KR102492086B1 - Improved dual push door-lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door locking device (1) for locking the door of a home appliance such as a washing machine, etc., wherein the door is of a type including a lug (N), and the device (1) is capable of inserting the lug (N). A containment casing (2) having an opening, a closure assembly (3) including a retaining member (33) and disposed within the containment casing (2), a blocking assembly (4) disposed within the containment casing (2), and a safety pin. (51), wherein the retaining member (33) retains the lug (N) when the lug (N) is pushed toward the retaining member (33), wherein the lug (N) is the retaining member (33). ), the retaining member 33 is intended to engage the lug N so as to free the lug N, and the blocking assembly 4 prevents the retaining member 33 above a preset threshold. When engaged, the lug N interferes with the retaining member 33 to allow disengagement from the retaining member 33, and the safety pin 51 causes the appliance to operate. It is movable between a retracted position where the appliance operates and the safety pin 51 interferes with the blocking assembly, thereby blocking the lug N and thus leaving the door closed. keep

Description

Improved dual push door lock device {IMPROVED DUAL PUSH DOOR-LOCK DEVICE}

The present invention relates to an improved dual push door-lock device.

More specifically, the present invention is also known as a push-push opening device, and is a type of door specifically designed and manufactured to allow easy opening of the door and at the same time allow easy exit of a child who has entered the appliance. It's about locking devices.

Next, although the following description is directed to the application of the aforementioned door lock device for a washing machine, it is clear that the same should not be regarded as being limited to this particular application.

As is well known, various push or push-push type doors opening devices are currently known. With this type of door locking device, it is possible to close the door by applying pressure and to open it again immediately by creating the same pressure.

A device of the aforementioned type is disclosed, for example, in patent number DE3919458C.

A technical problem with door lock devices of the type described above is that it is generally not possible to lock the door when the washing machine is running, in case the door can be opened and closed in the push-push mode. This makes this type of door locking device not applicable in washing machines, taking into account that, as is known, the door cannot be opened when the washing machine is running.

In the washing machine, it is particularly required to block the door lock device when the washing machine is in operation. As mentioned, such functionality is not provided in devices according to the prior art.

It becomes clear that the solutions proposed in the prior art are expensive both in terms of economy as well as safety, since push-push opening is very well regarded and simple for use in household appliances.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and to propose a door lock device allowing push-push blocking of a door upon operation of a household appliance.

Therefore, a specific object of the present invention is a door lock device for locking the door of a home appliance such as a washing machine, wherein the door is of a type including a lug, and the device includes a containment casing having an opening into which the lug can be inserted. casing), a closure assembly arranged within the containment casing, wherein the closure assembly retains the lug when the lug is pushed toward the retaining member, and then retains the retaining member when the lug is pushed toward the retaining member. the member comprises a retaining member intended to engage the lug to free the lug;

A blocking assembly arranged within the containment casing, the blocking assembly, when engaged, interfering with the retaining member to allow the lug to disengage from the retaining member due to a traction force of the retaining member above a pre-settable threshold. -,

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Safety Pin - The safety pin is movable between a retracted position in which the appliance is not operating and an extended position in which the appliance is in operation, interfering with the blocking assembly to block the lug and keep the door closed. Ham-includes

As always according to the invention, the retaining member may be a rotatable hook.

Further, according to the present invention, the blocking assembly is configured to disengage for disengagement of the retaining member to allow the lug to be disengaged from the retaining member due to a pulling force of the retaining member exceeding a preset threshold. may include absences.

Further according to the present invention, the closure assembly comprises a support body on which the rotatable hook pivots to rotate, the support pivoting into the containment casing when the rotatable hook rotates, and a hinge at one end to the support body. and a lever having a pawl, wherein the rotatable hook may have a constrained path on a surface in which the pawl is defined,

When the lug is pushed toward the rotatable hook, the detent follows a first portion of the confined passageway, where also the detent performs a lateral movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable hook, thereby causing the rotation of the rotatable hook. causing rotation to engage the lug, and then when the lug is pushed toward the rotatable hook, the detent follows a second portion of the confined passage, where also the detent is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable hook. One lateral movement causes further rotation of the rotatable hook to disengage the lug, and the disengagement member for disengaging the rotatable hook is arranged to interfere with the lever, so that the detent causes the detent to It is disengaged from the confined passage 331.

