DE102015206298B3 - Laundry care device with a lighting element - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry care device (100) with an induction bowl (101) for receiving detergent and a lighting element (105) for illuminating the dispenser bowl (101). The lighting element (105) comprises a light receiving area (113) and a light emitting area (115). The light receiving area (113) and the light emitting area (115) are connected in a light-conducting manner. The light receiving area (113) is designed to receive light from the outside area (104) of the laundry care device (100). The light emitting area (115) is designed to deliver the recorded light to the dispenser tray (101).

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a lighting element.

A conventional laundry care appliance comprises an induction bowl into which the user of the laundry care appliance can introduce detergent. When water is passed into the dispenser tray, the detergent present in the dispenser tray is dissolved and wash liquor is formed. The wash liquor is then fed to the tub. In order for the user to be able to introduce detergent into the dispenser bowl even in the case of limited external lighting, conventional laundry care appliances can comprise lighting devices in order to illuminate the dispenser tray. When operated with electrical energy lighting devices may cause short circuits and damage to the electrically operated components due to the supply of water in the dispenser.

In DE 10 2009 028 063 A1 a laundry treatment device is shown with a housing part, an insertable into the housing part shell and arranged on the housing part lighting means. The shell has a diaphragm, on which a light outlet is provided, which is assigned to a light entrance to the shell. The light exit of the luminous means is arranged on the housing part such that it is assigned to the light entry of the shell when the shell is inserted into the housing part.

In DE 10 2011 084 458 A1 is a household appliance with a light-emitting element shown in the treatment room.

In DE 10 2005 049 078 A1 discloses a washing machine with a projection device, which is designed to display the required amount of detergent within the dispenser.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a laundry care device with a lighting element which illuminates the dispenser.

This object is achieved by an article having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a laundry care device having an induction bowl for receiving detergent and a lighting element for illuminating the dispensing bowl, the lighting element comprising a light receiving area and a light emitting area, the light receiving area and the light emitting area being light-conductively connected, wherein the light receiving area is formed is to receive light from the outside of the laundry machine, and wherein the light emitting area is adapted to deliver the light received to the dispenser tray.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the lighting element ensures effective illumination of the dispenser shell, wherein the lighting element does not include an internal light source and no electrical power supply for operating the lighting. The light used for lighting is absorbed only from the outside of the laundry machine by the lighting element.

A laundry care device is usually inside buildings, eg. B. in washrooms, set up. In order to allow the user even with reduced external lighting to bring detergent into the dispenser, conventional laundry care devices may include lighting devices to illuminate the dispenser tray. The conventional lighting devices generate light by electrical energy and therefore rely on an electrical power supply to ensure effective illumination of the dispenser. An electrical energy supply, such. As a power cable or an electrically operated light source, are prone to damage due to the water present in the dispenser bowl such. As short circuits or corrosion.

The lighting element according to the invention is formed as a light-conducting element, and is further adapted to receive light through the light receiving area from the outside of the laundry care device. Thus, the light receiving area can record, for example, by the sun irradiated daylight or diffused light when passing through an opening, for. B. a window, penetrates to the site of the laundry care device. The light receiving area can also absorb light that is emitted by the room lighting, z. B. when the user enters the room and turns on an external light source. Thus, the lighting element can receive light independently of the laundry care device, in particular independently of a light source of the lighting device or of an electrical energy connection of the laundry care device. The absorption of the light by the light receiving area is ensured by a light-transparent material of the lighting element.

The light receiving area is light-conductively connected to the light emitting area to detect the received light in the lighting element of FIG to guide the light receiving area to the light emitting area. The light emitting area is designed to emit the recorded light again. For this purpose, the light emitting area is arranged in spatial proximity to the dispenser tray to deliver the light to the dispenser tray and thereby illuminate the dispenser tray.

Thus, an effective lighting of the dispenser tray is made possible by light from the outside of the laundry care device and the lighting element thus requires no electrically operated light source and no electrical power supply for operating the lighting.

