GB2498590A - A vision altering screen for a wall-mounted container - Google Patents

Abstract

A screen 9 for a wall mountable container 7, said container in use having a wall-facing back spaced from a screen, so as to hold contents, is characterized in that the screen optically alters a user's view of the contents. The screen may optionally include a lens made of a transparent material having a form that provides optical refraction (for example a plastic Fresnel lens) for magnification and focusing of the contents of the container. Further embodiments of the screen may include a detachable lens or the screen may be displaceably mounted upon the container in order to allow a user access to the contents of the container. The container may be mounted to a wall in use by using suction cups 4,5.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

SIMON & ALISON LEACH

FOR

A SCREEN

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a screen, more particularly a screen for a wall

mountable container.

Background

Increasing numbers of users in the world have vision problems, perhaps due to do increasing average age, or lifestyle.

There is increasing evidence for example to show that use of eyes in childhood and as a young adult can affect sight, wherein those who read a lot or do a lot of close-up work, such as using a computer, may be more likely to develop short-sightedness.

If a user is long-sighted, or suffers from hyperopia, light rays are focused behind their retina and close objects seem fuzzy or blurred.

Age related long sightedness, presbyopia, occurs as a user's lenses naturally lose their flexibility, becoming stiffer and less elastic.

Both these problems can be corrected with lenses, such as spectacles, or contact lenses. Both of these means of correcting sight can be problematic in certain situations, such as wet areas.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the lollowing: United States patent application US 2010 294 786 (AITCHISON et al) discloses a magnifier device for mounting to a container, comprising: a container mount comprising a base portion and an adjustable portion, each of the base portion and the adjustable portion comprising a container engaging surface, the container engaging surfaces being arranged for engaging a container received therebetween; the adjustable portion being mounted for movement relative to the base portion in (i) a contracting direclion wherein the container engaging surfaces move relatively towards one another and (ii) an expanding direction wherein the container engaging surfaces move relatively away from one another, thus enabling receipt of containers of various sizes between the container engaging surfaces; the container mount comprising a resilient member for biasing the adjustable portion in the contracting direction, thus urging engagement of the container engaging surfaces against a container received therebetween; and a magnifying lens secured to a lens mounting part of the base portion of the container mount, wherein the lens mounting part is fixed with respect to the container engaging surface of the base portion.

United States patent application WO 2010 139 729 (KERLE) discloses a magnifying glass support according to the present invention. The magnifying glass support comprises a stand and a retaining element. The stand comprises a bottom plate and a middle piece obliquely exiending upward from a side of the bottom plate. The upper end of the middle piece is connected to a rear end edge of the retaining element. A magnifying glass is integrated in the retaining element.

United Kingdom patent application GB 2 467 335 (WELBY) discloses a shelf locatable magnifier assembly comprising support means adapted releasably to retain a magnifier member having magnifying means, said magnifier member being displaceable with respect to said support means laterally generally within a notional horizontal plane of the support means to facilitate retention by the support means and release therefrom, and dispiaceable downwardly towards a notional vertical plane of the support means to facilitate use of the magnifying means, and returnable upwardly towards said notional horizontal plane to facilitate retention of the magnifier member by said support means.

Granted United States patent US 7 630 149 (YIP et al) discloses a magnifying assembly for use in enlarging information disposed on a container, the magnifying assembly comprising: a container holder assembly for holding the container; and a magnifying lens coupled to the container holder assembly, wherein the magnifying lens is movable towards and away from the container while the container remains held by the container holder assembly; whereby information disposed on the container appears enlarged when viewed through the magnifying lens.

Granted United States patent US 7 277 240 (CARNEVALI) discloses an intermediately mounted magnification apparatus, comprising: a connector mechanism structured for mounting between an external mounting apparatus and an external device bracket; an optical magnification mechanism structured for optically magnifying an external view there through; and an elongated substantially permanently shapable coupler between the connector mechanism and the optical magnification mechanism.

Granted United States patent US 7 218 463 (ARSENAULT) discloses a magnifying glass assembly for removably mounting to a planar surface, said assembly comprising: a plate including a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, said plate being removably mountable to the planar surface; a panel having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge wherein said first and second edges are positioned opposite with respect to each other, said panel having a centrally disposed window extending therethrough, a pair of wells extending into said third edge, each of said wells being positioned adjacent to and extending along one of said first and second edges; a magnifying lens being mounted to a peripheral edge of said window; a pair of arms, each of said arms having a inner end and an outer end, each of said inner ends being posftioned within one of said wells, each of said inner ends being selectively positionable adjacent to a back wall of said wells to define a stored position or adjacent to said third edge to define an extended position, each of said outer ends of said arms being hingedly coupled to said first end of said plate, said panel being selectively abuttable against said plate when said arms are in said stored position, a longitudinal axis of said arms being selectively pivoted outside of a plane orientated parallel to the planar surface such that a plane of said panel is selectively positionable parallel to said planar surface and in a plurality of positions wherein said plane of said panel intersects said planar surface; and wherein said magnifying lens may be selectively pivoted and extended outwardly away from said plate.

