Material removal from inner surface to preserve perception of outer surface aesthetics
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.
1. A veneer for a control device:
a planar member having a first thickness, an interior surface, and an exterior surface transversely opposed across the first thickness of the planar member to the interior surface;
a longitudinal slot formed transversely through the planar member, extending from the exterior surface of the planar member to the interior surface of the planar member; and
a recess formed in at least a portion of the interior surface of the planar member;
wherein the recess reduces the first thickness of the planar member to a second thickness; and
wherein the recess includes a perimeter, a first portion of the perimeter disposed parallel to a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal slot, the remaining portion of the perimeter forming one or more curves such that the perimeter of the recess does not include a corner.
2. The veneer of claim 1 wherein the planar member further includes a peripheral edge turned downward to form an angle with the planar member.
3. The veneer of claim 2 wherein the peripheral edge forms an angle of about 90° with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
4. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal slot is formed through the first thickness of the planar member.
5. The veneer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of indicia formed through the second thickness of the recess portion of the planar member.
6. The veneer of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of indicia are vertically aligned proximate the longitudinal edge of the longitudinal slot.
7. The veneer of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal slot is apportioned to form a plurality of vertically aligned longitudinal slots.
8. The veneer of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of indicia;
wherein each of the plurality each of the plurality of indicia is vertically aligned with the remaining plurality of indicia; and
wherein each of the plurality indicia are horizontally aligned with corresponding ones of the plurality of vertically aligned longitudinal slots.
9. The veneer of claim 1 wherein the second thickness is 50% or less than the first thickness.
10. The veneer of claim 1 wherein the first thickness is 0.02 inches or less.
11. The veneer of claim 1 wherein the planar member comprises a metal planar member.
12. The veneer of claim 11 wherein the metal planar member comprises a metal planar member having a grain structure that is longitudinal with a longest axis parallel to the longitudinal slot formed in the planar member.
13. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the recess forms a sharp edge with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
14. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the recess forms a chamfered edge with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
15. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the recess forms a rounded edge with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
16. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the recess forms a partially sharp and a partially chamfered edge with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
17. The veneer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the perimeter of the recess forms a partially sharp and a partially rounded edge with respect to the interior surface of the planar member.
18. The veneer of claim 1 further comprising:
one or more connectors to engage one or more complimentary attachment features on an adapter to which the veneer may detachably attach.