Patent Publication Number: US-11387022-B1

Title: Illuminated potentiometer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/828,580, titled Illuminated Potentiometer, filed on Apr. 3, 2019, which application is incorporated into this application in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a potentiometer, in particular, to a potentiometer incorporating a light source and method of making and assembling an illuminated potentiometer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Often informally referred to as a “pot,” potentiometers are electro-mechanical transducers and are common devices used for controlling a variety of different elements of an electrical circuit. Particularly, a potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers commonly consist of a resistive element, a sliding contact (wiper) that moves along the element, making good electrical contact with one part of it, electrical terminals at each end of the element, a mechanism that moves the wiper from one end to the other, and a housing containing the element and wiper. 
     Potentiometers are rarely used to control significant amounts of power. Instead, they are used to control small amounts of power, most commonly for the control of electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment and as control inputs for electronic circuits. Potentiometers may further be used for dimming lights, controlling sound frequencies, and are also widely used as a part of displacement transducers. 
     Many different types of potentiometers exist in the market for different applications. For example, for audio control, both linear and rotary potentiometers may be used. Additional types of potentiometers used in the industry include slider potentiometers (a potentiometer that is adjusted by sliding the wiper left or right (or up and down, depending on the installation), usually with a finger or thumb), thumbwheel potentiometers (a small rotating potentiometer meant to be adjusted infrequently by means of a small thumbwheel) and trimmer potentiometers (a trimmer potentiometer typically meant to be adjusted once or infrequently for “fine-tuning” an electrical signal). 
     While many different types of potentiometers, as described above, exist in the market, a need exists for a potentiometer that incorporates a light source that is capable of being illuminated. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a modified potentiometer shaft that includes a light source in the shaft of the potentiometer that is capable of illuminating the potentiometer. As illustrated in the attached figures, in one example of an implementation of the invention, the illuminated potentiometer includes a modified shaft assembly including a shaft, a cap having at least one light source and a lower casing that encloses a lower shaft platform and lower resistor plate. 
     In one example of an implementation, the shaft has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end is molded to the lower shaft platform and the top end has exterior threading. The lower shaft platform includes top and bottom wipers, where the top wiper is connected to a positive lead and the bottom wiper is connected to a negative lead. The lower resistor plate incorporates a conductive band and has one single terminal in which a positive voltage supply is supplied by an external circuit. The conductive band of the lower resistor plate contacts with the top wiper of the lower shaft platform. This contact allows positive voltage to be supplied to the positive lead. A negative voltage supply may be connected anywhere on the lower casing, which acts as a ground. The lower casing contacts the bottom wiper of the lower shaft platform. Both the positive and negative leads, as mentioned above, connect with positive and negative bands located on the exterior threading of the shaft. 
     The cap includes interior threading for engaging with the exterior threading of the shaft. Similar to the exterior threading of the shaft, the interior threading of the cap also has positive and negative bands. A light source is further molded within the cap and positive and negative leads from the light source are connected to the positive and negative bands on the interior threading of the cap, respectively. 
     The location of the positive and negative bands on the exterior threading of the shaft matches the location of the positive and negative bands on the interior threading of the cap when the cap is fully twisted on the exterior threading of the shaft. This matching allows the light source to be illuminated when positive voltage is supplied to the lower resistor plate. 
     The upper casing in combination with the upper shaft platform and upper resistor plate of the present invention acts as a standard potentiometer, which may be used for the control of electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment and as control inputs for electronic circuits. For example, in one example of an implementation, a potentiometer having an upper casing that encloses an upper shaft platform and upper resistor plate having three terminals used to control audio or volume inputs may be inserted on top of the shaft so that the bottom of the upper casing rests on the top of the lower resistor plate. Thus, the lower casing in combination with the lower shaft platform (which is molded to a shaft) and lower resistor plate allows for the light source to be illuminated, whereas the upper casing in combination with the upper shaft platform and upper resistor plate acts as a standard potentiometer. Once the upper casing rests on the top of the lower resistor plate, the upper casing may be secured to the lower casing by a middle clip. 
     In one example of an implementation, an illuminated potentiometer is provided that comprises a shaft having a top end and bottom end, where the bottom end is molded to a lower shaft platform. A cap is provided that includes a light source for engaging and fastening to the top end of the shaft, where both the top end of the shaft and cap include positive and negative leads that align to close a circuit when the cap is fastened to the top end of the shaft. At least one light source is molded within the cap and the positive and negative leads of the cap connect to the light source. A lower casing encloses a lower resistor plate and the lower shaft platform, where the lower resistor plate has one terminal for providing electrical current to the light source. An upper casing is also provided that encloses an upper shaft platform and upper resistor plate, where the upper resistor plate has three terminals for controlling audio or volume inputs. 
