Material removal from inner surface to preserve perception of outer surface aesthetics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11950385-B2
Application number	US-202318312862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2023
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

A veneer for a wall-mounted keypad may include indicia that are laser cut therethrough and that are representative of functions that may be performed by the keypad. The veneer may include a recess that extends into an inner surface of the veneer, proximate to the indicia. The recess may be shaped such that a perceived aesthetic of an outer surface of the veneer is preserved during formation of the indicia. The recess may for example have an organic shape defined by a curved outer perimeter that does not define any corners.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical wallbox faceplate, comprising:
a planar member having a front surface, a first thickness, and a rear surface disposed transversely across the first thickness;
at least one aperture extending through the first thickness of the planar member, the at least one aperture to accommodate a passage of at least one electrical device; and
a recess portion formed in the rear surface of the planar member, the recess to reduce the thickness of the planar member from the first thickness to a second thickness, the recess portion disposed proximate the at least one aperture.

2. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the planar member comprises a metallic material.

3. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the planar member comprises a metallized non-metallic material.

4. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of an external edge of the planar member is downturned, extending from the rear surface of the planar member.

5. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the at least one aperture comprises a slot formed through the first thickness of the planar member.

6. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures extending through the first thickness of the planar member, wherein each of the plurality of apertures to accommodate the passage of at least one electrical device.

7. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical device includes at least one electrical control device.

8. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical device includes at least one electrical status indicator device.

9. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 , further comprising one or more indicia disposed on the front surface of the planar member.

10. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 9 wherein each of the one or more indicia comprise a plurality of apertures formed through the second thickness of the planar member.

11. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 10 wherein each of the one or more indicia are formed proximate respective ones of the at least one aperture.

12. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the recess portion comprises a square edge recess formed in the rear surface of the planar member.

13. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the recess portion comprises a chamfered edge recess formed in the rear surface of the planar member.

14. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the recess portion comprises a radiused edge recess formed in the rear surface of the planar member.

15. The electrical wallbox faceplate of claim 1 wherein the second thickness is 50% or less of the first thickness.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Vinokurov Dmitriy
• Raneri Daniel C
• Gage Alexander W

Classifications

• H05K5/03 Primary

  Covers · CPC title

• B23K26/361

  for deburring or mechanical trimming (B23K26/351 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K26/362

  Laser etching · CPC title

• B44C1/22 Primary

  Removing surface-material, e.g. by engraving, by etching {(for multi-layer articles B44C3/005)} · CPC title

• B44C5/0415

  containing metallic elements · CPC title