Abstract:
An apparatus for latching a door having a latching member; a retention cam wherein the retention cam further comprises an extended face and is rotatable about its axis; a spring; a locking member; an actuator; a push out member; and a driving member; wherein the actuator drives the driving member to remove the locking member from contact with the retention cam and the driving member drives the push out member to push the latching member away from the retention cam. The apparatus is capable of assisting both in the latching and unlatching of the device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for latching and unlatching a door. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a powered latching apparatus that couples an easy close latch with a power assisted opening. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Current door closures can include a push-out feature wherein the door opens slightly when the latch is disengaged. The device causing the door to push out in this manner can be manual or powered, but typically includes a spring or powered latch that forces the door open as the latch is disengaged. Typically, these doors are difficult to close as they require significant effort to overcome the push out force. Additionally, some of these latches are sensitive to adjustment. 
         [0003]    Many manufacturers of household refrigerators have enhanced user interface of their refrigerators by adding a door that is affixed to the outside of the main refrigerator door. This secondary door is known as a Door-In-Door (DID) feature. For safety reasons, industry safety standards preclude the use of locks and latches on the main refrigerator door. However, for Door-In-Door applications, manufacturers prefer to have a latch device on the DID so handles can be attached to the DID. This allows the user to pull open the main door. Additionally, manufacturers desire a convenient release of this latch for easy access to the contents located within the DID. The present invention provides this convenience by releasing the latch and partially pushing the door open. 
         [0004]    Other door latches are simple to close but they lack a push out feature that is able to assist in opening the door. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a door latch that is both easy to operate and close, while also providing the user with assistance in opening the unit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Provided is an apparatus for latching a door having a latching member; a retention cam wherein the retention cam further comprises an extended face and is rotatable about its axis; a spring; a locking member; an actuator; a push out member; and a driving member; wherein the actuator drives the driving member to remove the locking member from contact with the retention cam and the driving member drives the push out member to push the latching member away from the retention cam. 
         [0007]    The function of conveniently releasing the latch for easy access to the contents of the DID may be accomplished by moving two main features within the latch; the latch hook and any number of magnets. A motor powered mechanism of gears and a cam creates said movement. A cam plate is able to move the latch hook away from the latch striker. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    To illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments of the present invention. The accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an embodiment of a powered latching apparatus; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus, utilizing a electronically powered solenoid coil; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus, utilizing a series of magnets; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus, utilizing a different series of magnets; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is another embodiment of a powered latching apparatus, utilizing yet another series of magnets. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a latch member  10  can have a retention window  24 . The latch member  10  can be connected to an associated door opposite the retention cam  12 , which can be attached to the frame of the associated door. The retention cam  12  can have a spring  14  connecting it to a locking member  16  which can be thereby connected to a driving member  22  of an actuator  18 . The actuator  18  can be electric, mechanical, hydraulic, or any other known type of actuator. Further connected to the driving member  22  is a push out member  20  that can be operable to rotate the retention cam  12  in a clockwise direction (relative to the placement as depicted in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0017]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , according to this embodiment, when the latch member  10  is in an unlocked, or open, position, the retention cam  12  is partially rotated, as shown in position B of  FIG. 1 . In this position, the act of closing the associated door moves the latch member  10  linearly in a horizontal direction wherein the first side  26  of the latch member  10  can contact the extended face  28  of the retention cam  12 . This linear movement of the latch member  10  can cause the retention cam  12  to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (with respect to the depicted orientation) into the lock position. As the retention cam enters into the lock position, as shown in position A of  FIG. 1 , the locking member  16  can move into place to prevent undesired rotation of the retention cam  12  into the unlock position. 
         [0018]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , according to this embodiment, when moving from a locked position to an unlocked position, the actuator  18  is activated which can thereby cause the driving member  22  to extend. The driving member  22  can then pivot the locking member  16  away from the retention cam  12 , thereby allowing the retention cam  12  to rotate in a clockwise direction (with respect to the depicted orientation). As driving member  22  extends, push out member  20  extends perpendicularly from driving member  22  to cause the extended face  28  of the retention cam  12  to push the first side  26  of the latch member  10  horizontally away from the retention cam  12 . The push out member  20  can extend beyond the plane of the extended face  28  of the retention cam  12  to further push the first side  26  of the latch member  10  away from the retention cam. According to another embodiment, the push out member  20  can contact the surface of the associated door rather than the latch member  10 , thereby causing the door to open. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown. According to this embodiment, when the locking member  30  is in an unlocked position, it can move horizontally towards the retention member  32 . As the locking member  30  contacts the retention member  32 , the shape of the locking member  30  allows it to cause the pivoting cam  34  to rotate about its axis, causing the retention member  32  to move out of the path of travel of the locking member  30 . Once the extension  40  of the locking member  30  clears the retention member  32 , the pivoting cam can rotate in the opposite direction to lock the locking member  30  in place. 
