Patent ID: 7306266
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: A47L,D06F,E05B,E05C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An appliance latch for retaining a strike, the latch comprising: a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance; a carriage slideably held by the latch frame to move along a line substantially parallel to an axis along which the latch receives the strike; at least one spring biasing the carriage along the line in a direction which the latch receives the strike; a rotating hook supported by the carriage to move with the carriage and to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the line, the rotating hook rotating to capture a portion of the strike in a capture position when the strike enters a hook opening and rotating to release the strike in a release position when the strike exits the hook opening; a catch holding the carriage in a first position along the line with the spring in a high state of compression when the rotating hook is in the release position and releasing the carriage to a second position along the line with the spring in a lower state of compression when the rotating hook is in the capture position; whereby energy stored in the spring in opening the latch is returned to aid in closing the latch; wherein multiple compression springs bias the carriage in a direction along which the latch receives the strike and the multiple compression springs are placed at corners of a rectangle surrounding the rotating hook.