GB2419091A

GB2419091A - Illuminated mirror support unit

Info

Publication number: GB2419091A
Application number: GB0423109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Gaunce; Liang Rui Can
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-18
Filing date: 2004-10-18
Publication date: 2006-04-19
Also published as: GB0423109D0

Abstract

A wall-mountable mirror support unit 120 including at least one box 130 having a rear face (131, fig 5) attachable to a wall. A light permeable cover 134 extends over and seals the front of the box to prevent the ingress of water or dirt therein. The box contains at least one light 136 and associated circuitry therein. The support unit includes means 143, 144 to enable a mirror 110 having light-permeable regions 112 to be attached thereto over the front of the box so that the light emitted by the or each light is transmitted through the light permeable cover and the light permeable regions of the mirror.

Description

Illuminated Mirror Support Unit

Description

The present mventon relates to a mirror support unit and, In particular, to a mirror support unit provided with an Improved water-proof electrical back-lghtmg section.

Mirrors units are known In the art that comprise an Integral electrical 1ghtmg section. Such mirror units generally comprise a rear housing that contalos the electrical components such as wirmg, a transformer (if present), and light bulb(s)/fluc>rescent tube(s), and a mirror attached over the front of the housing.

The mirror Is provided with areas where the reflective coating Is absent so that the light emitted from the bulb/fluorescent tube can pass therethrough to give the attractive 'b ack-llghtmg' e ffec t.

Mirror units that are designed to be used in damp environments, such as in bathrooms, are required to meet certain safety standards requiring the housing to be sufficiently sealed to ensure that moisture cannot reach the electrical components therein from the exterior environment. In the UI<:, this particular safety standard Is known as IP44 - water or dust proofing - part of electrical lighting British

Standards specification EN 60598.

Conventional known bathroom mirror units that meet such safety standards are generally of one of two basic forms of construction: 2s a) A rear box that houses the electrical components which is secured to a wall and has an open front, and a co-operating front box that fits inside the rear box and has an open rear and a mirror permanently fixed to the front of the front box. A waterproofing seal is provided around the edges of one of the boxes such that when the front box is fitted to the rear box, the seal locates In between the edges of the two boxes to prevent moisture from gettmg Into the interior of the rear box and to the electrical components therein. - 2

b) A single rear box that houses the clectrcal components, which IS secured to a wall and has an open front face. seal Is provided on the rim of the edges of the front of the box, and a mirror Is secured over the open front of the LOX, the rear of the mirror cogagmg with the seal to prevent moisture from s getting mto the box and to the clectrcal components therein.

The two types of mirror unit construction mentioned above have a number of disadvantages. Both comprise at least one box unit of substantially the same size as the mirror Itself. These box units are bulky and heavy and can also be expensive to manufacture, adding a significant cost to the final price of the unit. It can also be difficult to line up the seal around the entire perimeter of the box(es) and/or mirror, so making the necessary waterproofing difficult to achieve.

In addition to the above, in both constructions, the moisture-resistant seal Is only made waterproof when the mirror is put in place - either when attached to a front box as In construction a) or, when the rear face of the mirror contacts the front edge seal of the rear box as In construction b). This means that the effectiveness of the seal is dependent upon final assembly of the mirror umt once it is in situ, and therefore cannot be controlled by the producer at the manufacturing stage to ensure it Is effective. It also means that as soon as the mirror Is detached from the unit, the device Is no longer electrically safe in such damp environments.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mirror support unit that substantially alleviates or overcomes the problems mentioned above.

According to the present Invention, therefore, there Is provided a wallmountable mirror support unit including at least one box having a rear face attachable to a wall and a light permeable cover extending over and sealing the front of the box to prevent the ingress of water or dirt therein, the box containing at least one light and associated circuitry therein, the support unit ncludmg means to enable a mirror having lghtpcrmeablc regions to be attached thereto over the front of the box so that the light emitted by the or each light is transmitted through the light permeable cover and the light permeable regions of the mirror.

- -

The wall-mountable mirror support unit preferably comprscs two boxes and the two boxes are preferably jointed to one another by a corlnectmg plate.

s In a preferred cmbodtucot, the two boxes are elongate and orientated parallel to one another, and the connecting plate is Deposed between the boxes to form a generally 'H' shape.

lithe or each box Is preferably formed from a generally 'U' shaped extrusion having a rear wall and two side walls, the or each extruded box preferably being formed with opposing recessed channels in the Inside surface of each side wall, distal from the rear wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the or each light permeable cover that comprises the front face of the or each box Is a transparent or translucent plate that is held in position by opposite parallel edges of the plate locating in said recessed channels.

