Low closure force motorized latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latching mechanisms for household appliances require significant force to open and close doors, especially as gasket elasticity changes with age, leading to increased friction and closure force requirements.
Innovation Solution
A motorized latch mechanism with a low-profile design using a spring-biased strike grip and a low-power DC motor, allowing for easy door operation with minimal force and accommodating gasket compliance changes over time, constructed from rustproof injection molded thermoplastic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a latch mechanism uses a spring-loaded lever to accommodate gasket aging, then the latch can adapt to changing gasket elasticity, but significant force is required to open the door to store energy in the spring mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional spring-loaded lever mechanism with a motorized actuator system. The motorized latch uses an electric motor to provide the necessary force for door closure, eliminating the need for manual force to compress a spring mechanism. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability through motor control while dramatically reducing the force required from the user to open the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized latch system performs the work of door closure and gasket compression automatically without requiring the user to manually store energy in a spring mechanism. The motorized actuator self-regulates the closure force and can accommodate gasket aging through controlled motor operation, eliminating the need for the user to apply significant opening force to recharge a spring system.
2Strength
If a latch mechanism stores spring energy in the open door position, then the spring assists gasket compression, but high spring compression forces create substantial friction requiring significant closing force to actuate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring energy storage and release mechanism with a motorized actuator that directly provides controlled closure force. The motorized system eliminates the friction problems associated with spring compression and release by using direct motor-driven actuation. This allows the system to maintain strong gasket compression through motor power while requiring minimal closing force from the user, as the motor provides the necessary actuation force.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized actuator serves as an intermediary between the user's minimal closing force and the high force required for gasket compression. The motor receives the user's small input force and amplifies it to provide the substantial compression force needed, eliminating the need for the user to directly overcome high friction forces in a spring mechanism.
3Device complexity
If a traditional latch mechanism is used, then the structure can be simple, but the profile height is large and requires manual latch actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized actuator and motor assembly are nested within a compact housing structure, allowing the entire latch assembly to maintain a low profile. The components are arranged in a space-efficient configuration where the motor, gear train, and actuator mechanisms are integrated into a compact unit that fits within the available space, achieving both low profile height and motorized functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reconfigures the latch mechanism to operate in a low-profile configuration by changing the dimensional arrangement of components. Instead of vertical stacking that increases profile height, the mechanism uses a compact arrangement that minimizes the protruding dimension, allowing the motorized actuator to provide full functionality within a reduced profile envelope.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables door opening and closing with very low force, ensuring secure closure without manual latch actuation, while accommodating gasket aging and reducing frictional forces through a spring-biased mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The strike grip provides at least one spring-biased element, the spring-biased element being movable when the strike grip is in the outward unlock position
Implementation Method 2
holding an electric motor and a strike grip movable by the electric motor between an outward unlock position toward the first direction along an axis
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized appliance latch provides for a spring-biased strike grip that can be engaged and disengaged from the strike with low force but then locked in a close position during closing of the door to allow the strike to be retained against countervailing gasket compression forces. In this way, an arbitrarily low force may be required by the consumer to close or open the door when the door is unsealed by the motor.