IMPROVED DUAL PUSH DOOR-LOCK DEVICE

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a door-lock device (1) for locking a door of a household appliance, such as a washing machine and the like, said door being of the type comprising a lug (N), said device (1) comprising a containment casing (2), having an opening, in which said lug (N) is insertable, a closing assembly (3), arranged within said containment casing (2), comprising a retaining member (33) intended to engage with said lug (N), such that when said lug (N) is pushed towards said retaining member (33), said retaining member (33) retains said lug (N), and when said lug (N) is then pushed toward said retaining member (33), said retaining member (33) free said lug (N), an blocking assembly (4) arranged in said containment casing (2), said blocking assembly (4) interfering with said retaining member (33), so as to allow in turn said lug (N) to disengage, when engaged, from said retaining member (33) due to a traction of said retaining member (33) over a presettable threshold, and a safety pin (51), movable between a retracted position, in which said household appliance is not operating, and an extracted position, in which said household appliance operates and said safety pin (51) interfering with said blocking assembly, so as to block said lug (N) and thus keeping said door closed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved dual push door-lock device.

[0002] More specifically, the invention concerns a door-lock device of the known type, also known as push-push opening device, designed and manufactured in particular for allowing an easy opening of the door and at the same time for allowing the ease exit of a child, who is introduced into a household appliance.

[0003] In the following, the description will be directed to the application of the above-mentioned door-lock device for a washing machine, but it is clear that the same should not be considered limited to this specific use.

[0004] As is well known, various push or push-push -type doors opening devices are currently known. By means of this type of door-lock device, it is possible closing a door by exerting a pressure and reopening it just by making the same pressure.

[0005] A device of the type described above is disclosed for example in patent no. DE3919458C.

[0006] A technical problem with the lock-door devices of the type described above is that in case of the door is open and can be closed in push-push mode, it is not generally possible to lock it when the washing machine is operating. This made this type of door-lock device not applicable in washing machines, which, as it is well known, should provide that the door cannot be opened when the washing machine is operating.

[0007] In washing machines, in particular, it is required blocking the door-lock device when the washing machine is operating. As said, such a function is not provided in devices according to the prior art.

[0008] It will be apparent that the solutions proposed in the prior art are costly both in security as well as economic terms, since the push-push openings are very appreciated and simple to use in household appliances.

[0009] In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to propose a door-lock device, which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art described above and allows the push-push blocking of the door upon activation of the appliance.

[0010] It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a door-lock device for locking a door of a household appliance, such as a washing machine and the like, said door being of the type comprising a lug, said device comprising a containment casing, having an opening, in which said lug is insertable, a closing assembly, arranged within said containment casing, comprising a retaining member intended to engage with said lug, such that when said lug is pushed towards said retaining member, said retaining member retains said lug, and when said lug is then pushed toward said retaining member, said retaining member free said lug, an blocking assembly arranged in said containment casing, said blocking assembly interfering with said retaining member, so as to allow in turn said lug to disengage, when engaged, from said retaining member due to a traction of said retaining member over a presettable threshold, and a safety pin, movable between a retracted position, in which said household appliance is not operating, and an extracted position, in which said household appliance operates and said safety pin interfering with said blocking assembly, so as to block said lug and thus keeping said door closed.

[0011] Always according to the invention, said retaining member could be a rotary hook.

[0012] Still according to the invention, said blocking assembly could comprise a disengagement member, for disengaging said retaining member, so as to allow said lug to disengage from said retaining member due to a traction of said retaining member over a presettable threshold.

[0013] Further according to the invention, said closing assembly could comprise a support, on which said rotary hook is pivoted to rotate, said support being in its turn pivoted to said containment casing, and a lever hinged at one end to said support, and having a pawl, and said rotary hook could have on the surface a constrained path, on which said pawl is constrained, such that: when said lug is pushed towards said rotary hook, said pawl follows a first part of said constrained path, in which it also carries out lateral movements, parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotary hook, causing the rotation of said rotary hook, engaging said lug; and when said lug is then pushed towards said rotary hook, said pawl follows a second part of said constrained path, in which it also carries out lateral movements, parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary hook, causing a further rotation of said rotary hook disengaging said lug; and said disengagement member for disengaging said rotary hook being arranged to interfere with said lever, disengaging said pawl from said constrained path.