It will be appreciated by those skilled In the art that the precise shape of the box described above and the means by which the light permeable cover is attached over the front of the box is only a preferred embodiment and the invention is not limited to such a preferred embodiment, but rather other shapes of boxes and means of attaching a light permeable cover of the front thereof are intended to fall within the scope of the claims of the invention.

The or each plate can conveniently be slid mto position m the recessed channels of the or each box from one end thereof, and the or each plate may be made from glass or alternatively may be made from plastic, such as perspex.

Preferably, a sealmg material Is provided in the recessed channels so that when the or each plate Is located with its edges in the channels, the sealing material Is disposed between the plate edges and the channel to form a waterproof seal therebetween. - 4

Advantagcously, the or each plate Is retained In position m the front face of the or each box by an end cap Axed to each end of the or each box, and the cod caps are preferably held in position by screws cxtcndng Into the or each box.

s In a preferred embodiment, the end caps form a watertight seal with the end of the or each box and the or each plate held therein, and a gasket, possibly made of silicon or of rubber, may be disposed between the or each end-cap and the respective box to create the watertight seal therebetween.

0 The or each plate that forms the lght-permcable cover of the or each box is preferably removable from the or each box to allow access to the interior thereof and thereby to the or each light therein.

lihc light of the or each box may comprise at least one hlament-lght bulb held In a socket, and preferably comprises a plurality of &lament-light bulbs held in sockets.

Alternatively, the fight of the or each box may comprise a fluorescent tube held In an associated socket.

A prefctred embodiment of the invention further comprises a mirror mounted over the front of the mirror support unit, the mirror preferably having a rear surface with a reflective coating thereon, and light permeable regions of the mirror are regions where said rejective coating is absent.

l'hc lght-permcable rcg1ons of the mirror ate conveniently positioned to correspond to the position of the or each light In the or each box when the mirror IS mounted In position over the front of the or each box, and the light-permeable rcg1ons are preferably sanded.

In an altcrnatve embodiment, an at least partially transparent or translucent dccorat1vc panel may be mounted over the front of the mirror support unit, the decorative panel preferably Including a decorative picture or Image thereon. The transparent or translucent portions of the decorative panel may be positioned to correspond to the position of the or each Irght m the or each box when the decorative panel Is mounted m position over the front of the or each box.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting plate has at least one aperture therein, s and the mrror/deccratve panel has at least one hook on the rear surface thereof, the at least one hook being receivable In the at least one aperture to enable the mrror/decoratve panel to be mounted to and In front of the connecting plate and associated boxes. (conveniently, the connecting plate has a raised portion and the at least one aperture Is formed In said raised portion.

The or each box, exclusive of the front face, Is preferably made from metal, and the metal is conveniently aluminium.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 5 - 8, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first prior art mirror unit; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the mirror unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a second prior art mirror unit; Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the mirror unit of figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of a mirror support unit according to the present invention; Figure 6 Is a front perspective view of the mirror support unit of Figure 5 with a mirror proximate the front thereof; Figure 7 Is a rear perspective view of the mirror support unit and mirror of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of one stanchion of the mirror support unit of Figures 5 - 7.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a first known embodiment of a mirror unit 10 is disclosed comprsng a first box portion 11 havmg top, bottom, left and right side walls 11a, 11b, 1 1c, 1 id respectively, and it Is open at Its front face. The first box 1 1 contains two fluorescent light tubes 14 electrically conoccted to a supply of electricity (not shown) by wires 14a, the light tubes 14 being turned on and off by - 6 tneans of a switch 15, which Is activated by a pull-toggle 1G. A silicon seal 17 extends continuously around the outside surfaces of walls lla-11d of the first box 11.

s A second box portion 12 Is open at its rear and has a mirror 13 attached to a front face thereof. The second box 12 includes top, bottom, left and right side walls 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d respectively. lihe surface of the mirror 13 has reflective portions 13a which reflect light incident thereon and do not allow light to pass therethrough, and transparent/translucent portions 13b which allow light to pass through from behind the mirror 13 to the front thereof.

In use, the first box portion 11 is mounted to a wall by any suitable fixing means, e.g. screws (not shown) and the wires 14a are connected to a source of electricity (not shown). The mirror umt IS then assembled by tatting the second box 12 and associated mirror 13 over the first box 11, and the seal 17 locates between the outside surfaces of the walls I la - 1 Id of the htst box 11, and the Inside surfaces of the walls 12a - 12d of the second box 12.

Once In the above assembled state, the transparent/translucent portions 13b of the mirror align with the fluorescent fight tubes 14 such that when switched on, the light from the fight tubes 14 passes through the transparent/translucent portions 13b.

