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:
Apr. 01, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Kenneth J. Ardrey, Canton, MI (US);
Mark R. Weston, Brighton, MI (US);
Assignee:
Key Plastics, LLC, Northville, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02B 1/015 ; H01H 9/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H02B 1/015 ; H01H 9/00 ;
Abstract
A control panel assembly having a plurality of buttons located in a bezel and supported by a switch mat. A bezel and/or button is formed using a vacuum forming technique and has a transparent inner surface layer and a middle translucent color layer and an opaque outer surface layer. A portion of the opaque outer surface layer is removed to define a desired indicia on an outer surface of the bezel or button. In addition, the bezel or button can be backlit to allow visibility in low light conditions. A method of making a control panel component, such as a bezel or button, is also disclosed.