United States patent application JP 2003 153 774 (YOKOYAMA) discloses a display cabinet with a magnifying glass that helps any one to read fine indications such as small letters and do shopping without worry by attaching a magnifying glass (magnifying lens) to a part of the display cabinet in a manner to prevent the glass from easily coming off, small and fine indications (information including indications of additives, indications of places of origin, indications of product history) can be made legible even to a visually-handicapped person, loss of the magnifying glass, and scattering of products in a store are prevented, a store can easily implement installation and improve sales United States patent application US 5 113 289 (SOPER) discloses a shelf-mounted magnifying glass, comprising: a) guide means mounted on an undersurface of a shell; b) a magnifying glass mounted on said guide means for movements with respect to said shelf; c) said magnifying glass having a first position located in a stored position under said shelf and moveable on said guide means to a second position exposed to view.

In contrast the present invention provides an easy to use means of ensuring no mistakes are made by those with uncorrected sight in a shower or other wet room environment.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a screen for a wall mountable container, said container in use having a wall-facing back spaced from a screen, so as to hold contents, characterised in that the screen optically alters a user's view of the contents.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the screen or more particularly the container is splash or water resistant, formed of such as plastics, so that it may be used for showers or wet areas where users are unable or unlikely to wear eye correcting apparatus.

The screen is correspondingly formed of a transparent material, having a form that provides optical refraction, being formed into a biconvex or biconcave lens.

Such a lens causes magnification and/or focussing, meaning that a user's view of the contents is improved in order that the user may be belier enabled to read abets on the contents.

Embodiments may be available with a diverging or converging optical pathway wherein some embodiments may be produced for users requiring eye correction for myopia or shortsightedness or for users with farsightedness or hyperopia.

In some embodiments the screen may include or comprise of a plastic Fresnel lens allowing for cost-effective manufacture, and additionally or in the alternative allowing the screen to be bent and deformed with minimal disturbance to the tens optical qualities allowing greater flexibility in container shaping.

Some embodiments of the screen may be detachable and consequently may be available for use with a plurality of containers, or a plurality of backs.

In yet further embodiments the lens may be detached from the screen, in this way a plurality of lenses may be used in a screen, allowing purchase of different lenses that are appropriate to a user.

In some embodiments the screen may be displaced in use in order to access the contents.

In still further embodiments the screen or part of the screen may include more than one lens for cooperation and precision of refraction or magnification effect.

Therefore these lenses may be manipulated to focus as appropriate to a user, by combining lens effects.

Drainage holes are preferably included in the back or under the contents in use. In some embodiments there may be provided a perforated shelf between the back and screen, wherein contents may be arranged on the shelf for use as appropriate.

For example, embodiments of the screen may be available that are for use with standard shower shelving. Such embodiments may be manufactured, produced or sold with attachment means to atlach the screen to a shelf.

Such means may include clips, clasps or magnets, and is ideally combined with a screen that retains flexibility in use, and consequently can be bent to fit a plurality of different shelves or backs.

Some screens may be provided with means to attach to a wall or other structure independently, for example including suction pads or similar.

In this way the screen may be used to place over any item or structure as required, for example over shower controls.

Yet further embodiments are fully integrated into the container.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, lalling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a container incorporating the screen: Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 show two end view of the embodiment; Figures 4 show two side views; And Figures 5 show a front and rear view.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment of the container provides a complete bath and shower basket, incorporating an opening screen that magnifies products placed in the basket.

As a result, users can recognise different products and read product information with ease.

The product can be attached to the bathroom wall with either the suction pads or screws. Alternatively, the basket can stand on the side of a unit such as a bath or basin using the rubber feet.

The pictured embodiment includes the following parts: Removable top strut (1) Wall mount bracket (2) Thumb screw (3) Top section sliding suction pads (4) Bottom section sliding suction pads (5) Bottom suction pad rail (6) Stainless steel container (7) Rubber feet (8) Screen (9) The user can slide the suction pads (4, 5) along the removable top strut (1) and bottom suction pad rail (6) in order to position them away from tile joints.

Alternatively, the user can screw the container to a wall using wall mount brackets that clip onto the removable top strut (1).

The screen (9) will magnify any bath or shower products stored in the container.

The pictured embodiment of the screen (9), clips to the container, or container structure, at one end (10), being hinged at the other end (11).

In the pictured embodiment the screen (9) can be flipped for left or right hand opening which is done by unscrewing the thumb screws (3) on either side of the container.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A screen for a wall mountable container, said container in use having a wall-facing back spaced from a screen, so as to hold contents, characterised in that the screen optically alters a user's view of the contents.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A screen according to claim 1 including a plastic Fresnel lens.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A screen according to claim 1 or 2 including a detachable lens.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A screen according to claim 1, 2 or 3 displaceably mounted on a container in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A screen according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 mounted in use including suction pads.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A container according to any preceding claim.</claim-text>