Advantageously according to the present invention, the closure assembly may comprise at least one compensation spring, preferably two compensation springs interposed between the containment casing and the support, said compensation springs comprising said rotational It is adapted to compensate for stress on the rotatable hook and/or deviation of position of the door when the hook engages the lug.

Preferably according to the present invention, said blocking assembly comprises a control slider integral with said lever of said closure assembly, said control slider comprising said disengagement member.

As always according to the present invention, the disengagement member may have a shape tapering in width, the lever having a slot, the top of the relief being inserted in the slot, and the base of the relief being lower than the slot. When the wide, rotatable hook experiences a traction force above the preset threshold, the slot in the lever interferes with the wider base of the control slider's relief, causing the rotatable hook to pull the lever against the hook. is adapted to disengage the detent from the confined passageway by causing it to be lifted to release the hook and allow the lug to disengage from the rotatable hook.

Further according to the present invention, the blocking assembly may include a blocking slider having a first end intended to interfere with the lug of a door when inserted into the opening, and is disposed between the blocking slider and the containment casing; An engagement spring pushing the blocking slider to interfere with the lug may be included.

Also, according to the present invention, the blocking slider may be interposed between the support itself and the containment casing.

Advantageously, according to the present invention, the safety pin does not permit lateral movement of the control slider and movement of the shut-off slider when the appliance is in the operating extended position.

Preferably according to the present invention, the control slider comprises a tongue, which tongue interferes with the safety pin when it is pulled out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is now described for purposes of illustration, but not limitation, according to preferred embodiments of the invention with particular reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an improved dual push door lock device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the door lock device according to Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view showing a lug that can be engaged with the door lock device according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a partially transparent plan view of the door lock device according to Fig. 1;
5a to 5e are longitudinal sectional views of the door lock device according to FIG. 1 in different operational configurations;
6a to 6c are partially transparent plan open views of the door lock device according to FIG. 1 in different operational configurations;
Fig. 7 is an overturned perspective view of the door locking device in a closed position;

In the various drawings, like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a door lock device 1 according to the present invention is observed.

The block-door device (1) essentially comprises a containment casing (2), a closure assembly (3), a blocking assembly (4), and a blocking module (5).

The containment casing 2 has an opening 21 into which a lug N integrated with a home appliance door (not shown in the drawing) can be inserted.

Within the containment casing 2 , the closure assembly 3 , the blocking assembly 4 , and the blocking module 5 are disposed.

The closure assembly 3 includes a support 31 having a substantially planar shape.

The support 31 is pivoted at one end around the containment casing 2 . Instead, at the other end, which is between the support body 31 and the containment casing 2 and almost coincides with the opening 21, two compensation springs are disposed, the operation of which is as follows is better defined in

The closure assembly 3 comprises a lever 34 and a retaining member which in this embodiment is also a rotatable hook 33 .

The rotatable hook 33 may be engaged with the lug N when the door is closed. A confined passage 331 is also obtained on the surface of the rotatable hook 33 .

Lever 34 has a first end 341 hinged to the support 31 and a second end 342 defined in the confined passage by a detent 343.

The lever 34 can also be moved laterally to follow the confined passage 331 . The lever 34 also has a slot 344, the function of which is better defined below.

The blocking assembly 4 includes a blocking slider 41 disposed substantially parallel to the support 331 between the support 31 itself and the containment casing 2 .

The blocking slider 41 has a first end 411 intended to interfere with the lug N of the door when the lug N of the door is inserted into the opening 21, and the first end 411 It has an opposite second end 412 . An engagement spring 42 capable of pushing the blocking slider 41 to interfere with the lug N is provided between the second end 412 of the blocking slider 41 and the containment casing 2 .

The blocking slider 41 also includes a control slider 43 integral with the lever 34 .

The control slider 43 includes a disengagement member, which in this embodiment is a disengagement relief 432 , and a tongue 431 . The disengagement relief 432 is disposed vertically, that is, perpendicular to the surface of the control slider 43, and has an upwardly tapered end. The top of the disengagement relief 432 is inserted into the slot 344 and the base of the disengagement relief 432 is wider than the slot 344 . The function of the disengagement relief 432 is better described below.

