Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Adrian J Tengler

Kenyon A Hapke

Michael K Hintz

Michael Osvatic

Jarod Michael Sulik

Randy S McDonald

Joel C Bragg

Jonathan H Olson

Mark R Heckenkamp

A door latch for an appliance provides a U-shaped spring for engaging a strike having an expanded tip and passing between the arms of the U-shaped spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extent of those arms. Locking of the latch may be provided by collaring the distal ends of the arms to prevent their expansion once the strike is engaged.

Appliance latch with improved door retention at elevated temperatures

An electrical switch provides a center contact moving between two outer contacts, at least one of which is mounted on a lever. In the event of a contact weld forming between the center contact and the lever mounted contact, unison motion of the lever mounted contact following the center contact during switching causes a strong shear force tending to break the weld. In one embodiment, a fulcrum wall striking the lever of the lever mounted contact causes increased angulation between the contacts so that unison motion rotates and peels the contacts apart.

Electrical switch with shear force contact weld release

A latch for a washing machine or other appliance provides two interengaging elements on a lid and housing each having a magnet oriented for mutual repulsion. Proper repulsion of the magnets is necessary to signal that the lid is properly closed such as may be used to determine if the appliance may be locked and safely operated, for example, in a clothes spinning mode.

Lid lock with magnetic anti-tamper feature

Growing community of inventors

New Berlin, WI, United States of America

Adrian J Tengler