Abstract:
The present invention relates to a lock device, comprising a housing including a lock hook mounted in the housing, the lock hook pivotally moves to and away from a lock hook locked position; a locking slider for locking the lock hook, the locking slider having a locking slider first end which abuts against an axial surface of the lock hook, the locking slider is reciprocatingly slideable in a first direction parallel to the lock hook pivoting plane following pivoting of the lock hook to move to or away from a locking slider locked position; a slider locking device for locking the locking slider, the slider locking device is reciprocating slideable in a second direction following the reciprocatingly sliding of the locking slider in the first direction, the second direction crosses the lock hook pivoting plane. The present invention further relates to an apparatus mounted with said lock device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a lock device, more particularly to a lock used on a door of electrical appliances such as a dish-washer, washing machine, clothes dryer or microwave oven. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An electrical appliance such as a dish-washer is usually provided with a door lock. When the door is to be closed, a pushing force is applied to the door, and a door hook is inserted into the door lock and engages with the door lock to lock the door; when the door is to be opened, a pulling force is applied to the door, and the door hook retracts from the door lock and disengages from the door lock. 
         [0003]    It is desirable to unlock such door lock from the inside of the washing machine to meet some requirement in use. It is also desirable that such door lock has a certain pulling force that can assist in closing the door and that opening and closing the door needs only a simply pulling/pushing operation without an additional operation such as turning, pinching or buckling so that the door lock is convenient in use and has well hand feeling in manipulation. Furthermore, to reduce cost, it is desirable that the door hook which is used with such kind of door lock has the simplest structure (a one-piece part which is directly fixed to the door) rather than has a removable structure constructed from a plurality of parts. 
         [0004]    Usually, such door lock includes a pivotal lock hook and a slider for locking the pivotal lock hook. The lock hook pivots as the door hook inserts in and retracts from the lock hook, and the slider generally reciprocatingly slides in a direction perpendicular to a pivotal plane. When the slider is in a slider locked position, it is able to prevent the lock hook from rotating. When applying pulling force to the door, the lock hook pivots as the door hook retracts from the lock hook thereby applies a force to the slider. The force enables the slider to move away from the slider locking position so that the lock hook can pivot and the door is opened. Such door lock generally further comprises a locking member such as a pawl which locks the slider according to a signal indicative of locking the door lock and which is configured to keep the slider in the slider locked position to prevent the door from being opened during operation of the electrical appliance. According to safety requirements, the door lock must guarantee that during operation of the electrical appliance such as the dish-washer, the door will not be opened as being applied with an external force. 
         [0005]    The shortcoming exits in the door lock which has the above functions is it usually has big volume or size, whereas compact figure is usually an important target for the product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One object of the present invention is to provide a door lock which has very compact volume and easy to install and arrange. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock which can be unlocked from the inside of the washing machine. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock which has well hand feeling in manipulation and certain assistant pulling force in closing the door, and opening/closing the door with the door lock needs only a simply pulling/pushing operation. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock which needs an immovable door hook with the simplest structure. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a door lock which enables the door to bear a larger pulling force. 
         [0011]    The present invention relates to a lock device, comprising a housing including a lock hook mounted in the housing, the lock hook pivotally moves to and away from a lock hook locked position; a locking slider for locking the lock hook, the locking slider having a locking slider first end which abuts against an axial surface of the lock hook, the locking slider is reciprocatingly slideable in a first direction parallel to the lock hook pivoting plane following pivoting of the lock hook to move to or away from a locking slider locked position; a slider locking device for locking the locking slider, the slider locking device is reciprocating slideable in a second direction following the reciprocatingly sliding of the locking slider in the first direction, the second direction crosses the lock hook pivoting plane. 
         [0012]    The present invention further relates to an apparatus mounted with said lock device. 
         [0013]    One advantage of the present invention is enabling the door of the electrical appliance mounted with the door lock to bear a larger pulling force when locked. 
         [0014]    Another advantage of the present invention is, when a very large pulling force is applied to the locked door, not only reducing the force to which the pawl (or other locking members) is subjected but also avoiding generating a force applying to the lock hook parallel to the axial of the lock hook pivoting plane, thereby avoiding causing damages or position deviation to the lock hook. 
         [0015]    Another advantage of the present invention is simply and effectively reducing the force to which the pawl (or other locking members) subjected. 
         [0016]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become obvious for those skilled in the art after the following specific embodiments and drawings are read. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door lock disclosed in the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   a  is a top view of the door lock in  FIG. 1  showing the door lock in a locked state (the lock hook is not shown); 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   b  is a top view of the door lock shown in  FIG. 1  showing the door lock in an open state (the lock hook is not shown); 
           [0020]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the door lock shown in  FIG. 2   a  (the lock hook is shown); 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the door lock shown in  FIG. 2   b  (the lock hook is shown); 
           [0022]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view showing the cooperation relationships between the lock hook, the locking slider and the slider locking device when the door lock shown in  FIG. 1  is in a locked state; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view showing the cooperation relationships between the lock hook, the locking slider and the slider locking device when the door lock shown in  FIG. 1  is in an open state; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the locking slider in the door lock shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view of the slider locking device used in the door lock shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of an end of the slider locking device shown in  FIG. 6   a  as viewed from another direction; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a dish-washer mounted with the door lock according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Various specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings forming a part of the specification. It should be appreciated that although directional terminology such as “front,” “rear,” “upper” and “lower” are used in the detailed description for the embodiments to describe structural portions and elements of various embodiments of the present invention, use of these terminology is only to facilitate description and these terminologies are used with reference to the orientation of the figure(s). Because the embodiments disclosed herein can be positioned in different orientations, these directional terminologies are used for purpose of illustration and are in no way limiting. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numbers and symbols are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same parts. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door lock  10  in the present invention. A housing  100  is provided with an opening which allows a door hook (not shown) to insert into and retract from the housing  100 . The door lock  10  comprises the housing  100  with a pivotal lock hook  110  mounted therein. The door hook which is inserted into the housing cooperates with the lock hook  110 . When the door is closed, the door hook is inserted into the housing  100  to engage with the lock hook  110 , pushing the lock hook  110  to pivot into a lock hook locking position; whereas when the door is opened, the door hook retracts from the housing  100 , pulling the lock hook  110  to pivot to move away from the lock hook locked position. The lock hook  110  is mounted in the housing via a pin and pivots about the pin. An elastic member  160  is mounted on the lock hook  110 , bringing a force for driving or blocking the pivoting of the lock hook  110 . The elastic member may be a torsion spring as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be other elastic members. Because the elastic member  160  acts on the lock hook  110 , the lock hook  110  is enabled to rapidly rotate back after passing over the turning point under the external force (i.e. the force applied by closing the door) so as to bring an assistant pulling force. Accordingly, when the door is to be opened, the elastic member is able to generate a resistant force to prevent the door of the washing machine from being accidentally opened. Also, such mechanism is elastic when unlocked so that the door can be opened from inside of the washing machine when it is desired. 
         [0030]    In the housing  100  is further mounted a slider locking device  150  for locking a locking slider  130  at a slider locked position. An exemplary slider locking device  150  is a slider, preferably a bar-shaped slider as shown in the figures, but it may also be a locking device in other forms besides the slider. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a  and  3   b  show a locking slider  130  mounted in the housing  100  for locking the lock hook  110  at the lock hook locked position. The locking slider  130  is reciprocatingly slideable in a direction parallel to the pivoting plane of the lock hook  110 . An end  131   a  of the locking slider  130  abuts against a radial surface  111  of the lock hook  110  to prevent the lock hook  110  from pivoting away from the path of the lock hook locked position. As such, when the locking slider  130  is locked at the slider locked position without being able to slide, the lock hook  110  will not be able to pivot away from the closed position due to the abutment of the locking slider end  131   a.  When the door is opened, the locking slider  130  is in unlocked state, the lock hook  110  pivots away from the lock hook locked position under the action of the door hook and drives the locking slider  130  to slide away from the slider locked position. 
