| CPC D06F 58/20 (2013.01) [D06F 58/02 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
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1. A laundry machine comprising:
a housing having an access opening;
a drum mounted within the housing and configured to rotate about a generally horizontal rotation axis, the drum comprising an open end located along the rotation axis and facing the access opening;
a door rotatably connected to the housing adjacent to the access opening, the door being movable between a closed door position in which the door closes the access opening, and an open door position in which the door does not close the access opening; and
a door latch assembly comprising:
a bolt movable between a first bolt position and a second bolt position, wherein the first bolt position is located on a first travel path defined by movement of the door between the closed door position and the open door position, and the second bolt position is located on a second travel path defined by movement of the door between the closed door position and the open door position,
a bolt handle having a grip portion that is accessible when the door is in the closed door position, the bolt handle being operatively connected to the bolt and configured to move the bolt from the first bolt position to the second bolt position, and
a catch mounted within the first travel path and not within the second travel path, the catch being configured to engage the bolt when the door is in the closed door position and the bolt is in the first bolt position, wherein the catch and bolt are configured to exert an opening force opposing movement of the bolt along the first travel path upon movement of the door from the closed door position towards the open door position, the bolt maintains the first travel path when engaging the catch,
wherein the bolt and the bolt handle are mounted to one of the door and the housing, and the catch is mounted to the other of the door and the housing.
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