         [0020]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , according to this embodiment, when the locking member  30  is in the locked position, the powered actuator  36  can rotate the pivoting cam  34  about its axis to rotate the retention member  32  down and out of the path of travel of the locking member  30 . After a few degrees of rotation, the locking member is no longer captured by the retention member. As the pivoting cam  34  continues to rotate, the push out member  38  contacts the locking member  30  and drives it horizontally away from the center axis of the pivoting cam  34 , thereby driving the latching apparatus open. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown. According to this embodiment, to move from an unlocked position to a locked position, the latch member  46  can move in a horizontal direction towards the pivot member  42 . As the latch member  46  contacts the roller  48 , the roller  48  can give way to latch member  46 , allowing latch member  46  to travel past the roller  48 . Once the latch member  46  clears the roller  48 , the spring  50  can force the roller  48  back into position thereby locking the latch member  46  into place. 
         [0022]    With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , according to this embodiment, to move from a locked position to an unlocked position, the powered actuator  56  can be activated to move the actuation member  52  to move the roller  48  away from the latch member  46 , thereby releasing the latch member  46  from the roller  48 . As the actuation member  52  travels, it can cause the extension spring  54  to travel, which in turn can rotate the pivot member  42  towards the latch member  46  or towards the door. As the pivot member  42  moves towards the latch member  46 , the push out link  44  contacts the latch member  46  and exerts force on the latch member  46  which can cause the latch member  46  to move horizontally away from the pivot member  42 . 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown having an electronically powered solenoid coil  58 . According to this embodiment, to move from the unlocked position to the locked position, the electronically powered solenoid coil  58  can generate a magnetic field which can pull the latching member  64  towards the locking member  60  as the latching member  64  can be within a set distance from the solenoid coil  58 . As the latching member  64  is pulled in to its final position by the magnetic field the latching member  64  actuates the sensor  62  which provides electrical feedback to the system indicating that the latching member  64  has reached the lock position which can turn the power to the solenoid coil  58  off. 
         [0024]    With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , according to this embodiment, to move from a locked to an unlocked position, the solenoid coil  58  is powered which can magnetically activate the locking member  60  which can allow the latching member  64  to move freely. The magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil  58  applies an opposite force pushing latching member  64  away from the locking member  60 . Once the latching member  64  reaches its unlocked position at some set distance from the locking member  60 , as determined by the sensor  62 , the solenoid coil  58  can reverse polarity of the magnetic field, thereby drawing the latching member  64  back into the locked position when desired. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown. According to this embodiment, to move from an unlocked position to a locked position, the latching member  66  is manually moved towards the locking member  76 . Concurrent to this action, the latch magnet  68  moves towards the receiver magnet  72 . As the latch magnet  68  enters the magnetic field of the receiver magnet  72 , the receiver magnet  72  automatically attracts the latch magnet  68 . As the latching member  66  contacts the locking member  76 , the locking member  76  retracts and allows the latching member  66  to pass. Once the latching member  66  has cleared the locking member  76 , the spring  78  returns the locking member  76  to its original position which can lock the latching member  66  in place. 
         [0026]    With continued reference to  FIG. 5 , according to this embodiment, when moving from a locked position to an unlocked position, the actuator  70  actuates and moves the receiver magnet  72  and the locking member  76  away from the latching member  66 . The movement of the receiver magnet  72  aligns the poles of the receiver magnet  72  with the poles of the latch magnet  68  thereby creating a repelling force that can drive the latch magnet  68  and the latching member  66  away from the locking member  76 . 
         [0027]    The latching apparatus can be used on any type of door, including appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, or the like. The utility of this latching apparatus lies in the ease in which they can be closed coupled with the power assisted opening. 
