# US 9,435,581 B2 · Interactive lighting in a refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,581 B2 - Document ID: US9435581B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/225,481 - Filed: 2014-03-26 - Published: 2015-10-01 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-26 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Richard L. Hammond; Michael T. Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435581B2 ## CPC - F25D 27/005: {combined with control means} - F21K 9/20: Light sources comprising attachment means - F21K 9/68: Details of reflectors forming part of the light source - F21V 5/04: of lens shape - F21V 7/00: Reflectors for light sources (characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505) - F21V 17/02: with provision for adjustment (F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence) - F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) - F21V 33/0044: {Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners} - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 25/025: {Drawers} - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - F25D 29/005: {Mounting of control devices} - F21V 14/04: by movement of reflectors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675)} - F21W 2131/305: for refrigerators - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system including a light source, a reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction, and wherein the refrigerator is configured to move the reflector between the first position and the second position based on interactions between a user of the refrigerator and the refrigerator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system comprising: (a) a light source, said light source being positioned proximate a drawer of the refrigerator; (b) a rotatable reflector having a first position when the drawer is closed, wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position when the drawer is open, wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction; (c) wherein the refrigerator comprises elements on the sides of the drawer configured to control rotation of the rotatable reflector between the first position and the second position with movement of the drawer between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned on an interior side of the refrigerator cabinet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an LED. ### Claim 4 A method of controlling interactive lighting in a refrigerator, the method comprising: providing a refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet and a light system associated within an interior of the refrigerator cabinet, the light system comprising: (a) a light source, said light source being positioned proximate a drawer of the refrigerator (b) a rotatable reflector having a first position when the drawer is closed, wherein light from the light source is directed in a first direction and a second position when the drawer is open, wherein the light from the light source is directed in a second direction, and (c) wherein the refrigerator comprises elements on the sides of the drawer configured to control rotation of the rotatable reflector between the first position and the second position with movement of the drawer between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 5 A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a drawer disposed within the refrigerator cabinet; a light system associated with the drawer, the light system comprising: a light source; a rotatable reflector having a first position wherein light from the light source is directed to light the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position and a second position wherein light from the light source is directed to light the drawer when the drawer is in an open position, said refrigerator further comprising elements on sides of the drawer configured to control rotation of the rotatable reflector when the drawer transitions between the closed position and the open position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the elements are molded-in elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigerator of claim 6 wherein the drawer is a crisper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the elements are molded on the sides of the drawer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the drawer is a crisper drawer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the light source comprises an LED. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the light system further comprises an optic lens for directing light from the light source.