Patent ID: 6363755
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: D06F,Y10S

Abstract:
In a washing machine having a lid that may be opened to provide access to a spin basket and closed to prevent access to the spin basket, the spin basket being driven by an electric motor when a spin cycle signal from a spin cycle timer is present, a lid locking assembly comprising:(a) a bistable electromagnetic lid locking mechanism, in a locked state, holding the lid closed until an unlock signal is received and in an unlocked state allows the lid to be freely opened until a lock signal is received, and where the unlock and lock signals are power applied to the electromagnetic lid locking mechanism and wherein, absent power applied to the electromagnetic lid locking mechanism, the electromagnetic lid locking mechanism remains in its last state of locked and unlocked; and (b) a logic circuit including a timer and an energy storage capacitor to provide the unlock signal to the electromagnetic lid locking mechanism a predetermined period of time after the cessation of the spin cycle signal, wherein the storage capacitor provides energy for the unlock signal in the event of loss of external power to the washing machine.