[0014] Advantageously according to the invention, said closing assembly could comprise at least one compensation spring, preferably two compensation springs, interposed between said containment casing and said support, said compensation spring being adapted to compensate the stresses on said rotary hook and/or the deviations of the position of said door, when said rotary hook is engaged with said lug.

[0015] Preferably according to the invention, said blocking assembly could comprise a control slider, integral with said lever of said closing assembly, said control slider comprising said disengagement member.

[0016] Always according to the invention, said disengagement member could have a tapered shape, and said lever could have a slot, the top of said relief being inserted in said slot, while the base of said relief is wider than said slot, such that, when said rotary hook undergoes a traction over said presettable threshold, said slot of said lever interferes with the wider base of the relief of the control slider, causing the lifting of said lever with respect to said rotary hook, thus disengaging said pawl from said constrained path, releasing the hook and allowing the disengagement of said lug from said rotating hook.

[0017] Still according to the invention, said blocking assembly could comprise a blocking slider having a first end, intended to interfere with said lug of the door once it is inserted in said opening, and an engagement spring, arranged between said blocking slider and said containment casing, said engagement spring pushing said blocking slider, so that it interferes with said lug.

[0018] Further according to the invention, said blocking slider could be interposed between said support itself and said containment casing.

[0019] Advantageously according to the invention, said safety pin, when it is in said extracted position, in which said household appliance operates, does not allow the lateral movement of said control slider and the movement of said blocking slider.

[0020] Preferably according to the invention, said control slider could comprise a tongue, which interferes with said safety pin, when it is extracted.

[0021] The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the dual push door-lock device according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a bottom view of the door-lock device according to figure 1;

figure 3 shows a lug capable of engaging with the door lock device according to the present invention;

figure 4 shows a partially transparent plan view of the door-lock device according to figure 1;

figures 5a-5e show a longitudinal section the door-lock device according to figure 1 in different operating configurations;

figures 6a-6c show a partial transparent plain open view of the door-lock device according to figure 1 in different operating configurations; and

figure 7 shows an overturned perspective view of the door-lock device in the blocked position.

[0022] In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

[0023] Referring to figures 1-4, a door-lock device 1 according to the present invention is observed.

[0024] Said block-door device 1 essentially comprises a containment casing 2, a closing assembly 3, a blocking assembly 4 and a blocking module 5.

[0025] The containment casing 2 has an opening 21, in which it is insertable a lug N, integral with the household appliance door (not shown in the figure).

[0026] Within said containment casing 2, said closing assembly 3, said blocking assembly 4 and said blocking module 5 are arranged.

[0027] Said closing assembly 3 comprises a support 31 having a substantially planar shape.

[0028] Said support 31 is pivoted, at one end, about said containment casing 2. At the other end, instead, between said support 31 and said containment casing 2, and substantially in correspondence with said opening 21, two compensation springs 32 are arranged, the operation thereof will be better defined in the following.

[0029] Said closing assembly 3 also includes a retaining member, which, in this embodiment, is a rotary hook 33, and a lever 34.

[0030] The rotary hook 33 is capable of engaging with said lug N when the door is closed. On the surface of said rotary hook 33, a constrained path 331 is also obtained.

[0031] The lever 34 has a first end 341, hinged to said support 31, and a second end 342 constrained to said constrained path 331 by means of a pawl 343.

[0032] The lever 34 is also capable of moving laterally to follow said constrained path 331. Further, said lever 34 has also a slot 344, the function thereof will be better defined below.

[0033] The blocking assembly 4 comprises a blocking slider 41, arranged substantially parallel to said support 31, between the support 31 itself and the containment casing 2.

[0034] Said blocking slider 41 has a first end 411, intended to interfere with the lug N of the door when the latter is inserted in said opening 21, and a second end 412, opposite the first end 412. Between said second end 412 of said blocking slider 41 and said containment casing 2, an engagement spring 42 is provided, which is capable of pushing said blocking slider 41, so that it interferes with said lug N.

[0035] Said blocking assembly 4 also includes a control slider 43, integral with said lever 34.

