US 11,918,165 B2
Appliance control panel with light diffusion features
Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Louisville, KY (US); Kyle James Brewer, Louisville, KY (US); Brian J. Morman, Louisville, KY (US); and Timothy David Kaiser, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on May 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,616.
Prior Publication US 2023/0363617 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A47L 15/42 (2006.01); F21V 3/00 (2015.01); F21V 7/00 (2006.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01)
CPC A47L 15/4293 (2013.01) [A47L 15/4257 (2013.01); A47L 15/4274 (2013.01); F21V 3/00 (2013.01); F21V 7/0008 (2013.01); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control panel for an appliance, the control panel defining an illumination direction and comprising:
a printed circuit board defining a top surface;
a light source mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board for selectively generating light;
a control cover mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board over the light source, the control cover defining a light directing channel extending from a bottom surface of the control cover to a top surface of the control cover, wherein the light source is positioned in the light directing channel proximate the bottom surface of the control cover, and wherein the control cover further defines a reflective surface for redirecting the light generated by the light source toward the top surface of the control cover, wherein the reflective surface defines a reflection angle measured between a direction normal to and away from the reflective surface and the illumination direction, wherein the reflection angle is greater than 90 degrees; and
an overlay panel mounted on the top surface of the control cover, the overlay panel comprising one or more diffused indicator zones.