Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Heimann
Kevin J. Heimann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230345607Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 11729892Abstract: A control device includes a plurality of buttons having a backlight or indicia indicating a function of the buttons. Each button has a button body that is translucent and configured to be backlit by a lighting element. A front surface of the button body is opaque outside of the area of the indicia. The button body has a post that extends from a rear surface of the button body and is aligned with an actuator. Selection of a button by a user, such as by pressing the button, results in the selected button displaying a greater illumination intensity than the other buttons.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20220117066Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 11234321Abstract: The control device includes a button having a backlit indicium (or indicia) indicating a function of the button. The button may comprise a button body that is translucent and configured to be backlit by a lighting element. A front surface of the button body may be opaque outside of the area of the indicium (or indicia). The button body may have a post that extends from a rear surface of the button body and is aligned with an actuator. The control device may have a plurality of such buttons. Selection of a button by a user, such as by pressing the button, results in the selected button displaying a greater illumination intensity than a button that is not selected.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20200365069Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 10733926Abstract: A control device includes a button with a body defining an outer surface; a metallic veneer coupled to the button opposite the outer surface; and a machined indicia formed in the veneer and defining an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The rib has an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed tapered sides extending from a base of the rib to the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20200043395Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 10424233Abstract: A control device includes at least one button, a veneer secured to an outer surface of the button, and at least one light source configured to backlight the button. The veneer includes indicia defining an open portion exposing a portion of a body of a respective button, a floating portion, and at least one rib that suspends the floating portion. The rib has an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed sides extending from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The opposed sides are tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Publication number: 20180197449Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad M. Kreschollek, Matthew P. McDonald
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Patent number: 9911372Abstract: A backlit operating portion of a control device includes a veneer having indicia defining an open portion exposing a backlit component, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The rib defines an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface, such opposed sides tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald
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Publication number: 20160069537Abstract: A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: Chris Dimberg, Kevin J. Heimann, Brad Michael Kreschollek, Matthew Philip McDonald