     A method of assembling an illuminated potentiometer is also provide that comprises: (i) providing a molded shaft having a top end and bottom end, where the top end has exterior threading having positive and negative conductive bands and positive and negative shaft leads running from the conductive bands to the bottom end of the shaft; (ii) molding a light source within a cap having positive and negative leads connected to the light source; (iii) securing the cap on the exterior threading of the shaft so that the positive and negative bands on the exterior threading of the shaft match the positive and negative leads on the cap; and (iv) replacing a standard potentiometer shaft with the molded shaft and illuminating the light in the cap by supplying power to the light source in the cap through the positive and negative leads. 
     In another example of an implementation, an illuminated potentiometer shaft assembly is provided that comprises a lower shaft platform; a shaft having a top and bottom where the bottom is molded to the lower shaft platform; a light source positioned at the top of the shaft; positive and negative leads that run from the light source to the lower shaft platform for powering the light source; a lower resistor plate positioned on top of the lower shaft platform; and a lower casing that encloses the lower resistor plate and the lower shaft platform, where the lower resistor plate has one terminal for providing electrical current to the light source at the top of the shaft. 
     In yet another example of an implementation, a modified potentiometer shaft is provided comprising a potentiometer shaft; a light source positioned at the top of the potentiometer shaft for illuminating the light source; and electrical connections running from the light source to the bottom of the shaft for providing power to the light source through the potentiometer shaft. 
     Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
       The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference labels designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective of one example view of a shaft assembly of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of the shaft assembly of  FIG. 1  positioned within a lower casing. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of the shaft assembly of  FIG. 2  having a lower resistor plate positioned within the lower casing. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view the potentiometer shaft illumination device of  FIG. 3  having a middle clip. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front perspective view of an upper casing mounted on the potentiometer shaft illumination device of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front perspective view of the upper shaft platform mounted on the upper casing on the potentiometer shaft illumination device of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front perspective view of an upper resistor plate positioned on the upper casing and upper shaft platform of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front perspective view of a top plate positioned over the upper resistor plate of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front perspective view of a finished assembly with wiring of one implementation of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 10 a -10 i    illustrate the assembly steps of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention to create the finished assembly. 
         FIGS. 10 j    &amp;  10   k  show how the illuminated potentiometer finished assembly is fit into and secured to into a corresponding hole on an instrument body. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-9  illustrates one example of an assembly of an illuminated potentiometer of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , the present invention modifies a standard single-turn potentiometer such that the shaft  102  of the potentiometer includes a removable cap  104  housing a light source  106  for illuminating the top of the shaft  102  through the cap  104 . The shaft  102  further includes electrical connections  108  and  110  for providing power to the light source  106  through the potentiometer assembly. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective of one example view of a shaft assembly  100  of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention. As noted above, in the illustrated example, the shaft assembly  100  includes the shaft  102  having a removable cap  104 . The removable cap  104  covers a light source  106  for illuminating the top of the shaft  102  through the cap  104 . The shaft  102  further includes electrical connections  108  and  110  for providing power to the light source  106  through the potentiometer assembly. 
     The shaft assembly  100  further includes lower shaft platform  112  having a top wiper  114  and bottom wiper  116 . Both the shaft  102  and lower shaft platform  112  may be molded together as a single piece. The lower shaft platform  112  has on its top side a double-sided conductive top wiper  118  and on its bottom side a double-sided conductive bottom wiper  116 . Both the top wiper  118  and bottom wiper  116  are secured to the lower shaft platform  112 . In some examples, the top wiper  118  and bottom wiper  116  may be molded to the lower shaft platform  112 . 
     Similarly, the shaft  102  has a top surface  130  and a bottom surface  132 . The bottom surface  132  of the shaft  102  is molded to the top side of the lower shaft platform  112 . At the top end of the shaft  102  is a screw set  120  that has exterior threading  124  for engaging interior threading (not shown) on the cap  104  so that the cap  104  can twist on and lock into place using a small screw that is inserted into set screw opening  128  on the exterior threading of the set screw  120  and cap  104 . Aligning set screw openings  128  are found on the exterior threading of the screw set  120  and the cap  104 , and will always align evenly when the cap  104  is fully twisted on the exterior threading of the set screw  120 . 