Referrmg now to Figures 3 and 4, a second known embodiment of a tmtror unit 20 2s Is disclosed, comprising a box portion 21 having top, bottom, left and right side walls 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d respectively and It Is open at its front face. The box 21 contains two fluorescent light tubes 24 electrically connected to a supply of electricity (not shown) by wires 24a, the light tubes 24 bemg turned on and off by means of a switch 25, which Is activated by a pull-toggle 26. A silicon seal 27 extends continuously around the front-most up of each of the walls 21a-21d of the box 21. - 7

A mirror 23 has a surface comprising rcflcctve portions 23a which reflect light incident thereon and do not allow light to pass thcrethrough, and transparcut/translucent portions 23b which allow hght to pass through from behind the mirror 23 to the front thereof. In use, the mirror 23 Is attached to the box 21 by s means of hooks 22a on the rear face 23c of the mirror which engage with corresponding holes 22b on the rear face of the box 21. Once In position, the rear face 23c of the mirror 23 abuts the silicon seal 27 and presses firmly thereagainst to provide a watertight seal operable to prevent moisture reaching the clectrcal components within the box 21. In this position, the transparent/transluccat portions 23b of the mirror align with the fluorescent light tubes 24 such that when switched on, the light from the light tubes 24 passes through the transparent/ translucent portions 23b.

As mentioned above, both of the known mirror units Include at least one box portion which Is heavy and bulky. 'these box portions are also expensive to manufacture and so add significantly to the overall cost of producing such units. In addition, both of the known types of mirror units require the unit to be fully assembled with the mirror itself In place in order for the waterproof seal to be Intact, and so a producer of such units cannot sell them in a pre-waterproofed condition satisfying the necessary safety standards, because the mirror is only fitted to the unit once the unit Is Installed In its final location, e.g. In a bathroom. An effective waterproof seal can also be difficult to achieve in practice by using a silicon strip as described above, due to the strip becoming damaged in transit or In assembly of the unit, or it coming away from the edge wall(s) of the box portion to which it Is attached.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a mirror support unit 120 of the present Invention Is provided, and will now be described with reference to figures 5 to S. The mirror support unit 120 is generally In the form of an 'H' and comprises two spaced parallel vertical stanchions 130 connected to one another by a central backing plate 14(). Each stanchion l 30 is formed from an cxtruson that Is generally - 8 U'-shaped In cross-secton (see Figure 8), and has a rear wall 131 and side walls 132. rebate chancel 133 Is formed In the Inside of each side wall 132, distal from the rear wall 131 and extending along the length of the stanchion 130, and positioned such that the rebate channels 133 in each side wall 132 face each other.

A transparent or translucent light permeable plate 134, made from glass or perspex for example, Is fitted In the front of each stanchion 130 to close the open side of the 'U'-shape, and Is held m position by the edges of the plate 134 locating In the rebate channels 133. The plate 134 can be located Into this position by sliding it in from one end of the stanchion 130 with the panel 134 edges In the rebate channels 133, until the each end of the plate 134 is flush with the respective end of the stanchion 130.

The plates 134 are prevented from sliding out of the stanchions 130 by end caps 135 which are secured to each end of each stanchion 130 by known means - e.g. by screws in the Illustrated embodiment which engage with a corresponding aperture (not shown) formed In the extruded stanchion 130. In order to ensure that each stanchion 130 Is waterproof, a sealing strip 133a made from a suitable material such as silicon, Is provided in each rebate channel 133 (see Figure 8) so that when the plate 134 is slid mto position, the edges of the plate 134 press against the seal strips 133a. Furthermore, a sealing gasket 135a, made from rubber or another such suitable material, Is disposed between each end cap 135 and the respective ends of the rear and side walls 131, 132 of each stanchion 130, and the plate 134, to make a watertight seal therebctween. It will be appreciated that each stanchion 130 Is individually waterproofed Independently of the other.

Each stanchion 130 houses at least one electrical lighting device. These can be cther fluorescent tubes, or conventional electrical bulbs. The Illustrated embodiment shows each stanchion 130 housing two conventional light bulbs 136 held m sockets 137 that are secured to the rear wall 131. Each socket 1371S connected to a source of electricity (not shown) by conductive wires 138 that extend through a side wall 132 of each stanchion 130. Each wire 138 Is connected to the source of electricity via a switch 139, operable to turn the light bulbs 136 on and off - 9 by pulling a toggle cord 139a. Although a toggle cord 139a switch 139 Is Illustrated, the nver1ton Is not limited to such a switch, and any conventional switch means may be used.