The blocking module 5 of the door lock device 1 is connected to a logic board (not shown in the drawings) controlled by the machine control logic and to the retracted position where the washing machine is not operating. , a safety pin 51 movable between the pulled out positions in which the washing machine is operating.

When the safety pin 51 is in the pulled out position, according to arrow C (parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable hook 33), sideways movement of the control slider 43 is not allowed. , does not always allow movement of the blocking slider 41 according to arrow A.

The operation of the door lock device 1 described above is performed as follows.

When the door is opened (see Figs. 5A and 6A), the lug N is not inserted into the opening 21 and does not interfere with the rotatable hook 33.

In this configuration, the safety pin 51 is retracted and the sliders 41 and 43 of the blocking assembly 4 are free.

When the lug N is inserted into the opening 21 of the containing shell 2, it interferes with the rotating hook 33 so that the lug N is in the holding position of the same lug N. and engage

In this configuration, the blocking slider 41 of the blocking assembly 4 pushed by the engagement spring 42 interferes with the lug N by its first end 421 .

The blocking slider 41 is in contact with the lug N by applying an engaged spring 42 without preventing it from freely entering and exiting the opening 21 .

At the same time, when the rotatable hook 33 rotates, the detent of the lever 34 moves along a confined passage 331 (desmodrome type), resulting in a first stretch of the stroke of the passage. , allows retention of the lug N by the rotatable hook 33 (see Figs. 5b, 5c, and 6b). When following the confined passage 331 of the rotatable hook 33, the lever 34 also performs a sideways movement, thus due to the interference between the disengagement relief 432 and the slot 344. , move the control slider (43).

If the door is pushed back, the additional rotational movement of the hook 33 caused by the thrust of the lug N integral with the door along the confined passage 331 causes the detent ( 343), it is implemented to allow rotation of the rotatable hook 33 and loosening of the lug N, so that it can come out of the opening 21.

Instead of a pressure on the door similar to that required for closing the door, there is a pull on the door which when opened causes the lug N still engaged with the hook 33 to move in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 5D. A strain was present.

In this configuration, the hook 33 pulls the support 31 by overcoming the compression resistance of the compensating spring 32 . As for the first extension, the movement of the support 31 simply allows for the correction of gaskets that may be around the door or around the seat that accommodates the door when it is closed. In practice, due to temperature or degradation, door seals may increase or decrease in volume.

Therefore, to maintain a maximum hydraulic seal, the compensating spring 32 may be slightly compressed or extended.

However, if a predetermined threshold is always applied to the door in the direction of the arrow indicated by letter B, such as may affect a child from inside the basket of a washing machine in the case of the above force, the slot 344 of the lever 34 The hook 33 is rotated according to the arrow R until it interferes with the wider base disengagement relief 432 of the control slider 43, thereby pulling the support 31 further (Fig. 5e). Reference).

This causes the lever 34 to be lifted relative to the rotatable hook 33 so that the detent 343 is disengaged from the confined passage 331, thereby releasing the hook 33 from being engaged, and the lug ( N) allows the engagement to be disengaged from the rotatable hook 33 (now free), allowing the child to get out of the washing machine drum.

In the configurations of Figs. 5c, 6c, and 7 (closed door), the safety pin 51 is pulled out when the washing machine is activated by the control logic for washing.

The safety pin 51 interferes with an encumbrance with the tongue 431 of the control slider 43, preventing its sideways movement and thus preventing any sideways movement to the lever 34. rule out the possibility. Therefore, the rotatable hook 33 can no longer rotate, releasing the engaged lug N.

At the same time, the first slider interferes with the safety pin 51 remaining engaged with the lug N. Therefore, the door is blocked preventing its opening.

Advantages of the door lock device according to the present invention are that it allows push-push opening, simultaneously opening by pulling when there is a force greater than a predetermined threshold, and blocking the door when a washing machine or household appliance is normally activated. to allow all

While the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes and not in a restrictive manner according to its preferred embodiments, modifications and/or variations of such embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the appended claims. It should be understood that this can be done.

