WO2009061628A1 - Appliance latch with compact form factor - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking appliance latch (24) employs a rotating hook (27) to engage a loop (26) together releasably retaining the door (18) of an appliance. The latch (24) provides for a folded actuation path in which a momentarily activated solenoid (34), moving along an axis (65) aligned with the rotation axis (28) of a rotating hook (27) of the latch (24), unlocks the latch (24). The folded actuation path is facilitated by a locking member (42) sliding parallel to the axis of the solenoid (65) and the rotation axis (28) of the hook (27) to provide a ward and key interface with the rotating hook (27) preventing a rotation of the hook (27) in a locked state and allowing rotation of the hook (27) rotation in an unlocked state.

Description

APPLIANCE LATCH WITH COMPACT FORM FACTOR

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to United States Provisional Application Serial No. 60/985,862 filed November 6, 2007 hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to clothes washing machines and the like and specifically to a lock assembly for preventing access to the spin basket of such a washer during the spin cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] During the spin cycle of a washing machine, water is removed from wet clothes centrifugally by spinning the clothes at high speed in a spin basket. In order to reduce the possibility of injury to the user, the user must be prevented from having access to the spin basket while the spin basket is in motion.

[0004] One way of protecting the user from access to the rotating spin basket uses an electrically locking latch for the washing machine lid. The latch holds and locks the lid in a closed position for the duration of the spin cycle and for a period after the spin cycle necessary for the spin basket to coast to a stop. This locking latch may be operated by a thermoelectric element such as a bimetallic strip or wax motor. Preferably, however, a fast acting solenoid may be used for the locking mechanism to permit rapid access to the clothes when the spin basket has stopped.

[0005] In order to reduce the time during which power must be applied to a solenoid, it is known to construct a latch that mechanically locks its self when the washing machine door is closed, and to activate the solenoid only to unlock the washing machine when the cycle is done. The solenoid unlocks the latch with a brief electrical pulse and the latch retains this unlocked state until the door is fully opened and closed again. [0006] A latch of this type is described in German patent DE3527670 entitled: Device for Locking a Washing Machine Door published February 12, 1987. This latch uses a hook held by the washing machine frame that may rotate about a rotation axis to capture a loop attached to the washing machine door. When the hook has rotated to fully capture the loop, a spring-loaded tooth engages the hook along an engagement direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hook to lock the hook against reverse rotation which would allow release of the loop. A solenoid aligned with the engagement axis unlocks the hook by momentarily withdrawing the tooth along the engagement axis allowing the hook to rotate to release the loop. The tooth is attached to a frame, and when the frame retracts, it tips in a direction perpendicular to the engagement axis to catch a corner of the frame against a corner of the housing. This engagement prevents the tooth from re-engaging with the hook when the solenoid is de-energized. An opening of the door, retracting the loop from the hook, causes rotation of the hook which in turn realigns the frame to which the tooth is engaged thus allowing the process to be repeated the next time the doors close.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a locking latch for a washing machine that provides the benefit of power-free locking and low-power unlocking using a brief solenoid pulse, but does so with a substantially more compact mechanism produced by aligning the axis of the solenoid and its actuation distance with the rotation axis of the hook. This is possible through the use of a ward and key locking mechanism that works with movement also aligned with the rotation axis of the hook and a reset "cam and pawl" mechanism preventing re-locking of the latch after the pulse is concluded by requiring opening of the door to reset the mechanism.

[0008] Specifically then, the present invention provides an appliance latch for receiving a strike engagable by a hook where the appliance latch includes a hook rotatable about a rotation axis and having an actuation surface abutting a first surface of the strike when the strike is received by the latch to rotate the hook in a latching direction so that a retention surface of the hook moves into engagement with the opening of the strike to retain the strike. The latch includes a locking member adjacent to the hook providing a ward and key relationship with a radial periphery of the hook, the locking member movable along an actuation axis parallel to the rotation axis between a first state in which the ward and key engage to prevent rotation of the hook counter to the latching direction, and a second state in which the ward and key disengage to allow rotation of the hook counter to the latching direction. An electrical solenoid having a plunger movable along a plunger axis parallel to the rotation axis communicates with the locking member to move the locking member from the first state to the second state when the electrical solenoid is energized.

