U.S. Controls Corporation

Ark-les Corporation

Timothy Laseke

Kenyon A Hapke

Spencer C Schantz

A lid lock for a washing machine or the like employs a rapid bistable electromagnetic actuator that is released at a predetermined time interval after the cessation of a spin signal, the time interval being selected to allow the spin basket to coast to a stop prior to the lid being unlocked. Because the actuator is bistable, it can remain locked despite possible power failure during which the spin basket may still be coasting yet the driving circuitry stores reserved power to unlock the lid after a suitable time delay. These same components can provide protection against entrapment in which the lid closure activates the spin cycle and lock because of a previous initiation of the spin cycle signal. Here, for the spin cycle to be initiated, the spin cycle signal must occur after lid closure.

Timed release washing machine lid lock

A solid state alarm for a clothes dryer receives a line voltage signal prior to termination of the tumbling cycle to provide a series of pulses with decaying amplitudes driving a piezoelectric-type transducer. A timer terminating the series of pulses communicates with a pulse generating oscillator so as to eliminate partial pulsing at the conclusion of the alarm signal.

Clothes dryer with chiming alarm

A lid lock for a washing machine or the like employs a rapid bistable electromagnetic actuator that can be released immediately upon detecting a ceasing of rotation of the spin basket. The actuator is bistable to operate despite possible power failure during which the spin basket may still be coasting, and is driven by circuitry that stores reserved power to unlock the lid in a power failure situation. These same components can provide protection against entrapment in which the lid closure activates the spin cycle and lock because of a previous initiation of the spin cycle signal. Here, for the spin cycle to be initiated, the spin cycle signal must occur after lid closure.

Growing community of inventors

New Berlin, WI, United States of America

Timothy Laseke