Abstract:
A door latching or locking mechanism or module for a self-cleaning oven includes latching linkage of the door latch module that enables use of lighter duty, less expensive motor. The mechanical advantage and vector optimization of the latching linkage avoids stalling especially from a locked position. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of switches having a corresponding plurality of terminals. The terminals are grouped or ganged to allow connection with a single connector interface. The switches are selectively actuable/de-actuable by a cam and cam plate that utilizes linear motion translated from rotational motion of a driven (motor) to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate the switches.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
   Cross reference is made to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/027,542, entitled “Door Latch Mechanism and Associated Components for a Self-Cleaning Oven” by Ronald E. Cole which is a signed to the same assignee as the present invention, and which was filed concurrently herewith on Dec. 21, 2001. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to self-cleaning ovens, and more particularly, to a door latch mechanism and associated aspects thereof for self-cleaning ovens. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Ovens that are self-cleaning are well known. Such self-cleaning ovens include a cleaning mode or cycle that is initiated by a user. The self-cleaning cycle generates intense heat inside the oven. The intense heat reduces food particles, grease, spills and splatter (collectively, build-up) inside the oven to ash. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the resulting ash may then be easily wiped away. 
   Because of the intense heat necessary to reduce such build-up to ash, self-cleaning ovens lock the oven door during the cleaning cycle to prevent access thereto. Self-cleaning ovens thus include a locking mechanism that keeps the oven door shut and locked during the cleaning cycle. While the locking mechanism may be manually actuated, most locking mechanisms in current self-cleaning ovens are automatically actuated when the self-cleaning mode is selected. 
   Such locking mechanisms include a latch that is controlled by the motor. The latch cooperates with a lock jamb in the door of the oven to lock the door when the door is in a closed position. The latch, via the motor, creates a compressive force between the door and the oven. This seals the oven door against the oven. Tolerance stack-up on doors, frames and hinges of the oven uses up the compressibility of the seal of the door and can cause current locking mechanisms to undesirably stall. 
   Current oven designs thus cause oven manufacturers to want a locking mechanism that has high strength and low cost. Strength or force has also begun to be associated with the position of the latch with respect to the door lock jamb. Higher strength or force for the locking mechanism translates into a higher cost. In order to lower the price for such locking mechanisms, force requirements have been eroded. Since over half the cost of such locking mechanisms is in the gear motor, reducing force requirements reduces the size of the motor necessary to achieve the required force by the latch. As an example, the following table (Table 1) illustrates how such force requirements have been eroded. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               Date 
               Stroke 
               Dimension Tolerance 
               Force 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               7/98 
               0.8″ 
               0.075″ 
               12 lbs 
             
             
                 
               2/00 
               0.65″ 
               0.100″ 
               4 to 6 lbs 
             
             
                 
               4/00 
               0.54″ 
               0.090″ 
               3 to 4 lb 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   It is known art to drive or actuate the latch of the locking mechanism directly from the motor of the locking mechanism via lock levers. However, even with the reduction of force requirements and such direct drive mechanisms, the problem of stalling of the latch is still present. 
   In addition to providing a latching function, current locking mechanisms provide switches that control various aspects of the oven associated with or because of the self-cleaning mode. The switches in such current locking mechanisms are actuated via a radial (drum) cam that is driven by the motor. A radial or drum cam has a thickness or stack in proportion to the number of switches associated with the locking mechanism. A problem with such radial cams is that the thickness (height) of the drum stack would become too large to package the many switches that are now part of the locking mechanism in a convenient ganged array if the drum stack is too large, the locking mechanism becomes too thick for useful or practical packaging for ovens. 
   Therefore, each one of the many switches located on the locking mechanism requires two terminals (a set of terminals). Each set of terminals needs to be coupled to a controller or other component of the oven. Currently, each terminal of each set of terminals is connected to the controller or other component via an individual spade connector. During assembly, each spade connector must therefore be connected individually. This can present a problem of correctly connecting the various spade connectors. 
   What is therefore needed is a door locking mechanism for a self-cleaning oven that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. What is further needed is a door locking mechanism for a self-cleaning oven that is low cost, provides enough strength (force) for door closure retention, provides little or no stall, accommodates a plurality of switches, and is low-profile. What is therefore further needed is a door locking mechanism for a self-cleaning oven that can be retrofitted into existing self-cleaning oven models. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is a door latch mechanism and/or module for a self-cleaning oven. The door latch module is operative in one mode to securely latch or catch the oven door and in another mode to allow free movement of the oven door. The door latch module is adapted to be automatically driven. The door latch module includes and/or performs various features and/or functions. 
