Indicator knob with overmolded applique

• US 6,860,224 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snider, Chris R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US10/068,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 116/310, 116286-288, 116/202, 116/DIG.5, 116/62.1, 116/302, 116/304, 362/23, 362/29, 362/30, 362/26, 200314-315
• US Class Current: 116/310
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers

Abstract

An indicator knob assembly 10 is provided including a translucent base 26 including an outer surface 14 having an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24, a halo section 40 located on the lower portion24, an appliqué element 28 mounted on the translucent base 26, and an opaque over mold 30 mounted on the appliqué element 28 and covering a portion of the outer surface 14 not including the halo section 40.

Claims

1. An indicator knob assembly adapted to cooperate with a light source to indicate the position of the knob, said knob assembly comprising:

a translucent base including an outer surface having an upper portion and a lower portion, said base defining a translucent halo section on said lower portion of said outer surface for emitting light from the base for illumination;

an appliqué

element directly mounted on said translucent base; and

an opaque over mold directly mounted on said appliqué

element and covering a portion of said outer surface not including said halo section.

2. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said appliqué

element extends to cover said halo section.

3. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said opaque over mold includes a soft touch surface.

4. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said appliqué

element includes a daytime screening.

5. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said appliqué

element includes a lowlight screening.

6. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting panel adapted to be mounted over the light source, said lower portion of said base positioned adjacent said mounting panel;

wherein said halo section illuminates at least a portion of said mounting panel when said mounting panel is mounted over the light source.

7. An indicator knob assembly adapted for use with a light source, said indicator knob assembly comprising:

a base including an upper portion and a lower portion, said base defining a translucent halo section located on said lower portion for emitting light from the base for illumination;

an appliqué

element directly mounted on said base and covering said halo section; and

an opaque over mold directly mounted on said appliqué

element and covering a portion of said upper and lower portions not including said halo section.

8. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said opaque over mold includes a soft touch surface.

9. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said appliqué

element includes daytime screening.

10. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said appliqué

element includes a lowlight screening.

11. An indicator knob assembly as described in claim 7 further comprising:

a mounting panel adapted to be mounted in front of the light source, said halo section of said base positioned adjacent said mounting panel;

wherein when said halo section emits light from the light source such that said halo section illuminates at least a portion of said mounting panel.

12. A method of displaying the position of an indicator knob comprising the steps of:

transmitting light through a translucent base of the indicator knob;

directly mounting an appliqué

element on said translucent base;

preventing light from emitting from an upper portion of the translucent base by covering the upper portion of the base and the appliqué

element with an opaque over mold; and

permitting light to emit from the base by defining a halo section in a lower portion of the translucent base not included in the covered portion of the base.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

screening the light emitted from the halo section by covering the halo section with the appliqué

element.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

illuminating a portion of a mounting panel by positioning the halo section adjacent the mounting panel.