Under a laundry care device is understood a device which is used for laundry care, such. B. a washing machine or a tumble dryer. In particular, such a laundry care appliance is understood as a household laundry care appliance. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of household management, and is treated with the laundry in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry-care appliance, the lighting element comprises a light-collecting element made of a light-collecting plastic.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective illumination of the dispenser tray is achieved by light from the outside of the laundry care appliance by a light-collecting element from a light-collecting plastic.

Light-collecting plastics are for example in the DE 37 23 073 A1 described. A light-collecting element may comprise any geometric body which has outer surfaces, wherein the light-collecting plastic comprises light-transparent polymers which have particular light-conducting properties. Light is radiated from the outside onto the light collecting element and penetrates through an outer surface of the light collecting element into the interior of the light collecting element. However, the irradiated light can not escape from the light-collecting element via the same outer surface because it is reflected in the light-collecting element due to total reflection. The reflected light in the light-collecting element can only at a certain outer surface of the light-collecting element, which shows no total reflection, such. B. the edges of the light-collecting element, again emerge from the interior of the light-collecting element. The light emerging from the light-collecting element can be used for illuminating the dispenser bowl of the laundry-care appliance.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lighting element comprises a plastic, in particular polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof and a fluorescent dye, wherein the fluorescent dye in particular from the group comprising coumarin, perylene, benzanthrones, anthrapyrimidine, anthrapyridone and mixtures thereof is selected.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective lighting element, in particular an effective light-collecting element, is obtained by the selected plastics and fluorescent dyes.

The use of the plastics mentioned makes it possible to provide a lightweight, dimensionally stable, easy-to-process and cost-effective lighting element. Polypropylene has proven to be a particularly advantageous plastic because polypropylene has advantageous rigidity, hardness and strength. The addition of small amounts of fluorescent dye does not affect the properties of the plastic, but has an advantageous effect on the light-conducting, light-collecting and light-emitting properties of the lighting element, thereby enabling effective illumination of the dispenser.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lighting element has a coating on an outer side of the lighting element, wherein the lighting element is designed to reflect light in the lighting element.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light emitting area can be increased by the coating on the outside of the lighting element. The coating on the outside of the lighting element is designed such that it allows the light radiated into the lighting element to pass, but the light can no longer escape from the lighting element through the same outside surface, since the coating enables effective total reflection of the light received in the lighting element. As a result, the non-directional radiation of recorded light can be reduced and the luminous intensity of the light-emitting region of the illumination element can be increased.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lighting element comprises a lens, wherein the lens is arranged at the light emission area, and wherein the lens is configured to focus or scatter the light emitted from the light emitting area.