   According to an aspect of the subject invention, the door latch module includes reciprocating mechanical latching linkage that drives a latching hook. The latching hook cooperates with a latch catch in the oven door to retain the oven door in the one mode of operation. The mechanical latching linkage is configured as common pivot arms that provide a scissors action that reciprocates through a drive arm. The drive arm is coupled to a rotating member. Rotational movement of the rotating member is translated into near-linear, planar movement (latching movement) of the latching hook through the drive arm and the pivot arms. 
   In this manner, a class N (or other) motor may be used as a driver. Additionally, the latching linkage is configured to decrease latch speed at clamping or latching point. This increases the mechanical advantage at a clamping. As well, the likelihood of stalling is reduced. Further, the present latching linkage requires less torque to operate. 
   According to another aspect of the subject invention a door latch module includes a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches, in turn, have a corresponding plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals for the door latch module are ganged or grouped to permit coupling with a single terminal interface. The single terminal interface may be configured to accept a modular plug. The modular plug may include releasable catches or the like. 
   According yet to another aspect of the subject invention, a door latch module includes a cam plate that is operative to selectively actuate and/or de-actuate select switches of the plurality of switches. The cam plate is driven by a driver (such as a motor) during the cleaning cycle or mode. The cam plate translates rotational motion of the motor to linear motion to actuate and/or de-actuate the switches. 
   In one form, the subject invention is a door latch module for a self-cleaning oven. The door latch module includes a support adapted to be mounted to the self-cleaning oven. The support maintains a motor, a latching mechanism, a plurality of switches, and a plurality of terminals. The motor drives the latching mechanism. The plurality of terminals associated with the plurality of switches are configured to connect to a single terminal interface. 
   In another form, the subject invention is a door latch for a self-cleaning. The door latch includes a support adapted to be mounted to a self-cleaning oven, a cam maintained by the support, a cam plate coupled to and driven by the cam, and a motor coupled to the cam and operative to drive the cam. The door latch also includes a latch mechanism coupled to and driven by the motor, a plurality of switches maintained on the support and selectively actuated by the cam plate, and a plurality of terminals associated with the plurality of switches and maintained on the support. The plurality of terminals are ganged to permit connection to a single terminal interface. 
   In yet another form, the subject invention is a door latch mechanism in a self-cleaning oven, the self-cleaning oven having door hingedly attached to a frame, and a controller operative to control the self-cleaning oven. The door latch mechanism includes a support coupled to the frame proximate the door. A rotating cam is maintained by the support. A motor is coupled to the rotating cam and is operative to drive the rotating cam. A cam plate is coupled to the rotating cam and is driven by the rotating cam. A latch mechanism is coupled to and driven by the motor. The latch mechanism is driven by the motor to lock the door during a locking mode and to allow free movement of the door during a non-locking mode. A plurality of switches are maintained on said support. A plurality of terminals are associated with the plurality of switches and are maintained on the support. The plurality of terminals are ganged to permit connection to a single point terminal connector. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an oven embodying various inventions according to the principles presented herein; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the oven of  FIG. 1  with a partial cutaway section showing an exemplary door latch mechanism and/or module in communication with an oven controller; 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an exemplary door latch module; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary door latch module; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an exemplary door latch module; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial cutaway view of a plurality of terminals associated with an exemplary door latch module; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of an exemplary door latch module showing positioning of latching linkage thereof when in a fully open or unlatched position; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of an exemplary door latch module showing positioning of the latching linkage thereof when in a fully closed or latched position; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of the reciprocating motion of the latching linkage during a full cycle thereof; 
       FIG. 10  is a graph of the representation of the reciprocating motion of the latching linkage depicted in  FIG. 9  particularly illustrating the various positions of a hook associated with the latching linkage with respect to latching and unlatching an oven door and with respect to a typical oven door latch; 
       FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of an exemplary door latch module with the motor removed; 
       FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of an exemplary door latch module with the latching linkage in a fully open position and with the cover and motor removed particularly showing positioning of the cam and cam plate; 
       FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of an exemplary door latch module with the latching linkage in a fully closed position and with the cover and motor removed particularly showing positioning of the cam and cam plate; 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged side perspective view of an exemplary door latch module particularly showing the cam and cam plate relative to the switches when the cam and cam plate are in an open or unlatched position; 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged side perspective view of an exemplary door latch module particularly showing the cam and cam plate relative to the switches when the cam and cam plate trace are in a closed or latched position; 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the various switches of the door latch module particularly depicting the switches in a door closed position; 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the various switches of the door latch module coupled in relation to the oven controller and motor; 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of the various switches of the door latch module coupled in relation to the oven controller and motor; 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the various switches of the door latch module particularly depicting the exemplary positioning of the switches and coupled in relation to the oven controller and the motor; 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic representation of an exemplary manner of coupling and the function and/or operation of a switch of the door latch module; 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic representation of an exemplary manner of coupling and the function and/or operation of a switch of the door latch module; 
       FIG. 22  is a schematic representation of an exemplary manner of coupling and the function and/or operation of a switch of the door latch module; 
       FIG. 23A  is a schematic representation of an exemplary manner of coupling and the function and/or operation of a switch configuration of the door latching module; and 
       FIG. 23B  is a schematic representation of the exemplary manner of coupling and the function and/or operation of the switch configuration of FIG.  23 A. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted an oven, range, or stove (and as used hereinafter, collectively oven) generally designated  10 , representing all forms of ovens, ranges, and stoves in which the subject inventions may be embodied. The oven  10  has a frame or body  12  that defines an oven portion or cooking chamber  14 . The cooking chamber includes cooking elements (not shown) such as resistive heating elements, or the like such as is known. A door  16  is attached to the frame  12  by at least two hinges  18   a  and  18   b  that extend into the frame  12 . The door  16  is adapted to open and close relative to the cooking chamber  14 . Particularly, the door  16  is adapted to pivot into open and closed positions relative to the cooking chamber  14 . The hinges  18   a  and  18   b  extend into the frame  12  and are configured to allow the door  16  to open and close. The hinges  18   a  and  18   b  also stop movement of the door  16  at the position shown in  FIG. 1  (a fully open position). While not shown, the door  16  may include a longitudinal hinge along a bottom edge of the door  16  between the hinges  18   a  and  18   b  that is attached to the frame  12 . 
   The door  16  has an inset portion  20  that is sized to fit the opening of the cooking chamber  14 . The door  16  also includes a raised rim  22  that is disposed about the inset portion  20 . The raised rim  22  is configured to abut a ledge  24  that is inset from and surrounds the perimeter of the opening of the cooking chamber  14 . The raised rim  22  and/or the ledge  24  preferably have a compressive seal (not shown) thereabout that abuts the other when the door  16  is in a closed position. When the door  16  is in the closed position, the raised rim  22  abuts the ledge  24  while the inset portion  20  extends into the cooking chamber  14 . In this manner, heat produced within the cooking chamber  14  tends to stay therein with minimal to no heat loss or leakage from or about the door  16 . 
   The door  16  may also include hook mechanisms  28   a  and  28   b  disposed on upper corners of the door  16  that correspond to hook receiving mechanisms  30   a  and  30   b  in the frame  12 . The hook receiving mechanisms  30   a  and  30   b  are positioned in the frame  12  proximate the cooking chamber  14  to receive the respective hook mechanism  28   a  and  28   b  of the door  16 , when the door  16  is closed. The hook mechanism  28   a  and  28   b  may be coupled to or associated with the handle  26  so as to operate in conjunction therewith. One form, movement of the handle  26  moves the hook mechanisms  28   a  and  28   b  which cooperate with the hook receiving mechanisms  30   a  and  30   b  when the door  16  is in the closed position to releasably maintain the door  16  to the frame  12 . In this example, movement of the handle  26  during opening of the door  16  releases the hook mechanisms  28   a  and  28   b  from the hook receiving mechanism  30   a  and  30   b  respectively to allow opening of the door  16  relative to the frame  12  and cooking chamber  14 . 
   The oven  10  also includes a top surface  42  that supports four (4) burners or heating elements  44  of any type (i.e. resistance, induction, or the like). It should be appreciated that there may more or less burners or elements as desired by the manufacturer but four are typical. Adjacent the top surface  42  is a console  52  that supports four controllers  46 , one for each burner. Each controller  46  is operative to turn on and off a burner as well as set the temperature thereof. The console  52  also supports a clock  48  and a control/selector panel  50 . The control/selector panel  50  is operative to allow the user to select various modes of the oven  10  and display various information regarding those modes and/or cycles of the range in general. More particularly, the control selector panel  50  is operative to allow the user to set, without being exhaustive, such modes as the cleaning cycle, baking, broiling, temperature setting/control for baking broiling, and the like. 
   With additional reference to FIG.  2  and in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention, the oven  10  also includes a door latch mechanism or module  32  (hereinafter collectively, module). The door latch module  32  is typically, and as shown herein, mostly disposed within the frame  12 . As particularly shown herein, the door latch module  32  is behind the front panel  40  and under the top surface  42 . It should be appreciated that while the door latch module  32  is shown disposed at a front side of the oven  10 , the door latch module  32  may be situated at a rear side of the oven  10 . The door latch module  32  may be thought of as modular. This allows the present door latch module  32  to retrofit existing door latch mechanisms. 
   The door latch module  32  is operative to secure and/or securely latch the door  16  against the frame  12  when the oven  10  is in the cleaning mode/cycle in order to keep the door  16  about the cooking chamber  14 . When the oven  10  is not in the cleaning mode/cycle, the door latch module  32  is operative to allow the door  16  to freely open and close relative to the cooking chamber  14 . The door latch module  32  is under control of the oven  10  as described in greater detail below. 
   The door latch module  32  is in communication with a main controller, control logic/circuitry, processor, processing unit, processing circuitry/logic and/or control board  54  (hereinafter collectively, main controller) of the oven  10  via a communication line or conductor such as cable  56 . The cable  56  has a plurality of wires, electrical conductors, and/or optic conductors (hereinafter collectively, conductors) that terminate at one end in a single housing interface  58  (e.g. and hereinafter, a modular plug) and at another end in another preferably single housing interface  60  (e.g. and hereinafter, a modular plug). The modular plug  58  and or the modular plug  60  may be a quick connect/disconnect type plug. This aids in reducing and/or eliminating wiring mix-ups as compared to single spade type connectors. 
   The modular plug  58  is coupled to the door latch module  32  while the modular plug  60  is coupled to the main controller  54 . More particularly, and as described in greater detail below, the modular plug  58  has a plurality of connecting conductors that releasably couple to a plurality of terminals of the door latch module  32 . As described in greater detail below, the plurality of terminals (see e.g.  FIG. 3 ) of the door latch module  32  are coupled to switches and/or other components thereof. The modular plug  60  likewise has a plurality of connecting conductors that releasably couple to a plurality of terminals (not shown) of the main controller  54 . The plurality of connectors of the main controller  54  are coupled to the various components and/or circuitry/logic of the main controller  54 . The main controller  54  is in communication with the control/selector panel  50 , the controllers  46 , and other various components as are typical of ovens and/or similar appliances. 
   The door latch module  32  has a door position pin  34  that is part of a door position switch  35 . The door position pin  34  extends from the door position switch  35  through a hole  72  in the front panel  40  (see FIG.  3 ). The door position pin  34  is operative to detect position of the door  16 . Particularly, the door position pin  34  is operative to detect whether the door  16  is closed (i.e. the door  16  rests against the frame  12  and covers the cooking chamber  14 ) and/or whether the door  16  is open (i.e. the door  16  ranges from being ajar a small distance from and relative to the frame  12  to being fully open and down). While the opposite may be applied to the present case, the door position pin  34  is shown and assumed herein to be biased outward toward the door  16 . The door position switch  35  via the door position pin  34  is thus operative to indicate whether the door  16  is open or closed. 
   In the present case, contact of the door  16  against the door pin  34  actuates the door position switch (either opens or closes the door switch  35  depending on the electrical configuration of the switch, i.e. a normally-open or normally-closed type switch). The opening or closing of the door position switch  35  by actuation of the door  16  against the door position pin  34 , provides a door open/close signal to the main controller  54 . It should be appreciated that the door position switch  35 /door position pin  34  may take other forms that indicate whether the door is open. 
