Hidden dryer door switch
A latch switch assembly for an appliance or the like provides spring-loaded jaws to retain a latch strike when a door of the appliance is closed and a switch operator positioned behind spring-loaded jaws be activated by the latch strike when it is received.
1. A latch switch assembly adapted to accept and retain a latch strike, the latch switch assembly comprising:
a pair of jaw elements movable in separation toward and away from each other across an insertion axis;
a spring element biasing the jaw elements toward each other so that they may separate to receive the latch strike along the insertion axis and hold the latch strike in contact with the latch strike after receipt under force of the spring element; and
an electric switch having an operator positioned behind the jaw elements with respect to a direction of receipt of the latch strike along the insertion axis to be operated by the latch strike when so received;
wherein the jaw elements are a polymer material and wherein the spring element provides metal teeth fitting within the jaw elements to grip the latch strike positioned therebetween in an absence of the jaw elements.
2. The latch switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring element is a U-shaped metal clip having opposing and separated arms attached respectively to upper and lower opposed jaw elements.
3. The latch switch assembly of claim 2 wherein the U-shaped metal clip is attached to a housing and the electric switch at a center portion of the U-shaped metal clip substantially midway between the arms.
4. The latch switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the switch operator is a lever arm extending from a position behind the jaw elements with respect to the insertion axis to electrical contacts of the electric switch which are displaced perpendicularly from the insertion axis from the position behind the jaw elements.
5. The latch switch assembly of claim 4 wherein at least one electrical contact is supported on metal leaf springs extending perpendicularly to the insertion axis.
6. The latch switch assembly of claim 4 wherein the lever arm includes a pivot affixed to a housing supporting the spring element and the electric switch to pivot with respect to the housing.
7. The latch switch assembly of claim 4 wherein an end of the lever arm extending away from the position behind the jaw elements contacts an over-center spring providing a snap action opening and closing of electrical contacts.
8. The latch switch assembly of claim 7 further including a housing holding the jaw elements, the spring element, and the electric switch, wherein the housing provides an opening exposing the jaw elements along the insertion axis.
9. The latch switch assembly of claim 8 wherein the opening includes a flange extending outward along a plane around the opening and perpendicular to the insertion axis.
10. The latch switch assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing extends upward along a rear side of the plane of the opening behind the flange and is sized to be threadably passed through an aperture in an appliance sized to be covered by the flange when the flange is placed against the aperture.
11. The latch switch assembly of claim 1 further including a latch strike having a bulbous distal end tapered at a front of the bulbous distal end to separate the pair of jaw elements as the latch strike is moved along the insertion axis so that the pair of jaw elements separate to pass over the bulbous distal end with insertion of the latch strike along the insertion axis and move together to behind the bulbous end with a spring force to retain the latch strike against a predetermined retraction force.
12. A latch switch assembly adapted to accept and retain a latch strike, the latch switch assembly comprising:
a pair of jaw elements movable in separation toward and away from each other across an insertion axis;
a spring element in a form of a U-shaped metal clip having opposing and separated arms attached respectively to upper and lower opposed jaw elements, the spring element biasing the jaw elements toward each other so that they may separate to receive the latch strike along the insertion axis and hold the latch strike in contact with the latch strike after receipt under force of the spring element; and
an electric switch having an operator in a form of a lever arm extending from a position behind the jaw elements with respect to a direction of receipt of the latch strike along the insertion axis to be operated by the latch strike when so received, the electrical switch having electrical contacts displaced perpendicularly from the insertion axis away from the position behind the jaw elements to be outside the U-shaped metal clip;
wherein the U-shaped metal clip includes at least one slot in one arm allowing passage of the lever arm therethrough.
13. The latch switch assembly of claim 12 wherein an end of the lever arm behind the upper and lower opposed jaw elements provides a plate extending from either side of the lever arm along a line of contact between the upper and lower opposed jaw elements when the jaw elements are pressed together.