[0036] Said control slider 43 includes a tongue 431 and a disengagement member, which, in this embodiment, is a disengagement relief 432. Said disengagement relief 432 is arranged vertically, i.e. perpendicular to the surface of said control slider 43, and has an upward tapered shape. The top of said disengagement relief 432 is inserted into said slot 344, while the base of said disengagement relief 432 is wider than said slot 344. The function of said disengagement relief 432 will be better described below.

[0037] The blocking module 5 of the door-lock device 1 comprises a logic board (not shown in the figures) controlled by the machine control logic, and a safety pin 51, movable between a retracted position, in which the washing machine is not operating, and an extracted position, in which the washing machine is operating.

[0038] When said safety pin 51 is in said extracted position, it does not allow the lateral movement of said control slider 43, according to the arrows C (parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary hook 33), and the movement of said blocking slider 41, always according to the arrow A.

[0039] The operation of the door-lock device 1 described above is as follows.

[0040] When the door is open (see figures 5a and 6a), the lug N is not inserted in said opening 21 and it does not interfere with said rotary hook 33.

[0041] In this configuration, the safety pin 51 is retracted and the sliders 41 and 43 of the blocking assembly 4 are free.

[0042] When the lug N is inserted into the opening 21 of the containment shell 2, said lug N interferes and engages with said rotary hook 33, which rotates so as to be in a retention position of the same lug N.

[0043] In this configuration, said blocking slider 41 of said blocking assembly 4, being pushed by engagement spring 42, interferes with said lug N by its first end 421.

[0044] Said blocking slider 41 is in contact with said lug N by pushing the engagement spring 42 without, however, preventing its free entry and exit from said opening 21.

[0045] At the same time, when said rotary hook 33 rotates, the pawl 343 of said lever 34 moves along the constrained path 331 (desmodrome type), allowing, in the first stretch of the stroke of said path, the retention of said lug N by said rotary hook 33 (see figures 5b, 5c and 6b). In following the constrained path 331 of said rotary hook 33, the lever 34 also performs lateral movements, thus also moving the control slider 43, due to the interference between said disengagement relief 432 and said slot 344.

[0046] If the door were pushed again, the further rotating movement of said hook 33, caused by the thrust of said lug N integral with said door, would entail the further movement of said pawl 343 along the constrained path 331, realized so as to allow the rotation of the rotary hook 33 and the disengagement of said lug N, which can thus exit from the opening 21.

[0047] In case of, instead, in lieu of a pressure on the door similar to the one required for its closure, there were a strain on the door when opening, the lug N, still engaged with the hook 33, would move in the direction of the arrow B, as shown in figure 5d.

[0048] In this configuration, the hook 33 drags the support 31 by overcoming the compression resistance of said compensation springs 32. For a first stretch, the movement of said support 31 simply allows the compensation of the gaskets that can be around the door or around the seat that houses said door when it is closed. In fact, due to temperature or degradation, door seals may increase or decrease in volume.

[0049] Therefore, in order to keep the maximum hydraulic seal, the compensation springs 32 may be slightly compressed or extended.

[0050] However, in case of a force above a predetermined threshold were applied to the door, always in the direction of the arrow indicated by the letter B, such as that could exert a child from the inside of the basket of a washing machine, then (see figure 5e) the hook 33 would further drag the support 31 by rotating it according to the arrow R until the slot 344 of the lever 34 interferes with the wider base disengagement relief 432 of the control slider 43.

[0051] This causes the lever 34 to be lifted with respect to said rotary hook 33, so as to disengage said pawl 343 from said constrained path 331, releasing the hook 33 and allowing the lug N to disengage from the rotary hook 33 (now free) and thus the possible exit of the child from the washing machine drum.

[0052] In the configuration of figures 5c, 6c and 7 (closed door), when the washing machine is activated by the control logic for the washing, the safety pin 51 is extracted.

[0053] The safety pin 51 interferes, with its encumbrance with the tongue 431 of said control slider 43, preventing lateral movements thereof and thus any possibility of lateral movement to said lever 34. Therefore, the rotary hook 33 can no longer rotate, releasing the lug N.

[0054] At the same time, the first slider interferes with the safety pin 51, remaining engaged with said lug N. Thus, said door is blocked, preventing the opening thereof.

