Appliance doors having integrated lighting and controls

• US 20110134627A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kowalski, Steven Martin, Hamlin, Bradley Ray, Bleau, John Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/92
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0044 Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2327/001 Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person

Abstract

The present invention is an integrated control system for use with various home appliances, such as washing machine, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and the like. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the integrated controls are incorporated into a polycarbonate clear door panel, and incorporate proximity switches and controls to provide control and operation of the applicance. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are optionally incorporated into a door handle for the appliance in an area out of sight such that only the light produced by the LEDs is seen and illuminates a handle for opening the door of the appliance. Additionally, opaque glass technology may be incorporated into one or more surfaces of the appliance which enables an opaque panel to become transparent to view the content of the interior of the appliance, such as a refrigerator.

Claims

1. An integrated control panel for a home appliance, comprising:

at least one panel pivotally connected to a home appliance for allowing access to the inside of said home appliance;

a plurality of controls embedded into said at least one panel; and

one or more lighting structures embedded into said at least one panel, said one or more lighting structures selectively illuminated to provide substantially uniform illumination of said plurality of controls.

2. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, further comprising at least one proximity switch for selectively activating said one or more lighting structures.

3. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, said one or more lighting structures being one or more selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes and electroluminescence strips.

4. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, said at least one panel further comprising a substantially transparent polycarbonate door panel for allowing viewing access to the inside of said home appliance, said plurality of controls and said one or more lighting structures being embedded into said substantially transparent polycarbonate door panel.

5. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, further comprising a graphics layer integrally formed with said at least one panel, said graphics layer providing an indication of the locations of each of said plurality of controls when said one or more lighting structures are activated.

6. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a body portion surrounding various mechanical components of said home appliance; and

a seal surrounding said at least one panel for providing a sealing function between said at least one panel and said body portion.

7. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 6, wherein said seal, said body portion, and said at least one panel are formed simultaneously during manufacturing of said seal, said body portion, and said at least one panel.

8. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, said home appliance further comprising one selected from the group consisting of a washing machine and a dryer.

9. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

an opening formed as part of said at least one panel;

a lighting system surrounding an outer portion of said opening formed as part of said at least one panel; and

a window disposed in said opening formed as part of said at least one panel, such that said lighting system selectively illuminates said outer portion of said opening and an outer periphery of said window.

10. An integrated lighting system for a home appliance, comprising:

at least one panel;

a handle connected to said at least one panel;

at least one recess formed as part of said at least one panel in proximity to said handle; and

at least one light disposed in said recess such that said at least one light is substantially obstructed from view when looking at said at least one panel, wherein said at least one light selectively illuminates said handle.

11. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 10, wherein said at least one panel changes from opaque to transparent under predetermined conditions, such that when said at least one panel is transparent, the interior of said home appliance is visible.

12. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of lights disposed inside said home appliance for providing substantially uniform illumination of said interior of said home appliance when said at least one panel is transparent; and

at least one proximity switch for controlling each of said plurality of lights.

13. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 11, further comprising at least one proximity switch for controlling the change of said at least one panel from opaque to transparent.

14. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 11, said at least one panel being a door further comprising:

an inner panel;

a middle panel connected to said inner panel; and

an outer panel connected to said middle panel, said recess being formed as part of said outer panel.

15. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 14, wherein said inner panel changes between being opaque and transparent.

16. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 14, wherein said middle panel changes between being opaque and transparent.

17. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 14, wherein said outer panel changes between being opaque and transparent.

18. The integrated lighting system for a home appliance of claim 10, said home appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a washing machine, a dryer, and a refrigerator.

19. A control panel integrated into a home appliance, comprising:

at least one panel, said at least one panel being part of a home applicance;

a plurality of controls integrally formed with said at least one panel;

a plurality of lighting structures embedded into said at least one panel;

a graphics layer integrally formed with said at least one panel in proximity to said plurality of controls such that said graphics layer provides an indication of the location of each of said plurality of controls when said plurality of lighting structures are activated; and

at least one proximity switch operable for selectively activating each of said plurality of lighting structures;

wherein said at least one proximity switch activates each of said plurality of lighting structures when an operator is in proximity to said proximity switch, such that said plurality of lighting structures project light through at least a portion of said graphics layer.

20. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 19, wherein said plurality of lighting structures are one selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, electroluminescence strips, and combinations thereof.

21. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 19, further comprising:

a body portion surrounding various mechanical components of said home appliance; and

a seal surrounding said at least one panel for providing a sealing function between said at least one panel and said body portion, wherein said seal, said body portion, and said at least one panel are formed simultaneously during the manufacturing of said seal, said body portion, such that said at least one panel, said body, and said seal having a matching contour.

22. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 19, wherein said at least one panel is a substantially transparent polycarbonate door panel for allowing viewing access to the inside of said home appliance, one or more of said plurality of controls and one or more of said plurality of lighting structures being embedded into said substantially transparent polycarbonate door panel.

23. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 19, further comprising:

an opening formed as part of said at least one panel, said opening having an outer portion;

a lighting system connected to and surrounding said outer portion formed as part of said opening; and

a window mounted in said opening formed as part of said at least one panel, wherein said lighting system selectively illuminates said outer portion of said opening and an outer periphery of said window.

24. The integrated control panel for a home appliance of claim 19, wherein said home appliance is one selected from the group consisting of a washer and a dryer.