# US 10,368,717 B2 · Dishwasher having a light signal projector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,717 B2 - Document ID: US10368717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/110,415 - Filed: 2014-12-15 - Published: 2017-06-15 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-30 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Indesit Company S.P.A. - Inventors: Mario Lippera; Roberto Giorcelli; Giacomo Marvardi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368717B2 ## CPC - A47L 15/4293: {Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels} - F21V 5/04: of lens shape - F21V 23/0407: {for flashing} - F21V 33/0044: {Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners} - F21W 2111/00: Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 - F21Y 2113/13: comprising an assembly of point-like light sources - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A dishwasher comprising a projection means having a concentration lens for concentrating a light beam coming from the light source, said concentration lens being external to the door and solidly constrained to a frame that encloses said access opening. The light beam is projected by the lens towards the exterior of the dishwasher. Downstream of the lens, the light beam extends in a substantially horizontal direction. Downstream of the lens, the light beam intersects an imaginary vertical upwards projection of an upper edge (30) of the door (3) considered in the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dishwasher, comprising: a washing compartment for washing dishes; a door selectively movable between an opened position, wherein the door enables access to the washing compartment, and a closed position, wherein the door is substantially vertical and closes an access opening to the washing compartment; a frame at least partially enclosing the access opening; a projector configured to project at least one pre-established light signal on a surface external to the dishwasher, the at least one pre-established light signal being associated with at least one of a washing state in progress or with achievement of an end-of-wash state, the projector, comprising: a light source configured to emit a light beam; and a concentration lens located external to and above the door when the door is in the closed position, the concentration lens configured for concentrating the light beam; and a bracket for connecting the dishwasher to a work top that is located over the bracket, with the projector being supported by the bracket, the bracket comprises: a vertical wall operably coupled to the frame, the vertical wall including a window aligned with the concentration lens along the direction of the light beam so as to permit passage thereof; a wall extending horizontally and comprising a hole; and a fastener for connecting the bracket and the work top and that passes through the hole, wherein the light beam projected downstream of the concentration lens extends in a substantially horizontal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is located at a junction of two edges of a perimeter of the access opening. ### Claim 3 A dishwasher comprising: a washing compartment for washing dishes; a door that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door is substantially vertical and closes an access opening to the washing compartment; a projector configured to project at least one pre-established light signal on a surface external to the dishwasher, the light signal being particularly associated with a washing state in progress or with an achievement of an end-of-wash state, the projector comprising: a light source, a concentration lens for concentrating a light beam coming from the light source, the concentration lens being external to the door and solidly constrained to a frame that encloses the access opening wherein the light beam downstream of the concentration lens extends in a substantially horizontal direction; and a bracket for connecting the dishwasher to a work top that is located over the bracket, with the projector being supported by the bracket and where the bracket is an angle bracket located at a junction of two edges of a perimeter of the access opening and the bracket comprises: a vertical wall secured to both of the two edges of the perimeter of the access opening and including a window aligned with the concentration lens along the direction of the light beam so as to permit passage thereof; a wall extending horizontally and comprising a hole; and the dishwasher comprising a fastener for connecting the bracket and the work top and that passes through the hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED and a printed circuit board whereto the LED is applied, the dishwasher comprising a protective casing inside of which the printed circuit board and the LED are inserted, and the protective casing being secured to the bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs, the protective casing comprising a plurality of lenses, each of which face a corresponding LED of the plurality of LEDs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the protective casing is entirely made of a transparent material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the concentration lens is made integrally with the protective casing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the protective casing is removably connected to the bracket by elastic deformation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises a first LED that can emit light of a first color and a second LED that can emit light of a second color. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein a different pre-encoded message is associated with the first color and with the second color. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The dishwasher according to claim 3 wherein the light source and the concentration lens are horizontally aligned and located one in front of the other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The dishwasher according to claim 3 wherein the light beam, downstream of the concentration lens, intersects an imaginary vertical upwards projection of an upper edge of the door considered in the closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) A method for controlling a projector for projecting a light signal by a dishwasher, the method comprises: selecting one mode among the following projection modes for projecting the light signal utilizing the projector of claim 3 on a surface external to the dishwater, the projection modes all being made available by the dishwasher: light signal not flashing during a wash and flashing at the end of the wash; absence of the light signal during the wash and light signal flashing at the end of the wash; and absence of the light signal both during the wash and at the end of the wash.