[0055] An advantage of the door-lock device according to the present invention is that of allowing a push-push opening and at the same time both the opening by pulling, in case of a force greater than a predetermined threshold, and the blocking of the door when the washing machine or household appliance in general is activated.

[0056] The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Door-lock device (1) for locking a door of a household appliance, such as a washing machine and the like, said door being of the type comprising a lug (N), said device (1) comprising
a containment casing (2), having an opening, in which said lug (N) is insertable,
a closing assembly (3), arranged within said containment casing (2), comprising a retaining member (33) intended to engage with said lug (N), such that when said lug (N) is pushed towards said retaining member (33), said retaining member (33) retains said lug (N), and when said lug (N) is then pushed toward said retaining member (33), said retaining member (33) free said lug (N),
an blocking assembly (4) arranged in said containment casing (2), said blocking assembly (4) interfering with said retaining member (33), so as to allow in turn said lug (N) to disengage, when engaged, from said retaining member (33) due to a traction of said retaining member (33) over a presettable threshold, and
a safety pin (51), movable between a retracted position, in which said household appliance is not operating, and an extracted position, in which said household appliance operates and said safety pin (51) interfering with said blocking assembly, so as to block said lug (N) and thus keeping said door closed.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining member is a rotary hook (33).

3. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blocking assembly (4) comprises a disengagement member (432), for disengaging said retaining member (33), so as to allow said lug (N) to disengage from said retaining member (33) due to a traction of said retaining member (33) over a presettable threshold.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, characterized
in that said closing assembly (3) comprises a support (31), on which said rotary hook (33) is pivoted to rotate, said support (31) being in its turn pivoted to said containment casing (2), and
a lever (34) hinged at one end (341) to said support (31), and having a pawl (343), and
in that said rotary hook (33) has on the surface a constrained path (331), on which said pawl (343) is constrained, such that:

- when said lug (N) is pushed towards said rotary hook (33), said pawl (343) follows a first part of said constrained path (331), in which it also carries out lateral movements, parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotary hook (33), causing the rotation of said rotary hook (33), engaging said lug (N); and

- when said lug (N) is then pushed towards said rotary hook (33), said pawl (343) follows a second part of said constrained path (331), in which it also carries out lateral movements, parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary hook (33), causing a further rotation of said rotary hook (33) disengaging said lug (N); and

said disengagement member (432) for disengaging said rotary hook (33) being arranged to interfere with said lever (34), disengaging said pawl (343) from said constrained path (331).

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said closing assembly (3) comprises at least one compensation spring (32), preferably two compensation springs (32), interposed between said containment casing (2) and said support (31), said compensation spring (32) being adapted to compensate the stresses on said rotary hook (33) and/or the deviations of the position of said door, when said rotary hook (33) is engaged with said lug (N).

6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said blocking assembly (4) comprises a control slider (43), integral with said lever (34) of said closing assembly (3), said control slider (43) comprising said disengagement member (432).

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized
in that said disengagement member (432) has a tapered shape, and
in that said lever (34) has a slot (344), the top of said relief (432) being inserted in said slot (344), while the base of said relief (432) is wider than said slot (344),
such that, when said rotary hook (33) undergoes a traction over said presettable threshold, said slot (344) of said lever (34) interferes with the wider base of the relief (432) of the control slider (43), causing the lifting of said lever (34) with respect to said rotary hook (33), thus disengaging said pawl (343) from said constrained path (331), releasing the hook (33) and allowing the disengagement of said lug (N) from said rotating hook (33).

8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said blocking assembly (4) comprises a blocking slider (41) having a first end (411), intended to interfere with said lug (N) of the door once it is inserted in said opening (21), and
an engagement spring (42), arranged between said blocking slider (41) and said containment casing (2), said engagement spring (42) pushing said blocking slider (41), so that it interferes with said lug (N).

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said blocking slider (41) is interposed between said support (31) itself and said containment casing (2).

10. Device (1) according to any one of claims 6 - 9, characterized in that said safety pin (51), when it is in said extracted position, in which said household appliance operates, does not allow the lateral movement of said control slider (43) and the movement of said blocking slider (41).

11. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said control slider (43) comprises a tongue (431), which interferes with said safety pin (51), when it is extracted.

Drawing