Abstract: A lighting system is provided for illuminating a cooking cavity in a cooking appliance. The lighting system includes a light guide rod configured to guide an illumination and a reflective element optically coupled to the light guide rod for reflecting the illumination from the light guide rod toward the cooking cavity. A guide for insertion of the light guide rod extends longitudinally between an insertion end and a reflective element connection end coupled to the reflective element. The guide defines an inner surface that is tapered, becoming narrower from the insertion end towards the reflective element connection end, for guiding the light guide rod during optical coupling with the reflective element.

Abstract: A cooking oven includes: (a) a cooking cavity; (b) a door to provide selective access to the cooking cavity; (c) a forward panel facing the door when the door takes a closed position, the forward panel comprising a latch cutout; (d) a latch assembly with a base portion that extends from rearward of the forward panel, through the latch cutout with a gap between the latch cutout and the base portion, and forward of the forward panel to couple to the door; and (e) a seal, such as that provided by a latch cover, that at least partially seals the gap to reduce air flow through the gap. During use of the cooking oven, a forward surface of the door forward of the gap exhibits a reduced temperature compared to if no such seal, such as that provided by the latch cover, was included.