Signature lighting system for appliance

Abstract

A signature lighting system for an appliance includes a carrier, a light guide disposed adjacent the carrier, a light source disposed adjacent the light guide and in electrical communication with a source of electrical energy to selectively energize the light source, wherein the light source emits light into the light guide, and a light housing received in the carrier and substantially enclosing the light source, wherein at least one of the light housing and the carrier militates against a relative motion between the light guide and the carrier.

1 . A signature lighting system for an appliance comprising:
 a carrier;   a light guide disposed adjacent the carrier;   a light source disposed adjacent the light guide and in electrical communication with a source of electrical energy to selectively energize the light source, wherein the light source emits light into the light guide; and   a light housing received in the carrier and substantially enclosing the light source, wherein at least one of the light housing and the carrier militates against a relative motion between the light guide and the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a channel formed therein to receive at least a portion of the light guide. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a recessed portion to receive the light housing therein. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes at least one clip for securing the light guide to the carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is a light pipe having a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light guide includes a light extraction feature to direct light through a surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is disposed adjacent an end of the light guide and configured to emit light into the end of the light guide. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical element disposed adjacent at least a portion of the light guide to direct a light exiting the light guide in a pre-determined lighting pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light housing is a split housing having a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is releaseably coupled to the second portion to substantially enclose the light source. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light housing includes a slot feature configured to receive a portion of the light guide therein to secure the light guide in a pre-determined position relative to the light source disposed in the light housing. 
     
     
         11 . A signature lighting system for an appliance comprising:
 a carrier;   a light guide disposed adjacent the carrier;   a circuit board disposed adjacent the light guide and in electrical communication with a source of electrical energy;   a light source disposed adjacent the light guide and coupled to the circuit board to selectively energize the light source to emit light into the light guide;   a light housing disposed adjacent the carrier and substantially enclosing the light source and at least a portion of the circuit board, wherein at least one of the light housing and the carrier militates against a relative motion between the light guide and the carrier; and   a carrier housing having an aperture formed therein, wherein the carrier housing at least partially encloses the carrier and the light housing, and wherein at least a portion of a light exiting the light guide passes through the aperture formed in the carrier housing.   
     
     
         12 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the carrier housing is a split housing having a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is releaseably coupled to the second portion to substantially enclose the light source at the at least a portion of the circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the light guide is disposed adjacent the aperture formed in the carrier housing. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the carrier housing is formed from at least a portion of appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the carrier housing is formed from a handle coupled to the appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , wherein the carrier housing further comprising a cavity formed therein to enclose an electrical circuitry for providing an electric current to the light source. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting system according to  claim 11 , further comprising an optical element disposed adjacent the light guide to direct the light exiting the light guide and passing through the aperture formed in the carrier housing. 
     
     
         18 . A signature lighting system for an appliance comprising:
 a carrier;   a light guide disposed adjacent the carrier;   a circuit board disposed adjacent the light guide and in electrical communication with a source of electrical energy;   a light source disposed adjacent the light guide and coupled to the circuit board to selectively energize the light source to emit light into the light guide;   a light housing disposed adjacent the carrier and substantially enclosing the light source and at least a portion of the circuit board, wherein at least one of the light housing and the carrier militates against a relative motion between the light guide and the carrier; and   a controller in electrical communication with the light source to selectively energize the light source based upon an input signal.   
     
     
         19 . The lighting system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with the controller to generate and transmit the input signal to the controller based upon an environmental characteristic of the appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with the controller to generate and transmit the input signal to the controller based upon an operational characteristic of the appliance.