Laundry machine having drum illumination device

1. A laundry machine comprising:

a body having a laundry loading opening;

a drum, rotatably supported in the body; and

a drum illumination device for illuminating the interior of the drum;

wherein, the drum illumination device comprises a printed circuit board and at least one semiconductor or plasma light emitting element arranged on the PCB, the PCB comprising a base portion and an inclined portion which is inclined relative to the base portion.

2. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a metal substrate.

3. A laundry machine according to claim 2 , wherein an insulating layer is formed on one or both surfaces of the metal substrate, wherein the insulating layer covers all or at least a portion of the one or both surfaces, and wherein at least one conductive trace is formed on the insulating layer.

4. A laundry machine according to claim 3 , wherein the PCB comprises a base portion and an inclined portion which is inclined relative to the base portion.

5. A laundry machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the base portion of the PCB comprises a connector section at a region of the base portion which is opposite to the inclined portion, and/or

wherein the at least one light emitting element is arranged on the outward facing surface of the inclined portion of the PCB.

6. A laundry machine according to claim 5 , wherein the PCB is mounted in a supporting body.

7. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the PCB is mounted in a supporting body.

8. A laundry machine according to claim 7 , wherein the supporting body comprises a mounting member adapted to mount and/or snap-fit and/or align an optic case element and/or an electrical connector.

9. A laundry machine according to claim 7 , wherein the drum illumination device comprises an optic case element designed to cover the at least one light emitting element and to receive at least a portion of the PCB and/or the supporting body, the optic case element comprising an optical window facing the at least one light emitting element.

10. A laundry machine according to claim 9 , wherein the optic case element comprises an internal mounting means adapted to cooperate with a mounting member of the supporting body to provide a mechanical connection and/or alignment between the optic case element and the supporting body.

11. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the drum illumination device comprises an optic case element designed to cover the at least one light emitting element and to receive at least a portion of the PCB, the optic case element comprising an optical window facing the at least one light emitting element.

12. A laundry machine according to claim 11 , wherein the optic case element comprises an external mounting member adapted to cooperate with a receiving mount arranged in proximity to the drum, said receiving mount having an opening facing towards the drum interior.

13. A laundry machine according to claim 11 , wherein a sealing element is arranged at the optic case element adapted to provide a sealing between the optic case element and a receiving mount for receiving the drum illumination device.

14. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the drum illumination device comprises at least one alignment element adapted to align the drum illumination device to a predetermined position in a receiving mount for receiving the drum illumination device.

15. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the drum illumination device comprises a fixing member adapted to fix the drum illumination device in a predefined position in a receiving mount for receiving the drum illumination device.

16. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , comprising a frame arranged between the front end of the drum and the laundry loading opening, wherein said receiving mount is arranged at or in the frame.

17. A laundry machine according to claim 16 , wherein, when the drum illumination device is mounted in the receiving mount, the front face of the drum illumination device is flush or essentially flush with a surface area of the inner side of the frame surrounding the front face of the drum illumination device.

18. A laundry machine according to claim 1 , wherein the PCB is mounted in a supporting body.

19. A laundry machine comprising:

a body having a laundry loading opening;

a drum, rotatably supported in the body; and

a drum illumination device for illuminating the interior of the drum and comprising:

a printed circuit board and at least one semiconductor or plasma light emitting element arranged on the PCB;

an optic case element designed to cover the at least one light emitting element and to receive at least a portion of the PCB, the optic case element comprising an optical window facing the at least one light emitting element; and

a sealing element arranged at the optic case element and adapted to provide a sealing between the optic case element and a receiving mount for receiving the drum illumination device,

wherein the sealing element has a sleeve section with a front face that surrounds the outer surface of the optical window of the optic case element, and wherein the sealing element is integrally cast or over-injected to the outer surface of the optic case element.