Composite knob with light pipe leakage barrier

• US 7,036,188 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
• Original Assignee: The Grigoleit Company
• Inventors: Howie, Robert K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, ANDRE L
• Application Number:
  US10/808,069
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 164/13, 164/14, 164/22, 164/33, 164/41, 161/18, 161/21, 16D/IG.30, 116/286, 116/309, 116/DIG.36, 362/26, 362/30, 362/551, 362/511, 362/489, 745/53, 745/48
• US Class Current: 16/441
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/503 Controlling members for hand-actuation

Abstract

A composite knob including an injection molded translucent core having a side wall and a top wall with light pipe window or a light pipe opening formed in these walls. A trim ring is positioned on the core and has an opening therethrough to align with the light pipe window or opening. A cover is mounted on the trim ring and core and includes an opening aligned with the trim ring opening and the light pipe window or opening. A light pipe located in the light pipe window or light pipe opening is visible through the trim ring and cover openings. An opaque plastic light transmitting barrier is formed between the light pipe window or light pipe and the openings in the trim ring and cover. The light transmitting barrier is molded as a part of a gripping overlay applied to the outer surface of the skirt of the knob.

Claims

1. A composite knob, comprising:

a core molded of an opaque plastic and having a skirt and an end wall,

an indicator opening extending through said skirt and said end wall of said core,

a light transmitting indicator positioned in said indicator opening and extending outwardly of said end wall of said core,

a disk mounted on said core and having an opening therein to fit over and receive said outwardly extension of said light transmitting indicator,

a cover mounted on said disk and said core and having an opening therein fitting over and receiving said outwardly extension of said light transmitting indicator, and

an opaque plastic light transmitting barrier positioned between said outwardly extending extension of said light transmitting indicator and said openings in said disk and said cover with said barrier formed integrally with said core.

2. A composite knob, comprising:

an injection molded translucent core having a side wall and a top wall,

an indicator window fin extending outwardly of said sidewall and said top wall of said core,

said fin having an indicator window portion and side and end walls connecting said indicator window portion to said side wall and said top wall of said core,

an opaque plastic light transmitting barrier located against said side and said end walls of said fin,

a trim ring mounted over said core and having a fin receiving opening formed therein with said trim ring engaging said opaque plastic light transmitting barrier along said fin receiving opening,

a cover mounted over said trim ring and having an opening therethrough aligned with said trim ring opening and engaging said opaque plastic light transmitting barrier along said opening, and

a light transmitting indicator located in said fin and visible through said indicator window portion of said fin.

3. A composite knob including:

an injection molded translucent core having a skirt and an end wall,

an indicator opening extending through at least one of said skirt and said end wall of said core,

a light transmitting indicator positioned in said indicator opening and extending outwardly of said at least one of said skirt and said end wall,

a disk mounted on said core and having an opening therein to fit over and receive said outwardly extension of said light transmitting indicator,

a cover mounted on said disk and said core and having an opening therein fitting over and receiving said outwardly extension of said light transmitting indicator, and

an opaque plastic light transmitting barrier positioned between said outwardly extending extension of said light transmitting indicator and said openings in said disk and said cover.

4. The composite knob of claim 3 in which said indicator opening is formed in said top wall of said core.

5. The composite knob of claim 3 in which said indicator opening is formed in said side wall of said core.

6. The composite knob of claim 3 in which said indicator opening is formed in said top and said side walls of said core.

7. The composite knob of claim 3 in which said light transmitting indicator is visible through said cover opening and said opaque plastic light transmitting barrier is positioned between said outwardly extending extension of said light transmitting indicator and said opening in said cover.

8. A composite knob, including:

an injection molded translucent core having a side wall and a top wall,

an indicator window portion formed in at least one of said side and top walls of said core and projecting outwardly of said at least one of said walls,

a trim ring positioned on said core and having an opening therethrough receiving said indicator window portion,

a cover mounted on said trim ring and said core and having an opening therethrough aligned with said trim ring opening and receiving said indicator window portion,

a light transmitting indicator located in said indicator window portion with its transmitted light visible through said trim ring opening, and

an opaque plastic light transmitting barrier formed between said light transmitting indicator window portion and said opening in said trim ring.

9. The composite knob of claim 8 in which said indicator window portion is formed in said top wall of said core.

10. The composite knob of claim 8 in which said indicator window portion is formed in said side wall of said core.

11. The composite knob of claim 8 in which said indicator window portion is formed in said top and said side walls of said core.

12. The composite knob of claim 8 in which said light transmitting indicator is visible through said cover opening and said opaque plastic lighting barrier is formed between said light indicator window portion and said opening in said cover.