EP0163790A1

EP0163790A1 - Mirror with holster

Info

Publication number: EP0163790A1
Application number: EP84307209A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Noel E. Zeller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-09
Filing date: 1984-10-19
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: AU3449384A

Abstract

A mirror comprises a housing, a reflector mounted on the housing, and lamps mounted adjacent to the reflector for illuminating a subject positioned before the reflector. A circuit is connected to the lamps for actuating them. A handle is pivotally connected to the housing, and a detent selectively retains the handle in any of a plurality of different angular detent positions with respect to the reflector. The mirror can be utilized optionally by placing it on a support or holding it by hand, the handle being retained in a selected one of the angular positions.

Description

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to mirrors and more particularly, to a novel and highly-effective magnifying mirror that is portable and lighted and that can be held in the hand or supported on a horizontal surface or in a wall-mounted holster in a variety of positions for convenient use.
Mirrors are among the artifacts of civilization that are used daily by nearly everyone. They are so commonplace that they are taken for granted, but their importance is such that, over the centuries, various inventors have given a great deal of attention to their perfection.
There are many styles of conventional mirrors having various useful features such as portability, magnifying capability, and lights. All conventional mirrors, however, have certain drawbacks.
For example, many portable mirrors lack a handle altogether, or, if they have one, it is rigidly connected to the mirror or capable of such limited articulation as to confer no special benefit.
Many magnifying mirrors are of limited usefulness under conditions of dim ambient light.
Many lighted mirrors, while portable in the sense that they can be carried, for example in a suitcase, must be plugged into house current in order to light up, so that the lighting feature is not always available.
It is believed that no mirror previously developed has a combination of features that make it ideal for use at home (as in a bedroom or bathroom), in the office, and during travel, regardless of ambient lighting conditions or availability of house current. It is believed moreover that no such mirror has a combination of features such that it can readily be held in the hand or supported on a horizontal surface or in a wall-mounted holster in a variety of positions for convenient use.

Sumary of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a mirror that avoids the problems of conventional mirrors noted above. In particular, an object of the invention is to provide a mirror that is easily portable, that can be held in the hand or separately supported in a position that can be adjusted for easy use, that can be utilized under conditions of dim ambient light regardless of the availability of house current, and that is inexpensive to manufacture.
The foregoing and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention by the provision of a mirror comprising a housing, a reflector mounted on the housing, illuminating means mounted adjacent to the reflector for illuminating a subject postioned before the reflecor, land an electric circuit for actuating the illuminating means. A handle is. provided, together with pivot means pivotally connecting the handle to the housing. A detent selectively retains the handle in any of a plurality of different angular detent positions with respect to the reflector.
The mirror can thus be utilized optionally by placing it on a support or holding it by hand, the handle being retained in a selected one of the angular positions.
The mirror preferably also has the following additional characteristics:

The housing comprises a hollow plastic casing, the reflector is attached to one side of the casing, and the illuminating means is mounted within the casing behind the reflector. The casing is formed on the side opposite the reflector with a well, and the handle can be pivoted so that it is substantially accommodated within the well.

The reflector is concave, whereby the mirror produces a magnified image and the illuminating means comprises at least two lamps respectively positioned adjacent to opposite edges of the reflector.
The handle is hollow, the electric circuit is at least partly accommodated within the handle, and the handle pivot comprises a pair of hollow bearings. The electric circuit is at least partly accommodated within the handle and comprises separate branches respectively extending through the bearings and to the lamps.
The handle can be pivoted from a first position in the well to second, third and fourth detent positions which are respectively angularly removed from the first position by substantially 45°, 85°, and 180°.
A bracket is selectively engageable with the mirror for storing the mirror in a position such that it can be used while so stored. The bracket comprises a holster which accommodates the handle and a wall mount and means for pivotally connecting the holster to the wall mount.
The holster is formed with a lower opening permitting passage of the circuit, whereby the illuminating means can be powered by house current while the handle is accommodated in the holster.
The circuit comprises means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the circuit adjacent to the handle, whereby the illuminating means can be powered by house current with the handle inserted in or removed from the holster.
The plug is formed with a resilient portion which can be manually squeezed to facilitate the connecting and disconnecting and with stop means for fixing the position of the plug longitudinally with respect to the lower opening in the holster.
The circuit comprises means for rectifying and transforming house current and a second plug for connection to house current.
A power source is mounted in the handle, whereby the lamps can be actuated independently of house current. The power source is rechargeable and comprises a plurality of nickel-cadmium batteries.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A better understanding of the invention can be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, together with the appended figures of the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of a mirror constructed in accordance with the invention, the mirror being shown mounted in its holster in a first optional position;
Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a view in right-side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the broken line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 2 and lookinig in the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing the mirror withdrawn from its holster;
Fig. 11 is a right-side elevation corresponding to Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a front elevational view corresponding to Fig. 10 with the handle folded out of sight;
Fig. 13 is a right-side elevation corresponding to Fig. 11 but showing the handle folded to a position angularly removed by substantially 85° from the fully-retracted position;
Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 13 showing the handle in the fully-retracted position;
Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view corresponding to Fig. 14; and
Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit used in accordance with the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figs. 1-15 show a mirror 10 constructed in accordance with the invention, and Figs. 1-7 additionally show bracket means 12 selectively engageable with the mirror 10 for storing the mirror in a position such that it can be used while so stored.
The mirror 10 comprises a housing 14 and a reflector 16 mounted on the housing 14.
Illuminating means 18 is mounted adjacent to the reflector 16 for illuminating a subject positioned before the reflector 16. Circuit means 20, shown for example in Figs. 7 and 16, is connected to the illuminating means 18 for actuating the illuminating means 18.
A handle 22 is provided, together with pivot means 24 pivotally connecting the handle 22 to the housing 14.
Detent means 26 selectively retains the handle 22 in any of a plurality of different angular detent positions with respect to the reflector 16.
The housing means 14 comprises a hollow plastic casing formed by parts 28 and 30 which are united by a sonic weld 32.
The reflector 16 is attached to one side of the casing, as Fig. 6 for example shows, and the illuminating means 18 is mounted within the casing behind the reflector 16.
The casing is formed on the side 34 opposite the reflector 16 with a well 36, and the handle 22 can be pivoted so that it is substantially accommodated within the well 36.
The reflector 16 is concave, whereby the mirror 10 produces a magnified image.
The illuminating means 18 comprises two lamps 38 respectively positioned adjacent to opposite edges of the reflector 16. The pivot means 24 comprises a pair of hollow bearings 40, and the circuit means 20 comprises separate branches 42 and 44 resspectively extending through the bearings 40 and to the lamps 38.
The handle 22 can be pivoted from a first position in the well, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, to second, third and fourth detent positions which are respectively angularly removed from the first position by substantially 45°, 85° and 180°. Fig. 13, for example, illustrates the detent position in which the handle forms an angle of substantially 85° with respect to the position occupied by the handle when it is accommodated within the well as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Figs. 3, 6, 10 and 11, for example, illustrate the detent position in which the handle is angularly removed from its position in the well by substantially 180°.
The bracket means 12 is selectively engageable with the mirror 10 for storing the mirror in a position such that it can be used while so stored. Figs. 1-7 illustrate the mirror 10 stored in the bracket means 12, the handle 22 of the mirror 10 being fully opened to a position angularly removed from the well position by 180°.
The bracket means 12 comprises a holster 46 which accommodates the handle 22. The bracket means 12 further comprises a wall mount 48 and means 50 for pivotally connecting the holster 46 to the wall mount 48.
The circuit means 20 comprises a plug 52 for selectively connecting and disconnecting the circuit 20 adjacent to the handle 22, whereby the illuminating means 18 can be powered by house current with the handle 22 inserted in or removed from the holster 46.
The plug 52 is formed with a resilient portion 54 best shown in Figs. 6 and 7 which can be manually squeezed to facilitate the connecting and disconnecting of the circuit means 20. The plug 52 is also formed with stop means 56 in the form of protrusions engageable with the inside and outside of flanges 58 projecting inwardly into an aperture 60 formed in the bottom of the holster 46. Stop means 56 cooperates with the flanges 58 in order to fix the position of the plug 52 longitudinally with respect to the lower openings or aperture 60 in the holster 46.
The circuit 20 comprises means 62 (Fig. 16) for rectifying and transforming house current, and a second plug 64 for connection to house current.
The circuit 20 further comprises a power source such as battery means 66 (Fig. 16) mounted in the handle 22, whereby the illuminating means 18 can be actuated independently of house current.
The power source 66 is preferably a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery consisting of four cells connected in series. Such a battery delivers about 4.8 volts when fully charged and in normal operation about 4.5 volts at an output of 600 milliamperes. The lamps 38 constituting the illuminating means 30 are connected in parallel as shown in Fig. 16.
The rectifier/transformer 62 when connected as shown in Fig. 16 also functions as a charger for the battery 66.
A switch 68 well shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 16 is adapted to turn both bulbs 38 on or off together while leaving the battery 66 connected to the charger 62 for charging.
Access doors 70 (Figs. 2 and 15) facilitate bulb replacement, and portions 72 on the front side of the mirror are transparent or, preferably, translucent, so that the illuminating means can irradiate a subject positioned before the mirror 10.
The features described above provide a mirror having exceptional versatility.
The mirror can be positioned in a multitude of ways for easy use. It can be positioned as shown in Fig. 1, for example, in its holster, and it can also be positioned pivoted 180° about the vertical axis. As shown in Fig. 3, the mirror would then be facing the wall 74 on which the wall support 48 is mounted. To use the mirror, it then needs merely to be pivoted counterclockwise until it faces the user.
The pivot 50 between the holster 46 and wall mount 48 enables the mirror to be pivoted clockwise or counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 4 and 5.
The mirror can be withdrawn from the holster and held in the band with the handle 22 fully extended as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
The mirror can also be placed on a flat surface such as a dresser or table with the handle 22 retained in an intermediate detent position as shown in Fig. 13.
In all of these positions the mirror can be lighted by battery or by house current. The opening 60 in the bottom of the holster 46 makes it possible to plug the circuit 20 into house current while the mirror 10 is accommodated within the holster 46. The plug 52 can be disconnected, the mirror 10 withdrawn from the holster 46, and the plug 52 can then be reconnected with the mirror withdrawn from the holster 46 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Thus in all of the positions that can be assumed by the mirror it can be used with the lights 38 on or off.
Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel and highly-effective magnifying mirror that is portable and lighted and that can be held in the hand or supported on a horizontal surface or in a wall-mounted holster in a variety of positions for convenient use. The mirror avoids the problems of conventional mirrors and is easily portable, can be held in the hand or separately supported in a position that can be adjusted for easy use, and can be utilized under conditions of dim ambient light regardless of the availability of house current. Moreover, the mirror is inexpensive to manufacture.
Many modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed above will readily occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the dimensions and materials employed can be readily selected and adjusted by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention includes all structures which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mirror comprising

housing means,

reflecting means mounted on said housing means,

illuminating means mounted adjacent to said reflecting means for illuminating a subject positioned before said reflecting means, and

circuit means connected to said illuminating means for actuating said illuminating means,

characterized in that it further comprises

a handle (22),

pivot means (24) pivotally connecting said handle (22) to said housing means (14), and

detent means (26) for selectively retaining said handle (22) in any of a plurality of different angular detent positions with respect to said reflecting means (16),

whereby said mirror can be utilized optionally by placing it on a support or holding it by hand, said handle (22) being retained in a selected one of said angular positions.

2. A mirror as in claim 1 characterized in that said housing means (14) comprises a hollow plastic casing (28, 30),

said reflecting means (16) is attached to one side (30) of said casing (28, 30),

said illuminating means (18) is mounted within said casing (28, 30) behind said reflecting means (16),

said casing (28, 30) is formed on the side (28) opposite said reflecting means (16) with a well (36), and

said handle (22) can be pivoted so that it is substantially accommodated within said well (36).

3. A mirror as in claim 1 characterized in that said reflecting means (16) is concave, whereby said mirror produces a magnified image.

4. A mirror as in claim 1 characterized in that said illuminating means (18) comprises at least two lamps (38, 38) respectively positioned adjacent to opposite edges of said reflecting means (16), said pivot means (24) comprises a pair of hollow bearings (40), and said circuit means (20) comprises separate branches (42, 44) respectively extending through said bearings (40) and to said lamps (38, 38).

5. A mirror as in claim 2 characterized in that said handle (22) can be pivoted from a first position in said well (36) to second, third and fourth detent positions which are respectively angularly removed from said first position by substantially 45°, 85° and 180°.

6. A mirror as in claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises bracket means (12) selectively engageable with said mirror for storing said mirror in a position such that it can be used while so stored.

7 . A mirror as in claim 6 characterized in that said bracket means (12) comprises a holster (46) which accommodates said handle (22).

8. A mirror as in claim 7 characterized in that said bracket means (12) further comprises a wall mount (48) and means (50) for pivotally connecting said holster (46) to said wall mount (48).

9. A mirror as in claim ₇ characterized in that said holster (46) is formed with a lower opening (60) permitting passage of said circuit means (20), whereby said illuminating means (18) can be powered by house current while said handle (22) is accommodated in said holster (46).

10. A mirror as in claim 9 characterized in that said circuit means (20) comprises plug means (52) for selectively connecting and disconnecting said circuit means (20) adjacent to said handle (22), whereby said illuminating means (18) can be powered by house current with said handle (22) inserted in or removed from said holster (46).

11. A mirror as in claim 1 characterized in that said circuit means (20) comprises battery means (66) mounted in said handle (22), whereby said illuminating means (18) can be actuated independently of house current.