LIGHTING FOR SHELF DIVIDER IN REFRIGERATOR

• US 20140320040A1
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: SANKHGOND, BASAVRAJ ISHWAR, KATU, UMAKANT SURESH
• Granted Patent: US 9,766,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/292
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/021 Shelves with several possible configurations
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for illuminating the interior of a refrigerated appliance such as refrigerator, freezer or combination includes storage shelf or surface in the appliance, a divider positioned relative at shelf or storage surface, and a divider lighting subassembly on the divider. Electrical power is provided from an electrical power source in the appliance to the divider lighting subassembly on the divider. Light sources of the divided light subassembly can be selected to illuminate from a position on the divider. Different lighting schemes can be instructed to the light sources. The light sources can be LEDs.

Claims

1. A refrigerator storage assembly for the interior of a refrigerator cabinet comprising:

a. a supporting surface having top and bottom sides and opposite ends along a lateral width;

b. a divider member extending above the top side of the supporting surface to physically separate portions of the supporting surface;

c. a light source sub-assembly mounted in, to or out the divider comprises one or more light sources; and

d. an electrical connection from the light source adapted for operative connection to an electrical power source connection in the cabinet.

2. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporting surface is at least partially comprised of glass which transmits at least a portion of light from the light source sub-assembly when the light source is operating.

3. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 2 wherein the glass reflects a portion of light from the light source sub-assembly when the light source is operating.

4. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the divider is attached to the cabinet.

5. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 4 wherein the shelf is moveable relative to the divider.

6. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 4 wherein the shelf comprises a single member.

7. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 4 wherein the shelf comprises two sections on opposite sides of the divider.

8. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of the two sections of the shelf is independently moveable relative to the other section.

9. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 4 where the electrical power source connection comprises a conductive wire from the cabinet.

10. The refrigerator storage combination of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of solid state lights.

11. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the divider is attached to the shelf.

12. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 11 wherein the divider is moveable along the shelf.

13. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 11 further comprising an optical component positioned relative to the light source to manipulate light output from the light source.

14. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 13 wherein the optical component comprises one or more of a light guide, light pipe, lens, reflector, visor, or light absorbing surface.

15. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 11 wherein the shelf is moveable relative to the cabinet, the electrical connection comprises an electrically conductive member moveable with the shelf, and the electrical power source connection comprises an electrically conductive member to which the electrical connection of the light source comes into electrically conductive connection when the shelf is in a home position.

16. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 15 wherein the electrical connection of the light source comprises an electrically conductive finger extending beyond an edge of the shelf and adapted to pass through a closure member in an aperture in the refrigerator cabinet to the electrical power source connection, wherein when the shelf is moved to the home position relative the cabinet, the finger extends through the closure member and into electrical connection with the power source to turn the light source on, but when the shelf is moved away from that position, electrical contact is lost and the light source is turned off.

17. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs mounted on a board or substrate in communication with a drive circuit connect to a controller.

18. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 17 wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in one or more arrays, certain of the LEDs emitting different colors when activated.

19. The refrigerator storage assembly of claim 18 further comprises a lens over one or more of the arrays to control the light output distribution pattern from the one or more arrays.

20. The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporting surface comprises a shelf, drawer, bin or basket in any of a fresh food compartment, freezer compartment, or door.

21. A system for illumination of at least a part of the interior of a refrigerated appliance comprising:

a. a storage space in the interior of the refrigerated appliance defined by a liner;

b. a supporting surface in that space;

c. a divider member in that space at the supporting surface physically separating portions of the space;

d. a light source subassembly in, on, or at the divider operatively connectable to an electrical power source to emit light distribution output that illuminates at least a part of the space.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the supporting surface is at least partially light transmissive such that the emitted light from the light source subassembly illuminates at and above the supporting surface as well as through and below the supporting surface.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the light source subassembly is the primary illuminate source for the space.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the light source subassembly supplements another light source for illumination in the space.

25. The system of claim 21 further comprising a light pipe or guide positioned to receive light from the light source subassembly and transmit it to a position away from the light source subassembly.

26. A method of illumination of at least a portion of the interior of a refrigerated appliance comprising:

a. positioning an illumination source on a divider member of a supporting surface of a shelf, drawer, bin, or door of the refrigerated appliance;

b. operating the illumination source to illuminate areas at least around the supporting surface.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the illumination source comprises a plurality of colored individually controllable light sources and selected light sources are operated at certain times.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein operation of certain colored light sources is dependent upon user-selection through a user interface associated with the appliance.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the user selections are between a first color, a second color, and the third color, wherein the first, second and third colors are correlated to mood.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the first color is correlated to a quiet mood, the second color is correlated to a celebrating mood, and the third color is correlated to another mood.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the individual light sources are driven by a master controller associated with the appliance.