Combination latching and switch control arrangement for electrical appliances

Claim 1

FOR USE IN AN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE HAVING A CABINET, A CLOSURE MEMBER FOR SAID CABINET, AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT WHICH IS TO BE DE-ENERGIZED WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS OPEN TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAID CABINET: (A) A LATCH ASSEMBLY SUPPORT RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID CABINET; (B) A LATCH ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT; (C) MEANS BIASING SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY TO A PRE-DETERMINED POSITION; (D) A SWITCH ASSEMBLY RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY, SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY BEING ADAPTED TO CONTROL ENERGIZATION OF SAID ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND BIASED TO OPEN POSITION, SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING A MEMBER MOVABLE TO A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS CLOSED; (E) A STRIKER MEMBER SECURED TO SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND POSITIONED TO MOVE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO THE PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY INTO ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID STRIKER MEMBER HAVING A CAMMING SURFACE AND A LATCHING RECESS FORMED THEREON; (F) SAID CAMMING SURFACE BEING FORMED TO ENGAGE SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY AS SAID CLOSURE MEMBER CLOSES AND PIVOT SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY AWAY FROM ITS PREDETERMINED POSITION, SAID BIASING MEANS FORCING SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY TOWARD SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION INTO SAID RECESS WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS FULLY CLOSED, SAID STRIKER MEMBER AND SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY BEING RELATIVELY POSITIONED SO THAT SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY MEMBER IS ENGAGED BY SAID STRIKER MEMBER AND IS MOVED TO ITS CLOSED POSITION ONLY WHEN SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY IS IN SAID STRIKER MEMBER RECESS; AND (G) MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LATCH ASSEMBLY AWAY FROM ITS PREDETERMINED POSITION THEREBY TO RELEASE SAID STRIKER MEMBER AND ALLOW OPENING OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER.