US3750643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple position door latch mechanism
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-05-23
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1992-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A three-position, sliding latch mechanism for an appliance door such as an oven door. The mechanism includes a latch handle and a hidden latching bolt for swinging out and engaging the door. The first position of the latch mechanism is an unlocked position, and the second position is a locked position. The third position is also a locked position, although the latching bolt remains stationary in this locked position as the latch handle is moved between the second and third positions. There are separate interlock switch means that are operable in either the first (unlocked) or the second and third (locked) positions, whereby different oven operations may be performed as a function of the various positions of the latch handle so as to simplify the control circuitry and components.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fowler
- 👤 J White
- 👤 D Cross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:21
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24C; F24C15/00; F24C15/02; F24C15/022; F24C14/00; F24C14/02; F24C7/00; F24C7/006; F24C7/008; H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6414; H05B6/6417; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/69; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0911; Y10T292/0913; Y10T292/0914; Y10T292/0917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base, a latch handle pivotally connected to said base adjacent the rear thereof, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base and to the latch handle, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base and joined to both the said latch lever and the base by a lost motion connection whereby movement of the latch handle from a first (unlocked) position causes a turning action of the latch lever and hence a turning action of the latching bolt, and indexing means associated with the latch lever to temporarily hold the latch mechanism in each of its multiple positions, and a locking bar pivotally connected to the latch lever and extending rearwardly thereof, an automatic lock lever associated with the locking bar for locking the latch mechanism against further movement in the forward direction, and electroresponsive means for deactivating the lock lever to enable the movement of the latch mechanism to a third position at which point the automatic lock lever acts to lock the latch mechanism from further movement, the said electroresponsive means again being operable to deactivate the said lock lever whereby the latch mechanism may be shifted to any position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base, a latch handle pivotally connected to said base adjacent the rear thereof, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base and to the latch handle, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base and joined to both the said latch lever and the base by a lost motion connection whereby movement of the latch handle from a first (unlocked) position causes a turning action of the latch lever and hence a turning action of the latching bolt, and indexing means associated with the latch lever to temporarily hold the latch mechanism in each of its multiple positions, and a locking bar pivotally connected to the latch lever and extending rearwardly thereof, an automatic lock lever associated with the locking bar for locking the latch mechanism against further movement in the forward direction, and electroresponsive means for deactivating the lock lever to enable the movement of the latch mechanism to a third position at which point the automatic lock lever acts to lock the latch mechanism from further movement, the said electroresponsive means again being operable to deactivate the said lock lever whereby the latch mechanism may be shifted to any position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch handle pivotally connected to said base plate adjacent the rear of the base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate and to the latch handle, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate and pivotally and slidably connected to the latch lever, whereby movement of the latch handle in one direction from a first (unlocked) position to a second (locked) position causes a turning action of the latch lever in the opposite direction and also a turning action of the latching bolt in the first direction until it reaches the second (locked) position, the latch handle having a third (locked) position which results in movement of the latch lever without altering the locked position of the locking bolt, and separate interlocking switch means cooperating with the latch mechanism in each the second and third positions to set up independent control circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch handle pivotally connected to said base plate adjacent the rear of the base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate and to the latch handle, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate and pivotally and slidably connected to the latch lever, whereby movement of the latch handle in one direction from a first (unlocked) position to a second (locked) position causes a turning action of the latch lever in the opposite direction and also a turning action of the latching bolt in the first direction until it reaches the second (locked) position, the latch handle having a third (locked) position which results in movement of the latch lever without altering the locked position of the locking bolt, and separate interlocking switch means cooperating with the latch mechanism in each the second and third positions to set up independent control circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 2 with indexing means associated with the latch lever to locate the second and third locked positions of the latch handle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 3 wherein the indexing means includes a cam surface formed on one side edge of the latch lever and a spring biased cam follower supported from the base plate for cooperation with the cam surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 4 with a locking bar pivotally connected to the latch lever and extending rearwardly thereof, an automatic lock lever associated with the locking bar for locking the latch mechanism in the second (locked) position against further movement in the forward direction, and an electroresponsive means for deactivating the lock lever to enable the movement of the latch mechanism to the third (locked) position at which point the automatic lock lever acts to hold the locking bar from further movement, the said electroresponsive means being operable to deactivate the sAid lock lever so that the latch mechanism may be shifted back to either its second or first positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate adjacent the front thereof, and a lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever, and an elongated latch handle having a lost motion connection with the base plate adjacent the rear thereof and overlying the latch mechanism and extending forwardly beyond the latching bolt in its fully extended position, and a pivotal connection between the latch handle and the latch lever whereby movement of the latch handle causes a related movement of the latch lever and latching bolt for effecting a locking action, whereby the distal end of the latch handle moves in a relatively flat arc of a circle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate adjacent the front thereof, and a lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever, and an elongated latch handle having a lost motion connection with the base plate adjacent the rear thereof and overlying the latch mechanism and extending forwardly beyond the latching bolt in its fully extended position, and a pivotal connection between the latch handle and the latch lever whereby movement of the latch handle causes a related movement of the latch lever and latching bolt for effecting a locking action, whereby the distal end of the latch handle moves in a relatively flat arc of a circle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 6 wherein the said lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever is extended whereby the latch handle has a first (unlocked) position, a second (locked) position and a third (locked) position, and indexing means associated with the said latch lever to establish three distinct positions of the latch mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 7 with a locking bar pivotally connected to the latch lever and extending rearwardly thereof, an automatic lock lever associated with the locking bar for locking the latch mechanism in the second (locked) position against further movement in the forward direction, and an electroresponsive means for deactivating the lock lever to enable the movement of the latch mechanism to the third (locked) position at which position the automatic lock lever acts to hold the latch mechanism from further movement, the electroresponsive means being operable at temperatures below about 600*F. in an associated control cavity to deactivate the automatic lock lever so that the latch mechanism may be shifted to either its second (locked) position or the first (unlocked) position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A multiple position, sliding latch mechanism as recited in claim 8 with separate interlocking switch means cooperating with the latch mechanism in each the second and third positions to set up independent control circuits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a combined microwave and pyrolytic self-cleaning oven having an oven cavity formed by a box-like oven liner and a front-opening access door, a multiple position, sliding latch mechanism mounted in the oven body adjacent the top front of the oven, said latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate adjacent the front thereof, and a lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever, and an elongated latch handle having a lost motion connection with the base plate adjacent the rear thereof and overlying the latch mechanism and extending forwardly beyond the front surface of the oven door, and a pivotal connection between the latch handle and the latch lever whereby movement of the latch handle causes a related movement of the latch lever and latching bolt for effecting a locking action, whereby the distal end of the latch handle moves in a relatively flat arc of a curve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a combined microwave and pyrolytic self-cleaning oven having an oven cavity formed by a box-like oven liner and a front-opening access door, a multiple position, sliding latch mechanism mounted in the oven body adjacent the top front of the oven, said latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a latch lever pivotally connected to the base plate, a latching bolt pivotally connected to the base plate adjacent the front thereof, and a lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever, and an elongated latch handle having a lost motion connection with the base plate adjacent the rear thereof and overlying the latch mechanism and extending forwardly beyond the front surface of the oven door, and a pivotal connection between the latch handle and the latch lever whereby movement of the latch handle causes a related movement of the latch lever and latching bolt for effecting a locking action, whereby the distal end of the latch handle moves in a relatively flat arc of a curve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a combined microwave and pyrolytic self-cleaning oven construction as recited in claim 10, wherein the said lost motion connection between the latching bolt and the latch lever is extended whereby the latch handle has a first (unlocked) position, a second (locked) position and a third (locked) position, and separate interlocking switch means cooperating with the latch mechanism in each the second and third positions to set up independent control circuits for the oven.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a combined microwave and pyrolytic self-cleaning oven construction as recited in claim 11 with indexing means associated with the said latch lever to establish threE distinct positions of the latch mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a combined microwave and pyrolytic self-cleaning oven construction as recited in claim 12, with a locking bar pivotally connected to the latch lever and extending rearwardly thereof, an automatic lock lever associated with the locking bar for locking the latch mechanism in the second (locked) position against further movement in the forward direction, an electroresponsive means for deactivating the lock lever to enable the movement of the latch mechanism to the third (locked) position at which position the automatic lock lever acts to hold the latch mechanism from further movement, the electroresponsive means being operable at oven temperatures below about 600*F. to deactivate the automatic lock lever so that the latch mechanism may be shifted to either its second (locked) position or the first (unlocked) position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |