Methods and apparatus to provide lighting in refrigerators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016259124-A1
Application number	US-201615152723-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example methods and apparatuses to provide lighting in appliances are disclosed. An example refrigerator includes a compartment disposed within the refrigerator having first and second opposite side walls, a movable component disposed in the compartment, the movable component having a front edge, a light pipe extending along the front edge of the movable component, and a first light source positioned at the first side wall to emit light into a first end of the light pipe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a compartment disposed within the refrigerator having first and second opposite side walls; a movable component having a front edge and being moveably mounted within the compartment with the front edge extending between the first and second side walls with a first end adjacent the first side wall; a light pipe extending along the front edge of the movable component and having a first edge adjacent the first side wall; and a first light source positioned on the first side wall and aligned with the first end to emit light into the first end of the light pipe.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the compartment defines an opening, the first and second opposite side walls extending inward from the opening, the refrigerator further comprising:
a first light reflector having at least a portion thereof extending from the first side wall beyond the first light source and positioned between the first light source and opening.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein at least the portion of the first light reflector further extends from the first side wall beyond the first end of the light pipe.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the portion of first light reflector is a first portion and defines a semicircular shape; a second portion of the first light reflector is mounted to the movable component and defines a semicircular shape; and the first and second portions align to define a generally circular connector surrounding the light source and at least the first end of the light pipe.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the moveable component includes an opaque trim piece defining the front edge thereof; and the light pipe is mounted to an underside of the trim piece.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the trim piece defines a channel receiving the light pipe therein and surrounding a portion thereof disposed toward at top of the moveable component and along the front edge.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the channel is complimentary in shape to the light pipe along the portion of the light pipe surrounded by the channel.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein a reflector extends along the light pipe within the channel.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , further comprising a transparent substrate, wherein:
the trim piece extends along an edge of transparent substrate.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the trim piece is a rectangular frame surrounding the transparent substrate.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the movable component is one of a shelf, a basket, or a bin.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the light pipe comprises at least one of a lens, a concave surface, a convex surface, a shiny surface or a flat surface.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a second light module positioned at the second side wall to emit light into a second end of the light pipe adjacent thereto.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a control system operatively connected to the first light source and programmed to disable the light source if the moveable component is moved to a position wherein the light pipe is unaligned with the light source.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is embedded in the first side wall, the first end of the light pipe contacting the first wall.

16 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the first side wall defines a support extending therefrom, the moveable component being positioned on the support; and the lighting element is positioned adjacent the support.

17 . A movable component for use in an appliance, comprising:
a body defining a front edge extending laterally from a first side to a second side; a light pipe extending along a front edge of the body, the light pipe comprising:
a diffuser; and
first and second opposite ends respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the body; and
a first light reflector extending along a portion of the light pipe adjacent the first end and further extending laterally beyond the first end.

18 . The component of claim 17 , further comprising an opaque trim piece defining the front edge thereof, wherein:
the light pipe is mounted to an underside of the trim piece.

19 . The component of claim 17 , wherein:
the trim piece is a drawer face; and the underside of the trim piece is at least partially defined on a handle of the drawer face.

20 . The component of claim 17 , wherein the body defines one of a shelf, a bin, or a basket.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gooden Corey M

Classifications

• F25D25/02

  by shelves · CPC title

• F21V33/0044

  Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners · CPC title

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• F21V7/00

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

• F25D25/022

  Baskets · CPC title