Beverage dispenser and refrigeration appliance comprising a beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11029083-B2
Application number	US-201716461411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2017
Priority date	Nov 16, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A beverage dispenser has an actuation lever which is mounted in a dispenser recess in such a way as to be able to pivot about an axis, at least one lighting device, and at least one optical waveguide, which extends from the lighting device, for illuminating the dispenser recess. A light exit is provided on the actuation lever, and the optical waveguide connects the lighting device to the light exit on the actuation lever.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
a housing having a dispenser recess formed therein and a rear wall;
an actuation lever mounted in said dispenser recess in such a way as to be able to pivot about an axis, said actuation lever having a light exit;
at least one illuminator disposed on said rear wall covered by said actuation lever;
at least one optical waveguide extending from said illuminator for illuminating said dispenser recess, said optical waveguide connecting said illuminator to said light exit of said actuation lever;
a base mounted on said rear wall, said actuation lever is articulated on said base and said optical waveguide is fastened to said base, said base being a hollow body opening toward said rear wall of said housing, said hollow body having a wall with an edge facing said rear wall and at least one recessed portion formed therein toward said edge, said recessed portion being open on said edge thereof, and said optical waveguide is inserted from said edge into said recessed portion.

2. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said optical waveguide and said base are integrally molded from a transparent material.

3. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation lever has a rough surface, said light exit and said rough surface oppose one another on two sides of said actuation lever.

4. The beverage dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation lever has a first lever arm which extends downwardly from the axis and a second lever arm which protrudes from the axis into said dispenser recess.

5. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein said second lever arm has a lower face with a lower light exit.

6. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein said first lever arm is illuminated via said lower light exit.

7. The beverage dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein said actuation lever is formed from a translucent material provided with an opaque coating and said opaque coating has a hole formed therein functioning as said light exit.

8. The beverage dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein said opaque coating has an internal layer and an external layer, said internal layer is brighter than said external layer.

9. The beverage dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein said second lever arm is hollow and said optical waveguide terminates in a hollow space of said second arm spaced apart from said light exit.

10. The beverage dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein said translucent material is exposed on an edge of said first lever arm facing the axis, and said optical waveguide terminates opposite said edge.

11. The beverage dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein said first lever arm has a base plate and a rib which protrudes from said base plate and said rib extends from an end of said optical waveguide to said lower light exit.

12. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
a housing having a dispenser recess formed therein and a rear wall;
an actuation lever mounted in said dispenser recess in such a way as to be able to pivot about an axis, said actuation lever having a light exit, a first lever arm extending downwardly from the axis and a second lever arm protruding from the axis into said dispenser recess, said first lever arm having has at least one lower light exit formed therein;
at least one illuminator disposed on said rear wall covered by said actuation lever;
at least one optical waveguide extending from said illuminator for illuminating said dispenser recess, said optical waveguide connecting said illuminator to said light exit of said actuation lever; and
a base mounted on said rear wall, said actuation lever is articulated on said base and said optical waveguide is fastened to said base.

13. The beverage dispenser according to claim 12 , wherein said first lever arm is plate-shaped and has a plate, said lower light exit extends along an edge of said plate of said first lever arm or is disposed at a central point of said first lever arm.

14. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
a housing having a dispenser recess formed therein and a rear wall;
an actuation lever mounted in said dispenser recess in such a way as to be able to pivot about an axis, said actuation lever having a light exit, a first lever arm extending downwardly from the axis and a second lever arm protruding from the axis into said dispenser recess;
at least one illuminator disposed on said rear wall covered by said actuation lever;
at least one optical waveguide extending from said illuminator for illuminating said dispenser recess, said optical waveguide connecting said illuminator to said light exit of said actuation lever;
a base mounted on said rear wall, said actuation lever is articulated on said base and said optical waveguide is fastened to said base; and
said second lever arm having an upper face and one of said upper face or said base having an upper light exit.

15. The beverage dispenser according to claim 14 , further comprising a disposable beverage container being illuminated via said upper light exit.

16. The beverage dispenser according to claim 15 , wherein said disposable beverage container has a wall and said upper light exit is aligned with said wall of said disposable beverage container.

Assignees

• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Lux Denis
• Mayr Tobias
• Claass Elena
• Fink Andrea
• Dittmann Jessica
• Weber Armin

Classifications

• F25D23/126 Primary

  Water cooler · CPC title

• B67D3/0058

  Details · CPC title

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• B67D1/0874

  Means for illuminating the handle of taps or faucets · CPC title

• F25D2327/001

  Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box · CPC title