Abstract: An oven door lock for self-cleaning ovens is described. The oven door lock includes a clutch mechanism which locks and unlocks the oven door at substantially different temperatures, in particular, the lock temperature is substantially higher than the unlock temperature. The clutch mechanism comprises a thermally responsive element, a clutch, and a lock member. During heating, in a self-clean or normal cooking operation, an expanding thermally responsive element, acting upon the clutch, causes the lock member to lock the oven door. During cool down, the contracting thermally responsive element, acting upon the clutch in an opposing direction, in concert with a restraining spring, causes the lock member to unlock the oven door at a temperature substantially lower than the locking temperature.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer includes a rotatable cam-carrying member having cam surfaces thereon, a timing motor, a drive mechanism, a plurality of cam-actuated switches and a switch wafer mounting receiving first and second switch wafers, with one of the wafers including standard switch arms and at least one switch arm of different widths and/or made of different metals.

Abstract: For use with vacuum cleaner bags of the type having a substantially rigid collar surrounding the bag opening, and with vacuum cleaners of the type having a dirty air outlet nozzle, a vacuum bag docking assembly is shown and described. The assembly incorporates an anchor member having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle. The assembly also incorporates a mounting member which engages the collar on the vacuum bag to secure the bag to the bag mounting member. The bag mounting member is pivotally connected to the anchor member, and moves between a loading position in which the bag can be inserted or removed from the mounting member, and a working position in which the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.

Abstract: An oven latch mechanism for heat-cleaning ovens is disclosed. The latch mechanism employs a unidirectional rotating d.c. motor to automatically latch the oven door upon initiation of a heat-cleaning operation and to automatically unlatch the door after a heat-clean operation and after the oven has reached a predetermined lower temperature. The latch mechanism includes a latch arm which moves arcuately through a variety of positions. The latch member senses whether the door is open and follows a different path of motion accordingly. If the latch member senses an open door, it returns to an unlatched position.

Abstract: An incremental drive mechanism for a switch operating timing cam is disclosed. The mechanism includes a camshaft having a radially extending cam and a cooperating slide which is adapted to reciprocate along a rectilinear path. The slide has first and second cam surfaces which are engaged during a major portion of a single revolution of the camshaft to reciprocate the slide in a positive manner. The slide has a cantilever spring arm which carries a pawl tooth at its end to engage successive teeth provided on the periphery of a switch operating cam drum or disc. A cantilever leaf spring is provided which bears against the slide to urge the pawl tooth into engagement with the cam disc or drum in the event the cantilever spring arm becomes permanently displaced toward the slide.

Abstract: A motor assembly having a field plate and a gear train mounted on at least one face of the field plate. The field plate defines an aperture which, in turn, defines a plurality of field poles for a rotor mounted in the aperture. A field coil is wound about a portion of the field plate to provide a motor for the field-plate-mounted gear train.

Abstract: An incremental drive mechanism for a switch operating timing cam is disclosed. The mechanism includes a camshaft having a radially extending cam and a cooperating slide which is adapted to reciprocate along a rectilinear path. The slide has first and second cam surfaces which are engaged during a major portion of a single revolution of the camshaft to reciprocate the slide in a positive manner. The slide has a cantilever spring arm which carries a pawl tooth at its end to engage successive teeth provided on the periphery of a switch operating cam drum or disc.

Abstract: A sequential ratchet drive for an appliance timing cam is disclosed. The drive includes a pawl adapted to drive ratchet teeth located on the periphery of a main program cam in a step-by-step manner. The pawl is driven and guided by cams against and with the bias of springs in an initial tangential drive path in driving engagement with a ratchet tooth. The cams guide the pawl out of engagement with the driven tooth in a curvilinear retraction path with the bias of a first spring and against the bias of a second spring to a raised location and then the pawl is returned to its initial driving position by the bias of both springs. A portion of the path of travel of the pawl from its raised location to its initial position may be defined by a portion of a ratchet tooth so that the retraction path of the pawl may adapt itself to a variety of varying tooth spacings.

Abstract: For use with vacuum cleaner bags of the type having a substantially rigid collar surrounding the bag opening, and with vacuum cleaners of the type having a dirty air outlet nozzle, a vacuum bag docking assembly is shown and described. The assembly incorporates an anchor member having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle. The assembly also incorporates a mounting member which engages the collar on the vacuum bag to secure the bag to the bag mounting member. The bag mounting member is pivotally connected to the anchor member, and moves between a loading position in which the bag can be inserted or removed from the mounting member, and a working position in which the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.