     The light source (e.g., LED)  106  is molded inside the cap  104  as a single piece. The cap  104  is molded separately from the shaft  102  and shaft platform  112 . This allows for the interchanging of different caps  104 , as desired. For example, different shapes, sizes, and colors of caps  104  may be interchanged for providing different illuminating effects such as different colored light sources  106 . Both the cap  104  and shaft  102  may be molded in clear acrylic. While the cap  104  may be molded from a transparent mold such as clear acrylic, thus allowing light to pass through, the cap  104  may also be molded with different materials having different transparencies for changing the amount of light that passes through; thus, changing the brightness of the light. 
     While a standard LED light source  106  is shown in  FIG. 1 , any type of light source  106  can be used, including but not limited to, super bright LED&#39;s, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, halogen, or incandescent. Furthermore, the light source  106  can be a single LED, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a plurality of LEDs. The light source(s)  106  may also be made to flicker or light alternatively to create a flickering or color changing effect by any circuitry known in the art that creates a flickering or color changing effect. 
     To power the light source, both the exterior threading of the screw set  120  and interior threading of the cap  104  are molded with a set of conductive bands (positive and negative)  110  and  108 , respectively. The positive and negative bands  110 ,  108  on both the exterior threading of the screw set  120  (extending to the base on the exterior of the shaft  102 ) and interior threading of the cap  104  are spaced apart to avoid contact. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , while the positive band  122  is shown to be located at the top of the screw set  120  and the negative band  1126  is located on the bottom of the set screw  120  of the shaft  102 , in other examples of implementations, the negative band  126  may be located at the top of the set screw  120  of the shaft  102  and the positive band  122  may be located on the bottom of the set screw  120  of the shaft  102 . The location of the positive and negative bands  110 ,  108  on the exterior threading  124  of the screw set  120  on the shaft  102  must match the location of the positive and negative bands  110 ,  108  on the interior threading of the cap  104  when the cap  104  is fully twisted on the exterior threading  124  of the screw set  120  on the shaft  102  to connect the circuit. 
     Positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  are soldered to the positive and negative bands  122 ,  126  of the exterior threading  124  of the screw set  120  of the shaft  102 , respectively. These positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  are run from the exterior threading  124  of the screw set  120  of the shaft  102  through the body  134  of the shaft  102 , and to the lower shaft platform  112 . The positive lead  110  is soldered to the top wiper  118  of the lower shaft platform  112  and the negative lead  108  is soldered to the bottom wiper  116  of the lower shaft platform  112 . The top wiper  112  will make contact with the underside of the lower resistor plate  300  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and the bottom wiper  116  will make contact with the lower casing  200  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), which acts as a ground. Both the positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  may be insulated to avoid making contact with one another in the narrow part of the shaft as both the positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  will be close to each other. 
     Positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  are also soldered to the positive and negative bands of the interior threading of the cap  104 , respectively. These positive and negative leads  110 ,  108  are run from the interior threading of the cap  104  to the light source  106 , which is molded inside the cap  104 . The positive lead  110  is soldered to the positive plate within the LED light source  106  and the negative lead  108  is soldered to the negative plate within the LED light source  106 . 
     In operation, the matching of positive and negative bands between the exterior threading  124  of the screw set  120  of the shaft  102  and interior threading of the LED cap  104  close the circuit and cause electrical current to flow such that the LED light source  106  may be illuminated when connected to a power supply (see  FIG. 10 k   ). 
     Further, a molded ring (not shown) may also be located on the exterior bottom of the lower shaft platform  112  to allow the shaft  102  and lower shaft platform  112  to rest or spin freely on the lower casing  200  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front perspective view of the shaft assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  positioned within a lower casing  200 . The lower casing  200  does not use a stop and is completely flat on the bottom. The interior bottom of the casing may be greased to help the molded ring on the bottom of the lower shaft platform  112  spin freely. The lower casing  200  also includes four tabs  202  for fastening to a middle clip  400 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of the shaft assembly  100  of  FIG. 2  having a lower resistor plate  300  positioned within the lower casing  200 . The lower resistor plate  300  may use a similar shaped plate as the upper resistor plate  700  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). However, unlike the upper resistor plate  700  that acts as a standard potentiometer for controlling audio or volume inputs, the lower resistor plate  300  does not actually resist any movement of any wiper incorporated in the present invention. Rather, the lower resistor plate  300  incorporates a flat copper conductive band (not shown) that is molded directly into the plastic on the underside of the lower resistor plate  300 , which makes contact with the top wiper (in which a positive lead is soldered) of the lower shaft platform  112 . Thus, the lower resistor plate&#39;s  300  primary purpose is to allow electrical current to pass through regardless of its position when the shaft  102  is turned to illuminate the LED light source  106 . Furthermore, unlike the standard three terminals found on standard resistor plates of potentiometers, the lower resistor plate  300  incorporates only one single terminal  302 . This single terminal  302  is soldered to the flat copper conductive band on the underside of the lower resistor plate  300 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the lower resistor plate  300  acts as the positive supply voltage for the LED light source  106 . No negative or ground connection is made to the lower resistor plate  300  itself. 