Household appliance with light for treatment chamber

Abstract

A household appliance (H) has a treatment chamber (B) that can be closed by means of a front door, the at least one side wall (D) of which has an opening (L) for the insertion of a light (1), and at least one light (1) for illuminating the treatment chamber (B) which projects through the opening (L), wherein at least one light (1) has a first component (2) which has a light shaft (4) projecting through the opening (L), as well as an rim (5) made of opaque material arranged in the treatment chamber (B) and laterally surrounding the light shaft (4), the rim (5) forming a front surface (6) and sloping flattening behind the front surface (6), the light shaft (4) being covered at its opening (7) facing the treatment chamber (B) by a translucent plate (8) and the translucent plate (8) having an overlap area (10) which has at least one edge section (5b) located behind the front surface (6),5c) covered and designed for planar light extraction. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to cooling appliances, especially refrigerators.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a household appliance comprising a treatment chamber that can be closed by a front door, at least one side wall of which has an opening for the insertion of a light, and at least one light for illuminating the treatment chamber that protrudes through the opening. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to cooling appliances, in particular refrigerators.

[0002] DE 10 2012 205 766 A1 discloses a container for a refrigeration device, comprising a container element, wherein the container element has a flat area with a translucent section. The container element has a light source configured to illuminate the translucent section.

[0003] EP 2 594 880 A2 discloses a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises an inner cabinet housed within an outer cabinet, a recess formed in the inner cabinet and having a predetermined depth, a light source received in the recess, and a cover received in the recess and surrounding the light source. The light source can direct light toward a rear portion of the inner cabinet to illuminate a corresponding compartment formed there. The cover can have an extension extending substantially parallel to the inner cabinet and received in the recess to prevent light emitted by the light source from being directed toward a front portion of the inner cabinet.

[0004] KR 2009 0132400 A discloses a lighting device of a refrigerator, wherein the lighting of a storage space is supplemented using a light reflected by a reflection element.

[0005] DE 698 18 568 T2 discloses a refrigerator with a lighting device, wherein an interior panel of the refrigerator has an opening covered by an insert. The insert has electrical connections and means for attaching the lighting device.

[0006] It is the Task The present invention aims to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide lighting for a treatment room of a household appliance which, with a compact design, has a particularly large useful light-emitting surface without noticeably dazzling a user.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0008] The task is solved by a household appliance, comprising a treatment room which can be closed by means of a front door, at least one side wall of which has at least one opening for the use of at least one light, and at least one light for illuminating the treatment room which protrudes through the opening, where at least one luminaire has a component (hereinafter referred to as the "first" component without restriction of generality) which has a light shaft protruding through the opening, as well as an edge made of opaque material arranged in the treatment room and laterally surrounding the light shaft, the edge forming a front surface and flattening at an angle behind the front surface, the light shaft is covered by a translucent plate at its opening facing the treatment room, the translucent plate additionally has an overlapping region which covers at least one edge section located behind the front surface and which is designed for the planar coupling out of light, and the first component, including the light shaft, the edge and the translucent plate, is a one-piece, 2K plastic component.

[0009] This achieves the advantage that light radiates not only from the light well through the translucent panel into the treatment room, but also—after internal light conduction—from the area of the translucent panel that covers the edge section laterally outside the light well (hereinafter also referred to as the "overlap area"). This, in turn, provides a particularly large light emission surface with a compact design, which is larger than the opening of the light well on the treatment room side. In particular, the opening only needs to be comparatively small, which offers the additional advantage of particularly good thermal insulation of the treatment room from its surroundings. This also opens up the possibility of retrofitting existing openings for luminaires that previously emitted light over a comparatively small area.

[0010] The fact that the overlapping area covers at least one edge section can also be expressed in such a way that the translucent panel extends from the opening of the light shaft to this edge section.

[0011] According to the invention, the first component, including the light well, the edge, and the translucent plate, is a one-piece, two-component plastic component. This advantageously enables particularly simple and cost-effective production, as well as a particularly robust component. The translucent plate can be made of translucent plastic, and the remaining component volume of opaque plastic.

[0012] The front surface in conjunction with the shape of the edge behind it, which flattens towards the rear, provides the further advantage that a user is not, or not noticeably, dazzled by the light emitted from the luminaire.

[0013] The fact that the overlapping area is designed for planar light extraction can include the overlapping area having scattering centers (e.g., particles or air inclusions) and / or the surface facing the treatment chamber being supported or structured for light extraction. In particular, this can ensure that light rays traveling in the overlapping area impinge on the surface facing the treatment chamber at such a small angle of incidence that they can be extracted from the overlapping area into the treatment chamber.

