US3409320A - Latch and switch-operating mechanism for cabinet closure - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1968 w. A. ECKERLE 3,409,320

LATCH AND SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CABINET CLOSURE Filed Sept. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. ECKERLE H s ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 w. A. ECKERLE I 3,409,320

LATCH AND SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CABINET CLOSURE Filed Sept. 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WwuAM A. ECKERLE L Y Q BY 7 g f ms ATTORNEY LATCH AND SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CABINET CLOSURE Filed Sept. 15, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. W\LL\AM A. ECKE RLE HlS ATTORNEY United States ,tent

3,409,320 LATCH AND SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CABINET CLOSURE William A. Eckerle, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 579,682 10 Claims. (Cl. 292-113) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet member and a closure member. The mechanism comprises a strike on one of the members and a latch on the other of the members. A manuallyoperable handle is provided to move the latch between an unlatched position and a latched position, and to also operate a switch when the latch is in the latched position. The latch has a tab which is moved with it by the handle with respect to a relatively stationary member that is provided with a slot and a notch. The latch, strike and tab are arranged relative to each other such that the tab will enter the slot only when the latch properly engages the strike, but will be prevented from entering the slot and will instead enter the notch and prevent the handle from operating the switch when the latch fails to properly engage the strike.

This invention relates generally to cabinets having closure members or doors and, more specifically, to an improved latch and switch-operating mechanism to latch a cabinet door and operate a switch.

The invention is particularly useful with washing appliances such as, for example, automatic dishwashers. In such appliances water or other wash fluid is agitated, splashed or sprayed about within a wash chamber defined by a cabinet. An access opening is provided in the cabinet to allow articles to be inserted into or removed from the wash chamber. A- closure member or door is provided to seal the access opening during operation of the appliance. The door has a latch to assure a liquid-tight seal with the cabinet and a switch is usually associated with the latch to automatically de-energize the appliance as the door is unlatched. The de-energization ceases agitation, splash and spray of fluid within the wash chamber thus preventing escape of fluid through the unlatched door.

Arrangements heretofore available involved relatively expensive and complicated mechanisms in order to avoid closing of the switch, ating, handle, when the door was ajar. It is important, of course, that the switch be prevented from inadvertent closing at any time other than when the door is properly sealed since such closing may result in escape of fluid through the access opening.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet closure particularly adapted for use with an automatic washing appliance.

It is another object of this invention to provide a latch and switch-operating mechanism which will deenergize the appliance as the closure member is unlatched.

It is another object of this invention to provide a latch and switch-operating mechanism which will prevent energization of the washing appliance until the closure member is in proper liquid-tight seal with the appliance cabinet.

It is another object of this invention to provide a latch and switch-operating mechanism of the type described which is mechanically simple and is economical to manufacture.

by manipulation of the latch oper- 3,409,320 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable strike for use with a latch for a cabinet closure member. I

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet member and a closure member. The mechanism comprises a strike on one of the members and a latch on the other of the members. A manually-operable handle is movable between an unlatched position and a latched position to move the latch between an unlatched position and a latched position. A switch is adapted to be operated by the handle as the handle moves to the latched position. A tab is movable with the latch. A relatively stationary member is provided and has a slot adjacent the path followed by the tab as the latch moves from the unlatched position toward the latched position. The latch, strike and tab are arranged relative to each other whereby the tab will enter the slot when the latch properly engages the strike. The latch, strike and tab are further arranged relative to each other whereby the tab will be prevented from entering the slot when the latch fails to properly engage the strike. The handle is prevented from operating the switch unless the tab enters the slot.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially cut away to show details, of an automatic washing machine employing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the latch and switch operating mechanism of the present invention in a different condition of operation;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the latch and switch operating mechanism in another condition of operation;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of some of the elements comprising the latch and switch-operating mechanism of the present invention; and,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the latch and switch-operating mechanism in yet another condition of operation.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG- URE 1 thereof, there is illustrated an automatic washing appliance in the form of an automatic dishwasher 10 having a cabinet 11 and a closure member or door 12. It is to be understood that door 12 is pivotal about a horizontal axis defined by hinge means (not shown) adjacent the bottom of door 12. Thus, door 12, as shown in the closed position in FIGURE 1, would swing to the right and downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 1 as it is opened. However, the present invention is equally applicable to cabinets having closure members of the top opening and pull out drawer types. Since dishwasher 10 may be of the built-in variety wherein it is incorporated directly into a kitchen cabinet, a countertop 13 is illustrated adjacent the top of cabinet 11. The present invention, as indicated above, is not limited to a built-in dishwasher and, in fact, may be employed with any cabinet structure having a closure member associated therewith as will become more evident as the description proceeds.

