certain force.

[0067] Fig. 10A is a perspective view of a further embodiment 1016 of the slider 116 in the door lock box 102, and Fig. 10B is an enlarged view of a portion O of the further embodiment 1016 of the slider 116 shown in Fig. 10A. The structure of the slider 1016 shown in Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B is substantially the same as that of the slider 116 shown in Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B, the only difference being the structural difference of the release guide groove, and the same structural part of the slider will not be described in detail.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, the release guide groove 1004 of the slider 1016 is wider than the release guide groove 204 of the slider 116 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, and the release guide groove 1004 is wide enough to accommodate the pin 304. That is, the groove width of the release guide groove 1004 is equal to or larger than the diameter of the end of the pin 304. The release guide groove 1004 includes a baffle 1006 near the heart-shaped upper intersection C. When the door is in the closed position and is subjected to a force acting toward the outside of the door, the pin 304 of the pin assembly 114 can apply a pressing force to the baffle 1006. When the pressing force exceeds a threshold value (e.g., 55 Newtons) that the baffle 1006 can withstand, the baffle 1006 breaks, thereby allowing the pin 304 to move in the release guide groove 1004 from the heart-shaped upper intersection C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection A. The threshold of compressive force that the baffle 1006 can withstand may be set by setting an appropriate thickness of the baffle.

[0069] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of yet another embodiment 1116 of the slider 116 in the door lock box 102, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of a portion Q of yet another embodiment 1116 of the slider 116 shown in FIG. 11A. The structure of the slider 1116 shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B is substantially the same as that of the slider 116 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the only difference is that the release guide groove is a solid groove, and the same structure part of the slider will not be described in detail. Even if the release guide groove is a solid groove, by using a suitable material, the deformation of the release guide groove 1104 under a certain force is realizable. Therefore, the pin 304 can move in the release guide groove 1104 from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

[0070] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a dryer 1200 including a door lock assembly 100 of the present disclosure with the door in an open position.

[0071] 12, a dryer 1200 includes a dryer body 1202, a door 1204, and a door lock assembly 100. A door hook 101 is disposed inside the door 1204, and a door lock box 102 is disposed in the dryer body 1202 corresponding to the door hook 101. By closing the door 1204, the door hook 101 can pass through the door lock hole 108 and engage with the door lock box 102.

[0072] The dryer 1200 shown in FIG. 12 is merely exemplary, and the door lock assembly 100 of the present disclosure may be installed in a variety of electrical appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens, each of which has a cavity and a door for closing the cavity, as well as other non-electrical appliances.

[0073] The objective of the present disclosure is to at least partially solve the aforementioned technical problems.

[0074] Compared with door locks in the prior art, the door lock assembly of the present disclosure has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0075] In some commercial or domestic electrical appliances, the door lock assembly needs to have a child-protection safety mechanism, for example, a door lock mechanism for a dryer with a side-located door allows a child to push open a closed or locked door from the inside of the door with relatively little force if the child accidentally enters the dryer drum, allowing the child to easily exit the rotating drum of the dryer.

[0076] The present disclosure provides a door lock assembly with a simple structure, without providing additional components compared with the door lock assembly in the prior art, and without changing the configuration of the components inside the door lock box in the prior art. The present disclosure can achieve the function and advantageous technical effect of pushing the door open from the inside by providing an additional release guide groove in the heart-shaped guide groove of the slider, without affecting the conventional functions of the door lock assembly in the prior art (including but not limited to applying a pushing force twice from the outside of the door to open and close the door). By reasonably setting the width of the release guide groove, reasonably setting the thickness of the baffle, or selecting the material, the threshold of the pushing force for pushing the door open from the inside can be conveniently and quickly adjusted, and the manufacturing and machining of the slider is easier.

[0077] While the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with the example embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and / or substantial equivalents that are known, or exist, or soon to be expected, will be apparent to at least one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, the technical effects and / or technical problems described in the present disclosure are illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the disclosed descriptions in the present disclosure may be used to solve other technical problems, have other technical effects, and / or solve other technical problems. Thus, the example embodiments of the present disclosure described above are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is intended to include all known or previously developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and / or basic equivalents.