[0009] It is thus one feature of the present invention to substantially reduce the size of the latch by aligning the rotational axis of the hook with the axis of the solenoid.

[0010] The appliance latch may include a housing supporting the hook, locking member, and electrical solenoid and providing mounting points aligning with corresponding mounting points on the washing machine and aligning the plunger axis of the solenoid along a vertical axis so that it the plunger returns after the solenoid has been energized under the influence of gravity.

[0011] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention that it eliminates the need for a retraction spring on the solenoid further reducing the size of the latch and the number of parts required to construct it.

[0012] The electrical solenoid may communicate with the locking member through means of a pivoting lever having a first end attached to the actuator of the solenoid and a second end attached to the locking member.

[0013] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention that it provides a folded actuation path without unduly increasing the height of the housing.

[0014] The lever has a longer arm between a pivot point and the solenoid than between the pivot point and the locking member to provide a mechanical advantage for the solenoid.

[0015] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention that it allows ready adjustment of the force exerted by the solenoid on the locking member.

[0016] The electrical solenoid may be a push type solenoid having a plunger moving out from the solenoid when the electrical solenoid is energized [0017] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to simplify the interconnection between the locking member, the lever, and the solenoid which may function with a simple abutment of these elements without retention pins or hinge points to hold them together.

[0018] The latch may further include a cam attached to the hook to rotate coaxially therewith along the rotation axis and a cam follower having a first end resting against the cam to move between a first follower position and second follower position with rotation of the cam from a position engaging the hook to a position releasing the hook, the cam follower having a second end engaging the locking member in the first follower position thereby preventing movement of the locking member and disengaging the locking member in the second follower position allowing movement of the locking member.

[0019] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to allow momentary actuation of the solenoid to unlock the latch even when the hook cannot rotate, for example if the appliance door is momentarily blocked by the user.

[0020] The locking member may further communicate with a leaf spring to deflect the leaf spring, a leaf spring forming one contact of a contact pair indicating a locked state of the appliance latch.

[0021] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide an electrical signal indicating the lock status of the latch regardless of movement of the hook.

[0022] The solenoid may provide electrical terminations at a first end adjacent to a first end of the locking member communicating with the leaf spring.

[0023] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to significantly reduce the total length of conductive strip providing the interconnections between the components of the latch and an external electrical connector.

[0024] The latch may further include a manual release communicating with the locking member and movable along the actuation axis to move the locking member to the second state, the member sliding along an axis parallel to the rotational axis. [0025] It is thus a feature of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide an extremely simple manual release mechanism in the event of power failure.

[0026] The electrical wire forming a coil of the solenoid terminates at its ends with metal clips having a first end attachable to the wire and a second end forming a U-shaped trough receiving a conductive strip in compression, the conductive strip extending through a housing of the appliance latch to form conductive fingers of an electrical connector.

[0027] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine suitable for use with the present invention showing a preferred location and orientation of the elements of the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 2 is a simplified front elevational view of the principal components of a prior art latch having a rectilinear actuation path and showing a dimensional stack up contributing to a substantial width of the latch;

[0030] Figs. 3a and 3b are a vertically aligned front elevational view and bottom plan view of the principal components of the present invention similar to that of Fig. 2;

[0031] Fig. 4 is a detailed front elevational view of the latch of the present invention showing a cooperating rotating hook, locking member and solenoid;

[0032] Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rotating hook as it communicates with a cam follower to engage and disengage with the locking member so as to preserve an unlocked state even when the rotating hook cannot move;

[0033] Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the rotating hook and follower and a first state with the door closed potentially engaging the locking member;

[0034] Fig. 7 is a figure similar to that of Fig. 6 showing the rotating hook in a state with the door opened releasing the locking member; [0035] Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of the locking member of Fig. 5 before unlocking has occurred;

[0036] Figs. 9a-9c are fragmentary front elevational views of the rotating hook and locking member in three distinct states of locked, unlocked door closed, and unlocked door open; and

[0037] Fig. 10 is a fragmentary exploded view of a novel terminal system used for connecting conductive strips to the solenoid wiring.

