COMPONENT

The present invention relates to parts of household appliances, and in particular, to a light- emitting means of a household appliance.

To achieve some decorative or functional indication effects, light emitting means are provided on housings of some household appliances. The light-emitting means includes a light source, for example, an LED lamp, and a light guide component for transmitting the light source to a target position or converting the light source into a target shape.

The Chinese invention patent application with the publication number of CN 102 482 826 A discloses a light guide component. The light guide component is formed by injection using a transparent material. Transmission of light is implemented for the light though a specific construction of the light guide component. For example, in the publication document of the patent application, a saw-tooth contour is arranged on the light guide component to obtain uniform illumination. The light guide component has very complicated construction and installation and also has a very high requirement for precision of manufacturing and installing. A light reflection effect is limited by the structure of the light guide component. Structural unevenness in a cross section may cause an offset in the refection effect. An excessively zigzag contour may block transmission of light. It can be seen that by using the light guide component, the cost is high and it is difficult for transferred light to achieve an ideal degree of evenness. One objective of the present invention is to reduce the cost and obtain uniform light output by overcoming defects in the prior art by using an improved light guide component.

With respect to the above objective, the technical solution used in the present invention is: A household appliance, including a housing assembly for forming a household appliance appearance, where a light-emitting component controlled by a control means is provided inside the housing assembly, the light-emitting component includes a light source and a light guide component, and the light guide component is an elongated light guide bar that transmits light on a side surface. The household appliance may be embodied, without being limited to, as a washing machine, a refrigerator, a cooker hood, an air conditioner, a dish-washing machine, a microwave oven, and a vacuum cleaner. The housing assembly may include a housing body and an outer member, for example, a door, a window, and a drawer panel, mounted on the housing body.

Homogeneous and evenly-distributed light output can be obtained within a long length with the light guide bar that transmits light on the side surface. The long length may even reach several meters. With such a long length, if a conventional light guide component is used, the light guide component needs to be designed and processed precisely, there is an extremely high requirement for assembling, and it is difficult to achieve evenness of light output. It can be seen that precise processing of a light guide component is avoided by using a light guide bar that transmits light on a side surface, by merely cutting the same into appropriate lengths according to needs, thereby greatly reducing the cost. Also, because the requirement for mounting is not as high as that of a conventional light guide component, the mechanical design and process costs are reduced. The mounting structure of the light guide bar of the present invention is also more compact and simpler. As one optional implementation manner, the light guide component is of a cylinder structure. The light guide component of the cylinder structure can output more homogeneous side light.

As one optional implementation manner, a light source is located at one end of the light guide component in an axial direction.

As one optional implementation manner, the light guide component is a flexible light guide bar. By using a suitable material, the light guide bar that transmits light on the side surface may reach a very high level of flexibility, and may be bent into almost any shape, thereby providing a great level of freedom for sculpting of a light-emitting pattern.

As one optional implementation manner, the housing includes a guide means for defining an extension path of the light guide component so as to enable the light guide component to form a predetermined shape. The guide means defines the extension path of the light guide component, to make the mounting simpler and clearer. As one optional implementation manner, the guide means includes a guide slot with a cross-section shape matching that of the light guide component, so as to enable the light guide component to be embedded in the guide slot.

As one optional implementation manner, the housing assembly includes a transparent board that covers an outer side of the light guide component. The transparent board protects the light guide component from influences of dusts, oil contamination, and water. As one optional implementation manner, two sides of the transparent board are each provided with a light shading plate, and the shape of the transparent board fits the shape of the light guide component.

The following text further describes the present invention by using a washing machine as an example in combination with the figures of the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a front schematic diagram of a washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a door body and a cabinet of the washing machine after being cut at a hinge section in a first assembling mode of a light guide bar and a light-emitting module;

FIG. 3 is a front enlarged view of the cut section in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram of a door body and a cabinet of the washing machine after being cut at a hinge section in a second assembling mode of a light guide bar and a light-emitting module;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of receiving ends of the light-emitting module near the hinge and the light guide bar on the door;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an emitting surface of the light-emitting module near the hinge; FIG. 7 is a back schematic diagram of the receiving end of the light guide bar on the door;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a receiving surface of the receiving end of the light guide bar on the door;

FIG. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of mounting of the light guide bar;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an internal structure of the door body, in which the middle portion is omitted, with two end portions close to each other, so as to clearly display key portions; and

FIG. 1 1 is a schematic diagram of an overlapped portion of the light guide bars.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a washing machine 100 is provided with a housing 2, a control panel 4 mounted on the housing 2, a drawer 6 disposed on the housing 2, and a door 10 mounted on the housing 2 so as to close a clothes drop-in and take-out opening 3 on the housing 2. The door 10 is connected to the housing 2 by using a hinge 12. The drawer 6 is provided with a drawer panel 8 fits with the housing 2. The washing machine 100 is further provided with a control means 1 for controlling all circuit modules in the washing machine 100, so as to control operation of the washing machine 100.