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates one example of an implementation of a potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  that may optionally be used in connection with any standard potentiometer found on the market for illuminating the potentiometer. In this manner, standard potentiometers can be retrofitted with the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  to cause the standard potentiometers to illuminate. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  of  FIG. 3  having a middle clip  400 . The middle clip  400  may be used to secure or connect the lower casing  200  to the upper casing  500  (as seen in  FIG. 5 ) of the of the illuminated potentiometer assembly. As mentioned above, the middle clip  400  is fastened to the lower casing  200  by folding over the four tabs  202  of the lower casing  200  so that both the lower resistor plate  300  and the middle clip  400  are contained. The middle clip  400  may be centered to avoid causing friction when the shaft  102  is turned. Before inserting the upper casing  500  to the potentiometer assembly, the four vertical tabs  402  on the middle clip  400  will need to be straightened to a 90 degree angle. The potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  may also be provided with the middle clip  400  for retrofitting a standard potentiometer. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a front perspective view of an upper casing  500  mounted on the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  of  FIG. 4 . As stated above, the upper casing  500  is secured to the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  by folding over the four vertical tabs  402  on the middle clip  400  once the upper casing  500  is in place. These tabs  402  may be tightly compressed to prevent obstruction of the upper shaft platform  600  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) when the shaft  102  is turned. Grease may also be applied to the interior bottom of the upper casing  500  prior to assembling the upper shaft platform  600  to aid with the smooth turning of the shaft  102 . To prevent the shaft  102  from turning a full 360 degrees, the upper casing  500  may also use a stop, which is located in the lower front of the upper casing. The upper casing  500  also includes four tabs  502  for fastening or securing both the upper resistor plate  700  and top plate  800 , as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a front perspective view of the upper shaft platform  600  mounted on the upper casing  500  on the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306  of  FIG. 4 . After the upper casing  500  has been assembled on the potentiometer shaft illumination device  306 , the upper shaft platform  600  is then slid down the shaft  102  until the bottom of the upper shaft platform  600  rests on the top of the interior of the upper casing  500 . The upper shaft platform  600  incorporates only one double wiper  602  located on the top of the upper shaft platform  600 . This double wiper  602  will make contact with the resistor or audio taper located on the underside of the upper resistor plate  700  (see  FIG. 7 ). The front of the upper shaft platform  600  is aligned with a stop in the lower front of the upper casing  500 . The upper shaft platform  600  is then glued in place. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front perspective view of an upper resistor plate  700  positioned on the upper casing  500  and upper shaft platform  600  of  FIG. 6 . The upper resistor plate  700  functions as a standard potentiometer known in the art. The upper resistor plate  700  consists of three terminals  702 . As stated above, the underside of the upper resistor plate  700  makes contact with the wiper  602  located on the top of the upper shaft platform  600 . Different model audio taper potentiometers may be used in accordance with the present invention, including but not limited to 500k potentiometers, 250k potentiometers, 50k potentiometers or 25k potentiometers. The primary difference between these different potentiometer is the resistance levels. For example, when used in a musical instrument such as a guitar, a higher value potentiometer (e.g. 500k) will generally create a brighter tone with the guitar. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a front perspective view of a top plate  800  positioned over the upper resistor plate  700  of  FIG. 7 . After the upper resistor plate  700  is slid down the shaft  102 , the top plate  800 , having a top plate barrel  802 , is then assembled by sliding down the shaft  102  and resting on top of the upper resistor plate  700 . The top plate  800  is secured by folding over the four tabs  502  from the upper casing  500 . These four tabs  502  not only secure the top plate  800 , but also the upper resistor plate  700 . The total height of the top plate  800  should be no more than even with the bottom of the set screw opening  182  in the exterior threading  124  of the shaft  102 . The shaft  102  and plate barrel  802  opening are sized such that there is minimal play between the interior surface of the top plate barrel  802  and the shaft  102  when the shaft  102  is turned. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a front perspective view of a finished assembly with wiring of one implementation of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention. Once assembled, the light source  106  needs to be connected to a power source to illuminate. The light source  106  may be illuminated by connecting, for example, a 9v positive supply charge  902  to the single terminal  302  located on the lower resistor plate  300  and connecting a 9v negative supply charge  900  anywhere on the lower casing  200 , which is the ground. Depending on the light source used, other voltages may also be supplied to illuminate the light source  106 , including but not limited to any voltage within a 1v-9v range. The power that is supplied may come from an external circuit. As long as the power supply is live, the light source  106  will always be illuminated. Additional resistance may also be added to the external circuit depending on the voltage of the light source used and the voltage of the power supply. 
     Once the wiring is complete, the light source or LED cap  104  may then be interchanged with different caps  104  by simply unscrewing the set screws in the cap  104  and untwisting the cap  104 . As shown in the finished assembly of one example of an illuminated potentiometer in  FIG. 9 , the lower casing  200  in combination with the lower shaft platform  112  and lower resistor plate  300  allows for the LED source  106  to be illuminated, whereas the upper casing  500  in combination with the upper shaft platform  600  and upper resistor plate  700  acts as a standard potentiometer, the three terminals  702  of which may then be wired to control volume or audio inputs. 
       FIGS. 10 a -10 k    illustrate the assembly steps of the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention to create the finished assembly  906 .  FIGS. 10 j    &amp;  10   k  show how the illuminated potentiometer is fit into and secured to into a corresponding hole on an instrument body. For purposes of illustration, the illuminated potentiometer may be referred to by its trademark HOT POT™. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the steps set forth and described below, and in connection with  FIGS. 10 a -10 k    do not necessarily need to be performed in the order described. 
       FIG. 10 a    illustrates the placement of the LED cap  102  on the shaft  104  by twisting the LED cap  102  until tight onto the shaft  102 .  FIG. 10 b    shows the insertion of the shaft  102  into the lower casing  200 .  FIG. 10 c    illustrates the sliding the lower resistor plate  300  over the shaft  102  until it rests flat on the lower casing  200 .  FIG. 10 d    illustrates the sliding of the middle clip  400  over the shaft  102  until it sits flat on the lower resister plate  300 . Tabs  202  are then folded in on the lower casing  200  to secure the middle clip  400  against the lower resister plate  300 . 
       FIG. 10 e    illustrates the sliding of the upper casing  500  over the shaft  102  until it sits flat on the middle clip  400 . The tabs  402  on the middle clip  400  are then folded down to secure the upper casing  500  on the middle clip  400 .  FIG. 10 f    illustrates the sliding of the upper platform  600  over the shaft  102  until the platform  600  rests lightly on the bottom of the upper casing  500 .  FIG. 10 g    illustrates the sliding of the upper resistor plate  700  over the shaft  700  until it sits flat on upper casing  500 .  FIG. 10 h    illustrates the sliding of top plate  800  over the shaft  102  until the top plate  800  rests flat on the upper resistor plate  700 . The tabs  502  on the upper casing  500  are then folded inward to secure the top plate  800  to the upper resistor plate  700 .  FIG. 10 i    illustrates how the positive lead  902  is then soldered to the lower resister plate terminal  302  and how the negative lead  900  is soldered to the lower casing  200 .  FIG. 10 i    also illustrates the illumination of the light source  106  when the leads  902 , 900  are connected to a power source. 
       FIG. 10 j    shows the finished assembly being slid through an opening  1000  in an apparatus  1002  (e.g., instrument body).  FIG. 10 k    illustrates how the finished assembly is secured to the apparatus  1002  by sliding a washer and nut assembly  1004  over the plate barrel  802  of the top plate  800  ( FIG. 8 ). The nut is then tightening to secure the finished assembly to the apparatus  1002 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that a similarly constructed shaft can be used to illuminate potentiometers of different construction without departing from the scope of the inventions. Further, it will be recognized that while the cap of the present invention is taught be removable and interchangeable, the shaft could be designed to be one piece with the cap, having the LED molded near the top of the shaft with lead lines running from the LED through the shaft. Further, when using a removable and interchangeable cap, it is not necessary that the cap engaged with the shaft as taught above. Friction fits, magnet connections and other known mechanisms for connecting parts may be used to secure the cap to the shaft. Other types of electrical connections beside those taught above can be used between the light source in the cap and electrical connections in the shaft, including, for example, through the use of the pogo pins. 
     Those skilled in the art will further recognize that once installed the illuminated potentiometer of the present invention may illuminate the body of an instrument or device, such as a guitar or amplifier. Further, caps  104  can be interchanged; caps  104  can be made of different colors, materials, shapes and sizes. Cap covers can further be made to be interchanged For example, a star-shaped cap cover can be used to cover the cap  104 . In this manner, different shapes, sizes, or colors of cap covers may be used to cover the caps of the present invention to change the appearance of the illuminated potentiometer without removing the caps  104 . 
     The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.