The switch 139 Is attached to the backing plate 140 located between the two stanchions 13(). 'lithe backing plate 140 Incorporates a raised section 141 with two apertures 142 therein which are used to mount the mirror 110 to the support unit 120. Each aperture 142 Is In the shape of an up-side down trapezium 143 with a further rectangular aperture 144 extending from the bottom right corner of the trapezium and lightly lower than it. The backing plate also Includes mounting holes therethrough to allow the mirror support unit 120 to be secured to a wall by conventional means, e.g. screws.

It should be noted that the end caps 135 and sealing gasket 135a can be detached from each end of each stanchion 130. This allows the plate 134 to be slid out of the stanchion 130 along the rebate channels 133 to allow access to the Interior of the stanchion 130.'1'hs Is important for when a user needs to change a light bulb 136 or fluorescent tube. ()nce the light bulb 136 has been replaced, the plate 136, gasket 135a and end cap 135 can be fitted back In place on the respective end of the stanchion 130 to restore the watertight seal.

In use, the mirror support unit 120 Is fixed to a wall or other vertical surface by screws through the mounting holes 145. The wires 138 of the support unit 120 are then connected to a source of electricity (not shown) . 'lihe mirror support unit 120 is ntendcd to be supplied fully assembled - that Is, the plate 134 located In the rebate channels 133 against the seals 133a, and the end caps 135 and gaskets 135a secured over each end of each stanchion 130 so that each stanchion 130 is fully scaled and waterproof to meet British Standards specification EN G0598 - Il'44.

The mirror support unit Is designed to be used In conjunction with a mirror 110 (see l:'igures 6 and 7), an example of which will now be described. 'lithe mirror 110 comprises a reflective surface 111 over the majority of the surface area, but has areas 112 where the reflcctve coating has been removed. These areas 112 can either - 10 be transparent (e g. comprise clear glass) or transluccot (e.g. the glass m these areas 112 Is frosted or sanded). The non-reflcctvc areas 112 arc located proximate the side edges of the mirror 110 such that when the mirror 110 is attached to the mirror support unit 120, to form a complete assembled mirror unit 100, the non-reflcctve s areas 112 are positioned over the light bullJs 136. lhc rear surface of the mirror 110 Includes two hooks 113 bonded thereto extending downwards and away from the rear surface of the mirror 110.

Once the mirror support unit 120 is in place, the mirror 110 can be fitted to it. This 0 is done by pos1tonmg the mirror 110 such that the hooks 113 on the rear of the mirror 110 can be Inserted Into the trapezium part 143 of the aperture 142 In the raised portion 141 of the backing plate 140, and as the mirror 110 Is lowered, the hooks 113 arc guided towards the narrow part of the trapezum-shape hole 143 by its taper, and then the whole mirror 110 Is moved to the right and down slightly so that the hooks 113 locate In the rectangular portion 144 of the aperture 142. Once m this final position, the mirror 110 is centrally located and laterally secure, and the non-reflectve portions 112 arc aligned with the lights 136 in each stanchion 130.

The complete mirror unit 100 Is now fully assembled.

The above means of attaching a mirror 110 to the mirror support unit 120 is a preferred embodiment only, and any suitable mechanism can be used within the scope of the invention. The mirror 110 could also be glued to the mirror support unit 120.

The complete mirror unit 100 is operated by pulling the toggle cord 139a which operates the switch 139 to turn the lights 136 on or off. When the lights 136 are one, the fight emitted therefrom passes through the nonrcflectivc portions 112 of the mirror 110 and produce a'backllghting'effect.

The mirror support unit 120 of the present mventon does not suffer from any of the disadvantages of the known mirror units mentioned above. It Is much lighter and more compact than the large boxes of known devices, and because the stanchions 130 are extruded and the back plate 140 can be made from a pressed sheet of metal, the whole mirror support unit 120 Is much cheaper to manufacture than known mirror units.

Furthermore, In use, a mirror 110 can easily be removed and replaced with an s alternatvc design If so desired, without affecting the waterproof seal of the mirror support unit 120 behind the mirror 110. Simlarly, If the mirror 110 should get broken for any reason, it Is simple to replace, and In the mtcrvenng period before a new mirror is Installed, the exposed mirror support unit 120 is still clectucally safe, as the waterproof seal Is ndepcudent of any mirror 110 and whether or not the 0 whole mirror unit 100 is assembled.

Conversely, to change the mirror 13/23 of any of the prior art mirror units 10/20 would involve the complication of having to break the waterproof seal 17/27 and then having to re-seal the unit 10/20 once the replacement mirror is Installed, which IS troublesome and presents the risk that the replacement seal may not be correctly fitted, leaving the unit 10/20 at risk of exposure to moisture and the associated dangerous consequences.

