Patent ID: 7775070

Claim:
A method of responding to a forced removal of a latch from a casing during an operating cycle of a washing apparatus having a body forming an exterior thereof, electric driving units provided to the body, an opening in a front surface of the body, a door for opening/closing the opening, a door lock comprising the casing connected to the body, the latch removably and securedly received within the casing, the latch connected to the door, and a switch to interrupt power flow to the electric drive units if the door lock is unlocked during the operating cycle of the washing apparatus, the switch within the casing, the method comprising: applying current to a heater to heat a bimetal component at a start of the operating cycle; closing, by thermal deformation of the bimetal component resulting from heat generated by the heater, the switch to permit power flow to the electric drive units; moving, by thermal deformation of the bimetal component resulting from heat generated by the heater, a locking pin coupled to the bimetal component from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein: when the latch is forcibly removed from the casing during the operating cycle, a safety lever, coupled to the latch when the latch is secured in the casing, moves the locking pin from the locked position to the unlocked position and, by movement of the locking pin to the unlocked position, moves the bimetal component to open the switch to interrupt power flow to the electric drive units regardless of whether current continues to be applied to the heater.