The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1997
Kerry J Kline, Kokomo, IN (US);
Edgar Glenn Hassler, Sharpsville, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corporation, Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
A backlighted button or knob made by multi-shot molding has a translucent part and an opaque part. At the front of the button the translucent part contains a ridge shaped in the form of a symbol which is illuminated. The opaque part surrounds the ridge to mask light to surrounding areas. Where the symbol is a closed figure defining an island, a passage behind the ridge coupled the island to the surrounding areas to allow opaque material to flow to the island during molding, and results in an opaque bridge in the passage. To minimize a shadow of the bridge on the illuminated symbol the bridge is spaced far behind the ridge to allow light to be conducted through the translucent material to the ridge portion just in front of the bridge.