[0014] In one embodiment, the household appliance is a refrigeration appliance (e.g., a refrigerator or a freezer). The treatment space then corresponds to a coolable usable space or cooling compartment of the refrigeration appliance. However, the household appliance is not limited to this and can be, for example, a cooking appliance, a dishwasher, etc.

[0015] The treatment room is defined by a wall (in the case of a furnace, also called a muffle or furnace pipe) and, at the front, by the closed door. A side wall can be understood, in particular, as a left-hand side wall, right-hand side wall, ceiling, and / or rear wall of the wall or treatment room when viewed through a loading opening that can be closed by the door. One or more of the side walls can each have one or more openings for respective lights. One embodiment provides for at least one lamp to be arranged on the ceiling of the treatment room.

[0016] The fact that a luminaire protrudes through the opening means that it is arranged partially inside the treatment room and partially outside it. In particular, the edge is located inside the treatment room, while the light shaft is arranged partially inside the treatment room and partially outside it. In particular, the light shaft protrudes vertically through the opening.

[0017] The opaque material can be plastic, enamelled metal, etc.

[0018] The edge can surround the light well laterally, which can be implemented in such a way that the area of the first component located in the treatment room is bowl-shaped, has a central recess, and the light well is attached to the recess in the direction of the opening. The central recess corresponds to the opening of the light well on the treatment room side. The edge can have one or more reinforcing ribs connected to the light well for mechanical reinforcement.

[0019] In particular, the edge may have a rectangular basic shape in plan view. In this case, its long sides correspond to longitudinal sections of the edge.

[0020] The "front surface" of the edge faces the loading opening, which can be closed by the door, and thus a user looking into the treatment room.

[0021] The fact that the edge behind the front surface is inclined and flattened means in particular that the front surface or the front or front edge section providing the front surface projects the furthest into the treatment room. This has the advantage that areas of the luminaire located behind it (i.e. further towards a rear wall) on the treatment room side are at least partially concealed. In particular, the front surface can conceal the opening of the light shaft and the translucent panel from the user's view, so that glare from the luminaire can be noticeably reduced or even completely avoided. The inclined, flattened shape of the edge means in particular that the edge becomes flatter towards the rear or towards the rear wall. This can also be expressed as the height of the edge decreasing towards the rear.

[0022] The light emitted from the light shaft toward the treatment room can be generated by one or more light sources of the luminaire. The at least one light source can comprise, for example, one or more LEDs.

[0023] The translucent plate can be made of glass, glass ceramic, or plastic, for example. The translucent plate can be transparent or opaque ("milky").

[0024] In one embodiment, the translucent plate covers a rear edge section up to the side wall. This has the advantage that a rear area of the treatment room can be illuminated particularly effectively. In this embodiment, the translucent plate extends in particular over the rear edge section until it meets the side wall (separated by a gap if necessary). In this case, it can run bent from an underside of the edge section up to the side wall, thereby having the advantage that an area of space located behind the light (i.e., an area of space between the rear edge section and the rear wall) can also be effectively illuminated.

[0025] One design involves the translucent panel covering the side edges up to a protruding bead on the outside of the side edges. This provides the advantage of a particularly wide light emission surface with low glare when viewed from the side.

[0026] In one embodiment, the lamp has a light source carrier with at least one light source directed diagonally backwards into the light shaft. This enables the advantage of particularly low glare with particularly good illumination of the treatment room below and behind the lamp. This can also be expressed in such a way that an optical axis or main radiation axis of the at least one light source does not run perpendicularly through the opening, but is directed towards the rear wall at an angle to it. The light source carrier can be a circuit board. The angle of inclination can then be easily implemented by a correspondingly inclined position of the circuit board. A driver for operating the at least one light source, in particular an LED, can be provided on the circuit board.

[0027] One embodiment includes arranging the light source support in the light well. This advantageously reduces light losses and increases the luminous efficacy (lm / W) of the useful light radiated into the cooking chamber.

[0028] An advantageous development for increasing light output is for the light shaft to have a specular or diffusely reflective surface on the inside. For this purpose, the inside can have a white surface, for example. In a further development, the white surface can have a coating containing white pigments, e.g., titanium oxide.

[0029] One embodiment includes a support surface for the first component to rest on an inner side of the side wall. This makes it particularly easy to position and attach the first component to the side wall.

[0030] In one embodiment, the lamp has a second component located outside the treatment room, which can be attached (e.g., latched) to the light shaft and, when attached, holds the lamp together with the first component in a press fit to the side wall. This advantageously enables particularly simple attachment of the lamp to the side wall.

[0031] One design feature is that the front surface is sloped backwards from the side wall. This advantageously provides a particularly good view of the front surface for a user looking into the loading opening.