[0038] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Referring now to Fig. 1, the present invention may be used in a washing machine 10 providing a housing 12. A front panel 14 of the housing 12 presents an opening 16 through which clothes may be placed into an internal wash basket. The opening 16 may be sealed by a front door 18 pivoting about a hinge 20 on one side, and held on the other side when closed by a latch mechanism 22.

[0040] The latch mechanism 22 include a latch 24 attached to the front panel 14 of the washing machine 10 (usually behind the front panel 14) and a loop 26 attached to the inner surface of the door 18 to pass through an opening 25 in the latch 24 to be retained thereby.

[0041] Referring now to Fig. 2, a prior art latch 24' described briefly above includes a hook 27' rotating about an axis 28 generally parallel to a front face of the washing machine to receive and hold loop 26 passing toward the viewer of Fig. 2 (but not shown in Fig. 2). Fig. 2 thus provides a rearview of the latch 24'.

[0042] Once the loop 26 is engaged by the rotation of the hook 27', a frame 30 having outwardly extending teeth 32 may move towards the hook 27' under the influence of a spring (not shown) so that the teeth engage a portion of the hook 27' preventing the hook 27' from rotating to release the loop 26. Unlocking the latch 24' involves activating a solenoid 34 whose plunger 36 pushes against the frame 30 to retract it and the teeth 32 from the hook 27. At this time, the frame 30 may tip upward as shown by dotted lines 30' to catch a corner 38 of the housing of the latch 24' preventing the frame 30 from extending again and thus holding the latch 24' unlocked. When the loop 26 is fully retracted from the hook 27', a surface of the hook 27' (not shown) tips the frame 30 downward again.

[0043] While this design provides a number of desired features, the latch 24' is bulky and has a large lateral extent which prevents increasing the size of the door 18 for a given size of housing 12, in turn limiting access to clothing. This lateral extent results from a "stack up" or combination of a number of irreducible dimensions 40 inherent in the mechanism including: the radius 40a of the hook 27' at the point engaged by the teeth 32, the actuation distance 40b necessary to extracted teeth 32 from the hook 27', the length of the solenoid return spring 40c, the solenoid body length 40d, and the length of the electrical connector 4Oe extending from the end of the solenoid 34. Additional lateral extent is required for the frame 30 and practical clearances.

[0044] Referring now to Figs. 3a and 3b, the present invention substantially shortens the lateral dimension of the latch 24 and, in fact, eliminates some of the dimensions 40 through the use of a "side-by-side" orientation of the principal elements of the latch 24 and a folded actuation path in contrast to the "end-to-end" configuration and rectilinear actuation path of the prior art. The side-by-side configuration not only reduces the lateral extent of the components but the overall size of the latch 24 by aligning the dimensions 40 in parallel instead of in series so that they only incrementally increase the height of the housing. Further, by reorienting the solenoid and the electrical contacts (shown in Fig. 4), the folded actuation path substantially reduces the size and length of the conductors needed to provide a desired downward (and water resistant) electrical connection to the latch 24. The orientation also allows elimination of at least one part, the return spring on the solenoid.

[0045] Implementation of the side-by-side architecture of the present latch 24 required development of a new method of attaching the solenoid to a locking member, of locking the hook with movement of the locking member, and of holding the latch in an unlocked state until the loop has been released, as will all be described below.

[0046] Referring now to Figs. 3a, 3b, and 4, the latch 24 of the present invention uses a rotating hook 27 (similar to the rotating hook 27' of the prior art) such as may rotate in a counterclockwise direction 47 to accept and hold the loop 26 attached to the door 18. The hook 27 provides an outwardly facing actuation surface 42 that engages a leading surface of the loop 26 as a loop 26 moves inward along direction 43 to rotate the hook 27 in a counterclockwise direction 47 against the force of a torsion spring 29, the latter biasing the hook 27 generally in a clockwise direction. The hook 27 includes a retention surface 44 opposing the actuation surface 42 that holds the loop 26 engaged when the hook 27 is so rotated.

