Patent ID: 7928857

Claim:
A console assembly for a dishwashing appliance having a tub portion defining a forward access opening, and a door assembly pivotably engaged therewith and movable between an open position and a closed position, the door assembly in the closed position cooperating with the tub portion to cover the forward access opening, the door assembly defining an upper end opposed to a lower end with respect to the forward access opening, the console assembly being adapted to operably engage the upper end and comprising: a control device arrangement, including: a control actuator having an indicia associated therewith and being adapted to selectively direct operation of at least one operational component of the dishwashing appliance; a light emitting element associated with the control actuator, the light emitting element being configured so as to be de-actuated when the door assembly is in the closed position, and to be actuated to emit light when the door assembly is pivoted from the closed position; and a light diffuser member in communication with the light emitting element such that light emitted thereby interacts with the light diffuser member to illuminate the indicia associated with the control actuator; and a console cover member configured to at least partially cover the control device arrangement and to facilitate interaction with the control actuator therethrough, the console cover member also being configured such that the light from the diffuser member illuminating the indicia is non-specifically directed therethrough, the console cover member being further configured to be substantially opaque when the light emitting element is de-actuated, to prevent observation of the indicia associated with the control actuator when the door assembly is in the closed position, and to be at least partially translucent when the light emitting element is actuated, upon the door assembly being pivoted from the closed position, so as to allow observation of the indicia associated with the control actuator.