[0032] One embodiment includes a label on the front surface. This allows information to be presented to the user in a simple and space-saving manner. In a further development, the label can be applied by removing material from the front surface, e.g., by scratching, embossing, stamping, lasering, etc. In a further development, the front surface can have a hot-stamping foil or the label can be applied using a hot-stamping foil. However, the label can also be printed, for example.

[0033] The problem is also solved by a corresponding lamp intended (i.e., designed and constructed) for installation in a household appliance. The lamp can be designed as described above and provides the same advantages.

[0034] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an embodiment, which is explained in more detail in connection with the drawings. Fig.1 shows an oblique view of a section through a first component of a lamp according to the invention; Fig.2 shows a sectional side view of the lamp inserted into a side wall with the first component made of Fig.1 and a second component.; Fig. 3 shows the first component in a plan view of a side facing away from the treatment room; Fig. 4 shows the first component in an oblique view of the side facing away from the treatment room; and Fig. 5 shows the first component in an oblique view from the rear of a side facing the treatment room.

[0035] Fig.1shows in an oblique view a section through a first component 2 of a lamp 1 for illuminating a treatment room B of a household appliance H, here e.g. in the form of a cooling compartment of a refrigerator (see Fig.2). Fig.2 shows the lamp 1 with the first component 2 and a second component 3 mounted on a side wall, here e.g. a ceiling D, of the treatment room B. The ceiling D has an opening L. The treatment room B has a front loading opening that can be closed by means of a door (not shown). Fig.3 shows the first component in 2 top view of a side facing away from the treatment room. Fig.4 shows the first component 2 in an oblique view of the side facing away from the treatment room.

[0036] The first component has a light shaft 4 with a tubular basic shape and rectangular cross-section, protruding vertically through the opening L. The light shaft 4 is laterally surrounded by an edge 5 on its portion protruding into the treatment chamber B. The edge 5 has a rectangular basic shape, in particular a rectangular ring shape with a front or front edge section 5a, a rear or back edge section 5b, and two lateral edge sections 5c. The first component (2), including the light shaft (4), the edge (5), and a translucent plate (8), are, according to the invention, a one-piece, two-component plastic component.

[0037] The front edge section 5a provides a front surface 6 that is visible from the front by a user, wherein the front edge section 5a extends the furthest into the treatment room B of all edge sections 5a to 5c. The front surface 6 is beveled or inclined backwards from the ceiling 6 and optionally has, as shown, an inscription C applied, for example, by means of a hot stamping foil.

[0038] As particularly in Fig.2 As shown, the edge 5 behind the front surface 6 tapers off in the rearward direction RR of the treatment room B, particularly analogous to a flat slope. In other words, the height of the edge 5, or the distance between its underside and the ceiling D, decreases in the rearward direction RR. This achieves the advantage that the front surface 6 is primarily visible to a user.

[0039] The light shaft 4 is covered at its opening 7 facing the treatment room B by a translucent, in particular transparent, plate 8. Starting from the central region 9 covering the opening 7, the plate 8 has an overlapping region 10, where it covers or overlaps partial surfaces of the lateral edge sections 5c up to the respective laterally outer bulges 11 and the rear edge section 5b up to the ceiling 6. At least the overlapping region 10 is specially designed for the surface light coupling into the treatment room 8, e.g., by means of scattering centers contained therein, a surface structuring, a surface roughening, etc.

[0040] According to the invention, the first component 2 is manufactured in one piece as a 2K injection-molded component, wherein the translucent plate 8 consists of translucent plastic and the remaining component volume, including the light shaft 4 and the edge 5, consists of an opaque plastic.

[0041] As in Fig.1 and Fig.2 As shown, a light source carrier 12 in the form of, for example, a circuit board 14 equipped with one or more LEDs 13 is fastened, e.g., latched and / or glued, in a section of the light shaft 4 located outside the treatment room B. The circuit board 14 and thus also the LEDs 13 are inclined backwards, as in Fig.2indicated by the angle of inclination α between the ceiling D and a plane E of the circuit board 14. This further reduces the likelihood of a user being dazzled, and a rear area of the treatment room B is particularly well illuminated. The circuit board 14 and the edge sections 5b, 5c behind the front surface 6 are inclined in the same rearward direction RR, although the circuit board 14 can optionally be inclined more sharply.

[0042] In order to increase the luminous efficacy of the useful light radiated into the treatment room B, the light source carrier 1 is arranged in the light shaft 4, and the light shaft 4 can be designed to be reflective on the inside, e.g. diffusely reflective by providing white material particles.

