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:
Feb. 14, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2009
Joseph S. Meinke, Gowen, MI (US);
Robert L. Bingle, Zeeland, MI (US);
Todd Pastrick, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Ian R. Pettigrew, Sparta, MI (US);
Thomas R. Futryk, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Todd W. Trap, Kentwood, MI (US);
Joseph S. Meinke, Gowen, MI (US);
Robert L. Bingle, Zeeland, MI (US);
Todd Pastrick, Spring Lake, MI (US);
Ian R. Pettigrew, Sparta, MI (US);
Thomas R. Futryk, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Todd W. Trap, Kentwood, MI (US);
ADAC Plastics, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A component of an actuatable apparatus has a substrate, a selectively light- transmissive opaque covering, and an illumination source. The opaque covering is applied to an obverse surface or a reverse surface of the substrate to selectively enable and prevent transmission of light therethrough. The illumination source is adjacent the reverse surface for illuminating a selected area of the substrate. The opaque covering is characterized by first and second portions collectively defining a pattern associated with the selected area. The first portion enables transmission of light therethrough, and the second portion prevents or impedes transmission of light therethrough. Actuation of the illumination source directs light through the first portion but not through the second portion to reveal the pattern. The opaque covering renders the pattern invisible when the illumination source is in the non- illuminated state, and visible when the illumination source is in the illuminated state.