[0001] The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a door of a domestic appliance,
in particular of a cooking oven. Further, the present invention relates to a domestic
appliance with a locking mechanism. In particular, the present invention relates to
a cooking oven with a locking mechanism.
[0002] For a domestic appliance, in particular for a cooking oven, a locking mechanism is
required in order to avoid that unauthorised persons can open a door of said domestic
appliance by small forces. Usually, the locking mechanism is activated mechanically.
When a user wants to open the door, the locking mechanism has to be deactivated by
pulling or pushing with a certain force. When the user closes the door again, then
the locking mechanism closes the door automatically in its closed position.
[0003] Further, there are locking mechanisms, wherein the user may decide, if said locking
mechanism is used or not. If the locking mechanisms should not be used, then said
locking mechanism is removed completely and the domestic appliance is without any
locking mechanism. If the locking mechanism is installed and activated, then a force
is defined, which has to be overcome in order to open the door.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism
for a domestic appliance, which keeps the door closed by low complexity, when said
door is pulled.
[0005] The object is achieved by the locking mechanism for a domestic appliance according
to claim 1.
[0006] According to the present invention a locking mechanism for a door of a domestic appliance,
in particular for an oven door of a cooking oven, is provided, wherein:
- the locking mechanism comprises a spring element attachable or attached at the domestic
appliance,
- the locking mechanism comprises a lever element attached at a distal end of said spring
element,
- the lever element is adapted for engaging with a section of an edge of the door, when
said door is in a closed state, and
- the spring element is bendable, so that the lever element can be disengaged from the
section of the edge of the door.
[0007] The core of the present invention is that the locking mechanism consists only of
a few components. The spring element provides the spring force, while the lever element
is in contact with the edge of the door on the one hand and acts as actuating element
of the locking mechanism on the other hand. The spring element forms a joining element
between the domestic appliance the lever element. Any further connection between the
lever element and the domestic appliance is not required.
[0008] Preferably, at least one contact element is attached at the lever element, wherein
said contact element is adapted for engaging with the section of the edge of the door,
when said door is in the closed state.
[0009] In particular, the contact element is made of silicone. The contact element made
of silicone increases the friction between the locking mechanism and the edge of the
door.
[0010] Further, the spring element may be made of metal, preferably made of steel.
[0011] According to the preferred embodiment, the spring element is elongated, wherein one
end is attachable or attached at the domestic appliance by a fixing element, and wherein
preferably the spring element is bendable perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
[0012] Particularly, the spring element is formed as a strip.
[0013] Moreover, the spring element may include at least one curvature.
[0014] For example, at least two curvatures form a Z-shape or S-shape structure of the spring
element. The Z-shape or S-shape structure of the spring element allows an adaption
to the profile of the door.
[0015] In particular, the lever element is made of plastics.
[0016] Furthermore, the lever element may be formed as a prism or as a wedge, so that the
locking mechanism forms a snap-in mechanism, when the door is closed by the user.
[0017] Preferably, the locking mechanism is arrangeable or arranged beside the edge of the
door in the closed state of said door.
[0018] In particular, the locking mechanism may be arrangeable or arranged opposite to a
door hinge of said door.
[0019] Moreover, the longitudinal axis of the spring element extends perpendicular to the
plane of the door in the closed state of said door.
[0020] Further, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance with a door, in particular
a cooking oven with an oven door, wherein the domestic appliance comprises at least
one locking mechanism mentioned above.
[0021] For example, the door comprises a front panel made of glass.
[0022] Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended
claims.
[0023] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings,
in which
- FIG 1
- illustrates a schematic front view of a cooking oven with a locking mechanism according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
- FIG 2
- illustrates a schematic detailed sectional side view of the cooking oven with the
locking mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
- FIG 3
- illustrates a schematic side view of the locking mechanism according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention,
- FIG 4
- illustrates a schematic top view of the locking mechanism according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention,
- FIG 5
- illustrates a schematic rear view of the locking mechanism according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention,
- FIG 6
- illustrates a schematic front view of the locking mechanism according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, and
- FIG 7
- illustrates a schematic perspective view of a lever element of the locking mechanism
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG 1 illustrates a schematic front view of a cooking oven 10 with a locking mechanism
20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] The cooking oven 10 comprises an oven door 12 and a front panel 14, wherein said
front panel 14 is arranged above the oven door 12. The oven door 12 includes a door
handle 16 for opening and closing said oven door 12. Control elements 18 are arranged
at the front panel 14.
[0026] The locking mechanism 20 is arranged between the oven door 12 and the front panel
14. In the state shown in FIG 1 the locking mechanism 20 avoids that the oven door
12 can be opened. If the locking mechanism 20 would be pushed or pulled upwards by
the user, then the oven door 12 could be opened.
[0027] FIG 2 illustrates a schematic detailed sectional side view of the cooking oven 10
with the locking mechanism 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] The front panel 14 is arranged above the oven door 12. The locking mechanism 20 is
arranged between said oven door 12 and front panel 14. The locking mechanism 20 is
fastened by a fixing element 22 at the cooking oven 10. When the locking mechanism
20 is pushed or pulled upwards, then the oven door 12 can be opened.
[0029] FIG 3 illustrates a schematic side view of the locking mechanism 20 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] The locking mechanism 20 includes a spring element 24, a lever element 26 and a contact
element 28. In this example, the spring element 24 is made of metal and formed as
a strip. The lever element 26 is made of plastics and formed as a prism or as a wedge.
