Patent ID: 7210711

Claim:
An appliance door latch for retaining a striker member, the latch comprising: a latch frame affixable to a portion of the appliance; a carrier member held by the latch frame to move between first and second positions; a spring biasing the carrier member toward the second position; a gripping member supported on the carrier member to move with the carrier member and rotate independently with respect to the carrier member about a rotational axis, the gripping member rotating to capture a portion of the striker member in a capture position when the striker member enters an opening formed in the gripping member and rotating to release the striker member in a release position when the striker member exits the opening; a stop device cooperating with the gripping member to hold the carrier member in the first position with the spring in a high state of inner tension when the gripping member is in the release position and to release the canier member to the second position with the spring in a lower state of inner tension when the gripping member rotates to the capture position, the stop device providing a contact portion for rolling contact with the gripping member; wherein the stop device includes one or more wiling contact, bearings to support the contact portion for rotation with respect to the latch frame; and, wherein the stop device includes a pin forming the contact portion at its outer circumferential surface and rotatably supported at its ends by rolling contact bearings.