A door-release for front-loading washing machines

Abstract: A door lock for front-loading washing machines comprises a support body (6) associated with the structure of the machine (1) and a lever (14) articulated to the body and having an end opposite the articulated end which is connected to a flexible operating cable (C). A slide (12) is articulated to the lever and has a lateral edge surface situated adjacent an aperture (7) in the body (6), which is provided for the passage of a catch member (8) connected to the door (2) of the machine (1). The lateral edge surface of the slide also has a cut-out portion (13) for enabling the catch member (8) to be released, and consequently the door (2) to be opened, when the slide (12) slides.

Description: The present invention relates to a door lock for front-loading washing machines and driers of the kind defined in the first part of Claim 1. GB-A-1 395 728 discloses a door lock device of this kind comprising a spring-loaded control lever articulated to the support body of the device and a latch plate coupled to the control lever and disposed substantially parallel thereto. The latch plate carries a toothed latch member adapted to engage a retaining edge of an aperture provided in the door. Said latch plate is mounted slidable through a boss carried by the control lever and a supplementary spring is needed to urge the latch plate towards the latching position and prevent the disengagement thereof from the door when the machine is in operation. EP-A-0 296 510, which is comprised in the state of the art only pursuant to Articles 54(3) and (4) EPC and insofar some contracting states are concerned, discloses a door latch device comprising a spring-loaded control lever articulated to a latch plate which is mounted slidable in the support body of the device, substantially parallel to the control lever. Another door lock device for a washing machine is disclosed in GB-A-1 508 575. The object of the present invention is to provide a door release which is simple and cheap to produce and which enables the door to be opened by means of a push-button situated on the control panel of the machine and connected by means of a cable to the movable locking means associated with the support body of the lock. This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a door lock having the features defined in Claim 1. By virtue of these characteristics, the force needed for the opening operation is reduced considerably and the travel of the lever mechanisms is shortened. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings provided by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front-loading washing machine, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door lock with which the machine of Figure 1 is provided, Figure 3 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of the door lock in an inoperative configuration, and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 which shows the lock in an operative configuration for the release of the door. With reference to the drawings, a front-loading washing machine is generally indicated 1 and is provided with a front loading door 2 which can pivot about a vertical axis. The machine includes a washing chamber 3 in which a drum 4 is mounted for rotation. A lock 5, associated with the door 2, is carried by the structure of the washing machine and can hold the door closed when the washing machine is in operation. The lock 5 includes a support body 6 fixed to the structure of the washing machine and having an aperture 7 for the passage of a hooked lever or catch member 8 articulated at 9 to a lateral edge of the door 2 with the interposition of a torsion spring 10 arranged to keep the catch member 8 in a position substantially perpendicular to the median plane of the door 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2-4, the support body 6 has a vertical guide 11 in which a rod-like slide 12 is slidable, the slide having a cut-out portion 13 in its lateral edge surface 12a whose width corresponds substantially to the width of the catch member 8. The sliding of the slide 12 in the guide 11 is driven by a lever 14 perpendicular to the slide and having a first end 14a articulated at 15 to the body 5 and a second end 14b to which the end of an operating cable C is connected. The lever 14 has a central horizontal slot 16 in which a pin 17, connected to one end 12b of the slide 12, is slidable in order to enable the slide itself to slide as a result of the rotation of the lever 14 about the fulcrum 15. Near its second end 14b, the lever 14 has a side arm 18 with a hooked end 18a for cooperating with an abutment 19 which is adapted to project, in known manner, from the body 6 of the lock 5 when the machine is operating and to be flush with the support body 6 when the machine has stopped. A helical tension spring 20 is interposed between the lever 14 and the body 6 for biassing the lever 14 to a substantially horizontal position. In this position (Figure 3), by virtue of the presence of the spring 10, the introduction of the catch member 8 into the aperture 7 causes the snap-engagement of the hooked end 8a of the catch with the edge 12a of the slide 12 beside the aperture 7. The door 2 is thus held closed and the washing machine can start its operating cycle. During this cycle, the abutment 19 projects from the support body 6 and prevents the lever 14 from being pivoted by means of the operation of the cable C connected to a push-button situated on a control panel T of the machine 1. When the machine has completed its cycle, the user, through the control panel T, rotates the lever 14 about its fulcrum 15, against the action of the helical spring 20, sliding the slide 12 in its guide 11 until the cut-out 13 is brought into correspondence with the catch member 8 (Figure 4). In this configuration, the door 2 is free to pivot and can be opened to the configuration shown in Figure 1. It is clear that the lever of the lock may be operated by devices different from those described.

Claims: A door lock for front-loading washing-machines and driers, comprising a support body (6) adapted to be fixed to the structure of the machine (1); locking means (12, 14) including a slide (12) arranged to engage in a first position with a catch member (8) attached to the door (2) to keep the door (2) closed and in a second position to disengage from said catch member (8) to enable the opening of the door (2); the slide (12) being articulated to a lever member (14) having a first end (14a) articulated to the support body (6) and a second end (14b) connected to manually operable control means (C) capable of causing the pivoting of the lever member (14) so as to disengage the slide (12) from said catch member (8); and safety means (19) including an abutment (19) arranged to project laterally from the support body (6) to prevent the pivoting of said lever member (14) when the machine is in operation; characterised in that the slide (12) is disposed substantially perpendicular to the lever member (14) and has a lateral edge (12a) which is situated adjacent an aperture (7) provided in the body (6) for the passage of the catch member (8), the edge (12a) being arranged to snap engage the catch member (8) to keep the door (2) closed and also having a cut-out portion (13) for enabling the release of the catch member (8) from the slide (12) when the latter is forced to slide by the lever member (14). A lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lever member (14) has a lateral retaining arm (18) arranged to cooperate with the abutment (19) which projects from the body (6) to prevent the lever member (14) from pivoting when the machine is in operation. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tension spring (20) is interposed between the support body (6) and the lever member (14) for urging the lever member (14) towards the position corresponding to the closed condition of the door (2).

Inventors: CHIOFFI MARIO, CHIOFFI, MARIO
Applicants: OMP OFF MECCANO PLAST, O.M.P. OFFICINE MECCANO-PLASTICHE DI PRECISIONE S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: D06F37
IPC codes: D06F37