This achieves the technical advantage that the lens can either focus the light emitted by the light emission area onto a specific area of the dispensing dish in order to illuminate this area particularly intensively or to scatter the emitted light in order to illuminate the largest possible area of the dispensing dish , In particular, the lens can be realized by means of a plastic attachment mounted on the light-emitting region, which has different light-refracting properties in comparison to the light-emitting region of the illumination element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lighting element is cuboid-shaped, and has a cuboid top surface, a cuboid base surface and four cuboid side surfaces, wherein the cuboid top surface comprises the light receiving region, and wherein the cuboid side surfaces comprise the light emission region.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly effective light output via the light emitting area is possible by the cuboid design of the lighting element. The formation of the lighting element as a cuboid facilitates the production of the lighting element. If the lighting element is arranged, for example, on the dispensing dish, a large part of the light from the outside area of the laundry-care appliance falls onto the cuboid cover surface, which comprises the light receiving area. Thus, the light is effectively absorbed through the cuboid top surface. However, due to total reflection, the recorded light can escape neither via the cuboid cover surface nor over the cuboid base surface, but only via the cuboid side surfaces, which encompass the light emission region, in order to ensure effective illumination of the dispenser pan.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the cuboid cover surface is larger than the total area of the four cuboid side surfaces.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a particularly advantageous illumination of the dispenser shell is achieved by the difference between the cuboid top surface and the total area of the four parallelepiped side surfaces. Since the amount of light absorbed via the light-receiving area and of the light emitted via the light-emitting area is approximately comparable, a significantly greater extent of the cuboid top surface results in an amplification of the light emitted via the cuboid side surfaces in comparison to the cuboid side surfaces.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care apparatus, the lighting element is formed as a curved plate and has a plate top surface, a plate base surface, and four plate side surfaces, the plate top surface comprising the light receiving region, and the four plate side surfaces comprising the light emitting region.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that the bending of the plate a lighting element is obtained, in which the light receiving area and the light emitting area do not include a 90 ° angle, but can be obtained in a variety of geometric arrangements. As a result, geometric features of the laundry care appliance, or the dimensions of the dispenser tray, can be taken into account by a specific geometric design of the curved plate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the light receiving area is arranged in an inner area of the dispensing dish.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that no illumination of the dispenser tray is achieved by the arrangement of the light receiving area in the interior of the dispenser tray with the dispenser closed. When the dispenser tray is closed, the light receiving area is located in the interior of the dispenser tray, and thus light from outside can not penetrate either the light receiving area of the light box or the light dispenser area. Thus, an illumination of the dispenser tray is provided only when the user opens the dispenser tray and the light receiving area is irradiated in the interior of the dispenser tray with light.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the light receiving area is arranged on an outer side of the laundry care appliance, in particular on an upper side of the laundry care appliance.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective illumination of the dispenser shell is ensured by the arrangement of the light receiving area on an outside of the laundry care device even when the dispenser shell is closed. The outside of the laundry care appliance, in particular the upper side of the laundry care appliance, is illuminated by external light, so that the light receiving area can absorb light, which in turn can be delivered to the dispensing bowl via the light emitting area.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the lighting element is arranged on a front side of the dispensing tray, wherein in particular the light receiving area is arranged on the front side of the dispensing tray.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the arrangement of the light receiving area in the front of the dispenser tray, even with the dispenser shell closed lighting of the dispenser is ensured. The front of the dispenser is illuminated by external light, so that the light receiving area can absorb light, which can be delivered to the dispenser via the light delivery area.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry-care appliance, the light-emitting region is arranged on a front side or on an upper side of the dispensing dish.

Thereby, the technical advantage is achieved that different areas of the dispenser can be effectively illuminated by the light emitting area by the positioning of the light emitting area on the front or on the top of the dispenser depending on the design of the dispenser.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the front side of the dispensing tray comprises a handle opening for engagement in the dispensing tray, wherein the light dispensing area is arranged on the handle opening.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective illumination of the handle opening of the dispenser tray is achieved by the positioning of the light emitting area on the handle opening of the front of the dispenser. Thus, the user can also recognize the handle opening with a weak illumination to effectively engage in the handle opening and to open the dispenser tray.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the lighting element is connected to the dispenser shell in a form-fitting, cohesively or non-positively connected manner.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that an effective attachment of the lighting element to the dispenser is ensured by a positive, cohesive or non-positive connection.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care appliance, the dispenser bowl comprises a typographic or graphic display element, wherein the light dispensing area is designed to emit light to the typographic or graphic display element.

As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the lighting element is a graphical display element such. As a company logo, or a typographic display element such. B. a company name, which is attached for example to a front of the dispenser, can effectively illuminate.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic view of a laundry care device;

2 a schematic view of a lighting element;

3a , b is a schematic view of a dispenser tray with a lighting element; and

4a , b is a schematic side view of a Einspülschale with a lighting element.

1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care device 100 , such as B. a washing machine. The laundry care device 100 includes an induction bowl 101 , in which detergents or other liquid substances can be filled. The laundry care device 100 includes a door 103 for loading the laundry care device 100 with laundry. The outdoor area 104 of the laundry care device 100 is in 1 indicated.

2 shows a schematic view of a lighting element according to the invention. The lighting element 105 is cuboid, and includes a cuboid top surface 107 , a cuboid base 109 and four cuboid faces 111 , where in 2 the cuboid base 109 and two of the four cuboid faces 111 are not shown.

The light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 corresponds to the cuboid top surface 107 , The light output area 115 of the lighting element 105 corresponds to the four cuboid faces 111 ,

When light enters the light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 is irradiated, so is the incident light 116 through the light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 taken and by the lighting element 105 to the light emitting area 115 directed. The recorded light is through the light output area 115 , which the four cuboid side surfaces 111 corresponds, again to the surroundings of the lighting element 105 issued. The radiated light 118 can be used for lighting purposes.

The light-absorbing effect of the light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 is based on a total reflection of the cuboid top surface 107 and the cuboid base 109 , In the lighting element 105 introduced light can the lighting element 105 not through the cuboid top surface 107 or the cuboid base 109 leave as it is reflected almost completely back. Because of the cuboid side surfaces 111 Total reflection is not possible, the collected light enters the cuboid faces 111 from the lighting element 105 through the light output area 115 out again. Passing the received light from the light receiving area 113 to the light emitting area 115 is due to the light-conducting properties of the lighting element 105 causes, which consists of a photoconductive material.

3 shows a schematic view of a Einspülschale with a lighting element. In 3 (a) is a closed dispenser tray 101 a laundry care device 100 shown. The induction bowl 101 includes a front side 117 with a handle opening 119 into which the user can access the dispenser tray 101 from the laundry care device 100 remove and, if necessary, detergent in the dispenser tray 101 to fill.

At the dispenser tray 101 is the lighting element 105 arranged, wherein in the closed state only the light emitting area 115 of the lighting element 105 it can be seen at the front 117 the dispenser tray 101 is arranged, and in 3 (a) is shown. Because the light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 in the closed state of the dispenser tray 101 in the interior of the dispenser tray 101 is arranged, no light from outside of the dispenser can 101 to the light receiving area 113 can reach and thus no light on the light output area 115 of the lighting element 105 to the environment of the dispenser tray 101 be delivered. The light receiving area 113 is in 3 (a) not shown.

In 3 (b) is the opened Einspülschale 101 of the laundry care device 100 with the handle opening 119 on the front side 117 the pulled-out tray 101 represented. The induction bowl 101 includes three segments 121 passing through partitions 123 are separated from each other.

The induction bowl 101 is in 3 (b) opened and the interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 is accessible to the user to possibly detergent in the interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 fill.

In the opened state of the dispenser tray 101 it can be seen that the lighting element 105 on the front side 117 the dispenser tray 101 is arranged. The light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 is inside 125 the dispenser tray 101 arranged. The light receiving area 113 can when the dispenser is open 101 Light from the environment of the dispenser tray 101 take up. The light output area 115 is at the front 117 the dispenser tray 101 arranged. That of the light receiving area 113 Recorded light can be over the light output area 115 on the front side 117 the dispenser tray 101 be dispensed to the dispenser tray 101 to illuminate.

4 shows a schematic side view of a Einspülschale with a lighting element in a sectional view. In 4 (a) is a closed dispenser tray 101 a laundry care device 100 shown. The induction bowl 101 includes at the front 117 a handle opening 119 into which the user can access the dispenser tray 101 from the laundry care device 100 remove and, if necessary, detergent in the dispenser tray 101 to fill.

The interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 is closed and no detergent can be refilled by the user. At the dispenser tray 101 is the lighting element 105 arranged, the light receiving area 113 in the interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 is arranged and wherein the light emitting area 115 on the front side 117 the dispenser tray 101 is arranged.

Because the light receiving area 113 in the closed state of the dispenser tray 101 indoor 125 the dispenser tray 101 is arranged, no light from outside of the dispenser can 101 to the light receiving area 113 can reach and thus no light on the light output area 115 of the lighting element 105 to the environment of the dispenser tray 101 be delivered.

In 4 (b) is the opened Einspülschale 101 of the laundry care device 100 with the handle opening 119 on the front side 117 the pulled-out tray 101 shown. The induction bowl 101 is in 4 (b) opened and the interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 is accessible to the user to possibly detergent in the interior 125 the dispenser tray 101 fill.

