Back-lit button assembly

• US 5,477,024 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Hoadley, James E., Share, Lawrence, Van Erden, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paschall, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/282,446
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.69, 219/121.68, 219/121.85, 264/25, 264/510, 264/513, 264/132, 264/522, 264/259
• US Class Current: 219/121.69
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/183 Provisions for enhancing the contrast between the illuminated symbol and the background or between juxtaposed symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/187 having symbols engraved or printed by laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/058 Optical grid, collimator or microlouver
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 Preformed layer in mould
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/05 Forming; Half-punching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/182 Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks H01H9/181 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of providing a clear image on a component including the steps of providing a transparent member having first and second opposite sides, providing a layer of opaque material on the second side of the transparent member and ablating away a predetermined pattern of the opaque layer by directing a laser beam at portions of the first side of the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern, the laser beam passing through the transparent member to contact and ablate the opaque layer and provide a clear image through the transparent member corresponding to the predetermined pattern.

Claims

1. A button assembly comprising a graphic image which exhibits a first color, and when back-lit, provides said graphic image with a different color, comprising:

a transparent cap member having a predetermined shape, a first exterior surface side, and a second interior surface side;

means for defining a graphic image, within a layer of opaque material, upon said second interior surface side of said transparent cap member, comprising a layer of opaque material disposed upon said second interior surface side of said transparent cap member, and graphic image portions ablated away from said layer of opaque material in accordance with a predetermined graphic image pattern by a laser beam directed at portions of said first exterior surface side of said transparent cap member which correspond to said predetermined graphic image pattern such that said laser beam passes through said transparent cap member so as to contact and ablate portions of said layer of opaque material, and thereby define said graphic image which is visible through said transparent cap member and which corresponds to said predetermined graphic image pattern, without causing portions of said layer of opaque material to become embedded within said transparent cap member;

first translucent color means disposed upon said second interior surface side of said cap member so as to at least cover said graphic image;

second translucent color means disposed upon said second interior surface side of said cap member so as to at least cover said first translucent color means; and

transparent support means connected to said cap member for providing support to said cap member and for cooperating with said second interior surface side of said cap member by covering said first and second translucent color means such that when said button assembly is viewed from said first exterior surface side of said cap member, said button assembly comprises a graphic image which exhibits a first color which corresponds to said first color means, and when back-lit from said second interior surface side of said cap member, said graphic image exhibits a second color which corresponds to said second color means.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second color means are separate color foil means.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second color means are contained on a single color foil means.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said formed cap member has a complex three-dimensional shape.

5. An assembly having a light-transmissive image thereon which, when back-lit, directs light transmitted through said image and emanating from a first front side of said assembly in a predetermined pattern, comprising:

a light-transmissive sheet member having a first front side and a second opposite rear side;

means for defining a light-transmissive graphic image, within a layer of opaque material, upon said second rear side of said light-transmissive sheet member, comprising a layer of opaque material disposed upon said second rear side of said light-transmissive sheet member, and graphic image portions ablated away from said layer of opaque material in accordance with a predetermined graphic image pattern by a laser beam directed at portions of said first front side of said light-transmissive sheet member which correspond to said predetermined graphic image pattern such that said laser beam passes through said light-transmissive sheet member so as to contact and ablate portions of said layer of opaque material, and thereby define said graphic image which is visible through said light-transmissive sheet member and which corresponds to said predetermined graphic image pattern, without causing portions of said layer of opaque material to become embedded within said light-transmissive sheet member; and

light-directing film means disposed upon said second rear side of said light-transmissive sheet member and covering said graphic image disposed upon said second rear side of said light-transmissive sheet member for directing light, directed onto said light-directing film from a position behind said light-directing film, in a predetermined pattern through said light-directing film and toward said graphic image and said light-transmissive sheet member such that said light emanates from said first front side of said light-transmissive sheet member in a predetermined pattern.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said sheet member has a pre-formed shape.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 5 including a first daytime translucent color means covering said graphic image on said second side of said sheet member.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said first daytime translucent color means is a first foil member.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

said first daytime translucent color means comprises one of the group of gold, aluminum, copper, titanium, chromium, nickel, stainless steel, and silver.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said foil member is a metallic foil of sufficient thickness to provide the desired daytime color yet prevent light scattering when backlit.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 7 including a second nighttime translucent color means covering said first color means, said second color means being visible from the first side of said sheet member when back-lit.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said second color means is a second foil member.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said second color means is a tinted support member connected to said second side of said sheet member.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said second color means comprises a clear support member connected to said second side of said sheet member and a tinted bulb for back lighting said assembly.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 14 including a first foil member positioned between said second side of said sheet member and said film means to provide a first daytime translucent color to said graphic image and a second foil member positioned on the opposite side of said film means to provide a second nighttime color to said graphic image.

16. A button assembly comprising a graphic image which exhibits a first color visible during daytime, and when back-lit, provides said graphic image with a different color visible during nighttime, comprising:

a light-transmissive cap member having a predetermined shape, a first exterior surface side, and a second interior surface side;

means defining a graphic image, within a layer of opaque material, upon said second interior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member, comprising a layer of opaque material disposed upon said second interior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member, and graphic image portions ablated away from said layer of opaque material in accordance with a predetermined light-transmissive graphic image pattern by a laser beam directed at portions of said first exterior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member which correspond to said predetermined graphic image pattern such that said laser beam passes through said light-transmissive cap member so as to contact and ablate portions of said layer of opaque material, and thereby define said graphic image which is visible through said light-transmissive cap member and which corresponds to said predetermined graphic image pattern, without causing portions of said layer of opaque material to become embedded within said light-transmissive cap member;

first light-transmissive color means disposed upon said second interior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member so as to at least cover said graphic image thereon and provide said graphic image with a first color visible during daytime; and

second light-transmissive color means disposed upon said second interior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member so as to at least cover said first color means and provide said graphic image with a second color visible during nighttime when said second light-transmissive color means is back-lit with light which passes through said second light-transmissive color means, said first light-transmissive color means, said graphic image disposed upon said light-transmissive cap member, and said light-transmissive cap member so as to be visible from said first exterior surface side of said light-transmissive cap member.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said cap member is transparent, said first color means comprises a first translucent foil member, and said second color means comprises a second translucent foil member.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said cap member is transparent;

said first color means comprises a first translucent foil member; and

said second color means comprises a tinted support means connected to said second interior surface side of said cap member and a bulb for illuminating said tinted support means in a back-lit mode.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said cap member is transparent;

said first color means comprises a first translucent foil member; and

said second color means comprises a light-transmissive support means connected to said second interior surface side of said cap member and a tinted bulb for illuminating said light-transmissive support means in a back-lit more.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said light-transmissive cap member is transparent;

said first color means comprises a tinted support means connected to said second interior surface side of said cap member; and

said second color means comprises a tinted bulb for illuminating said tinted support means in a back-lit mode.