US3602662A - Safety mechanism for laundry apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety mechanism which requires manual actuation after the door of a cabinet housing laundry apparatus has been closed to complete the electrical circuit to the drive motor of the apparatus. In its most simple form, the invention is characterized by a door switch mounted on the cabinet such that the switch plunger is aligned with an aperture in the door. A spring biased cam mechanism carried by the door adjacent the aperture can be manually depressed to traverse the aperture and cam the plunger of the door switch to an operative position, when the door is closed.

Description

Unite Sttes tent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1959 Sisson...................

[72] Inventor Clayton L. Heller Mansfield,0hio AppLNo. 33,303 Filed 200/6l.62 (X) ZOO/61.62 ZOO/61.76

3,145,818 8/1964 Stelli............... 3,091,675 5/1963 Sholtes............ 3,488,463 1/1970 Mellinger.......

, Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones [22] Apr. 30, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [73] Assignee Westinghouse Electric Corporation Pittsburgh, Pa.

Attorneys-F. H. Henson and E. C. Arenz ABSTRAQT: A safety mechanism which requires manual ace e mw mmmw a fi O P dnmda m p w m P. ..nm a .lw o m amown r hC Ora di de nu V u mt a u tnh k OM ae w m. ds 6 tuation after the door of a cabinet housin has been closed to complete the electric motor of the apparatus. In its most sim is characterized by a door switch mounted on that the switch plunger is aligned with an a A spring biased cam mechanism carried b the aperture can be manually de ture and cam the plunger of the position, when the door is closed.

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AND CONTROLS WASHER TIMER MAIN SWITCH FIG. 7.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The door switch generally comprises a switch having a plunger which is depressed by the door being closed. The plunger normally extends to a position such that it could be easily bumped or the switch could be actuated without the door being fully closed. As the door was sometimes opened during the cycle to check the clothing, merely bumping or closing the door to a position that actuated the switch could start the machine unexpectedly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The door switch of the present invention is mounted in such a way that it will not complete the circuit unexpectedly before the door is fully closed. As a further safety precaution, the door switch of the present invention will not start upon the door being fully closed unless the user thereafter performs another function such as manipulating a door switch engaging mechanism to complete the circuit. In its simplified form the present invention is characterized by aligning the plunger of a well known door switch with an aperture in the door such that upon closing the door the plunger is received within the aperture. A cam surface is mounted adjacent the aperture upon a spring biased push rod which extends from the exterior surface of the door. When the door is in the closed position, pushing the rod moves the cam surface across the aperture and cams the plunger into an actuating or switch closing position with a switch being held in closed position by the plunger resting within a notch in the cam surface to prevent its return movement.

A modification of the invention is'characterized by mounting the door switch on a movable bracket behind the front panel of the laundry apparatus such that the plunger is aligned with an aperture in the front panel and is moved to a projecting position therethrough by the hinge mechanism of the door camming the bracket to such a position. The door and plunger mechanism remains the same as in the first embodiment so that after the door is closed the switch is projected from the front panel into the door aperture and the push rod must again be manually moved to actuate the door switch.

A further modification includes mounting the door switch on a movable bracket as controlled by the door hinge such that closing the door tends to move the bracket to its most forward position. The bracket means is normally prevented from moving by a blocking mechanism which can be manually removed to a nonblocking position allowing the bracket to move forwardly and thereby cause the plunger to abut the front panel and close the switch.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a fragmented sectional view of the front panel and door of a front loading washing machine including the mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I with a door closed and the door switch engaged by the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. I of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 isa front view of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A washing machine generally comprises a boxlike outer cabinet having an opening for access to the tub supported therein and a door for closing the opening during operation of the machine. The machine also includes the motor and transmission for driving the tub and electrical circuitry for controlling the operation through various modes. The invention disclosed herein is described as incorporated in such a washing machine of well known construction and more fully described in application Ser. No. 809,796 and which generally includes, along with the internal structure and components necessary for washing clothes as therein adequately described, an outer cabinet structure having a front access door hingedly attached thereto. From the following description it will be evident that the invention could also be used in the wellknown top loading type laundry apparatus.

Reference numeral 10 designates the front panel of a wash ing machine which has an access opening therein and which supports a door 12 hingedly attached thereto as by a hinge 14 for pivotally moving the door 12 between open and closed positions.