Claims

1. A door lock assembly (100) for locking a door of an electrical appliance, comprising: a cam (112) configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about a camshaft (124); a slider (116) configured to fit and engage with the cam (112) such that the slider (116) can move back and forth along a length of the slider (116) with the rotation of the cam (112) when the cam (112) rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the slider (116) comprising a movement guide groove (202) that defines the conventional path of movement (ABCDA) including a first segment (ABC) of a conventional path of movement and a second segment (CDA) of the conventional path of movement, the first segment (ABC) of the conventional path of movement and the second segment (CDA) of the conventional path of movement being connected to one another; a pin assembly (114) configured such that an end of the pin assembly (114) can move relative to the slider (116) in the conventional path of movement (ABCDA) defined by the movement guide groove (202) as the slider (116) reciprocates; Equipped with the movement guide groove (202) further defines an alternative path of travel (CA), and the pin assembly (114) is further configured such that as the slider (116) reciprocates, the end of the pin assembly (114) can move relative to the slider (116) in the alternative path of travel (CA) defined by the first segment (ABC) of the conventional path of travel and the movement guide groove (202), but does not move in the second segment (CDA) of the conventional path of travel.

2. The moving guide groove is a heart-shaped guide groove (202), and the conventional moving path (ABCDA) is a heart-shaped moving path (ABCDA), and four path points are provided on the heart-shaped moving path (ABCDA), including a heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, a heart-shaped first side path vertex B, a heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and a heart-shaped second side path vertex D, in that order; The alternative travel path (CA) is disposed between the heart-shaped top intersection point C and the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, so that the pin assembly (114) can travel directly from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A without passing through the heart-shaped second side path vertex D.

2. The door lock assembly according to claim 1 .

3. The first segment (ABC) of the conventional movement path is a heart-shaped first side path (ABC), and the second segment (CDA) of the conventional movement path is a heart-shaped second side path (CDA); The heart-shaped first side path (ABC) is formed from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A through the heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the heart-shaped top intersection point C; The heart-shaped second side path (CDA) is formed from the heart-shaped top intersection point C through the heart-shaped second side path vertex D to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A; The heart-shaped first side path (ABC) and the heart-shaped second side path (CDA) are protruding moving paths, and the heart-shaped first side path apex B and the heart-shaped second side path apex D are the highest protruding points of the heart-shaped first side path (ABC) and the heart-shaped second side path (CDA), respectively; A concave path is formed from the heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path vertex D.

3. The door lock assembly of claim 2.

4. The heart-shaped moving path (ABCDA) is a one-way moving path, and the movement in the heart-shaped moving path passes through the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, the heart-shaped first side path vertex B, the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and the heart-shaped second side path vertex D in order, and finally returns to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

4. The door lock assembly according to claim 3.

5. When the door is in an open position, the pin assembly (114) is located at the heart-shaped bottom intersection A; When the door is in a closed position, the pin assembly (114) is located at the upper intersection point C of the heart shape; When the door hook (101) of the door is in the maximum insertion position, the pin assembly (114) is located at the heart-shaped first side path apex B or the heart-shaped second side path apex D; when the door receives a first inward force in the open position, the pin assembly (114) moves from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A to the heart-shaped first side path apex B, and the door hook (101) moves to the maximum insertion position; After the first inward force is removed, the pin assembly (114) moves from the heart-shaped first side path vertex B to the heart-shaped top intersection C, and the door moves to the closed position; when the door receives a second inward force in the closed position, the pin assembly (114) moves from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped second side path vertex D, and the door hook (101) moves again to the maximum insertion position; After the second inward force is removed, the pin assembly (114) moves from the heart-shaped second side path apex D back to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, and the door returns to the open position.

