Timed release washing machine lid lock
US6363755B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2019 |
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 is released at a predetermined time interval after the cessation of a spin signal, the time interval being selected to allow the spin basket to coast to a stop prior to the lid being unlocked. Because the actuator is bistable, it can remain locked despite possible power failure during which the spin basket may still be coasting yet the driving circuitry stores reserved power to unlock the lid after a suitable time delay. 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.