   The door latch module  32  includes a latch, latching, or hook mechanism  62  (hereinafter and collectively, latch mechanism  62 ) that is in communication with a motor  64  (see, e.g. FIG.  3 ). The latch mechanism  62  is driven by the motor  64  (i.e. the latch mechanism  62  moves through movement of the motor  64 ). The latch mechanism  62  includes a hook or hook portion  36 . The hook  36  normally extends from a slot  38  in the front panel  40  of the oven  10 . The door  16  includes an opening  37  in which is disposed a bar or the like  39  that is positioned so as to be adjacent the slot  38  when the door  16  is closed. When the door  16  is closed and the oven  10  is in a normal operating mode (i.e. not in the cleaning mode/cycle), the hook  36  extends slightly into the opening  37  but does not engage the bar  39 . The motor  64  causes the hook  36 , via the latching mechanism  62  to engage the bar  39  when the oven  10  is put into the cleaning mode. When the cleaning mode is complete, the hook  36  is caused to disengage the bar  39  via the motor  64  acting on the latching mechanism  62 . Thereafter, the hook  36  returns to its normal position. 
   Power for the oven  10  is provided via a power cord (not shown) that is configured to be plugged into an appropriate source of electricity (i.e. a line voltage), typically a 120 volt AC source or a 240 volt AC source (not shown). The various components of the oven  10  are thus configured, adapted, and/or operative to operate on the line voltage or an appropriately transformed power (voltage and/or current) by appropriate transformers and/or transformer circuitry/logic. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , there is shown the door latch module  32  from various angles. In particular,  FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of one side of the door latch module  32 ,  FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of another side of the door latch module  32 ,  FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the door latch module  32 , and  FIG. 6  depicts an enlarged perspective view of a terminal bank of the door latch module  32  in accordance with an aspect of the present principles. 
   The door latch module  32  has a housing  65  that is shown in an exemplary manner as a plate  66 . The plate  66  defines a support or frame for at least some of the various components of the door latch module  32 . The door latch module  32  may thus be considered as a module or component of the oven  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the plate  66  is adapted and/or configured to be mounted to the frame  12  of the oven  10 . The plate  66  has a front flange or side  68  that defines an essentially flat face or surface. The front flange  68  is essentially perpendicular to a plane defined by the plate  66 . A slot  70  is formed in the flange  68  that is sized, configured, and/or adapted to allow the hook  36  to extend therethrough. The slot  70  is of a height and longitudinal length that allows the movement of the hook  36  within the slot  70 . Particularly, the slot  70  is configured to allow the hook  36  to move in a side-to-side direction (longitudinal direction) therein as well as in and out relative to the face of the flange  68  (essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the slot  70 ). As discussed in detail below, movement of the hook  36  is accomplished during the cleaning mode or cycle of the oven  10 . 
   The flange  68  also has an opening  72  through which extends the door pin  34  of the door switch  35 . The opening  72  is sized and/or configured to allow the reciprocal movement of the door pin  34  therethrough. The door pin  34  is biased into either an open-switch or closed-switch position depending on the type of switch and its wiring and/or application. As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pin  34  in the present example is biased into an open-switch position. In this manner, the pin  34  is normally out (extended) when the door  16  is open, and in (depressed) when the door  16  is closed. 
   The plate  66  further includes a number of holes or bores  74  defined therein (see, e.g., FIGS.  3  and  13 ). Moreover, the flange  68  abuts the inside surface (not shown) of the panel  40  when the locking mechanism  32  is mounted to the oven  10 . 
   The plate  66  also has a first side extension  76  and a second side extension  82  that is opposite the first side extension  76 . The first and second side extensions  76  and  82  are essentially perpendicular to the plane defined by the plate  66 . The first side extension  76  has a first outward flaring flange  78  that includes mounting holes  80  that are adapted and/or configured to allow screws, bolts, or other fasteners (not shown) to extend therethrough and be held by the flange  78 . The mounting holes  80  and the fasteners cooperate to allow the door latch module  32  to be mounted to the oven  10 . The second side extension  82  has a second outward flaring flange  84  that includes mounting holes  86  that are adapted and/or configured to allow screws, bolts, or other fasteners (not shown) to extend therethrough and be held by the flange  84 . The mounting holes  86  and the fasteners cooperate to allow the door latch module  32  to be mounted to the oven  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the plate  66  (and thus the door latch module  32 ) is adapted to be mounted to the oven  10  adjacent the front panel  40  via the mounting holes  74 ,  80 , and  86  of the flanges  68 ,  78 , and  84  respectively. It should be appreciated that the mounting configuration is only exemplary of a manner in which the door locking mechanism  32  is mountable to the oven  10 . Other mounting configurations are thus contemplated. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the door latch module  32  also has a motor  64  that is situated over a cover  88 . The motor  64  is electrically coupled to various and appropriate terminals  98  of the terminal bank  100  (see  FIG. 6 ) in order to receive electricity and/or control signals. As described further below, the motor  64  provides a driving mechanism or driver for various features and/or mechanisms of the door latch module  32 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the terminals  98  are held via a retainer  96  within or flush with an opening  90  of the cover  88 . The opening  90  and/or the retainer  96  define a single terminal interface for the door latch module  32 . The single terminal interface may be embodied in a modular plug, connector, or the like. The modular plug is preferably a quick connect/disconnect type, however, any suitable type of plug or connector may be used. 