The lighting element 105 is at the front 117 the dispenser tray 101 arranged. The light receiving area 113 of the lighting element 105 is inside 125 the dispenser tray 101 arranged. The light receiving area 113 can when the dispenser is open 101 Light from the environment of the dispenser tray 101 take up. The light output area 115 is at the front 117 the dispenser tray 101 arranged. The incident light 116 is from the light receiving area 113 added. About the light output area 115 on the front side 117 the dispenser tray 101 becomes radiated light 118 delivered to the dispenser tray 101 to illuminate.

Thus, by the lighting element 105 Effective lighting of the dispenser 101 be ensured. In particular, by simple geometric adjustments, indicators, symbols or logos can be placed on the dispenser tray 101 be illuminated. A big advantage of the lighting element 105 is that the lighting of the lighting element 105 without an electrically operated light source or an electrical energy connection with the laundry care device 100 gets along and is made possible only by ambient light. Thus, an energy-saving lighting the Einspülschale 101 allows.

All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention, in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Laundry care device

101

dispenser tray

103

door

104

Exterior of the laundry care appliance

105

lighting element

107

Cuboid cover surface

109

Cuboid base area

111

Cuboid side faces

113

Light receiving area

115

Light emitting section

116

Inhaled light

117

Front of the dispenser tray

118

Delivered light

119

grip opening

121

Segment of the dispenser tray

123

partition wall

125

Interior of the dispenser tray

Claims (15)

Laundry care device ( 100 ) with an induction bowl ( 101 ) for receiving detergent and a lighting element ( 105 ) for illuminating the Einspülschale ( 101 ), characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) a light receiving area ( 113 ) and a light emitting area ( 115 ), wherein the light receiving area ( 113 ) and the light output area ( 115 ) are light-conducting connected, that the light receiving area ( 113 ), light from the outside ( 104 ) of the laundry care device ( 100 ) and that the light emitting area ( 115 ) is formed, the received light to the Einspülschale ( 101 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) comprises a light-collecting element made of a light-collecting plastic. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) comprises a plastic, in particular polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof and a fluorescent dye, wherein the fluorescent dye is in particular selected from the group comprising coumarin, perylene, benzanthrones, anthrapyrimidine, anthrapyridone and mixtures thereof. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) a coating on an outer side of the lighting element ( 105 ), wherein the lighting element ( 105 ) is formed, light in the lighting element ( 105 ) to reflect. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) comprises a lens, wherein the lens at the light emitting area ( 115 ) is arranged, and wherein the lens is formed, which from the light emitting area ( 115 ) emitted light ( 118 ) or to scatter. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) is cuboid, and a cuboid top surface ( 107 ), a cuboid base ( 109 ) and four cuboid faces ( 111 ), wherein the cuboid top surface ( 107 ) the light receiving area ( 113 ), and wherein the cuboid faces ( 111 ) the light output area ( 115 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the cuboid top surface ( 107 ) greater than the total area of the four parallelepiped faces ( 111 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) is formed as a curved plate, and has a plate top surface, a plate base surface, and four plate side surfaces, wherein the plate surface covers the light receiving region (Fig. 113 ), and wherein the four plate side faces the light emitting area ( 115 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light receiving area ( 113 ) in an interior area ( 125 ) the Einspülschale ( 101 ) is arranged. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the light receiving area ( 113 ) on an outside of the laundry care device ( 100 ) is arranged, in particular on an upper side of the laundry care device ( 100 ). Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) on a front side ( 117 ) the Einspülschale ( 101 ) is arranged, wherein in particular the light receiving area ( 113 ) on the front side ( 117 ) the Einspülschale ( 101 ) is arranged. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting area ( 115 ) on a front side ( 117 ) or on an upper side of the dispenser tray ( 101 ) is arranged. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the front side ( 117 ) the Einspülschale ( 101 ) a handle opening ( 119 ) for engaging in the dispensing bowl ( 101 ), that the light emitting area ( 115 ) at the handle opening ( 119 ) is arranged. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element ( 105 ) with the Einspülschale ( 101 ) is positively connected, cohesively or positively connected. Laundry care device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispenser tray ( 101 ) comprises a typographic or graphical display element, the light output area ( 115 ) is adapted to emit light to the typographic or graphic display element.

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