[0047] A radially extending portion 45 of the hook 27, when the hook 27 has engaged the loop 26, is adjacent and opposed to a side of a locking member 46 at a ward and key interface between the two. In one embodiment, the portion 45 includes ward notches 49 extending radially inward from the portion 45 of the hook 27, each ward notch 49 associated with corresponding key teeth 48 on the locking member 46. As shown, the key teeth 48 are not aligned with the ward notches 49 providing a first state in which the hook 27 may not rotate in a clockwise direction. In this first state the key teeth 48 are beneath the portion 45 and not aligned with the wards and thus block movement of the portion 45. It will be understood generally that the positions of the ward notches 49 and key teeth 48 on the hook 27 and locking member 46 may be reversed.

[0048] In order to unlock the hook 27, the locking member 46 may slide as indicated by arrow 50 along an axis 52 parallel to rotation axis 28 so that key teeth 48 align with ward notches 49 in a second state allowing rotation of the hook 27 clockwise. The key teeth 48 extend generally arcuately around the axis 28 so that as the unlocked hook 27 moves, ward notches 49 corral the key teeth 48 preventing further movement as will be described below. Generally, the locking member 46 is biased toward the first state by a spring 55.

[0049] The locking member 46 may be urged to this second state (thus unlocking the latch 24) by means of a class one lever 56 having one lever arm 57 that may press down upon a top of the locking member 46 along axis 52 when an opposed lever arm 60 is pressed upward by a plunger 62 of a solenoid 34. The plunger 62 of the solenoid 34 is arranged to move upward along a third axis 65 parallel to axis 52 and axis 28. By adoption of a ward and key locking system, a folded actuation path and thus a side-by-side architecture may be created substantially reducing the lateral length of the mechanism.

[0050] Referring now to Fig. 4, the hook 27, locking member 46, and the solenoid 34 are retained in a housing 58 having mounting points 61 that hold the housing 58 on the front panel 14 of the washing machine 10 such that the axis 65 of the solenoid 34 is oriented vertically and the plunger 62, when the solenoid is energized, moves upward against the force of gravity. In this way, no return spring is required for the solenoid 34. Further, by using a push type solenoid 34 in which electrical current flowing through the solenoid 34 expels the plunger 62 upward, the interconnection between the plunger 62, the class one lever 56, and the locking member 46, (the latter biased upward by spring 55) may be simply abutting surfaces without the need for tension retention elements such as sockets, hinge pins, or the like.

[0051] The locking member 46 may have a bar portion 64 extending downward along axis 52 beyond the key teeth 48. The lower edge of this bar portion 64 may press on a distal end of a leaf spring 66 supported in cantilever fashion from a point beneath the solenoid 34. The distal end of the leaf spring 66 holds a contact 68 that normally connects with a second contact 68' held on a rigid conductor 70 such that the contacts 68 and 68' connect electrically when the locking member 46 is in the first state and are separated by motion of the bar portion 64 when the locking member 46 is in the second state. These contacts 68 provide an electrical signal at a connector 98 indicating the state of the latch 24 as locked or unlocked, needed by the washing machine controller as part of a safety interlock.

[0052] The bar portion 64 of the locking member 46 also provides for second function of retaining the locking member in the second state even if the door 18 (and hence the hook 27) is temporarily blocked from moving and during the actuation of the solenoid 34. This function is provided by a notch 72 on an upper surface of the bar portion 64 that may engage a stop end 83 of a cam follower 74 as will now be described.

[0053] Referring also to Figs. 4 and 5, the hook 27 may include an axle 80 about which the hook 27 rotates. The axle 80 may provide a cam surface on its outer circumference being generally circular except for a tooth portion 82 of greater radius. The cam follower 74 pivots about pivot axis 81 generally parallel with (but displaced from) the rotational axis 28 so that a first end 85 of the cam follower 74 rests against the cam surface of the axle 80.

