Systems for locking a door of microwave appliances

Abstract

A microwave appliance has a vertical, a transverse, and a lateral direction. The microwave appliance includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber and a user interface panel positioned on the cabinet. The user interface panel includes a door release button and a display. The microwave appliance also includes a door that is configured to allow selective entry to the cooking chamber. The door includes an upper portion and an opening side portion, and a lock assembly positioned at the upper portion

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microwave appliance defining a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and a lateral direction, the microwave appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cooking chamber;   a user interface panel positioned on the cabinet, the user interface panel comprising a door release button and a display;   a door mounted to the cabinet and adjustable between an open configured and a closed configuration, the door configured to limit entry to the cooking chamber in the closed configuration, the door comprising an upper portion and an opening side portion; and   a lock assembly positioned at the upper portion of the door, the lock assembly configured to selectively lock the door in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The microwave appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly is positioned at the upper portion of the door proximate the opening side portion. 
     
     
         3 . The microwave appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly comprises one of a tab or a button configured to translate when the door is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The microwave appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the tab is configured to rotate a lever between an up position and a down position. 
     
     
         5 . The microwave appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the lever engages with a slot in the cabinet in the down position of the lever. 
     
     
         6 . The microwave appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising a spring coupled to the lever, the spring configured to normally position the lever in the down position. 
     
     
         7 . The microwave appliance of  claim 4 , wherein, from the closed configuration, the door is adjustable to the open configuration when both the lever is in the up position and the door release button is depressed. 
     
     
         8 . The microwave appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly is inset into the door. 
     
     
         9 . The microwave appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the microwave appliance is a counter-top microwave appliance. 
     
     
         10 . A microwave appliance defining a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and a lateral direction, the microwave appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cooking chamber;   a user interface panel positioned on the cabinet, the user interface panel comprising a plurality of user inputs, a door release button, and a display; and   a door mounted to the cabinet and adjustable between an open configured and a closed configuration, the door configured to limit entry to the cooking chamber in the closed configuration, the door comprising an upper portion, a hinge side portion, an opening side portion, and a bottom portion, the upper portion comprising a lock assembly, the lock assembly configured to selectively lock the door in the closed configuration.   wherein both the door release button and the lock assembly are actuated in order to open the door.   
     
     
         11 . The microwave appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lock assembly is positioned at the upper portion of the door proximate the opening side portion. 
     
     
         12 . The microwave appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lock assembly comprises one of a tab or a button configured to translate when the door is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The microwave appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is configured to rotate a lever between an up position and a down position. 
     
     
         14 . The microwave appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the lever engages with a slot in the cabinet in the down position of the lever. 
     
     
         15 . The microwave appliance of  claim 13 , further comprising a spring coupled to the lever, the spring configured to normally position the lever in the down position. 
     
     
         16 . The microwave appliance of  claim 13 , wherein, from the closed configuration, the door is adjustable to the open configuration when both the lever is in the up position and the door release button is depressed. 
     
     
         17 . The microwave appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lock assembly is inset into the upper portion of the door. 
     
     
         18 . The microwave appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the microwave appliance is a counter-top microwave appliance.