Door 12 is provided with a gasket 14 which effectuate: a seal between door 12 and cabinet 11. Door 12 is maintained in its closed position relative to cabinet 11 b means of a combination latch and switch-operating mecha nism comprising the present invention. A strike 15 i:

carried by either the door or the cabinet but in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is carried by cabinet 11. As best seen in FIGURE 2, strike includes a generally U-shaped spring element 16 having one leg 17 secured to cabinet 11 and the other leg 18 having a loop 19 at the distal end thereof. Loop 19 receives a cylindrical nut 20 which threadedly receives an adjusting screw 21. The resiliency of element 16 tends to urge the distal end of leg 18 toward door 12. Adjusting screw 21 has a spherical head 22 which engages leg 17 to prevent the distal end of leg 18 from moving toward door 12. Screw 21 further includes a slotted projection 23 into which a screw driver may be inserted to adjust the position of loop 19 by rotating screw 21 relative to nut 20. Thus, the present invention provides an adjustable strike, the function of which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, which may be adjusted from outside cabinet 11 when door 12 is opened.

Cooperating with strike 15 is a latch 24 which is carried by a frame 25. Frame 25 is, in turn, secured to door 12 by means of a pair of screws or bolts 26. A pin 27 is rigidly attached to frame 25 and extends downwardly to terminate with an enlarged portion 28. Latch 24 is provided with an elongated slot 29 which receives pin 27. Additionally, a manually-operable handle 30 has an opening therethrough which also receives pin 27. Manuallyoperable handle 30 and latch 24 are captured between enlarged portion 28 and frame 25. A washer 31 is disposed between handle 30 and latch 24 and is preferably made from a plastic material so that, when properly lubricated, relative sliding movement between handle 30 and latch 24 may easily take place. If desired, a similar washer (not shown) may be disposed between latch 24 and frame 25 for the same purpose. Handle 30 has a portion which extends through an opening 32 in the front wall or door 12 to be conveniently accessible to the operator of dishwasher 10 so that the latch and switch-operating mechanism of the present invention may be operated.

Handle 30 has a pin 33 rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom at a point eccentric to pin 27. Pin 33 extends upwardly through an arcuate slot 34 in latch 24 and an arcuate slot 35 in frame 25. The radius of curvature of the arcuate slot 35 is equal to the distance between pin 33 and pin 27. Thus, as handle 30 is moved, pin 33 follows a circular path about pin 27 within slot 35.

Frame 25 has an arcuate edge 36 with a slot 37 opening toward edge 36. Latch 24 has a tab 38 movable with the latch and, in the preferred form of the present invention, formed integrally with the latch. As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, tab 38 follows an arcuate path adjacent edge 36 as latch 24 moves among the various positions illustrated in the figures. As latch 24 moves from the unlatched position of FIGURE 3, toward the latched position of FIGURE 2 or the position of FIGURE 4, tab 38 will travel along edge 36 and either enter slot 37 or enter and engage a notch or stop 39.

The operation of the arrangement thus far described, is as follows. FIGURE 3 illustrates the arrangement in the unlatched position, i.e. when in the position of FIGURE 3, the latch and switch-operating mechanism allows door 12 to be opened. After the door has been pivoted to a substantially closed position, i.e., to a position wherein door 12 is spaced from cabinet 11 approximately the distance illustrated in FIGURE 6, handle 30 is moved from the position of FIGURE 3 to the position of FIGURE 6. Due to the movement of pin 33 about pin 27 as handle 30 is moved, pin 33 moves latch 24 to the position of FIGURE 6. It is to be noted that in FIGURE 6, pin 33 has the same relative position with slot 34 as it did in FIGURE 3. In other words, handle 30 and latch 34 have not moved relative to each other during the change 3f condition from that in FIGURE 3 to that in FIGURE 5. As latch 24 moves to the position of FIGURE 6,

it engages loop 19 of strike 15 whereupon further arcuate movement of latch 24 is prevented.

As movement of handle 30 continues, the condition of the arrangement changes from that in FIGURE 6 to that of FIGURE 2. It should be noted in FIGURE 2 tab 38 has entered slot 37 and pin 33 has moved relative to slot 34 substantially the full length of slot 34. The relative movement between pin 33 and slot 34, causes latch 24 to move substantially rectilinearly while handle 30 is moving in a rotary manner. It should also be noted that latch 24 has moved relative to pin 27 substantially the full length of slot 29. The rectilinear movement of latch 24 relative to the other components of the latch and switch-operating mechanism, results in door 12 moving closer to cabinet 11 to assure compression of gasket 14.

As handle 30 moves to the latched position of FIG- URE 2, a projection 40, depending downwardly from handle 30, engages a lever 41 and pivots lever 41 to depress a button 42 projecting from an electrical switch 43. Depression of button 42 operates switch 43. Thus, when handle 30 moves to the position of FIGURE 2, switch 43 is operated.

As mentioned above, the present invention is particularly applicable to those situations wherein it is desirable to prevent operation of a switch such as switch 43 unless door 12 is properly sealed against cabinet 11. Referring now to FIGURE 4, the latch and switch-operating mechanism is illustrated in a position which it assumes if handle 30 is moved toward the latched position when door 12 is not properly closed. It should be noted that the position of handle 30 in FIGURE 4 is beyond the position of handle 30 in FIGURE 6. When latch 24 reaches the position of FIGURE 6 but does not engage strike 15, latch 24 moves beyond that position at which tab 38 may enter slot 37. Latch 24 continues to move until tab 38 engages stop 39. At this point, the latch 24 can move no further. Of course, slot 34 in latch 24 is also prevented from further movement. Because pin 33 on handle 30 extends through slot 34 in latch and slot 35 in frame 25, pin 33 is prevented from further movement as tab 38 engages stop 39. This prevention of movement of pin 33 results in prevention of movement of handle 30. Thus, engagement of tab 38 with stop 39 prevents movement of handle 30 beyond that position illustrated in FIGURE 4. This position is short of that at which projection 40 engages lever 41 to operate switch 43. Accordingly, when latch 24 fails to properly engage strike 15, tab 38 will pass slot 37 and engage stop 39 and handle 30 will be prevented from operating switch 43.

A spring 44 is provided to gently bias latch 24 to the left as viewed in the drawings. The purpose of this bias effect is to insure that tab 38 enters slot 39 only as a result of latch 24 engaging strike 15. Spring 44 is in the form of a leaf spring having a loop 45 at one end which slips over one of the screws 26. The other end of the spring 44 extends beyond the other of screws 26 and bears against that screw in a manner wherein it is free to slide relative thereto as latch 24 moves rectilinearly relative to frame 25. A coil spring 46 extends between a tab 47 on frame 25 and a tab 48 on handle 30 to make the latch and switch-operating mechanism stable in both the position of FIGURE 2 and the position of FIGURE 3.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides an improved latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet closure particularly adapted for use with an will prevent energization of the appliance until the closure member is in proper liquid-tight seal with the cabinet. It is also important to note that the present invention providesa latch and switch-operating mechanism of the type described which is exceptionally mechanically simple and is economical to manufacture.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combination latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet or the like having an access opening and a closure member therefor comprising:

(a) a strike on said cabinet adjacent said access opening,

(b) a latch on said closure member,

(c) a manually-operable handle movable between an unlatched position and a latched position,

(d) means interconnecting said latch and said handle whereby said latch is moved between an unlatched position and a latched position with said handle,

(e) a switch adapted to be operated by said handle as said handle moves to said latched position,

(f) a tab movable with said latch, and

(g) a relatively stationary member having a notch and a slot adjacent the path followed by said tab as said latch moves from said unlatched position toward said latched position,

(h) said latch, said strike and said tab being arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will enter said slot when said latch properly engages said strike,

(i) said latch, said strike and said tab beingfurther arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will enter said notch when said latch fails to properly engage said strike,

(j) said means interconnecting said latch and said handle preventing said handle from operating said switch when said tab enters said notch.

2. A combination latch and switching-operating mechanism for a cabinet member and a closure member comprising:

(a) a strike on one of said members,

(b) a latch on the other of said members,

(c) a manually-operable handle movable between an unlatched position and a latched position to move said latch between an unlatched position and a latched position, u

(d) a switch adapted to be operated by said handle as said handle moves to said latched position,

(e) a tab movable with said latch, and

(f) a relatively stationary member having a slot and a notch adjacent the path followed by said tab as said latch moves from said unlatched position toward said latched position,

(g) said latch, said strike and said tab being arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will enter said slot when said latch properly engages said strike,

(h) said latch, said strike and said tab being further arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will be prevented from entering said slot and will instead enter said notch when said latch fails to properly engage said strike,

(i) said handle being prevented from operating said switch unless said tab enters said slot.

3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising means interconnecting said latch and said handle comprising an arcuate slot in said latch and a pin rigid with said handle extending into said arcuate slot whereby said latch may travel in an irregular path while said handle travels an arcuate path.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising a frame element having an arcuate slot therein into which said pin further extends.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said relatively stationary member comprises a frame element by which said latch and said handle are movably carried.

6. A combination latch and switch-operating mechanism for a cabinet member and a closure member comprising:

(a) a strike on one of said members,

(b) a frame secured to the other of said members,

(c) a latch carried by said frame,

(d) a manually-operable handle carried by said frame and interconnected with said latch,

(c) said latch and said handle each having a latched position and an unlatched position,

(f) a switch carried by said frame and adapted to be operated by said handle as said handle moves to said latched position,

(g) a tab movable with said latch,

(b) said frame having an edge adjacent the path travelled by said tab as said latch moves,

(i) a stop at one end of said edge,

(j) a slot in said frame at said edge opening toward the path of said tab,

(k) said latch, said strike and said tab being arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will enter said slot when said latch properly engages said strike,

(1) said latch, said strike and said tab being further arranged relative to each other whereby said tab will pass said slot and engage said stop when said latch fails to properly engage said strike,

(In) said handle being prevented from operating said switch when said tab engages said stop.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said edge is arcuate and said tab travels an arcuate path.

8. The invention of claim 6 where said frame is secured to said other of said members by a pair of screws and a leaf spring is provided and has a loop at one end to receive one of said pairs of screws with the other end of said spring slidably engaging the other of said pair of screws, said spring gently bearing against said latch.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said strike comprises a generally U-shaped spring element having one leg secured to said cabinet and the other leg having a loop at the distal end thereof, a threaded nut disposed within said loop and an adjusting screw received by said nut, said screw having an enlarged head bearing against said one leg.

10. An adjustable strike for use with a latch for a cabinet closure comprising:

(a) a generally U-shaped spring element adapted to be secured to a cabinet,

(b) the other leg of said element having a loop at the distal end thereof,

(0) a threaded nut disposed within said loop, and

(d) an adjusting screw received by said nut and having an enlarged head at one end,

(e) said enlarged head bearing against said one leg.

having one leg References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,189,375 6/1965 Getman 292-412 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.

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