[0043] To attach the lamp 1 to the ceiling D, the first component 2 from the treatment room B with its light shaft 4 is inserted vertically through the opening L until its edge 5 rests on the inside of the ceiling D. The edge sections 5a to 5c provide for this purpose on their free edges a particularly circumferentially closed support surface 15 for resting on the ceiling D to the side of the opening L.

[0044] The second component 3 is placed and secured onto the light shaft 4 of the first component 2 resting on the ceiling D, e.g., by locking it onto corresponding locking lugs 16 of the light shaft 4. The second component 3 can also have elastically flexible "spring areas" 17 to increase the contact pressure of the support surface 15 against the ceiling D and thus particularly effectively prevent the lamp 1 from wobbling on the ceiling D. Consequently, the lamp 1 is held to the ceiling D by a press fit between the first component 2 and the second component 3.

[0045] Fig.5shows the first component 2 in a view obliquely from the rear, looking toward the treatment room. The entire "outer" surface of the translucent plate 8 facing the cooking chamber serves, when the LEDs 13 are switched on, as a light-emitting surface 9, 10 for emitting useful light into the treatment room B. In this case, the plate 8 is, in terms of lighting technology, at least approximately divided into the central region 9 and the overlapping region 10 covering the lateral edge sections 5c up to the respective bead 11, as well as the rear edge region 5b up to the support surface 15. The light-emitting surface 9, 10 is significantly larger than the area of the opening 7 of the light shaft 4, indicated by dashed lines, or rather than the central region 9 alone. This achieves the advantage of providing a particularly large light-emitting surface 9, 10 through the opening L for space-saving installation.In particular, existing openings L for previously installed conventional lamps with a noticeably smaller light emission surface can be used, which keeps construction costs particularly low.

[0046] The lamp can be arranged additionally or alternatively on a left side wall, right side wall and / or rear wall of the treatment room.

[0047] Furthermore, the lamp 1 or its components 2 and 3 can also be independently inventive. The lamp 1 can be described, for example, based on the support plane defined by the support surface 15, which corresponds to the position or orientation of the ceiling D.

[0048] In general, "a", "an", etc., can be understood as a singular or a plural, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", etc., unless this is explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly one", etc.

[0049] A numerical value may also include the exact number stated as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded. List of reference symbols

[0050] 1Lamp 2First component 3Second component 4Light well 5Edge 5aFront edge section 5bRear edge section 5cSide edge section 6Front surface 7Opening 8Translucent plate 9Central area 10Overlap area 11Bead 12Light source carrier 13LED 14PCB 15Support surface 16Locking lug 17Spring area BTreatment room CLabeling DCeiling ELevel of the circuit board HHousehold appliance LOpening in the ceiling RRRearward direction αAngle of inclination

Claims

1. Household appliance (H), having - a handling space (B), which can be closed off by means of a front-side door and at least one side wall (D) of which has a perforation (L) for inserting a light (1), and - at least one light (1) for illuminating the handling space (B), which protrudes through the perforation (L), wherein - at least one light (1) has a first component (2), which has a light shaft (4) protruding through the perforation (L), as well as an edge (5), which is arranged in the handling space (B) and surrounds the light shaft (4) to the side, made of material that is not permeable to light, - the edge (5) forms a front area (6) and flattens out in an inclined manner behind the front area (6), - the light shaft (4) is covered by a plate (8) that is permeable to light on its opening (7) that faces towards the handling space (B), - the plate (8) that is permeable to light has an overlap region (10), which covers at least one edge section (5b, 5c) located behind the front area (6) and which is embodied for the planar decoupling of light, characterised in that - the first component (2), including the light shaft (4), the edge (5) and the plate (8) that is permeable to light, is an integral 2K plastic component.

2. Household appliance (H) according to claim 1, wherein the plate (8) that is permeable to light covers a rear edge section (5b) up to the side wall (D).

3. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (8) that is permeable to light covers side edge sections (5c) up to a protruding bulge (11), which is out to the side, of the side edge sections (5c).

4. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp (1) has a light source carrier (12) with at least one light source (13) directed obliquely rearwards into the light shaft (4).

5. Household appliance (H) according to claim 4, wherein the light source carrier (12) is arranged in the light shaft (4).

6. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge (5) has a supporting surface (15) for supporting the first component (2) on an inner side of the side wall (D).

7. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp (1) has a second component (3), which is arranged outside the handling space (B) and which can be fastened to the light shaft (4) and, in the fastened state, holds the lamp (1) against the side wall (D) in an interference fit together with the first component (2).

8. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front area (6) is slanted rearwards, starting from the side wall (D).

9. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front area (6) has a label (C).

10. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one lamp (1) is arranged on a ceiling (D) of the handling space (B).

11. Household appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (H) is a refrigeration appliance and the handling space (B) is a coolable usable space of the refrigeration appliance.

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