3. The door lock assembly according to claim 2.

6. The alternative movement path (CA) is a release guide groove (204, 1004) provided on the slider (116).

6. The door lock assembly according to claim 5.

7. a diameter of the end of the pin assembly (114) is greater than a groove width of the release guide groove (204); When the door is in the closed position and receives an outward force, the pin assembly (114) applies a pressing force to two side walls of the release guide groove (204), thereby expanding the release guide groove (204) in the groove width direction, and allows the pin assembly (114) to move in the release guide groove (204) from the heart-shaped upper intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

7. The door lock assembly according to claim 6.

8. When the door is in the closed position and receives an outward force, the door hook (101) of the door pulling the cam (112) outward makes the cam (112) have a tendency to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the slider (116) to have a tendency to move in a first direction, thereby allowing the pin assembly (114) to press the release guide groove (204) of the slider (116) at the heart-shaped top intersection point C, and the pin assembly (114) to press the release guide groove (204) of the slider (116) towards the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, thereby The pressure is transmitted to the two side walls of the release guide groove (204), which presses the groove width of the release guide groove (204) to expand sufficiently to accommodate the end of the pin assembly (114), thereby allowing the slider (116) to move in the first direction relative to the pin assembly (114) without impeding the counterclockwise rotation of the cam (112), and finally allowing the door to open, and at the same time, the pin assembly (114) moves in the release guide groove (204) of the slider (116) from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

8. The door lock assembly according to claim 7.

9. The release guide groove (204) may be a hollow groove or a solid groove.

9. The door lock assembly according to claim 8.

10. The release guide groove (204) is a linear guide groove.

9. The door lock assembly according to claim 8.

11. the release guide groove (1004) includes a baffle (1006) adjacent the heart-shaped upper intersection point C, and the pin assembly (114) is configured to apply a force to the baffle (1006); When the force applied to the baffle (1006) exceeds a threshold that the baffle (1006) can withstand, the baffle (1006) breaks, thereby allowing the pin assembly (114) to move in the release guide groove (1004) from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A.

7. The door lock assembly according to claim 6.

12. A housing (104, 106), wherein the cam (112), the slider (116) and the pin assembly (114) are disposed within the housing (104, 106).

12. The door lock assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

13. The pin assembly (114) comprises a pin housing (302) and a pin (304), a portion of the pin (304) is received in the pin housing (302), and a bottom end of the pin (304) protrudes from a bottom of the pin housing (302); The pin (304) is configured to move in the heart-shaped path of movement (ABCDA).

13. The door lock assembly according to claim 12.

14. The housing (104, 106) has a pin cavity (142) in which the pin housing (302) is received, the pin cavity (142) being configured to limit movement of the pin assembly (114) within the pin cavity (142) along the length of the slider (116) but allow movement of the pin assembly (114) within the pin cavity (142) along the width of the slider (116).

14. The door lock assembly according to claim 13.

15. the cam (112) comprises a locking hook (152, 154, 156) configured to engage the door hook (101) to lock the door hook (101), the door hook (101) being attached to the door; The door hook (101) is configured to engage or disengage from the locking hooks (152, 154, 156) when the door is closed or opened, thereby allowing the cam (112) to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

15. The door lock assembly according to claim 14.

16. The housing (104, 106) includes a lock hole (108) through which the door hook (101) passes and engages with the lock hook (152, 154, 156).

16. The door lock assembly according to claim 15.

17. a microswitch (118) disposed in the housing (104, 106); the microswitch (118) is in an off state when the door is in the open position; During the process of closing the door, the pin (304) moves along the first side path (ABC) from the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A to the heart-shaped top intersection point C, and the microswitch (118) is turned on; During the process of opening the door, the pin (304) moves along the second side path (CDA) from the heart-shaped top intersection point C to the heart-shaped bottom intersection point A, and the microswitch (118) is turned off.

17. The door lock assembly according to claim 16,

18. The slider (116) has a microswitch actuator (208) disposed at one end thereof; the clockwise rotation of the cam (112) causes the slider (116) to move unimpeded in a second direction during the process of closing the door, thereby allowing the slider (116) to move in the second direction and cause the microswitch actuator (208) to trigger the microswitch (118), thereby turning on the microswitch (118); or The counterclockwise rotation of the cam (112) drives the slider (116) to move in the first direction during the door opening process, allowing the microswitch actuator (208) to disengage from the microswitch (118), thereby turning off the microswitch (118).

20. The door lock assembly of claim 17,

19. a cam torsion spring (120) configured to engage the cam (112) and provide a driving force to drive the cam (112) to rotate counterclockwise; a slider spring (122) configured to engage the slider (116) and provide a driving force that drives the slider (116) to move in the second direction; 20. The door lock assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

20. 2. The door lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical appliance is a dryer.

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