Rapid release washing machine lid lock
US5823017A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S292/69
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A lid lock for a washing machine or the like employs a rapid bistable electromagnetic actuator that can be released immediately upon detecting a ceasing of rotation of the spin basket. The actuator is bistable to operate despite possible power failure during which the spin basket may still be coasting, and is driven by circuitry that stores reserved power to unlock the lid in a power failure situation. These same components can provide protection against entrapment in which the lid closure activates the spin cycle and lock because of a previous initiation of the spin cycle signal. Here, for the spin cycle to be initiated, the spin cycle signal must occur after lid closure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.