Integrated switch bank
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorDavid A. Hein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated switch bank manufactured using multi-shot molding. The switch bank including at least one switch device, a faceplate, at least one button, and a cover. The at least one button disposed to operate a respective one of the at least one switch devices. The cover molded over at least a portion of the faceplate and at least a portion of the at least one button. The faceplate includes at least one of a front housing and a bezel. The face plate and the at least one button molded by one shot and the cover molded by another shot of the multi-shot molding. The cover generally joins and seals the at least one button to the faceplate. The cover molded over the graphics region to a thickness sufficient to permit the light to shine through the cover or reduced to permit the light to shine through the cover.
Claims11
An integrated switch bank manufactured using multi-shot molding, the switch bank comprising:
- a faceplate;
- at least one button disposed to operate a respective switch device;
- at least one light source disposed to shine through a graphics region of a respective button;
- and
- a cover molded over at a portion of the faceplate and at least a portion of the at least one button, wherein the faceplate comprises at least one of a front housing and a bezel, the at least one button is molded by one shot and the cover is molded by another shot of the multi-shot molding, the cover joins and seals the at least one button to the faceplate, the faceplate and the at least one button comprise an optically clear, transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material, the cover comprises a nominally opaque thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, the cover is semi-transparent over the graphics region, and the cover is of a thickness sufficient to permit the light to shine translucently through the cover.
A method of manufacturing an integrated switch bank using multi-shot molding, the method comprising:
- molding a faceplate and at least one button by one shot of the multi-shot molding;
- and
- molding a cover over at least a portion of the faceplate and at least a portion of the at least one button by another shot of the multi-shot molding, wherein the faceplate comprises at least one of a front housing and a bezel, the at least one button is disposed for operating a respective switch device, the cover joins and seals the at least one button to the faceplate, at least one light source is disposed to shine light through a graphics region a respective button, the faceplate and the at least one button comprise an optically clear, transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material, the cover comprises a nominally opaque thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, the cover is semi-transparent over the graphics region, and the cover is of a thickness sufficient to permit the light to shine translucently through the cover.
An illuminated graphics apparatus manufactured using multi-shot molding, the apparatus comprising:
- an optically clear, transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent faceplate comprising at least one of a front housing, a graphics display, and a bezel, the faceplate molded by a one shot of the multi-molding process, and having a graphics region;
- at least one light source disposed to shine light through the graphics region;
- and
- a nominally opaque cover molded over at least a portion of the faceplate by another shot of the multi-molding process wherein the cover comprises a nominally opaque thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, the cover is semi-transparent over the graphics region, and the cover is of a thickness sufficient to permit the light to shine translucently through the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.