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A motorized oven latch includes a base plate. A latch member is slidably connected to the base plate by a first mounting stud or first and second mounting studs connected to the latch member and located in a contoured slot defined in the base plate. The latch member includes an inner end and an oute

A motorized oven latch includes a base plate. A latch member is slidably connected to the base plate by a first mounting stud or first and second mounting studs connected to the latch member and located in a contoured slot defined in the base plate. The latch member includes an inner end and an outer end, and the outer end includes a hook adapted to engage an oven door. A motor is drivingly coupled to the latch member, and the motor is selectively operative to move the latch member forward and rearward relative to said base plate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the latch member moves on a non-linear path relative to the base plate in response to movement of the first mounting stud or both the first and second mounting studs in the contoured slot when the motor moves the latch member forward to the unlocked position or rearward to the locked position.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An oven latch comprising: a base plate; a latch member slidably connected to said base plate by first and second mounting studs connected to said latch member and located in a contoured slot defined in the base plate, said latch member comprising an inner end and an out

The invention claimed is: 1. An oven latch comprising: a base plate; a latch member slidably connected to said base plate by first and second mounting studs connected to said latch member and located in a contoured slot defined in the base plate, said latch member comprising an inner end and an outer end; a motor drivingly coupled to the latch member, said motor selectively operative to move the latch member forward and rearward relative to said base plate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein said latch member moves on a non-linear path relative to said base plate in response to movement of said first and second mounting studs in said contoured slot when said motor moves said latch member forward to said unlocked position or rearward to said locked position; wherein one of said first and second mounting studs is located in an enlarged region of said contoured slot when said latch member is in its locked position, and wherein said one of said first and second mounting studs moves angularly in the enlarged region about the other of said first and second mounting studs in response to manual movement of said outer end of said latch member to a manual unlock position. 2. The oven latch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch member is located adjacent a first side of said base plate and said first and second mounting studs comprise respective first and second enlarged heads located adjacent an opposite second side of said base plate, and wherein respective shanks of said first and second mounting studs are connected respectively to said first and second enlarged heads and extend through said contoured slot and are secured to said latch member, with said base plate located between said latch member and said first and second enlarged heads. 3. The oven latch as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a spring connected between said base plate and said latch member, wherein said spring resiliently counteracts movement of said outer end of said latch member to said manual unlock position when said latch member is in said locked position. 4. The oven latch as set forth in claim 3, further comprising at least one electrical switch connected to said base plate and adapted to be selectively operated by said latch member in response to said latch member moving to and between its locked and unlocked positions. 5. The oven latch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said motor comprises a drive shaft, said oven latch further comprising an output link connected to said drive shaft so that said output link rotates when said drive shaft rotates, wherein said output link is coupled to said latch member such that rotation of said output link moves said latch member between said locked position and said unlocked position. 6. The oven latch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said latch member comprises a drive slot and said output link comprises a drive pin connected thereto and eccentrically located relative to said drive shaft, wherein said drive pin is slidably located in said drive slot. 7. The oven latch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said drive slot is located adjacent said inner end of said latch member and extends transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the latch member. 8. The oven latch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said drive slot is located in a central region of said latch member, between said inner and outer ends, and extends transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the latch member. 9. A motorized oven latch comprising: a base plate comprising a contoured slot; a latch member movably connected to the base plate, said latch member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position and comprising an inner end and an outer end, wherein said outer end comprises a hook portion; first and second mounting studs connected to the latch member and slidably located in said contoured slot, wherein: (i) outward sliding movement of said first and second mounting studs on a non-linear path in said contoured slot in response to movement of said latch member in an unlocking direction moves said latch member from said locked position to said unlocked position; and, (ii) inward sliding movement of said first and second mounting studs on the non-linear path in said contoured slot in response to movement of said latch member in a locking direction moves said latch member from said unlocked position to said locked position; a motor connected to said base plate and operatively coupled to said latch member to selectively move said latch member in said unlocking and locking directions such that said latch member moves to and between its unlocked and locked positions in response to movement of said first and second mounting studs in said contoured slot wherein one of said first and second mounting studs is located in an enlarged region of said contoured slot when said latch member is in its locked position, and wherein said one of said first and second mounting studs pivots about the other of the first and second mounting studs in response to manual movement of said outer end of said latch member to a manual unlock position. 10. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a spring connected between said base plate and said latch member, wherein said spring resiliently counteracts movement of said outer end of said latch member to said manual unlock position when said latch member is in said locked position. 11. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 10, further comprising at least one electrical switch connected to said base plate and adapted to be selectively operated by said latch member in response to said latch member moving to and between its locked and unlocked positions. 12. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 11, wherein said at least one electrical switch comprises first and second electrical switches each connected to said base plate and selectively actuated by said latch member in said locked and unlocked positions, respectively. 13. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a plunger electrical switch connected to said base plate and comprising a spring-biased plunger adapted to be contacted by the associated oven door. 14. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said motor comprises a drive shaft and said motorized oven latch further comprises an output link connected to said drive shaft so that said output link rotates when said drive shaft rotates, wherein said output link is coupled to said latch member such that rotation of said output link moves said latch member between said locked position and said unlocked position. 15. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 14, wherein said latch member comprises a drive slot and said output link comprises a drive pin connected thereto and eccentrically located relative to said drive shaft, wherein said drive pin is slidably located in said drive slot. 16. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 15, wherein said drive slot is located adjacent said inner end of said latch member and extends transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the latch member. 17. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 15, wherein said drive slot is located in a central region of said latch member, between said inner and outer ends, and extends transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the latch member. 18. The motorized oven latch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said latch member is located adjacent a first side of said base plate and said first and second mounting studs comprise respective first and second enlarged heads located adjacent an opposite second side of said base plate, and wherein the respective shanks of said first and second mounting studs are connected respectively to said first and second enlarged heads and extend through said contoured slot and are secured to said latch member, with said base plate located between said latch member and said first and second enlarged heads.