Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A safety apparatus for a microwave cooking device, comprising, in combination, a source of electrical power; a load; a load circuit connected between said source and said load; door means with lock means; circuit breaking means and main interlocking switch means in said load circuit, the main interlocking switch means arranged to be opened upon an unlocking operation of said lock means; first door switch means mechanically coupled to the door means and arranged to be closed when said door means is opened by a predetermined amount, whereby a short circuit is established across the power source and in parallel with said load, the short circuit thereby detecting a failure of the main interlocking switch means to open in response to unlocking of the lock means, and whereby, upon the failure of the main interlocking switch means to open, the circuit breaking means will open to interrupt the circuit from the power source to the load; and a second door switch means connected to said load circuit on the electrical power source side of said first door switch means, said second door switch means being mechanically coupled to the door means and being opened when the door means is opened by a further predetermined amount, thereby disabling the short circuit once the failure of the main interlocking switch means has been detected and the circuit breaking means has been opened in response thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A safety apparatus for a microwave cooking device, comprising, in combination, a source of electrical power; a load; a load circuit connected between said source and said load; door means with lock means; circuit breaking means and main interlocking switch means in said load circuit, the main interlocking switch means arranged to be opened upon an unlocking operation of said lock means; first door switch means mechanically coupled to the door means and arranged to be closed when said door means is opened by a predetermined amount, whereby a short circuit is established across the power source and in parallel with said load, the short circuit thereby detecting a failure of the main interlocking switch means to open in response to unlocking of the lock means, and whereby, upon the failure of the main interlocking switch means to open, the circuit breaking means will open to interrupt the circuit from the power source to the load; and a second door switch means connected to said load circuit on the electrical power source side of said first door switch means, said second door switch means being mechanically coupled to the door means and being opened when the door means is opened by a further predetermined amount, thereby disabling the short circuit once the failure of the main interlocking switch means has been detected and the circuit breaking means has been opened in response thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first door switch means and said second door switch means are arranged to be operated by a door arm extending from said door means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1, further including an auxiliary interlocking switch connected on the load side of the first door switch means and arranged to be opened upon an unlocking operation of said lock means.