ACTUATED DOOR OPENING MECHANISM FOR MICROWAVE AND SPEEDCOOKING PRODUCTS

• US 20130069512A1
• Filed: 09/19/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zimmer, Tom C., Little, Derrick Douglas, Stover, Shawn Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/236,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069512A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/326
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/022 Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/00 Details of electric heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6417 Door interlocks of the microwave heating apparatus and related circuits

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a door opening mechanism for a cooking device. The device includes a body defining a cooking chamber and a door operatively mounted to the body to provide access to the cooking chamber while maintaining a closed insulated barrier while in use. A sensor is mounted the body for providing a signal to retaining member when activated. A retaining member is mounted within the body to hold a latch attached to the door. The latch is released from the retaining member when a signal is provided by the sensor to the actuator retaining member that provides a positive drive force to release the latch and open the door.

Claims

1. A door opening mechanism for a cooking device comprising:

a body defining a cooking chamber and a door operatively mounted to the body to provide access to the cooking chamber while adapted to maintain a closed insulated barrier while in use;

a sensor mounted to the exterior of the body for providing a signal when activated by a dielectric object;

a retaining member operatively adapted to hold a latch attached to the door, the latch engaging the actuator retaining member while the door is in a closed position and releasing the retaining member in response to the signal provided by the sensor.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the retaining member provides a positive drive force to the latch to release the latch and move the door to the open position.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch screen surface.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a resistive touch surface or tactile switch.

5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a wave touch surface.

6. The mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a feedback indicating an audible haptic effect in response to activating the sensor.

7. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a visual indicator to provide feedback.

8. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the retaining member further includes an interlock switch adapted to inactivate the cooking device when disengaged from the latch.

9. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the retaining member includes a solenoid member for releasing the latch.

10. A door opening mechanism for a microwave oven comprising:

a body defining a cooking chamber and a door operatively mounted to the body to provide access to the cooking chamber;

a sensor mounted to an exterior surface of the body to provide a signal to an actuator when activated by an associated dielectric object;

an actuator responsive to the sensor for opening the door;

an elongated bracket mounted within the door comprising a pawl and a latch extending from the door towards the body, the latch operatively engaging a retaining member of the body when the door is in a closed position, a biasing force provided to the elongated bracket,;

an actuator operatively engaging the pawl to provide a positive drive force to the pawl and overcome the biasing force whereby the latch is disengaged from the retaining member.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch screen surface.

12. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the sensor comprises a resistive touch surface.

13. The mechanism of claim 10 further comprising a feedback mechanism that provides a feedback indicating at least one of an audible, visual or physical haptic effect in response to the

14. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the actuator retaining member comprises at least one interlock switch adapted to shut down a cooking means of the cooking device when disengaged from the latch.

15. A method for opening a door for a cooking device comprising:

providing a cooking device with a cooking chamber within a body and a door operatively mounted to the body;

providing a sensor on the body;

providing an actuator that is interconnected with the sensor;

mounting a latch to the door for selective engagement with the actuator,

generating a signal to the actuator in response to activating the sensor and thereby directing the actuator to release the latch and place the door in an open position.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an elongated bracket is operatively mounted within the door comprising a latch extending from the door towards the body and operatively engages a retaining member when the door is in the closed position.

17. The method of claim 15 further including biasing the elongated bracket toward a door open or closed position.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising actuating a pawl to release the latch in response to the sensor signal.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the sensor providing step includes providing a touch screen that sends the signal responsive to a dielectric object in close proximity or contacting the touch screen.

20. The method of claim 19 further including providing a feedback when the touch screen is activated.