Refrigerator appliance with illuminated dispenser tubes and related dispenser assembly

Abstract

A dispenser assembly for a refrigerator appliance may generally include a dispenser tube extending within a recessed area defined by the dispenser assembly. The dispenser tube may be in fluid communication with a fluid source. In addition, the dispenser assembly may include a light pipe positioned on the dispenser tube and a light source configured to direct light towards the light pipe, wherein the light directed from the light source is configured to illuminate the light pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;   a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet and configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of the cabinet; and   a dispenser assembly associated with the door, the dispenser assembly comprising:
 a dispenser tube extending within a recessed area defined by the dispenser assembly, the dispenser tube being in fluid communication with a fluid source; 
 a light pipe positioned on the dispenser tube; and 
 a light source configured to direct light towards the light pipe, 
   wherein the light directed from the light source is configured to illuminate the light pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light pipe comprises a light pipe ring configured to extend around an outer perimeter of the dispenser tube. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the light pipe further comprises a leader section extending from the light pipe ring, the light source being configured to direct light towards the leader section. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light pipe corresponds to an elongated pipe section configured to extend lengthwise along at least a portion of a length of the dispenser tube. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light source corresponds to at least one light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is spaced apart from the light pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is positioned directly adjacent to the light pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a color in which the light pipe is illuminated is selected based on whether the fluid source corresponds to at least one of a heated fluid source or a chilled fluid source. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the color corresponds to a red color for the heated fluid source and a blue color for the chilled fluid source. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser assembly for a refrigerator appliance, the dispenser assembly comprising:
 a dispenser tube extending within a recessed area defined by the dispenser assembly, the dispenser tube being in fluid communication with a fluid source;   a light pipe positioned on the dispenser tube; and   a light source configured to direct light towards the light pipe,   wherein the light directed from the light source is configured to illuminate the light pipe.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the light pipe comprises a light pipe ring configured to extend around an outer perimeter of the dispenser tube. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the light pipe further comprises a leader section extending from the light pipe ring, the light source being configured to direct light towards the leader section. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the light pipe corresponds to an elongated pipe section configured to extend lengthwise along at least a portion of a length of the dispenser tube. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the light source corresponds to at least one light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the light source is spaced apart from the light pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the light source is positioned directly adjacent to the light pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a color in which the light pipe is illuminated is selected based on whether the fluid source corresponds to at least one of a hot fluid source or a cold fluid source. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the color corresponds to a red color for the heated fluid source and a blue color for the chilled fluid source