Claims (11)

As a door-lock device (1) for locking the door of a home appliance such as a washing machine,
The door is a type including a lug (N),
The device 1 is
A containment casing (2) having an opening into which the lug (N) can be inserted;
A closure assembly (3) arranged in the containment casing (2) - the closure assembly (3) is such that when the lug (N) is pushed towards the retaining member (33), the retaining member (33) is attached to the lug (N). and then the retaining member intended to engage with the lug N such that the retaining member 33 frees the lug N when the lug N is pushed toward the retaining member 33 ( 33) -,
A blocking assembly (4) arranged in the containment casing (2) - the blocking assembly (4), when engaged, causes the lug (N) to be bent due to a pulling force of the retaining member (33) above a preset threshold. interfering with the retaining member (33) to allow disengagement from the retaining member (33);
Safety pin 51 - The safety pin 51 is movable between a retracted position where the appliance does not operate and a retracted position where the appliance operates, and blocks the lug N to close the door interfering with the blocking assembly to keep closed;
The retaining member is a rotatable hook (33),
The closure assembly 3 is pivoted so that the rotatable hook 33 rotates on the support 31 - the support 31, and the support 31 rotates the containment casing when the rotatable hook 33 rotates. 2) pivoted into -, and
a lever (34) hinged at one end (341) to the support (31) and having a pawl (343);
The rotatable hook 33 has on its surface a confined passage 331 in which the detent 343 is confined,
- when the lug N is pushed towards the rotatable hook 33, the detent 343 follows the first part of the confined passage 331, where also the detent 343 is the rotatable By performing a lateral movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the hook 33 of the rotatable hook 33 to rotate and engage with the lug N,
- then when the lug (N) is pushed towards the rotatable hook (33), the detent (343) follows the second part of the confined passage (331), where also the detent (343) Performing a lateral movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable hook (33) causes additional rotation of the rotatable hook (33) to disengage from the lug (N),
The disengagement member 432 for disengaging the rotatable hook 33 is disposed to interfere with the lever 34, so that the detent 343 is disengaged from the limited passage 331 To do, the door lock device.
delete According to claim 1,
The blocking assembly (4) allows the lug (N) to be disengaged from the retaining member (33) due to a pulling force of the retaining member (33) exceeding a preset threshold value, the retaining member ( A door lock device characterized in that it includes an engagement release member 432 for disengagement of 33).
delete According to claim 1,
The closure assembly 3 includes at least one compensating spring 32, preferably two compensating springs 32 interposed between the containment casing 2 and the support 31, the compensating springs ( 32) is a door lock, characterized in that it is adapted to compensate for stress on the rotatable hook (33) and/or deviation of the position of the door when the rotatable hook (33) is engaged with the lug (N). Device. According to claim 5,
The blocking assembly (4) includes a control slider (43) integral with the lever (34) of the closure assembly (3), and the control slider (43) includes the disengagement member (432). Characterized by a door lock device. According to claim 6,
The disengagement member 432 has a shape in which the width is tapered,
The lever 34 has a slot 344, the top of a relief 432 is inserted into the slot 344, the base of the relief 432 is wider than the slot 344,
When the rotatable hook 33 experiences a pulling force above the preset threshold, the slot 344 of the lever 34 interferes with the wider base of the relief 432 of the control slider 43. So, by causing the lever 34 to be lifted with respect to the rotatable hook 33, the detent 343 is disengaged from the limited passage 331 to release the hook 33 and the rotatable hook ( 33) to allow the lug (N) to be disengaged. The method of any one of claims 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7,
The blocking assembly 4 includes a blocking slider 41 having a first end 411 intended to interfere with the lug N of the door when inserted into the opening 21, and
It is disposed between the blocking slider (41) and the containment casing (2) and includes an engagement spring (42) pushing the blocking slider (41) to interfere with the lug (N). . According to claim 8,
The door lock device, characterized in that the blocking slider (41) is interposed between the support body (31) itself and the containment casing (2). According to claim 9,
Characterized in that, the safety pin (51) does not allow the lateral movement of the control slider (43) and the movement of the blocking slider (41) when the electric appliance is in an operating extended position. Device. According to claim 10,
Characterized in that the control slider (43) comprises a tongue (431), the tongue (431) interferes with the safety pin (51) when the safety pin (51) is pulled out. lock device.

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