The door 10 is provided with a first light-emitting section a1 , a second light-emitting section a2, a third light-emitting section a3, and a fourth light-emitting section a4 that are connected successively to form a closed circular light-emitting ring. Four light sources 14 for generating light are provided on the housing 2 at positions close to the hinge 12. Each light source 14 is corresponding to one of the light-emitting sections a1-a4. The light sources 14 are turned on or off under control of the control means 1.

And/or, the drawer panel 8 is provided with a fifth light-emitting section b1 and a sixth light-emitting section b2, for respectively indicating different clothes treatment solvents stored in the drawer 6.

And/or, the control panel 4 is provided with a seventh light-emitting section c1. And/or, the housing 2 is provided with an eighth light-emitting section dl

The seventh light-emitting section c1 and the eighth light-emitting section d1 may also be formed by connecting a plurality of light-emitting sections.

Light-emitting states of the light-emitting sections a1-a4, b1 , b2, c1 , and d1 are controlled by the control means 1. The light-emitting sections are turned on or off at the same time or at different times, fade in or out at the same time or at different times, or emit different colors of light, so as to generate a decorative effect, and/or indicate different operation states of the washing machine 100 to a user or send out warn information. For example, starting of a program is indicated by sequentially turning on or off the first light-emitting section a1 , the second light-emitting section a2, the third light-emitting section a3, and the fourth light-emitting section a4 on the door 10, and ending of a program is prompted by simultaneously turning on and simultaneously turning off the first light-emitting section a1 , the second light-emitting section a2, the third light-emitting section a3, and the fourth light- emitting section a4.

The following text further describes the forming principles and construction features of the light-emitting sections a1-a4 in details by using the door 10 as an example. According to the following description, principles and constructions of the other light-emitting sections can be easily understood.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a light-emitting module 140 is fixed on the housing 2. Also, the light-emitting module 140 is connected to a control means 1 (not shown in the accompanying drawings) via an electric wire (not shown in the accompanying drawings). A light guide bar 16 is fixed on the door 10. A light receiving end 161 of the light guide bar 16 passes through a hole or gap 18 on the hinge 12 to be close to the light-emitting module 140 and opposite to the light-emitting module 140, so as to receive light emitted from the light-emitting module 140. The light guide bar 16 is fixed relative to the hinge 12, for example, being clamped in the hole or gap 18 on the hinge 12, and the light receiving end The light receiving end 161 of the light guide bar 16 keeps away from or comes close to the light-emitting module 140 along with opening or closing of the door 10. When the door 10 is closed, a gap is reserved between the light receiving end 161 of the light guide bar 16 and the light-emitting module 140.

As shown in FIG. 4, another assembling mode of a light receiving end 1610 of a light guide bar and a light-emitting module 1400 may be: the light-emitting module 1400 is fixed on the door 10, and an electric wire 20 connected to the light-emitting module 1400 passes through the hinge 12 and is then connected to the control means 1 provided inside the housing 2.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the light-emitting module 140 near the hinge 12 includes one light emitting base and four light sources 14 fixed in the light-emitting base 141. A transparent board or a transparent film 142 is mounted in a light-emitting direction of the light source 14. Light receiving ends 161 of light guide bars 16 are disposed opposite to the light-emitting module 140. The light receiving ends 161 of the four light guide bars 16 are also centralized in one light guide base 162, and a transparent board or transparent film 163 is also mounted in a light receiving direction. When the light-emitting module 140 and the light receiving ends 161 of the light guide bars 16 come close to each other, the light receiving end 161 of each light guide bar 16 is separately opposite to one of the light sources 14, so as to receive light from the light source 14.