         [0028]    According to one embodiment, a 2-magnet version of the latching device is used. In the 2-magnet version, a magnet is rotated from North to South by a set of gears. As the magnet rotates, the corresponding stationary magnet in the latch striker receives either an attracting or repelling magnetic force. When the stationary magnet in the DID receives a repelling force, the user is granted aid in the opening of the DID. When the stationary magnet in the DID receives an attracting force, the act of completing the closing and latching of the unit is aided. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown. According to this embodiment, to move from an unlocked position to a locked position, the latching member  80  is manually moved towards the locking member  82 . Concurrent to this action, the latch magnet  84  moves towards the receiver magnet  86 . When in an unlocked position, the receiver magnet  86  is oriented by the magnet rotator  90  so as to allow the polarity of the receiver magnet  86  to be opposite that of the latch magnet  84 . As the latch magnet  84  enters the magnetic field of the receiver magnet  86 , the receiver magnet  86  automatically attracts the latch magnet  84 . As the latching member  80  contacts the locking member  82 , the locking member  82  retracts and allows the latching member  80  to pass. Once the latching member  80  has cleared the locking member  82 , the spring  88  returns the locking member  82  to its original position which can lock the latching member  80  in place. 
         [0030]    With continued reference to  FIG. 6 , to move from a locked position to an unlocked position, an actuator  92  causes a series of gears  94  to rotate. The rotation of the gears  94  causes the magnet rotator  90  to rotate in a manner that orients the receiver magnet  86  in such a way that the polarity of the receiver magnet  86  is the same as that of the latch magnet  84 . This likeness in polarity causes the latch magnet  84  to be driven away from the receiver magnet  86 . 
         [0031]    With continued reference to  FIG. 6 , the activation of the actuator  92  causes the cam plate  96  to move. The movement of the cam plate  96  causes the locking member  82  to move away from the latching member  80 . As the latch magnet  84  is pushed away from the receiver magnet  86 , the latching member  80  is allowed to pass over the locking member  82 . When the latching member  80  has fully traversed over the locking member  82 , the spring  88  returns the locking member  82  to its original position. 
         [0032]    According to one embodiment, a 3-magnet version of the latching device is used. In the 3-magnet version, the cam plate pivots a magnet toggle. The magnet toggle is able to expose the stationary magnet located on the DID to either one of two magnets housed within the main door of the unit. The magnets housed within the toggle are positioned so that the polarities of the magnets are oriented in opposite directions; North is facing out on one magnet, while South is facing out on the other magnet. As the toggle pivots, the corresponding stationary magnet in the latch striker, located on the DID, receives either attracting or repelling magnetic forces. When the stationary magnet in the DID receives a repelling force, the user is granted aid in the opening of the DID. When the stationary magnet in the DID receives an attracting force, the act of completing the closing and latching of the unit is aided. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of the latching apparatus is shown. According to this embodiment, to move from an unlocked position to a locked position, the latching member  110  is manually moved towards the locking member  112 . Concurrent to this action, the latch magnet  114  moves towards the receiver magnet  116 . When in an unlocked position, the receiver magnet  116  is oriented so as to be in the dominant position by the magnet toggle  120 . The polarity of the receiver magnet  116  is opposite that of the latch magnet  114 , causing the latch magnet  114  to be drawn towards the receiver magnet  116 . As the latch magnet  114  enters the magnetic field of the receiver magnet  116 , the receiver magnet  116  automatically attracts the latch magnet  114 . As the latching member  110  contacts the locking member  112 , the locking member  112  retracts and allows the latching member  110  to pass. Once the latching member  110  has cleared the locking member  112 , the spring  118  returns the locking member  112  to its original position which can lock the latching member  110  in place. 
         [0034]    With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , to move from a locked position to an unlocked position, an actuator  122  causes a series of gears  124  to rotate. The rotation of the gears  124  causes the magnet toggle  120  to rotate in a manner that orients the receiver magnet  116  away from the latch magnet  114 . The rotation of the magnet toggle  120  exposes the repelling magnet  128 . The repelling magnet  128  has a polarity that is the same as that of the latch magnet  114 . This likeness in polarity causes the latch magnet  114  to be driven away from the repelling magnet  128 . 
         [0035]    With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , the activation of the actuator  122  causes the cam plate  126  to move. The movement of the cam plate  126  causes the locking member  112  to move away from the latching member  110 . As the latch magnet  114  is pushed away from the repelling magnet  128 , the latching member  110  is allowed to pass over the locking member  112 . When the latching member  110  has fully traversed over the locking member  112 , the spring  118  returns the locking member  112  to its original position. 
         [0036]    As described above, the present disclosure has been described with preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications to the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present disclosure that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.