Patent ID: 10066330

Abstract:
A laundry washing and/or drying appliance (100) includes a cabinet (3) containing a rotatable drum (2) that can be loaded/unloaded with laundry. The cabinet (3) is provided with a loading/unloading opening (200) for accessing said drum (2). A door locking device (1) is fixed inside the cabinet (3) and is accessible from outside the cabinet (3). The door locking device (1) includes a support housing (23) provided with an opening (22) for the introduction of a hook member (21). The opening (22) is accessible from outside the cabinet (3). A door (4) for closing said loading/unloading opening (200) is movably connected to the cabinet (3) and includes the hook member (21) adapted to engage with the door locking device (1). The door locking device (1) has a retaining member (54) mounted to move with respect to the support housing (23) between a rest position in which it enables the hook member (21) to be introduced into and extracted from said opening (22) and an operating position in which it retains the hook member (21) in a closing position, when the hook member (21) is introduced into the opening (22). A safety member (53) can move in the housing (23) between a retracted position, in which it enables the retaining member (54) to move from the operating position to the rest position, and an extended position, in which it prevents the retaining member (54) from moving from the operating position to the rest position. An electrically powered control element (20) is adapted to control the position of the safety member (53). The door locking device (1) includes at least one guiding element (24,52, 52b) provided in the support housing for guiding an emergency-opening tool (40,50) to a safety member location (53a) from which the safety member (53) extends when it is in its extended position.