         [0032]    At the end  131   a  of the locking slider  130  is provided two lock hook contacting surfaces  138   a  and  138   b  which respectively abuts against the lock hook radial surface  111  when the door lock is locked and opened. At an end  131   b  of the slider  130  opposite to the end  131   a  is provided an elastic member  162 . 
         [0033]    The elastic member  162  is a spring as shown in the figures, but it may also be other elastic members. One end of the spring  162  abuts against the end  131   b  of the locking slider  130 , and the other end of the spring  162  is abutted against by the housing so as to provide a force for driving or blocking the sliding of the locking slider  130 . 
         [0034]    Alternatively, the locking slider  130  is a bar-shaped slider as shown in the figures, and the extension direction of the main body of the locking slider  130  is parallel to the sliding direction of the locking slider  130  along a straight line, and the sliding direction of the locking slider  130  lies in plane parallel to the pivoting plane of the lock hook  110 , which makes the dimension of the door lock more compact. 
         [0035]    The slider  150  is located at one side of an axial direction of the lock hook  110 , an end  151  of the slider  150  abuts against a side surface  132  of the locking slider  130 , and the force applied by the locking slider  130  to the slider  150  enables the slider  150  to reciprocatingly slide as the locking slider  130  slides reciprocatingly. The direction in which the slider  150  reciprocatingly slides crosses the pivoting plane of the lock hook, namely, crosses the sliding direction of the locking slider  130 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the sliding direction of the slider  150  is perpendicular to the pivoting plane of the lock hook, namely, perpendicular to the sliding direction of the locking slider  130 . 
         [0036]    Thus it can be seen that via the transfer of the slider  150  and locking slider  130 , the rotational movement of the lock hook  110  is converted into linear movement which is in the same direction as the pivot axis of the lock hook  110 . By doing so, the door lock is not only easier to control (locking/unlocking the slider  150  by an implementing mechanism or switch box via an extendable or retractable bolt), but also compact in size with a square figuration, which makes it easier to be arranged in use. Conventional door lock configuration makes the entire door lock present a thin bar-shaped appearance so that it has a large longitudinal dimension which is not advantageous for use. 
         [0037]    The implementing mechanism or switch box used with the door lock according to the present invention comprises a locking member releasably locking the slider  150  although the locking member is not shown in the figures. An exemplary locking member is a bolt. Accordingly, a notch  158  is provided on the slider  150  to receive the bolt. It should be appreciated that the locking member further includes other means for releasably locking the slider  150 , such as a pawl and so on, and the slider  150  can be provided with a corresponding receiving structure. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  FIG. 5  show that an oblique surface  135  inclined to the sliding direction of the locking slider  130  is provided on the axial side surface  132  of the locking slider  130  which is contacted by the slider  150 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , at the side surface  132  of the locking slider  130  forms an extension portion  136  extending towards one side of the slider  150 , the oblique surface  135  is configured on the side of the extension portion  136  which faces the slider  150 , and the oblique surface  135  is at an obtuse angle to the side surface  132 . Of course, the oblique surface  135  can be arranged in other ways, for example, the locking slider  130  has an inwardly recessed cavity (not shown) configured on the side surface  132 , and the locking slider oblique surface  135  is formed on an internal surface of the cavity. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show a structure on the slider  150  for cooperating with the oblique surface  135 . A surface  154  which is perpendicular to a movement direction of the slider  150  and an oblique surface  155  which is inclined to the sliding direction of the slider  150  are formed on the outer profile of the end  151  of the slider  150 . The oblique surface  155  interacts with the oblique surface  135 . The two oblique surfaces may be configured with the same inclined angle so that they may form two complementary contacting surfaces when they abut against each other. Preferably, the two oblique surfaces may be further configured to have the same shape and area. Furthermore, the upper end of the end  151  may be provided with a flange  153  which covers an upper end surface of the locking slider side surface  132 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  further show that at the other end  152  of the slider  150  is provided an elastic member  163  which may be for example a spring as shown in the figure, but may also be other elastic members. An end of the spring  163  abuts against the end  152  of the slider  150 , and the other end thereof is abutted against by the housing so as to provide a force for driving or blocking the sliding of the slider  150 . 
         [0041]    How the door lock of the present invention works will be exemplarily explained with reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a  and  4   b  below. 
         [0042]    In  FIGS. 2   a ,  3   a  and  4   a , the lock hook  110  is at the lock hook locked position, the locking slider  130  is at the locking slider locked position, and the slider  150  is at a locked position of the slider locking device. 
         [0043]    When the door is closed, the door hook (not shown) is inserted into the door lock, pushing the lock hook to pivot in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 3   a  into the lock hook locked position. The locking slider  130  slides to the locking slider locked position shown in  FIG. 3   a  under the pushing by the spring  162 , while the first lock hook contacting surface  138   a  abuts against the radial surface  111  of the lock hook  110 . 
         [0044]    As can be seen from  FIG. 2   a , at that moment, the slider  150  slides to the locked position of the slider locking device under the pushing by the spring  163 . The end  151  of the slider  150  abuts against the side surface  132  of the slider  130 , and its oblique surface  155  abuts against the oblique surface  135  of the slider  130 . 
         [0045]    The pawl may be configured to cooperate with the notch  158  on the slider  150  to lock the slider  150  at the locking device locked position upon receiving a signal for starting operation of the electrical appliance (other conditions for the pawl to lock the slider  150  of course may be configured as needed) such that the door is locked. At this time, if the door is subjected to a pulling force, the door hook engaging with the lock hook  110  applies a force for pulling the lock hook  110  to pivot away from the lock hook locked position, and the axial surface  111  of the lock hook  110  applies to the locking slider  130  a force enabling the locking slider  130  to move away from the slider locked position so that the locking slider  130  applies to the slider  150  a force enabling the slider  150  to move away from the locked position of the slider locking device. Due to existence of the oblique surface  135  and oblique surface  155 , the force applied by the locking slider  130  on the slider  150  via the oblique surface  135  is decomposed into two component of forces, one of which is transverse to the sliding direction of the slider  150  and the other of which is parallel to the sliding direction of the slider  150 . The inclined angles of the oblique surfaces  135  and  155  are configured to enable the above transverse component of force to be larger but blocked by the housing  100 , whereas enable the parallel component to be smaller but sufficient to be blocked by the bolt or pawl. This enables the door lock of the present invention to bear a larger pulling force for the door even though by using the same bolt or pawl as that in the prior art. 
         [0046]    In addition, because the locking slider  130  of the present invention abuts against the radial surface  111  of the lock hook  110  and the sliding direction thereof is parallel to the pivoting plane of the lock hook  110 , when applying a pulling force to the locked door, the locking slider  130  only generates a force applying to the lock hook  110  in the radial direction of the lock hook without generating a force parallel to the axial direction of the lock hook. Therefore, even if the door is applied with a very large force, the lock hook will not be damaged or deviate from its position due to subjecting to an axial force, so that the door can actually bear a larger pulling force in the locked state. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the above figures, the oblique surface  135  is provided on the outward extending portion of the locking slider  130  rather than in the cavity configured in the interior of the locking slider  130  so that the dimension and the incline angle of the oblique surface  135  can be set substantially without being limited by the dimensions of the locking slider (for example, the length, height and thickness of the locking slider). Therefore, when the door is designed to bear a larger pulling force in the locked state, the area and incline angle of the oblique surface can be set in a more convenient and effective manner, for example, setting the area of the slant surface  135  to make it larger and adjusting the incline angle of the oblique surface  135 , so as to enable the parallel component of force applied on the slider  150  to be still in the bearing extension of the pawl. 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 2   b ,  3   b  and  4   b , the lock hook  110  is at a lock hook unlocked position, the locking slider  130  is at a locking slider unlocked position, and the slider  150  is at a unlocked position of the slider locking device. 