The front panel 10 also supports a door switch 16 having a plunger 18 forwardlyprotruding therethrough which is generally in the path of the door 12. However in the present invention, door 12 has an aperture 20 therein which is aligned with the plunger 18 so that the door can be fully closed without depressing the plunger.

A rod 24 is mounted for longitudinal movement within the door 12 on L-shaped guide brackets 22 securely attached to the door. The rod 24 has a short length extending exteriorly above the door and terminating in a button 26. A stop 28 is securely fastened to the lower end of the rod below the lowermost guide bracket, and a compression spring 27 is interposed between the stop and the bottom of the door to normally bias the rod toward its upper position as limited by the stop abutting the guide bracket.

A cam mechanism 30 is attached to the rod 24 intermediate of the guide means and generally above aperture 20 when the rod is in its upper position. The rod, cam means, and aperture are so aligned that depressing the rod causes the cam means to traverse the aperture. 'Cam means 30 has a cam surface 32 tapered inwardly to a generally straight or dwell surface 34. The straight surface 34 is interrupted by a notch 36 having generally straight walls 38.

Assuming the main line switch of the control circuit of the machine is closed and that, in the electrical circuitry, the door switch is interposed between the main switch and the remaining contacts which control the various modes of operation of the machine, the machine can only be started by closing the door 12 and then depressing the rod 24. Merely closing the door permits plunger 18 to enter aperture 26 in the door without being depressed. However, subsequently pushing the rod downwardly against the bias of spring 27 places cam surface 32 adjacent plunger 18 and further depression moves the plunger rearwardly to a position where the door switch is closed. Plunger 18 is spring biased also as is well known in the art so that continued downward movement of the cam mechanism 30 brings notch 36 in alignment with plunger 18 permitting outward movement of the plunger where it rests against the straight wall 38 of the notch. The plunger of the still closed switch thus maintains the cam mechanism 30 in its depressed operative position against the upward bias of spring 27 for continued operation of the machine.

Upon opening the door 12 the plunger is moved from notch. 36 and the spring 27 forces rod 24 and cam mechanism 30 upward so that the above described procedure must be repeated whenever the door is closed to place the machine in operation.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the door switch is movably mounted so that when the door is open, the plunger 18 cannot be-manually depressed to;start the machine. The structure common to FIG. 1 will be described with common reference numerals.

Door switch 16 of FIG. 3 is mounted on a pivotal bracket means comprising a lever 40 having a central member 42 pivotally attached by any well-known'means such as a bolt and nut to the interior of the front panel 10 with a first arm 44 extending generally upwardly from one end thereof and on which the switch 16 is secured. A second arm 46 extends downwardly from the other end of member 42 and terminates adjacent the hinge 14 such that it rides on the top surface thereof. Thus, as the doors close, the hinge cams the second arm causing the lever 40 to pivot clockwise about the pivot point as viewed in FIG. 3.

The front panel has an aperture 48 in alignment with the switch 16 so that as the first arm 44 carrying the switch is rotated towards the front panel, the switch can extend therethrough.

A leaf spring 50 is mounted at one end to the panel with its free end in contact with the switch 16 and forces the lever to be normally biased in a counterclockwise direction.

Therefore, whenever the door is closed, the switch 16 is carried forwardly by the lever 40 so that its plunger 18 extends through the aperture 48 of the front panel 10 and can be actuated with cam mechanism 30 similar to theembodiment of FIG. 1; however, when the door is opened, the spring 50 causes lever 40 to rotate counterclockwise and withdraws the switch 16 through the aperture 48 so as to make it unaccessible to manual operation.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 4 wherein the door switch 16 is mounted on the first arm 44 of lever 40 similar to FIG. 3; however, in this embodiment there is no aperture in the front panel '10 and thus the switch 16 always remains interiorly of the cabinet. A rodin-tube assembly 52 comprising a flexible plastic tube 54 having a thin flexible plastic rod 56 movably retained therein is mounted such that the assembly 52 leads from any convenient position on the exterior of the cabinet such as the back splasher (not shown) to behind the front panel 10 in proximity to the door switch 16 and is held in place by any well-known means such as clamps 58.

A block 60 is attached to the end of the rod 56 extending from the tube adjacent the switch 16 and a spring 62 is attached to the block at one end with the other end attached to the front panel 10 to normally maintain the block in a position which obstructs the clockwise rotation of thefirst arm 44 of the lever 40 as it is pivoted by the hinge 14 as discussed in the previous embodiment.