Under the control of the control means 1 , when a relative distance D between the light source 14 and the light guide component 16 is greater than or equal to a preset value DO, the light source 14 is turned off. It can be imagined of that, when the light source 14 is in a turned on state, if the door 10 is opened, the relative distance D between the light guide component 16 and the light source 14 becomes larger, and further the light source 14 is turned off. In addition, when the door 10 is gradually closed and the relative distance D between the light source 14 and the light guide component 16 gradually diminishes to be smaller than or equal to the preset value DO, the light source 14 is turned on. It can be understood that the premise is the control means is in a powered-on state at this time. The relative distance D between the light source 14 and the light guide component 16 can be measured by using a sensor (not shown in the accompanying drawings). Or, a micro- switch (not shown in the accompanying drawings) electrically connected to the light source 14 is provided at a suitable position. When the relative distance between the light source 14 and the light guide component 16 reaches a critical value, the micro-switch is triggered, so as to turn off the light source 14.

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 , the light guide bar 16 preferably is a flexible fiber for transmitting light on a side surface and presents an elongated cylinder structure. Light enters the light guide bar 16 via the receiving end 161 and is then evenly emitted out from a side surface, so that the side surface of the whole light guide bar 16 glows. A light guide fiber having the feature can be purchased from the market.

To define an extension path of the light guide bar 16, so as to enable the light guide bar 16 to form a specific predetermined shape, for example, to obtain a circular light ring on the door 10 as shown in FIG. 1 , a guide slot 22 extending in an arc shape on the whole is provided in the door 10. In addition, the cross section shape of the guide slot 22 is an arc shape that matches the cross section shape of the light guide bar 16. An outer side of the light guide bar 16 covers a transparent board 24, so as to enable light that passes through the light guide bar 16 to transmit from the transparent board 24. The transparent board 24 forms at least a part of an outer surface of the door 10.

To obtain light having clearer edges, two sides of the transparent board 24 may be each provided with a light shading plate 26. The shape of the transparent board 26 fits with the shape of the light guide bar 16.

Because the light receiving ends 161 of the four light guide bars 16 on the door 10 are centralized, the light guide bars 16 need to be arranged specially so as to obtain the light- emitting sections a1-a4 that are joined with but independent from each other, as shown in FIG. 1. For example, FIG. 10 shows an arrangement structure of two light guide bars 16a and 16b among the four light guide bars. The content is described in detail below. The door 10 is provided with an outer surface 101 capable of transmitting light. A major part of the first light guide bar 16a is directly located below the transparent board 24. Light emitted by the first light guide bar 16a can be transmitted from the outer surface 101 of the door, and forms a first light-emitting section a1 on the outer surface 101 of the door 10. A first portion 16b1 of the second light guide bar 16b in the axial direction extends inside a light-proof member 30. Light emitted by the first portion 16b cannot be transmitted from the outer surface 101 of the door. The second light guide bar 16b is further provided with a second portion 16b2 in the axial direction. The portion is not shielded by the light-proof member 30 and is directly located below the transparent board 24. Light emit- ted by the second portion 16b2 can be transmitted from the outer surface 101 of the door and forms a second light-emitting section a2 on the outer surface 101 of the door 10. The second portion 16b2 of the second light guide bar 16b is far away from the light receiving end 161 b of the second light guide bar 16b. One end 162a of the first light guide bar 16a far away from the light receiving end 161 a of the first light guide bar 16a overlaps with a joint 160b between the first portion 16b1 and the second portion 16b2 of the second light guide bar 16b, so as to enable a projection of the light permeable portion of the first light guide bar 16a on the outer surface 101 of the door 10 to be joined with that of the second portion 16b2 of the second light guide bar 16b, such that the first light-emitting section a1 is joined with the second light-emitting section a2. An overlap region 32 between the first light guide bar 16a and the second light guide bar 16b is corresponding to a joining region 34 between the first light-emitting section a1 and the second light-emitting section a2. As shown in FIG. 1 1 , after overlapping, the first light guide bar 16a and the second light guide bar 16b each offset from an axial direction for given angles, and for the offset direction, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the first light guide bar 16a offsets transversely by a certain angle and then offsets downwards, so as to enable an end surface 1600a of the first light guide bar 16a to face a direction away from the outer surface 101 of the door 10; the second light guide bar 16b directly offsets downwards, and an end surface 1600b of the second light guide bar 16b also faces a direction away from the outer surface 101 of the door 10. All of the specific implementation manners described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are used only to describe the present invention, but are not all of the present invention. The alterations in any forms made by persons of ordinary skill in the technical field related to present invention within the scope of the basic technical concept of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.