# US 9,429,311 B2 · Lighting device on a laundry appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,429,311 B2 - Document ID: US9429311B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/415,214 - Filed: 2013-07-02 - Published: 2015-06-25 - Granted: 2016-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-18 - Assignees: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH - Applicants: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GmbH - Inventors: Florian Metz; Carsten Weber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9429311B2 ## CPC - D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor - D06F 37/266: {Gaskets mounted between tub and casing around the loading opening} - F21V 33/0044: {Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners} - D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress - F21W 2131/403: for machines - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - 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 To illuminate a structure 5 with informational content on components 3, 20 of a filling opening in a laundry appliance, particularly a washing machine or a washer/dryer, components 3, 20, which are made of a transparent or translucent material, have a pot-shaped laundry deflector 20 and a window cover 3 lying at least approximately flush with the front face 1 of the laundry appliance. Components 3, 20 bear lettering 4, 16 and/or a symbol to be illuminated. Light-emitting elements 6, 17 are arranged opposite lateral edge faces 10, 15 of at least one of the components 3, 20, the light beams 9, 19 emitted by said elements being directed onto the edge faces 10, 15. The lettering 4, 16 or the symbol consists of a three-dimensional structure 5 in the material with an at least microscopically small extension into the material. To specify a structural illumination in which a lower number of light sources is adequate, one of the components 3, which is located at least approximately flush with the front face 1 of the laundry appliance and which is provided with the structure 5, 16, has a light-conducting element 13 extending inwards away from the flush line, the light inlet area 15 of which element extends as an edge face to the other component 20 and is guided into the radiation range of the light-emitting element 17. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting device on a laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprising a loading opening and components made of a transparent or translucent material in the form of a pot-shaped laundry deflector and a window cover covering the loading opening lying at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance, which bears lettering or a symbol, the lighting device comprising light-emitting elements arranged opposite lateral edge faces of at least one of the components, the light beams emitted by said elements being directed onto the edge faces and the lettering or symbol consisting of a three-dimensional structure in the material with an at least microscopically small extension into the material, wherein one of the components, which lies at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance and is provided with the structure, has a light-conducting element that reaches inward out of the flush line, its light entry face reaching to the other component in the manner of an edge face and being guided into the radiation region of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light entry face faces toward the radiation from the light-emitting element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements are LEDs or ends of light-conducting elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elements are integrated in a frame which encloses the transparent or translucent material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light conducted in is colored. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light output of the elements can be controlled. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises a washing machine or a tumble dryer. ### Claim 8 A lighting device on a laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprising a loading opening and components made of a transparent or translucent material in the form of a laundry deflector and a window cover covering the loading opening lying at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance, which bears a three-dimensional structure, the lighting device comprising light-emitting elements arranged opposite lateral edge faces of at least one of the components, the light beams emitted by said elements being directed onto the edge faces and the-three-dimensional structure is provided with an at least microscopically small extension into the material, wherein one of the components, which lies at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance and is provided with the structure, has a light-conducting element that reaches inward out of the flush line, its light entry face reaching to the other component in the manner of an edge face and being guided into the radiation region of the light-emitting element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light entry face faces toward the radiation from the light-emitting element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light-emitting elements are LEDs or ends of light-conducting elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elements are integrated in a frame which encloses the transparent or translucent material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light conducted in is colored. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the light output of the elements can be controlled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the laundry care appliance comprises a washing machine or a tumble dryer. ### Claim 15 A lighting device on a laundry care appliance, the laundry care appliance comprising a loading opening and components made of a transparent or translucent material in the form of a pot-shaped laundry deflector and a window cover covering the loading opening lying at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance, which bears lettering and a symbol, the lighting device comprising light-emitting elements arranged opposite lateral edge faces of at least one of the components, the light beams emitted by said elements being directed onto the edge faces and the lettering and symbol consisting of a three- dimensional structure in the material with an at least microscopically small extension into the material, wherein one of the components, which lies at least approximately flush with the front face of the laundry care appliance and is provided with the structure, has a light-conducting element that reaches inward out of the flush line, its light entry face reaching to the other component in the manner of an edge face and being guided into the radiation region of the light- emitting element.