The lever element 26 is attached at a distal end of the spring element 24. Said distal
end forms the front end of the spring element 24. The contact element 28 is made of
silicone and attached at the rear side of the lever element 26. The contact element
28 made of silicone increases the friction between the locking mechanism 20 and the
edge of the door 12.
[0031] The front and rear sides of the locking mechanism 20 relate to the front and rear
sides of the cooking oven 10, i.e. the front side of the locking mechanism 20 is facing
the user.
[0032] The spring element 24 is bendable perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. When the
spring element 24 is fixed with its rear side at the cooking oven 10 by the fixing
element 22, then the lever element 26 is moveable upwards by the user.
[0033] In an unstressed state of the spring element 24, the locking mechanism 20 encloses
an upper front edge of the oven door 12, if said over door 12 is closed. In this case,
the contact element 28 is aligned at said upper front edge of the oven door 12. When
the locking mechanism 20 is pushed or pulled upwards by the user, then the oven door
12 can be opened.
[0034] The contact element 28 made of silicone provides a high friction between the upper
front edge of the oven door 12 and said contact element 28. The high friction between
the edge of the oven door 12 and the contact element 28 requires less material for
the spring element 24 and the lever element 26. No further spring element is required.
[0035] If the spring element 24 is in the unstressed state and the oven door 12 is open,
then said oven door 12 is automatically locked, when the oven door 12 is closed by
the user. The lever element 26 is pushed upwards during closing the oven door 12.
Thus, the locking mechanism 20 acts as a snap-in mechanism for the oven door 12.
[0036] FIG 4 illustrates a schematic top view of the locking mechanism 20 according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] The spring element 24 is formed as a strip and made of metal. The lever element 26
is attached at the front portion of the spring element 24.
[0038] FIG 5 illustrates a schematic rear view of the locking mechanism 20 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] The lever element 26 is attached at the front portion of the spring element 24. The
contact element 28 is attached at the rear side of the lever element 26.
[0040] FIG 6 illustrates a schematic front view of the locking mechanism 20 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lever element 26 is attached
at the front portion of the spring element 24.
[0041] FIG 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the lever element 26 of the locking
mechanism 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] The contact element 28 is attached at the lever element 26. FIG 7 clarifies that
the lever element 26 has the shape of the prism or is wedge-shaped. The contact element
28 is attached at the rear side of the lever element 26. In this example, the contact
element 28 is an L-shaped profile part.
[0043] The locking mechanism 20 according to the present invention is made of two, preferably
three, components made of different materials. The spring element 24 is made of metal,
while the lever element 26 is made of plastics. The contact element 28 is made of
silicone. The combination of the components and materials allows high flexibility
and safety of locking the door and improves the functionality.
[0044] The spring element 24 may be formed as thin metal strip, so that only little force
for releasing the locking mechanism 20 is required. The deformation of the locking
mechanism 20 and the door 12 is small, so that the lifetime of the involved components
is relative long.
[0045] The locking mechanism 20 keeps the oven door 12 closed, when someone is pulling at
the door handle 16. The locking mechanism 20 allows a good absorption or compensation
of production tolerances.
[0046] The locking mechanism 20 according to the present invention has a simple structure
and can be produced by low costs.
[0047] Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present
invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes
and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
List of reference numerals
[0048]
- 10
- cooking oven
- 12
- oven door
- 14
- front panel
- 16
- door handle
- 18
- control element
- 20
- locking mechanism
- 22
- fixing element
- 24
- spring element
- 26
- lever element
- 28
- contact element
1. A locking mechanism (20) for a door (12) of a domestic appliance (10), in particular
for an oven door (12) of a cooking oven (10), wherein:
- the locking mechanism (20) comprises a spring element (24) attachable or attached
at the domestic appliance (10),
- the locking mechanism (20) comprises a lever element (26) attached at a distal end
of said spring element (24),
- the lever element (26) is adapted for engaging with a section of an edge of the
door (12), when said door (12) is in a closed state, and
- the spring element (24) is bendable, so that the lever element (26) can be disengaged
from the section of the edge of the door (12).
2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1,
characterised in that
at least one contact element (28) is attached at the lever element (26), wherein said
contact element (28) is adapted for engaging with the section of the edge of the door
(12), when said door (12) is in the closed state.
3. The locking mechanism according to claim 2,
characterised in that
the contact element (28) is made of silicone.
4. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the spring element (24) is made of metal, preferably made of steel.
5. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the spring element (24) is elongated, wherein one end is attachable or attached at
the domestic appliance (10) by a fixing element (22), and wherein preferably the spring
element (24) is bendable perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.
6. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the spring element (24) is formed as a strip.
7. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the spring element (24) includes at least one curvature.
8. The locking mechanism according to claim 7,
characterised in that
at least two curvatures form a Z-shape or S-shape structure of the spring element
(24).
9. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the lever element (26) is made of plastics.
10. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the lever element (26) is formed as a prism or as a wedge, so that the locking mechanism
(20) forms a snap-in mechanism, when the door (12) is closed by the user.
11. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the locking mechanism (10) is arrangeable or arranged beside the edge of the door
(12) in the closed state of said door (12) .
12. The locking mechanism according to claim 11,
characterised in that
the locking mechanism (10) is arrangeable or arranged opposite to a door hinge of
said door (12).
13. The locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that
the longitudinal axis of the spring element (24) extends perpendicular to the plane
of the door (12) in the closed state of said door (12).
14. A domestic appliance (10) with a door (12), in particular a cooking oven (10) with
an oven door (12),
characterised in that
the domestic appliance (10) comprises at least one locking mechanism (20) according
to any one of the preceding claims.
15. The domestic appliance (10) according to claim 14,
characterised in that
the door (12) comprises a front panel made of glass.