Patent ID: 11859337
Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC D  E | IPC D  E

Claim 0:
1. An appliance latch assembly for use with an appliance having an appliance frame and an appliance lid movable during closing of the appliance lid between a lid-open position and a lid-closed position, the appliance latch assembly comprising:
a latch positionable on the appliance frame and defining a latch interior that defines a full width interior segment and a divided interior segment that includes a first interior side space and a second interior side space;
a ward plate arranged within the latch interior and defining boundaries between the full width interior segment and the divided interior segment of the latch interior, wherein the ward plate includes:
a first side surface that bounds the first interior side space;
a second side surface that bounds the second interior side space; and
an edge that faces toward the full width interior segment;

an anti-tamper switch that is actuatable to prevent an operation of the appliance when the appliance lid is in the lid-open position or allow the operation of the appliance when the appliance lid is in the lid-closed position;
a striker positionable on the appliance lid and insertable into the latch interior during closing of the appliance lid, wherein the striker:
includes a striker bifurcation defined by a first fork and a second fork that pass on opposite sides of the ward plate during closing of the appliance lid; and
actuates the anti-tamper switch to allow operation of the appliance when the first and second forks of the striker bifurcation are respectively in the first and second latch interior segments.