   In  FIG. 4 , the latch mechanism  62  is more particularly shown. The latch mechanism  62  may also be thought of as latch or latching linkage. The latching linkage  62  is formed of various members or links that are pivotally and/or fixedly coupled in the manner shown in the figures and/or described herein. The latching linkage  62  is coupled to the motor (driver)  64  via a motor shaft  108  that defines an axis of rotation. Particularly, the latching linkage  62  is coupled to the motor  64  via a rotational or rotating member  104 . The rotating member  104  may be a disk or a cam. A drive arm link  102  is pivotally fixed at  106  to the rotating member  104 . The drive arm link  102  reciprocates substantially back and forth as the rotating member  104  rotates. 
   The drive arm link  102  is pivotally coupled at  116  to a scissors mechanism or linkage  110 . The scissors mechanism  110  is in turn pivotally coupled to a hook arm  122  and swing arm  124 , with the hook arm  122  terminating in the hook  36 . The scissors mechanism  110  includes a first link arm  112  that is pivotally attached at one end to a fixed point  114  so as to pivot or swing therefrom, and at a second end to the pivot  116 . The scissors mechanism  110  also includes a second link arm  118  that is preferably fixed at but may be pivotally attached at one end to a pivot  120 , and at another end at the point (pivot)  116 . The swing arm  124  is pivotally (but may be fixedly or as a piece integral with the hook arm  122 ) coupled at one end thereof to the hook arm  122  distal the hook  36  and pivotally coupled to one another and the second arm  118 . The swing arm  124  is further pivotally coupled at another end to a fixed point  126 . The swing arm  124  further includes a stop  125  that prevents travel of the hook arm  122  too far thereagainst. 
   As the rotating member  104  rotates in response to being driven by the motor  64 , the drive arm  102  pulls and pushes the scissors mechanism  110  via the pivot  116 . The second arm  118  thus pulls and pushes the hook arm  122  against the bias of the spring  130  and the swing arm  124 . Movement of the hook arm  122  provides movement of the hook  36  as detailed further below. The motion is reciprocating since the rotating member  104  rotates. 
   With additional reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it should be appreciated that the rotating member  104  rotates or is driven by the motor  64  in response to the oven  10  beginning, completing, or ending the cleaning cycle/mode. The rotating member  104  thus completes a full 360° rotation upon completion of the cleaning cycle/mode. Particularly, the position of the pivot  106  defines, in this example, a start position or 0°. This corresponds to the hook  36  being in a stowed or unlatched position as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . When the rotating member  104  has rotated 180° as depicted in  FIG. 8 , the hook  36  is in the latched position. The various angular positions of the rotating member  104  between 0° and 180°, and between 180° and 360° thus move the hook  36  into the next position. 
   The hook arm  122  includes a spring retainer  132  while the swing arm  124  includes a spring retainer  134 . A biasing spring  130  (here a compression spring) is used to maintain the hook  36  in an unlatched position or pulled against the swing arm  125 . In this manner, the hook arm  122  and thus the hook  36  are normally biased into an unlatched position. 
   The latching linkage  62  in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention thus moves the hook  36  from an unlatched position or mode to a latched position or mode and vice versa. The latching linkage  62  is thus operative, configured, and/or adapted to latch and unlatch the oven door  16  particularly during and after the cleaning cycle of the oven  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10  there is shown a representation of the movement of the latch mechanism  62 . Particularly, the movement of the hook  36  relative to the rotational member  104  and the linkage components is shown and graphed for a full cleaning cycle or mode. In  FIG. 9  it can be seen that the as the pivot point  106  rotates with the rotational member  104  (as driven by the motor  64 ) the hook  36  undergoes displacement in accordance with the hook movement/displacement curve  140  wherein position “A” corresponds to a full unlatched position, and position “B” corresponds to a full latched position. The latching linkage, including the scissors mechanism, floats when operating. The latching linkage is coupled to or part of the hook  36 . The two arms of the embodiment of the scissors mechanism shown and described herein are pivotally coupled to one another at ends thereof in a free or floating manner (i.e. the pivot is not fixed relative to the arms). One arm of the scissors mechanism of the latching linkage is pivotally fixed at another end thereof to the support, while the other end of the other arm of the scissors mechanism is pivotally coupled to the hook member. 
