Interactive lighting in a refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10126045-B2
Application number	US-201615236859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system including a light source, a reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction, and wherein the refrigerator is configured to move the reflector between the first position and the second position based on interactions between a user of the refrigerator and the refrigerator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet;
a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system comprising:
(a) a light source, said light source being positioned proximate a drawer in the refrigerator;
(b) a rotatable reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction;
(c) wherein the refrigerator comprises elements on the sides of the drawer configured to control rotation of the rotatable reflector between the first and second position.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the reflector is in the first position when the drawer is closed.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the reflector is in the second position when the drawer is open.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the light source is positioned on an interior side of the refrigerator cabinet.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the elements are molded-in elements.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the drawer is a crisper.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an LED.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the elements control rotation of the rotatable reflector between the first position and the second position with movement of the drawer between the open position and the closed position.

9. A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet, said refrigerator cabinet having an interior wall;
a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system comprising:
(a) a light source, said light source being positioned proximate a drawer in the refrigerator;
(b) a rotatable reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction;
(c) wherein the refrigerator comprises elements on the sides of the drawer configured to control rotation of the rotatable reflector between the first and second position;
(d) and further providing a recess in the interior wall configured to receive the elements as the drawer opens and closes to thereby rotate the rotatable reflector and change its orientation to affect the direction of light emanating from the light source.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the elements are molded on the sides of the drawer.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9 further including a sensor within the recess.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 whereby the sensor is a contact sensor or switch configured to determine a position of the drawer as open or closed.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12 whereby the sensor is operatively connected to an intelligent control.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 whereby the intelligent control is operatively connected to a reflector motion unit.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 whereby the reflector motion unit includes a device selected from the group consisting of a motor, a servo, and an actuator.

16. A method of controlling interactive lighting in a refrigerator, the method comprising:
providing a refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet, and a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, said interior cabinet having an interior wall, the light system comprising: (a) a light source, said light source being positioned proximate a drawer in the refrigerator (b) a rotatable reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction, and (c) elements on the sides of the drawer;
controlling direction of the light based on the interactions between the elements and the rotatable reflector, whereby the direction of the light is controlled by receiving the elements in a recess of the interior wall to thereby rotate the rotatable reflector.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of engaging a sensor in the recess of the interior wall to determine a position of the drawer.

18. The method of claim 17 whereby the position of the drawer is open or closed.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Hammond Richard L
• Moore Michael T

Classifications

• F21W2131/305

  for refrigerators · CPC title

• F21V7/00

  Reflectors for light sources (characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505) · CPC title

• F25D29/005

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• F21K9/20

  Light sources comprising attachment means · CPC title