초록 ▼

A refrigerator dispenser includes a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated. The dispenser also includes a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly and a plurality of lig

A refrigerator dispenser includes a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated. The dispenser also includes a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly and a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board. A plurality of light guides is located adjacent to the plurality of light sources, the plurality of light guides being configured to be illuminated by the plurality of light sources. A rear wall, bottom wall and sidewalls of the dispenser define a dispensing area, and the plurality of light guides provides illumination to the dispensing area.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigerator comprising: at least one refrigerated compartment selectively sealed by a door; anda dispenser provided in the door, said dispenser including: a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dis

1. A refrigerator comprising: at least one refrigerated compartment selectively sealed by a door; anda dispenser provided in the door, said dispenser including: a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated;a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly;a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board;a plurality of light guides adjacent to the plurality of light sources and configured to be illuminated by the plurality of light sources; anda dispensing area defined by a rear wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls of the dispenser, the plurality of light guides providing illumination to the dispensing area, wherein the fascia is directly coupled to the spout; and the printed circuit board is located behind the fascia so that the printed circuit board is not visible to a user of the refrigerator. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to an upper portion of the spout. 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board is directly coupled to the upper portion of the spout. 4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the fascia includes a first light guide hole, the spout includes a second light guide hole and at least one of the plurality of light guides passes through the first and second light guide holes. 5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light guides constitutes a first light guide, the first light guide being coupled to the spout. 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the first light guide extends from a top of the spout to the bottom of the spout, with a front face of the first light guide being visible to a user of the refrigerator. 7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of light guides constitutes a second light guide, the second light guide being coupled to the fascia. 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the fascia includes a light guide hole and the second light guide is located in the light guide hole so that, when the second light guide is illuminated, light is emitted in a downward direction from the fascia into the dispensing area. 9. A refrigerator comprising: at least one refrigerated compartment selectively sealed by a door; and a dispenser provided in the door, said dispenser including: a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated; a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly, wherein the printed circuit board is located above the spout and behind the fascia so that the printed circuit board is not visible to a user of the refrigerator; a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board; a plurality of light guides adjacent to the plurality of light sources and configured to be illuminated by the plurality of light sources; and a dispensing area defined by a rear wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls of the dispenser, the plurality of light guides providing illumination to the dispensing area. 10. A dispenser for a refrigerator comprising: a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated;a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly;a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board;a plurality of light guides adjacent to the plurality of light sources and configured to be illuminated by the plurality of light sources; anda dispensing area defined by a rear wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls of the dispenser, the plurality of light guides providing illumination to the dispensing area, wherein at least one of the plurality of light guides constitutes a first light guide, the first light guide being directly coupled to the spout. 11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the printed circuit board is located behind the fascia so that the printed circuit board is not visible to a user of the dispenser. 12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to an upper portion of the spout. 13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board is directly coupled to the upper portion of the spout. 14. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the fascia is directly coupled to the spout. 15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the fascia includes a first light guide hole, the spout includes a second light guide hole and at least one of the plurality of light guides passes through the first and second light guide holes. 16. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the first light guide extends from a top of the spout to the bottom of the spout, with a front face of the first light guide being visible to a user of the dispenser. 17. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of light guides constitutes a second light guide, the second light guide being coupled to the fascia. 18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the fascia includes a light guide hole and the second light guide is located in the light guide hole so that, when the second light guide is illuminated, light is emitted in a downward direction from the fascia into the dispensing area. 19. A method of illuminating a dispenser of a refrigerator, the dispenser including a housing assembly having a fascia and a spout, a printed circuit board coupled to the housing assembly, a plurality of light sources coupled to the printed circuit board, a plurality of light guides adjacent to the plurality of light sources and configured to be illuminated by the plurality of light sources and a dispensing area defined by a rear wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls of the dispenser, the spout being located so that a dispensed substance passes through the spout when the dispenser is activated, wherein at least one of the plurality of light guides constitutes a first light guide, the first light guide being directly coupled to the spout, the method comprising: illuminating the plurality of light guides with the plurality of light sources to provide illumination to the dispensing area. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of light guides includes a second light guide coupled to the fascia, and wherein illuminating the plurality of light guides with the plurality of light sources to provide illumination to the dispensing area includes emitting light from a front face of the first light guide and emitting light in a downward direction from the second light guide.