   The curve  140  is graphed in FIG.  10  and reference is now made thereto. The curve  140  is graphed as displacement (the Y-axis) versus time (the X-axis). A second curve  142  for a prior art direct driven latch mechanism is also shown for comparison. The hook  36  starts in an unlatched or unlocked position, position “A”. The scissors mechanism  110  causes the curve to begin tightening around 60°. At 0° (position “B”, corresponding to the latched or locked position) the present hook  36  provides compressive latching with little displacement at or below the displacement reference (the X-axis). In contrast, the curve  142  indicates that stalling may start to occur at about 15° through 0° (during the locking position). Thereafter, the present hook  36  travels to an unlatched position, position “A”. Again, in contrast, the curve  142  indicates that stalling may still occur during movement out of the locked position from 0° to about 15°. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11-15  other aspects of the door latch module  32  will now be described. The door latch module  32  includes a m plate  150  that is driven by a cam  154 . The cam  154  is, in turn, driven by the motor  64 . The cam plate  150  is linearly movable on the plate  66  in accordance with the position of the cam within a cam opening  152  in the cam plate  150 . As the motor  64  rotates, the cam  154  is likewise rotated. Rotation of the cam  154  linearly translates the cam plate  150  in a reciprocal movement. 
   The cam plate  150  includes a plurality of tracks, channels, or grooves  158  in which is disposed an actuator  156 . Preferably, the actuators  156  are movably settable along their respective track  158 . The number of tracks corresponds to the number of switches or terminal pairs of the bank of terminals  100 . One set of terminals (here shown as the lower pair) includes actuators or prongs  160 , while the other set of terminals (here the upper pair) includes contacts  162 . The terminal pairs are spaced apart such appropriate movement of the lower terminal makes contact with the upper terminal to complete the switch. The lower terminal is caused to move upward when an actuator  156  is caused to move under a prong  160  through sliding movement of the cam plate  150 . 
   The cam plate  150  moves as the latch linkage  62  moves. During this time various switches are preferably actuated by the actuators  156  to cause various signals to be generated to control various features and/or components. Since each actuator  156  is movable along its respective track  158 , each switch, through its respective terminal pairs, may be controlled as to when it is actuated within the 360° rotation of the rotational member  104 . 
   In  FIGS. 12-15 , there is depicted the cam  154  and the cam plate  150  when the latch mechanism  62  is in the unlatched position ( FIGS. 12 and 14 ) and the latched position (FIGS.  13  and  15 ). It can be seen that the cam plate  150  moves in a linear motion in response to the cam  154  between the unlatched position and the latched position. The cam plate  150  moves or reciprocates from one extreme position (unlatched) to another extreme position (latched), in response to a clean cycle mode or command. This can be equated with 0° through 180° (from the unlatched to the latched position) and from 180° to 360° (from the latched to the unlatched position). As well, it can be seen that the cam operated switches open and close in response to the cam actuators  156  associated with each switch. Rotational movement of the cam  154  from the motor  64  is translated into linear movement (translation) through the cam plate  150 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , there is depicted an exemplary schematic embodiment of various switches of the present door latching mechanism  32 . In the exemplary embodiment of the door latching mechanism  32 , there are six (6) switches generally labeled S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 , and S 6 . Four (4) of the switches S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4  are actuated by the cam  154  and cam plate  150  (collectively “cam actuated”), while two (2) of the switches S 5  and S 6  are actuated by the door position pin/switch  34 / 35 . In  FIG. 16 , the switches are shown in a door closed position. The various switches S 1 -S 4  are coupled to the controller  54  and/or motor  64  to provide selective actuation of the features/functions as described herein. 
   When the door  16  is closed, the door position pin (plunger)  34  actuates the door position switch  35  such that the switches S 5  and S 6  are closed. The cam operated switches S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4  have been positioned as closed, open, open, and closed respectively, via the respective actuators  156  of the cam plate  150 . 
   In  FIG. 17 , there is depicted a specific exemplary connection of the switches shown in FIG.  16 . Particularly, the switch S 5  provides a signal (via being in communication with a voltage source of +5 volts) to the controller  54  (control circuitry  54   a ) that the door  16  is closed. As well a cam operated switch S 1  is closed to provide a signal from the control circuitry  54   a  to the motor  64  to move the latch linkage into the closed position. The switch S 3  is not yet closed by an actuator  156  of the cam plate  150  which, when it does, provides a signal to the control circuitry  54   a  that the latch is locked. The switch S 2  will close and the switch S 1  will open when the latching linkage is to unlock the door  16 . In this manner the motor  64  will then continue to drive the latching linkage and cam plate. 
   In  FIG. 18 , the particulars of the controller  54  for the schematic of  FIG. 17  are shown in greater detail. Additionally, the switches are laid out differently for additional ease in understanding. The switch S 4  provides a signal to lights and fans logic/circuitry  166  that is operative to disable the lights and/or fans of the oven  10  during the clean cycle. The switch S 5  provides a door position indication signal to circuitry/logic  170  that is operative to open and close a contact K 1  (such as a solenoid or the like) to respectively start and stop the motor  64  and lock and unlock the door  16 . The switch S 3  provides a latched locked position indication signal to circuitry/logic  168  that is operative to start the cleaning cycle, cool down during the cleaning cycle, and unlock the door  16 . The circuitry/logic  168  actuates a contact K 2  (such as a solenoid or the like) to allow the motor  64  to operate and not operate. 
   In  FIG. 19 , there is depicted another layout of the cam operated switches S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , and S 4 , and the door position operated switches S 5  and S 6  in relation to the controller  54  and the motor  64 . The switches are shown in the clean mode with the legend in  FIG. 19  indicating switch control/signal generation for the door latch module  32 . 
     FIG. 20  illustrates another exemplary manner in which one of the switches, here switch S 2  (SW 2 ) provides a signal to the control logic  54 . The switch S 2  is a cam operated switch that indicates (via a signal) to the control logic  54  when it is time to clean, cool down, and generate and send a signal to unlock the door  16 . It should be appreciated that the cam operated switches S 1 -S 4  may open and close depending on the positioning of the respective actuator  156  and the movement of the cam plate  150 . 
   In  FIG. 21 , exemplary particulars are provided with regard to switch S 5 . Switch S 5  is from the door position switch  35  and provides a door position signal to the controller  54 . In  FIG. 21 , the switch S 5  is closed indicating a door closed condition. This causes the controller  54  to close contacts to start the motor  64  and lock/latch the door  16  via the latching linkage. When switch S 1  (a cam operated switch) closes while the switch S 5  is closed, the motor  64  can thereafter start. 
   In  FIG. 22  exemplary particulars are provided with regard to switch S 3 . Switch S 3  is a cam operated switch and is opened when the door  16  unlocks or unlatches. The switch S 3  provide a signal to the controller  54  regarding whether to enable or disable the light(s) and/or fan(s) and/or circuitry/logic thereof. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 23A and 23B , there is provided another exemplary particular regarding the door actuated switches, here switches S 1  and S 2 , and a cam operate switch S 3 . Particularly, the switches S 1 , S 2 , and S 3  are shown in the clean mode or cycle. Switch S 2  provides a signal to start and operate/run the motor  54  when the door  16  is closed. Switch S 1  provides a door closed signal to the fan/light circuitry/logic  166 . The fan/light circuitry/logic  166  provides a signal via switch S 3 , when closed as shown, to oven light(s) circuitry/logic  172  to disable the oven lights. 
   It should be appreciated that the schematics of  FIGS. 16-23  are exemplary of a manner in which the switches of the present door latch module  32  may be wired and function/operate. Other wiring may be used and is contemplated to carry out the various functions, features, and or operations described herein. 
   In sum, the door latch module  32  is operative to move the hook  36  from a stowed or unlatched position to a locked or latched position through actuation of the motor  64  via latch linkage in communication with the motor  64  and part of the hook  36 . Various switches associated with the door latch module  32  are actuated by the motor  64  via a cam and cam plate. 
   While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the subject invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the subject invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and that fall within the limits of the appended claims.