The first arm 44 of lever 40 is flexible and has a slight offset portion 64 providing a shoulder 66.

In this embodiment, as the door 12 closes, the hinge forces lever 40 clockwise. However, block 60 prevents the first arm 44 from rotating, thereby flexing it backwards. After the door is closed, rod 56 is pulled from a button 68 attached to its exteriorly extending end against the bias of spring 62, moving the block 60 upward to the offset portion 64 of the arm 44 and thereby permitting clockwise rotation of arm 44 such that the plunger 18 of switch 16 is forced against the front panel 10 closing the switch. Releasing the rod 56 causes block 60 to rest on shoulder 66 asbiased by spring 62 until the door 12 is again opened whereupon the switch 16 is rotated counterclockwise by the hinge and the rod and block return to blocking position.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. and 6 shows the door switch 16 mounted on a free end of a spring arm 70 stationarily attached at the other end to the cabinet such as by a screw 74 through a flange 72 attached to the front panel as by spot welding. The spring arm 70'is mounted in generally vertical alignment with a pin 73 horizontally extending from the door hinge 14 so that the pin 73 abuts spring arm 70 urging it in a counterclockwise direction about screw 74 when the door is closed.

The spring arm 70 has generally T-shaped aperture 76 adjacent the switch for receiving movable abutment member 78 having a central guide tongue extending from one end providing shoulders 82 and 84. Guides 86 movably support member 78 on the front panel 10 for-vertical movement.

The end of member 78 opposite the tongue 80 and shoulders 82 and 84 has an inturned flange 88 to which is attached the movable rod 24 of rod and tube assembly '52. The rod and tube assembly is received in an aperture 77 of the flange 72 with the tube securely held therein as by an annular collar 75 and the rod extending to and secured in abutment member 78. A spring 27 is interposed about the rod between the inturned flange 72 and flange 88 to normally bias member 78 to its lowermost position. The rod-and-tube assembly 52 leads from the flange 72 to any convenient location external of the cabinet as the splasher panel for example.

With the door open, the door switch 16, spring arm 70 and abutment member 78 are in the position shown FIG. 5; how ever, when the door is closed, pin 73 abuts spring arm 70 mg ing it in a counterclockwise direction. The abutment member 78, remains in the position shown with the tongue portion 80 received in the shank portion of aperture 76 and shoulders 82 and 84 preventing rotation of the spring arm. Thus, the pin causes the spring arm to deflect. After the door is closed, the rod 56 is pulled against the bias of spring 27 moving the shoulders 82, 84, into alignment with the head portion of aperture 76 permitting the spring arm to move counterclockwise where the plunger 18 of the switch 16 is forced against the front panel closing the switch to start the apparatus. Upon opening the door, the abutment of the pin is removed allowing spring arm 70 to return to its normal unbiased position, opening switch 16 and permitting abutment member 78 as biased by spring 27 to return to its lowermost position from wherethe above procedure must again be repeated after the door is closed.

Thus, there is provided various embodiments of a safety mechanism requiring the door of the laundry apparatus to first be closed and a manual function thereafter performed before operation of the machine can start, thereby eliminating accidental or unexpected start.

I claim as my invention;

1. A safety mechanism for a laundry apparatus having a cabinet, including an access door hingedly supported thereon, and an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said apparatus, and wherein said circuit includes a normally open switch, comprising: 7

switch controlmeans, including means movable between a first and second position independently of said door, for effecting closure of said switch when said movable means is in said first position and said door is closed;

means urging said movable means to said second position preventing closure of said switch by said movable means irrespective of the position of said door; and

means retaining said movable means in said first position only when said door is closed whereby said switch is in a closed position to complete said circuit to permit operation only afterboth the steps of closing said door and moving said movable means to said first position have been accomplished.

'2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said door includes an aperture, said switch is mounted on said cabinet and including an actuating portion projecting into said aperture when said door is closed and wherein said movable means comprises:

' cam means movable across said aperture for engagement with said actuating portion to effect closure of said switch. 7

3. The'structure of claim 2 wherein said switch control means further includes:

lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet;

said switch supported on said lever adjacent one end; and,

lever engaging means movable with said door to move said lever in response to movement of said door between opened and closed position.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises:

a shoulder area on said cam means; and

means engaging said shoulder area when said cam means is moved to said first position and said door is shut to maintain said cam means in said first position against the bias of said urging means. 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said switch control means further includes:

lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet;

' said switch supported on said lever means adjacent one end;

and, lever engaging means movable with said door to move said lever means in response to movement of said door between opened and closed position.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said movable means comprises:

manually operable rod means; and,

blocking means attached to said rod means for obstructing movement of said lever means in said second position.

