# US 6,295,004 B1 · Appliance warning light device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,295,004 B1 - Document ID: US6295004B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/732,073 - Filed: 2000-12-07 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2000-12-07 - Inventors: S. Mark Burnett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6295004B1 ## CPC - F24C 15/02: Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges - A47L 15/4257: {Details of the loading door} - 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} - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - 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) ## Abstract A warning light device attachable to, or as a permanent part of, a front door of an automatic dishwasher or oven, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal very low position above the floor. In one embodiment, the device includes a housing attachable to a surface of the front door. A warning light mounted on the housing receives electric power from a miniature storage battery mounted within the housing. An angle-sensitive switch mounted in the housing is operably interconnected between the warning light and the storage battery. The switch is open and the warning light off when the front door is closed, while the switch is closed and the warning light on when the front door is open. The warning light, when on, is sufficiently visible to warn or alert a person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and to be avoided. This invention may also be embodied in such appliances at time of manufacture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A warning light device attachable to a front door of an automatic dishwasher, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the dishwasher, said device comprising: a housing attachable to a surface of the front door; a warning light mounted on said housing and a miniature storage battery mounted within said housing; an angle-sensitive switch mounted in said housing and operably interconnected between said warning light and said storage battery, said switch being open and said warning light off when the front door is closed, said switch being closed and said warning light on when the front door is open; said warning light, when on, being sufficiently visible to warn or alert a person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and to be avoided. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A warning light device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said housing is sized for attachment to a distal corner inner surface of the front door with said warning light being upwardly aimed for enhanced visibility when the front door is open. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A warning light device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said housing includes flat opposing reflective surfaces which extend divergently from said warning light for visually enhancing and focusing light emitting from said warning light. ### Claim 4 In combination, dishwasher and warning light device positioned on a surface of a front door of said dishwasher, said front door openable during loading and emptying of said dishwasher to a generally horizontal position at a predetermined height above the floor, said warning light device comprising: a warning light attached to a surface of the front door; a front door angle-sensitive switch operably interconnected between said warning light and a power source, said switch being open and said warning light off when the front door is closed, said switch being closed and said warning light on when the front door is open; said warning light, when on, being sufficiently visible to serve as a visible warning to a person near to the dishwasher of a potential for leg injury due to impact with a margin of the open front door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A warning light device as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said warning light is attached to a distal corner of an inner surface of said front door and aimed upwardly for enhanced visibility when said front door is open. ### Claim 6 A method of warning or alerting a person standing and moving on a floor adjacent to a dishwasher that a front door of said dishwasher is open in a generally horizontal position above the floor representing a leg impact hazard, comprising: attaching a warning light device to a surface of said dishwasher, said warning light device including a warning light and a front door angle-sensitive switch operably interconnecting said warning light and an electric power source of said dishwasher, said switch being open and said warning light off when said front door is closed, said switch being closed and said warning light on when said front door is open; said warning light, when on, being sufficiently visible on the front door to serve as a visible warning to a person near to the dishwasher of a potential for leg injury due to impact with a margin of the open front door. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said device is attached to a distal corner inner surface of said front door and upwardly aimed for enhanced visibility when said front door is open. ### Claim 8 An appliance warning light device attachable to a front door of an appliance, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal position above a support surface of the appliance, said device comprising: a housing attachable to a surface of the front door; a warning light mounted on said housing and a miniature storage battery mounted within said housing; an angle-sensitive switch mounted in said housing and operably interconnected between said warning light and said storage battery, said switch being open and said warning light off when the front door is closed, said switch being closed and said warning light on when the front door is open; said warning light, when on, being sufficiently visible to warn or alert a person nearby the appliance that the front door is open and to be avoided.