It Is intended that the present Invention may also be used to support a decorative panel Instead of a mirror. For example, a translucent panel, made from coloured glass or plastic, could be attached over the front of the mirror support unit 120, and have a decorative pattctn or artistic image thereon. Then, when the lights 13(' are switched on, the lightest would Illuminate the coloured pattern or Image producing an attractive effect. - 12

Claims

Claims 1. A wall-mountable mirror support unit including at least one box

havtag a rear face attachable to a wall and a light permeable cover extending over and scalmg the front of the box to prevent the togress of water or dirt therein, the box contamtng at least one light and associated circuitry therein, the support unit ncludtog means to enable a mirror having light-permeable regions to be attached thereto over the front of the box so that the light emitted by the or each light Is transmitted through the light permeable cover and the light permeable regions of 0 the mirror.
2. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 1 comprising two boxes.
3. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 2 wherein the two boxes are Jointed to one another by a connecting plate.
4. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 3 wherem the two boxes are elongate and orientated parallel to one another, and the connecting plate iS disposed between the boxes to form a generally 'H' shape.
5. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any preceding claim wherein the or each box is formed from a generally 'U' shaped extrusion havtog a rear wall and two side walls.
6. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 5 wherem the or each extruded box Is formed with opposing recessed channels In the inside surface of each side wall, distal from the rear wall.

Jo
7. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 6 wherein the or each light permeable cover that comprises the front face of the or each box Is a transparent or translucent plate that Is held in position by opposite parallel edges of the plate locating In said recessed channels. 1.3
8. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 7 whcrcn the or each plate can be slid into position in the recessed channels of the or each box from one end thereof. s
9. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 7 or claim 8 whercm the or each plate Is made from glass.
1(). A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherem the or each plate is made from plastic, such as perspex.
11. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims 7 to 10 wherein a sealing material Is provided in the recessed channels so that when the or each plate is located with its edges in the channels, the sealing material Is disposed between the plate edges and the channel to form a waterproof seal therebetween.
12. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the or each plate Is retained In position in the front face of the or each box by an end cap fixed to each end of the or each box.
13. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 12 wherein the end caps are held m position by screws extending Into the or each box.
14. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the end caps form a watertight seal with the end of the or each box and the or each plate held therein.
15. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 14 wherein a gasket Is disposed between the or each end-cap and the respectvc box to create the watertight seal therebetween.
1G. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 15 wherem the gasket Is made from silicon or from rubber. - 14
17. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims 7 to 16 wherein the or each plate that forms the Itght-permeable cover of the or each box is removable from the or each box to allow access to the Interior thereof and thereby s to the or each light therein.
18. A wall-tnountable mirror support unit according to any preceding claim wherein the light of the or each box comprises at least one filament-ilght bulb held in a socket.
19. A wall-mountable terror support unit according to claim 18 wherein the light comprises a plurality of filament-ilght bulbs held In sockets.
20. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims 1 - 17 wherein the light of the or each box comprises a fluorescent tube held in an associated socket.
21. A wall-mountable mirror support unit aeeordmg to any preceding claim further eomprstog a terror mounted over the front of the mirror support umt.
22. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 21 wherem the mirror has a rear surface with a reflective coating thereon, and light permeable regions of the mirror are regions where said reflective coating Is absent.
23. A wall-mountable mirror support unit aeeordng to claim 22 wherein the lght-permeable regions of the mirror are positioned to correspond to the position of the or each light in the or each box when the mirror is mounted In position over the front of the or each box.
24. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the light-permeable regions are sanded. -
25. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims I further cornprrsmg an at least partially transparent or translucent decorative panel mounted over the front of the mirror support umt.

s
26. wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 25 wherein the decorative panel includes a decoratrvc picture or Image thereon.
27. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 25 or claim 2G wherem the transparent or translucent portions of the decorative panel are positioned to correspond to the position of the or each light In the or each box when the decorative panel Is mounted in position over the front of the or each box.
28. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any of claims 21 to 27 when dependent upon claim 3, wherein the connecting plate has at least one aperture therein, and the mrror/decoratve panel has at least one hook on the rear surface thereof, the at least one hook being receivable in the at least one aperture to enable the mirror/decorative panel to be mounted to and in front of the connecting plate and associated boxes.
29. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 28 wherem the connecting plate has a raised portion and the at least one aperture Is formed In said raised portion.
30. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to any preceding claim wherein the or each box, exclusive of the front face, Is made from metal.
31. A wall-mountable mirror support unit according to claim 30 wherein the metal Is aluminum.
32. A wall mountable mirror support unit substantially as herembefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.