7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises:

a first arm supporting said switch;

. a second arm engaging said lever engaging means movable with said door; and,

an interconnecting portion joining said first and second arm, said lever means pivotably attached to said cabinet at said interconnecting portion.

8. Structure according to claim 7 wherein said means for retaining said movable means comprises a shoulder in said first arm of said lever means.

9. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises a leaf spring attached to said cabinet at one end,

said switch attached to the other end of said leaf spring.

10. Structure according to claim 9 wherein said means for retaining said movable means comprises:

an aperture in said leaf spring, said aperture having generally two separate portions of different width;

one of said portions receiving only a selective part of said blocking means in guiding relationship; and,

the other of said portions permitting passage of the blocking means therethrough to remove the blocking means from blocking position when said movable means is moved to said first position and said door is closed.

11. In laundry apparatus including a cabinet having a hingedly attached door, a safety control arrangement comprising:

a normally open safety switch for controlling operation of said apparatus;

manually operated movable means having a first position for closing said switch and a second position ineffective to close said switch;

means controlled by said door for preventing said movable means in said first position from closing said switch except when said door is closed; and

means for retaining said movable means in said first position only when said door is closed.

12. in apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said door controlled means includes means for physically displacing said switch to an inaccessible position when said door is open.

13. In apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said movable means is carried by said door.

Claims (13)

1. A safety mechanism for a laundry apparatus having a cabinet, including an access door hingedly supported thereon, and an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said apparatus, and wherein said circuit includes a normally open switch, comprising: switch control means, including means movable between a first and second position independently of said door, for effecting closure of said switch when said movable means is in said first position and said door is closed; means urging said movable means to said second position preventing closure of said switch by said movable means irrespective of the position of said door; and means retaining said movable means in said first position only when said door is closed whereby said switch is in a closed position to complete said cirCuit to permit operation only after both the steps of closing said door and moving said movable means to said first position have been accomplished.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said door includes an aperture, said switch is mounted on said cabinet and including an actuating portion projecting into said aperture when said door is closed and wherein said movable means comprises: cam means movable across said aperture for engagement with said actuating portion to effect closure of said switch.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said switch control means further includes: lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet; said switch supported on said lever adjacent one end; and, lever engaging means movable with said door to move said lever in response to movement of said door between opened and closed position.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises: a shoulder area on said cam means; and means engaging said shoulder area when said cam means is moved to said first position and said door is shut to maintain said cam means in said first position against the bias of said urging means.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said switch control means further includes: lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet; said switch supported on said lever means adjacent one end; and, lever engaging means movable with said door to move said lever means in response to movement of said door between opened and closed position.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said movable means comprises: manually operable rod means; and, blocking means attached to said rod means for obstructing movement of said lever means in said second position.

7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises: a first arm supporting said switch; a second arm engaging said lever engaging means movable with said door; and, an interconnecting portion joining said first and second arm, said lever means pivotably attached to said cabinet at said interconnecting portion.

8. Structure according to claim 7 wherein said means for retaining said movable means comprises a shoulder in said first arm of said lever means.

9. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises a leaf spring attached to said cabinet at one end, said switch attached to the other end of said leaf spring.

10. Structure according to claim 9 wherein said means for retaining said movable means comprises: an aperture in said leaf spring, said aperture having generally two separate portions of different width; one of said portions receiving only a selective part of said blocking means in guiding relationship; and, the other of said portions permitting passage of the blocking means therethrough to remove the blocking means from blocking position when said movable means is moved to said first position and said door is closed.

11. In laundry apparatus including a cabinet having a hingedly attached door, a safety control arrangement comprising: a normally open safety switch for controlling operation of said apparatus; manually operated movable means having a first position for closing said switch and a second position ineffective to close said switch; means controlled by said door for preventing said movable means in said first position from closing said switch except when said door is closed; and means for retaining said movable means in said first position only when said door is closed.

12. In apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said door controlled means includes means for physically displacing said switch to an inaccessible position when said door is open.

13. In apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said movable means is carried by said door.

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