         [0049]    When the closed door is to be opened, the electrical appliance sends a signal indicating unlocking the bolt or pawl so that the locked slider  150  is released and the slider  150  is in a slideable state. At this moment, when the door is applied with a pulling force, the parallel component of force decomposed from the force applied by the locking slider  130  to the slider  150  pushes the slider  150  to slide in the direction shown by an arrow X in  FIG. 2   b  to move away from the locked position of the slider locking device so that the locking slider  130  can slide in the direction shown by an arrow Y in  FIG. 2   b  to move away from the slider locked position. As such, the door hook (not shown) can pull the lock hook  110  to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction in  FIG. 3   b  to move away from the lock hook locked position and finally arrives at the lock hook unlocked position shown in  FIG. 3   b , and the door is opened. During the above course, the radial surface  111  of the lock hook  110  pushes the locking slider  130  away from the locking slider locked position, and the first lock hook contacting surface  138   a  gradually disengages from contacting the lock hook radial surface  111  while the second lock hook contacting surface  138   b  gradually abuts against the radial surface  111 . As the locking slider  130  and the slider  150  slide, the oblique surface  135  disengages from contacting the oblique surface  155 , and the distal end of the extension portion  136  of the locking slider abuts against the slider  150  so that when the door is in open state, the slider  150  is held by the extension portion  136  and cannot arrive at its locked position, and when the door is closed again, the slider  150  and the locking slider  130  can return to the state shown by  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0050]    Because the oblique surface  135  is configured on the locking slider  130  rather than being configured on the lock hook as taught by the prior art, when an outward pulling force is applied on the door, the lock hook is not subjected to the force parallel to the axial of its pivoting plane and would not be damaged or deviate from its position. 
         [0051]    Furthermore, the door lock according to the present invention does not increase the space occupied by it as compared with the door lock in the prior art, instead, it flexibly uses the space in the interior of the door lock housing, so that it is also advantageous in compact structure. 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a dish-washer  800  mounted with the door lock according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the dish-washer  800  comprises a chamber  810  for receiving bowls or dishes and a front door  820  enclosing the chamber. The front door  820  of the dish-washer is mounted with the door lock  10  disclosed in the present invention. The main body  810  of the dish-washer is mounted with a door hook  20 . Of course, the door lock may be mounted on the main body of the dish-washer and the door hook is mounted on the front door of the dish-washer. 
         [0053]    The dish-washer in  FIG. 7  is only an example. The door lock according to the present invention may also be mounted on any kind of electrical appliance which has a chamber and a door for enclosing the chamber, for example, a washing machine, a clothes dryer, or a microwave oven, or mounted on other non-electrical appliances. 
         [0054]    The present invention needs to cooperate with an independent and controllable implementing mechanism or switch box to compose a set of complete door lock. The implementing mechanism or switch box may be an existed module or standard parts. 
         [0055]    The above embodiments describe the working principles, exemplary structures and application of the lock device of the present invention with the door lock as an example, but those skilled in the art can appreciate that the lock device of the present invention is not limited to the door lock, and it may be lock device for other applications. 
         [0056]    Although the present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments shown in the figures, it should be appreciated that without departing from the spirit and scope taught by the present invention, the lock device of the present invention may have may variations. The parts in different specific embodiments of the present invention can be interchangeable or re-combinable without departing from the spirit and scope taught by the present invention, whereby the obtained lock devices also fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that parameters such as dimensions, shapes or types of elements or materials of the disclosed embodiments may be changed in different manners, all falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims.