US3777098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Door latch assembly for a microwave cooking oven
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-18
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A door latch assembly for a microwave cooking oven is disclosed having a latch element mounted on the cantilevered end of the oven door and a latch receiving element mounted on the front face of the oven. The latch element includes a base member having a first aligning projection extending outwardly from the mid-length thereof, and a pair of hooked latches extending outwardly from the opposite ends thereof. The latch receiving element comprises a first fixed aperture formed adjacent the oven face for receiving the aligning projection of the latch element. The latch receiving element further includes a movable body having a pair of apertures for receiving the hooked latches of the latch element. The movable body also includes a pair of ported plates fixedly attached thereto. The plates include bearing surfaces adapted to engage and be moved downwardly by the latches. Upon further inward movement of the latches, the latches are adapted to extend into the plate ports and be secured therein by a pair of leaf springs, which function to move the plates and body upwardly in a secured position. To disengage the latches, the movable body is moved downwardly until the plate ports move out of engagement with the hook portions of the latches. The springs then function to urge the latches against the bearing surfaces of the plates to force the latches and the door away from the front face of the oven. A safety switch is connected to each port plate to be controlled by the hooked portions of the latches.
Inventors
- 👤 W Tapper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:39
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6414; H05B6/6417; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A latch assembly for securing a microwave oven door to the front face of the microwave oven comprising: a first element having a main body fixedly attached to the cantilevered end of the oven door, said main body having means for securing said first element to the oven face; front face having means for receiving said securing means; said securing means comprising at least one hooked latch extending from said main body; said means for receiving said securing means comprises at least one ported plate located adjacent a respective aperture on said oven face, each port on each said plate being positioned to receive the hooked portion of a respective latch; and spring means mounted on each ported plate for biasingly engaging a respective latch when the hooked portion of said latch extends into said ported plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A latch assembly for securing a microwave oven door to the front face of the microwave oven comprising: a first element having a main body fixedly attached to the cantilevered end of the oven door, said main body having means for securing said first element to the oven face; front face having means for receiving said securing means; said securing means comprising at least one hooked latch extending from said main body; said means for receiving said securing means comprises at least one ported plate located adjacent a respective aperture on said oven face, each port on each said plate being positioned to receive the hooked portion of a respective latch; and spring means mounted on each ported plate for biasingly engaging a respective latch when the hooked portion of said latch extends into said ported plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 further including centering means for aligning said first element with respect to the oven face, said centering means comprising a projection extending from approximately the middle of said main body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said means for receiving said centering means comprises an aperture having a pair of roller bearings mounted on opposite sides thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said plates are fixedly connected to said second element to be movable therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said second element further includes a lever integrally connected thereto, said lever extending through a window formed in the oven face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said spring means includes a bevel portion for biasing the respective latch away from said ported plate when said second element is moved with respect to said latches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 further including a switch mounted on said second element adjacent each aperture, each switch being engageable with a respective latch when extending in a ported plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said ported plates includes a bearing surface positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal movement of said respective latch, each bearing surface being engageable with the hooked portion of each respective latch to be vertically movable during horizontal movement of the respective latch during such engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said spring means comprises a bevelled bearing surface which is opposed to the bearing surface of a respective ported plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 1 further including a hand lever extending through the front face of the oven, said lever being connected to said second element to enable the second element to be moved with respect to the hooked portions of said latches, against the bias of said spring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 9 further including means for moving said second element with respect to the hooked portions of said latches, against the bias of said spring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
213 words
A latch assembly for securing a microwave oven door to the front face of the microwave oven comprising: said front face of the housing having at least one aperture a first element having a main body fixedly attached to the cantilevered end of the oven door, said main body having means for securing said first element to the oven face; a second element movably mounted on said front face having means for receiving said securing means; said securing means comprising at least one hooked latch extending from said main body; said means for receiving said securing means comprising at least one bearing surface adjacent a respEctive aperture on said oven face, each bearing surface being fixedly connected to said second element to be movable therewith, said latch being movable with said cantilevered end of said door to be displaced into said aperture, each bearing surface further having an edge for lockingly engaging the hooked portion of said respective latch at the end of said latch displacement; and spring means mounted adjacent each of said bearing surfaces for biasing the respective edge into locking engagement with the hooked portion of said respective latch and for biasing the latch away from said edge upon disengagement of said edge with said hooked portion of said latch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
213 words
A latch assembly for securing a microwave oven door to the front face of the microwave oven comprising: said front face of the housing having at least one aperture a first element having a main body fixedly attached to the cantilevered end of the oven door, said main body having means for securing said first element to the oven face; a second element movably mounted on said front face having means for receiving said securing means; said securing means comprising at least one hooked latch extending from said main body; said means for receiving said securing means comprising at least one bearing surface adjacent a respEctive aperture on said oven face, each bearing surface being fixedly connected to said second element to be movable therewith, said latch being movable with said cantilevered end of said door to be displaced into said aperture, each bearing surface further having an edge for lockingly engaging the hooked portion of said respective latch at the end of said latch displacement; and spring means mounted adjacent each of said bearing surfaces for biasing the respective edge into locking engagement with the hooked portion of said respective latch and for biasing the latch away from said edge upon disengagement of said edge with said hooked portion of said latch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein said second element further includes a lever extending through a window formed in the oven face.
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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |