GB2308298A - Apparatus for viewing parts of the body with two connected mirrors - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for viewing parts of the body has two hand held mirrors 10,11 mounted at opposite ends of a hinged sheet 2. The sheet 2 is a longitudinal strip with three parallel hinges 7,8,9 so that the mirrors 10,11 can be orientated so the desired body part may be viewed. The hinges 7,8,9 also allow the apparatus 1 to be folded up when not in use. The apparatus 1 may also have containers for carrying cosmetic materials such as tubes for cotton buds.

Description

APPARATUS FOR VIEWING PARTS OF THE BODY The present invention relates to apparatus to enable an individual to inspect his or hers own body, and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with viewing apparatus to enable an individual to inspect his or her own ear.

I have found that it is particularly difficult to inspect one's own ear and adjacent area. One may wish to look in one's own ear to see if there is any infection or to make sure the ear is sufficiently clean.

According to the present invention there is provided a viewing apparatus to enable self-inspection of the body comprising two hand holdable mirrors having a connection means extending therebetween, which enables the mirrors to be held in spaced-apart positions and such that with a first of the mirrors held in front of the face and the second mirror spaced from the first mirror and adjacent to the body part to be viewed, the body part can be seen in the first mirror when the first and second mirrors are suitably orientated.

It should be appreciated that the word mirror includes all equivalent light reflective surfaces and does not limit the invention to mirrors comprising a glass sheet having a silver reflective film covering one surface.

The mirrors are preferably plain mirrors, but one or both could be configured to provide some magnification.

Preferably in use the second mirror is held in close proximity to the body part to enable a detailed view of said body part.

Preferably the connection means comprises at least one substantially rigid elongate sheet being connected to mirrors and hinge means which enable the relative orientation of the mirrors to be altered.

Also preferably the rigid sheet is connected to one of the mirrors by hinge means.

Preferably both of the mirrors are connected to the rigid sheet by respective hinge means.

It is preferable that there are two rigid sheets connected by a further hinge means.

Preferably at least one mirror is rotatable about the axis of the adjacent hinge means to such an extent that when not in use the front surface of said one mirror is adjacent the rigid sheet.

Preferably both mirrors are rotatable about the axis of the respectively adjacent hinge means to such an extent that when not in use each mirror has it's front surface adjacent the rigid sheet so forming a substantially flat apparatus.

Preferably the rigid sheet is rotatable about a hinge means to such a extent that one mirror is adjacent the second mirror so forming a substantially flat apparatus.

It will be appreciated that hinge means may be any suitable known hinge assembly.

Preferably the mirrors are mounted on a elongate substantially rigid strip having three substantially parallel fold lines constituting the respective hinge means, the mirrors being mounted at opposite ends of the strip and each mirror having a respective one of said fold lines adjacent its innermost vertical edge, the third fold being located intermediate the other two fold lines.

Preferably the third fold line is located equidistant between the other two fold lines.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a longitudinal rigid strip having three substantially parallel transverse hinges in the form of three spaced-apart fold lines, the mirrors being mounted at opposite ends of the strip and each mirror having a respective one of the fold lines adjacent it's innermost vertical edge, the third fold line being located equidistant therebetween whereby, when not in use, each mirror is foldable about its respective adjacent fold line so that it's front (in use) surface lies against the front (in use) surface of the strip forming two doubled sections with the third fold line positioned therebetween, and the apparatus is in turn foldable about said fold line such that one doubled section lies against the second doubled section.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a number of suitable containers filled, in use, with cosmetic material. Preferably the cosmetic material comprises cosmetic powder and/or creams contained in the dish-like container.

It is also preferable that the cosmetic material comprises cotton buds contained in a tube-like container.

By way of example only an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a viewing apparatus comprising an elongate strip carrying two mirrors suitably mounted in accordance with the present invention, Figures 2 and 3 show an elevation view, looking in direction A of Figure 1, and illustrating the stages of the folding process, and Figure4 shows a plan view of the apparatus, in use, in the unfolded state.

Referring to Figure 1 a viewing apparatus 1 comprises a flat elongate strip 2 of substantially rigid card. The strip 2 is divided up into four rectangular panels 3, 4, 5 and 6 by three spaced-apart transverse fold lines 7, 8 and 9.

The upper surface of panels 3 and 6 carry respective rectangular plain, silvered glass mirrors 10 and 11 adhesively secured thereto.

When not in use the apparatus may be folded as shown in Figures 2 and 3 by first folding the panel 3 about the fold line 7 so that front face of mirror 10 which is uppermost in Figure 1 lies against the uppermost face of panel 4 so forming a doubled panel and folding the panel 6 about the fold line 9 so that the front face of mirror 11 lies against the uppermost surface of panel 5 so forming a second doubled panel. Finally the doubled panel, comprising panels 3 and 4, is folded about third fold line 8 so that the surface 12 lies against the surface 13 of the doubled panel comprising panels 5 and 6, as shown in Figure 3. This folded arrangement provides the mirrors 10 and 11 with a degree of protection when the apparatus is not in use as the front surfaces of the mirrors 10 and 11 are protected by the rigid panels 4 and 5.

It will be appreciated that the rigid card may have a decorative covering jacket made out of leather or a suitable plastic. The decorative jacket may also comprise a layer of foam encased between the card and the jacket.

This may be for aesthetic reasons or it could also provide some additional protection for the mirrors by providing a cushion against any force applied to the apparatus whilst in the folded state.

The apparatus may also include a suitable locking means located about the outermost surfaces of the fold lines 7 and 9 so providing a detachable connection therebetween. The locking means may be any known catchtype fastener which will detachably hold surfaces 12 and 13 together in the folded form shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4 the apparatus 1 is shown in use in a unfolded state.

In use the operator 14 holds panel 3 in one hand and panel 6 in the other hand.

Panel 3 is held in front of the operator's face and panel 6 is held adjacent the operator's ear. The panels are oriented so that the image of the ear can be seen by the operator via the mirrors 10 and 11. In use each of the rigid panels can rotate about the vertical axis of the fold lines 7, 8, 9. The orientation of the mirrors is simplified because the relative movement of the panels is limited to their rotation about the fold lines and the vertical planes of the two mirrors 10 and 11 are substantially parallel. Also it is found that the position of the image is relatively insensitive to the precise angling of the mirrors.

The angle between the relative vertical plains of mirrors 10, 11 will always be an acute angle X.

The apparatus 1 could also comprise a light means mounted on panel 6 to provide additional light to aid the inspection of the ear. The light means could be any known bulb and power supply. In use the light shines onto the ear and the image is then viewed as described above.

The apparatus 1 could also compirse a dish-like container containing cosmetics such as facial powders. The apparatus I can also comprise a tube-like container housing cotton buds.

Claims (15)

1. A viewing apparatus to enable self-inspection of the body comprising two hand holdable mirrors, as hereinbefore defined, having a connection means extending therebetween, which enables the mirrors to be held in spaced-apart positions and such that with a first of the mirrors held in front of the face and the second mirror spaced from the first mirror and adjacent to the body part to be viewed, the body part can be seen in the first mirror when the first and second mirrors are suitably orientated.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the mirrors are plain mirrors.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the arrangement is such that in use the second mirror is held in close proximity to the body part to enable a detailed view of said body part.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the connection means comprises at least one substantially rigid elongate sheet connected to the mirrors and hinge means which enable the relative orientation of the mirrors to be altered.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the rigid sheet is connected to one of the mirrors by hinge means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which both of the mirrors are connected to the rigid sheet by respective hinge means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 which comprises two such rigid sheets connected by a further hinge means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 in which at least one of the mirrors is rotatable about the axis of the adjacent hinge means to such an extent that when not in use the front surface of said one mirror is adjacent the rigid sheet.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 as appended directly or indirectly to claim 6 in which both mirrors are rotatable about the axis of the respectively adjacent hinge means to such an extent that when not in use each mirror has the front surface thereof adjacent the rigid sheet so forming a substantially flat apparatus.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 as appended to claim 7 in which the mirrors are mounted on an elongate substantially rigid strip having three substantially parallel fold lines constituting the respective hinge means, the mirrors being mounted at opposite ends of the strip and each mirror having a respective one of said fold lines adjacent its innermost vertical edge, the third fold being located intermediate the other two fold lines.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the third fold line is located substantially equidistant between the other two fold lines.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, the apparatus comprising a longitudinal rigid strip having three substantially parallel transverse hinges in the form of three spaced-apart fold lines, the mirrors being mounted at opposite ends of the strip and each mirror having a respective one of the fold lines adjacent it's innermost vertical edge, the third fold line being located equidistant therebetween whereby, when not in use, each mirror is foldable about its respective adjacent fold line so that it's front (in use) surface lies against the front (in use) surface of the strip forming two doubled sections with the third fold line positioned therebetween, and the apparatus is in turn foldable about said fold line such that one doubled section lies against the second doubled section.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising a number of containers filled with cosmetic material.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the cosmetic material comprises cotton buds contained in a tube-like container.

15. A viewing apparatus to enable self-inspection of the body substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.