[0054] Referring now also to Figs. 6 and 9b, when the hook 27 is in a position to retain the loop 26 as shown in Fig. 6, the cam surface of axle 80 is rotated to a counterclockwise position such that the tooth portion 82 does not contact the first end 85 of the cam follower 74. With the rotating hook 27 in this "door closed" position, the latch 24 may be locked so that rotation of the rotating hook 27 is blocked by the teeth 48 of the locking member 46 positioned beneath a peripheral edge 45 of the rotating hook 27. In the locked state, as shown in Fig. 8, the stop end 83 of the cam follower 74 presses down lightly on top of the bar 64 at a lock location 108 removed from the notch 72. As shown in Fig. 5, this downward biasing of stop end 83 is provided by a living spring 86, being a cantilevered arm of the cam follower 74 pressing upward against the housing 58 to provide a generally clockwise biasing of the cam follower 74 about axis 81. Because the stop end 83 is not engaged with the notch 72, however, the bar 64 is free to move under the influence of the solenoid 34 despite this downward pressure.

[0055] Referring now to Figs. 6 and 9b, when the solenoid 34 is energized, the locking member 46 and bar portion 64 are moved downwards so that notch 72 aligns with lock location 108 and so that stop end 83 of the cam follower 74 (opposite the first end 85 of the cam follower 74 with respect to the axis 81) may engage the notch 72 of the bar portion 64. This engagement of the stop end 83 and the notch 72 prevents movement of the bar portion 64 along axis 52 back to the first state. Once the stop end 83 engages the notch 72, the bar portion 64, and hence the locking member 46, is retained in the second state or unlocked position as shown generally in Figs. 5 and 6 even when the solenoid 34 is deactivated. This is a first unlocked state termed "unlocked door closed".

[0056] Referring also now to Figs. 7 and 9c, when the hook 27 as unlocked, rotates clockwise to release the loop 26 (not shown) with opening of the door, the tooth portion 82 of the axle 80 of the hook 27 contacts the first end 85 of the cam follower 74 and the cam follower 74 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction 75 (shown in Fig. 7) raising the stop end 83 to release it from the notch 72 allowing the bar portion 64 and the locking member 46 to travel to a second unlocked state (termed door-open unlocked) in which further travel of the locking member 46 upward is stopped by an engagement between the teeth 48 and the side walls of the ward notches 49. This small amount of travel nevertheless moves notch 72 away from lock location 108 so that when the rotating hook 27 is again moved to the closed state to retain the loop 26, the stop end 83 of the cam follower 74 may no longer engage notch 72 when the rotating hook 27 returns to the closed position retaining loop 26.

[0057] Referring again to Fig. 9a, when the rotating hook 27 is fully returned to its closed position retaining loop 26, the teeth 48 escape from the side wall of the ward notches 49 allowing locking member 46 to slide further upward under the influence of spring 55 (shown in Fig. 4) with the teeth 48 fitting underneath the peripheral edge of the hook 27 to lock it again.

[0058] Thus the bar portion 64, and the locking member 46, may return to the locking position of the first state under the influence of spring 55 (shown in Fig. 3 a) only after the hook 27 has first moved in a clockwise direction to fully release the loop 26 as depicted in Fig. 7 and then reengaged the loop 26 by moving in a counter clockwise direction.

[0059] Referring again to Fig. 4, the configuration of the solenoid 34, the locking member 46, and hook 27 providing a folded actuation path allows for a simple addition of a manual release 90 extending through the bottom of the housing 58 and passing upward along the vertical axis aligned with axis 52 to a hook end 92 that may engage the locking member 46 to pull it downward (to an unlocked state) by a simple linear sliding action.

[0060] As shown best in Fig. 4, the folded actuation path of the present invention also favorably moves the electrical terminals 94 of the solenoid 34 to close proximity with the switch contacts 68 thus reducing the amount of strip bronze 96 needed to connect the solenoid 34 and switch contacts 68 with an external connector 98 where the strip bronze 96 forms connector fingers in a standard connector configuration using spade-type terminal connection points. This is in contrast to the configuration shown in Fig. 2 where the switch element 99 is displaced substantially from the terminals ends of the strip bronze 96 of the solenoid 34.

[0061] Referring now to Fig. 9, the terminals 94 of the solenoid 34 may be provided by metal clips 100 presenting a U-shaped trough of conductive metal having a first end 104 that may receive a wire 102 from the solenoid 34 in a shallow trough in the first end 104 that maybe crimped or welded to the wire 102. A second end 106 of the terminal 94 provides a deeper trough with inwardly sprung sides that may compressively receive the strip bronze 96 between them providing both mechanical and electrical connection.

[0062] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. AU of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

[0063] Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An appliance latch for receiving a strike engagable by a hook, the appliance latch comprising: a hook rotatable about a rotation axis and having an actuation surface abutting a first surface of the strike when the strike is received by the latch to rotate the hook in a latching direction so that a retention surface of the hook moves into engagement with the strike to retain the strike; a locking member adjacent to the hook providing a ward and key relationship with a radial periphery of the hook, the locking member movable along an actuation axis parallel to the rotation axis between a first state in which the ward and key engage to prevent rotation of the hook counter to the latching direction and a second state in which the ward and key disengage to allow rotation of the hook counter to the latching direction; and an electrical solenoid having a plunger movable along a plunger axis parallel to the rotation axis and communicating with the locking member to move the locking member from the first state to the second state when the electrical solenoid is energized.

2. The appliance latch of claim 1 further including a housing supporting the hook, locking member, and electrical solenoid and providing mounting points aligning with corresponding mounting points on an appliance to align the plunger axis of the solenoid along a vertical axis so that the plunger returns after the solenoid has been energized under an influence of gravity.

3. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein the electrical solenoid communicates with the locking member through means of a pivoting class one lever having a first end abutting the plunger of the solenoid and a second end abutting to the locking member during unlocking.

4. The appliance latch of claim 3 wherein the lever has a longer arm between a pivot point and the solenoid than between the pivot point and the locking member to provide a mechanical advantage for the solenoid.

5. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein the electrical solenoid is a push type solenoid having a plunger moving out from the solenoid when the electrical solenoid is energized.

6. The appliance latch of claim 1 further including: a cam attached to the hook to rotate coaxially therewith along the rotation axis and a cam follower having a first end resting against the cam to move between a first follower position and second follower position with rotation of the cam from a position engaging the hook to a position releasing the hook, the cam follower having a second end engaging the locking member in the first follower position thereby preventing movement of the locking member and disengaging the locking member in the second follower position allowing movement of the locking member.

7. The appliance latch of claim 6 wherein the cam follower is spring biased to move to the second follower position only after the locking member has moved to the second state.

8. The appliance latch of claim 7 wherein the cam follower has an extension finger deflecting against a housing to provide a rotational biased to the cam follower holding the first end against the cam.

9. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein the locking member further communicates with a leaf spring to deflect the leaf spring, a leaf spring forming one contact of a contact pair indicating a locked state of the appliance latch.

10. The appliance latch of claim 9 wherein the solenoid provides electrical terminations at a first end adjacent to a first end of the locking member communicating with the leaf spring.

11. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein further including a manual release communicating with the locking member movable along the actuation axis to move the locking member to the second state.

12. The appliance latch of claim 11 wherein the mechanical release slides along an axis parallel to the rotational axis.

13. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein the locking member is biased to the first state by a spring.

14. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein the locking member is stably held in three different positions corresponding to the (a) latch being locked, (b) the latch being unlocked with the door closed and (c) the latch being unlocked with the door open and wherein the locking member and the rotating hook interact to enforce a cyclic progression of positions only in the order of (a), (b), (c), (a).

15. The appliance latch of claim 1 wherein an electrical wire forming a coil of the solenoid terminates at its ends with metal clips having a first end attachable to the wire and a second end forming a U-shaped trough receiving a conductive strip in compression, the conductive strip extending through a housing of the appliance latch to form conductive fingers of an electrical connector.