Control device with self-contained visual indication means

Claim 2

In combination, a control device having electrical contact means operatively connected to an electrical power source, a control member adapted to be moved to at least two different operative positions relative to said control device, and having means separate from said contact means to make selective electrical engagement with said control device in said at least two positions, said control member further comprising a manually engageable member, electrically powered visual indicating means on said manually engageable member adapted to provide said control member with at least two visually different appearances, and electrically operative means on said manually engageable member separate from said selective engagement means and operatively connected to said visual indicating means and adapted to electrically operatively engage said contact means on said control device in at least one of the operative positions of said control member and to operatively disengage from said contact means in at least another of said operative positions of said control member thereby to actuate and deactuate respectively said visual indicating means, wherein said visual indicating means is an electrically powered illuminating means, said manually engageable member is constructed at least in part from a translucent material, said illuminating means is embedded with said manually engageable member, and lead wires embedded within said manually engageable member and operatively electrically connected to said illuminating means, and wherein said electrically operative means comprises electrically operative elements mounted externally on said control member and operatively electrically connected to said lead wires, said electrically operative elements being adapted to engage with and operatively electrically disengage from said contact means in response to the movement of said control member thereby to actuate said illuminating means.

Claim 3

in combination, a control device having electrical contact means operatively connected to an electrical power source, a control member adapted to be moved to at least two different operative positions relative to said control device, and having means separate from said contact means to make selective electrical engagement with said control device in said at least two positions, said control member further comprising a manually engageable member, electrically powered visual indicating means on said manually engageable member adapted to provide said control member with at least two visually different appearances, and electrically operative means on said manually engageable member separate from said selective engagement means and operatively connected to said visual indicating means and adapted to electrically operatively engage said contact means on said control device in at least one of the operative positions of said control member and to operatively disengage from said contact means in at least another of said operative positions of said control member thereby to actuate and deactuate respectively said visual indicating means, wherein said manual engageable member is in the form of a rotatable control knob, wherein said electrically operative elements comprise arcuate elements mounted in spaced relationship on one surface of said control knob and adapted to engage spaced contacts on said control device, wherein said visual indicatIng means is an electrically powered illuminating means, and further comprising lead wires embedded within said control knob and operatively electrically connected to said illuminating means, wherein said electrically operative means comprises electrically operative elements mounted externally on said control knob and operatively electrically connected to said lead wires, said electrically operative elements being adapted to engage with and operatively electrically disengage from said contact means in response to the movement of said control knob thereby to actuate and deactuate said illuminating means.

Claim 4

in combination, a control device having electrical contact means operatively connected to an electrical power source, a control member adapted to be moved to at least two different operative positions relative to said control device, and having means separate from said contact means to make selective electrical engagement with said control device in said at least two positions, said control member further comprising a manually engageable member, electrically powered visual indicating means on said manually engageable member adapted to provide said control member with at least two visually different appearances, and electrically operative means on said manually engageable member separate from said selective engagement means and operatively connected to said visual indicating means and adapted to electrically operatively engage said contact means on said control device in at least one of the operative positions of said control member and to operatively disengage from said contact means in at least another of said operative positions of said control member thereby to actuate and deactuate respectively said visual indicating means, wherein said manual engageable member is in the form of a rotatable control knob, wherein said electrically operative elements comprise arcuate elements mounted in spaced relationship on one surface of said control knob and adapted to engage spaced contacts on said control device, wherein said visual indicatIng means is an electrically powered illuminating means, and further comprising lead wires embedded within said control knob and operatively electrically connected to said illuminating means, wherein said electrically operative means comprises electrically operative elements mounted externally on said control knob and operatively electrically connected to said lead wires, said electrically operative elements being adapted to engage with and operatively electrically disengage from said contact means in response to the movement of said control knob thereby to actuate and deactuate said illuminating means.

Claim 5

In combination, an electrical control device comprising a housing, electrically operative means mounted in said housing and adapted to be operatively electrically connected in a control circuit, a control member mounted on said housing externally thereof for movement with respect thereto between at least two operative positions, carrier means mounted on said control member and extending into said housing, electrical control means on said carrier operatively connected to said electrically operative means mounted in said housing and adapted to change the operative electrical effect of said electrically operative means in said circuit upon movement of said control member, electrical contact means mounted externally on said housing, electrically powered visual indicating means on said control member adapted to provide said control member with at least two visually different appearances, and means on said control member operatively connected to said visual indicating means and adapted to electrically engage said contact means in at least one of the operative positions of said control members.

Claim 6

In combination, an electrical control device comprising a housing, electrically operative means mounted in said housing and adapted to be operatively electrically connected in a control circuit, a control member mounted on said housing externally thereof for movement with respect thereto between at least two operative positions, carrier means mounted on said control member and extending into said housing, electrical control means on said carrier operatively connected to said electrically operative means mounted in said housing and adapted to change the operative electrical effect of said electrically operative means in said circuit upon movement of said control member, electrical contact means mounted externally on said housing, electrically powered visual indicating means on said control member adapted to provide said control member with at least two visually different appearances, and means on said control member operatively connected to said visual indicating means and adapted to electrically engage said contact means in at least one of the operative positions of said control members.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3, in which said control device is an electrical switch, said electrically operative means are switch contacts, said electrical control means comprising movable contact means adapted to electrically engage with and disengage from at least some of said switch contacts in response to the movement of said control member, thereby to establish said at least two operative positions of said control member.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3, wherein said control device is adapted to control the impedance of a variable impedance device, said electrically operative means comprising an impedance element, and said electrical control means on said carrier operatively electrically movably engaging said impedance and adapted to vary the impedance thereof as it moves relative thereto.

Claim 9

The control member of claim 4, wherein said visual indicating means is an electrically powered illuminating means.