GB2568931A

GB2568931A - Adjustable multi-image mirror unit

Info

Publication number: GB2568931A
Application number: GB1720026.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Leet Rivers Lincoln
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-11-30
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2019-06-05
Also published as: GB201720026D0

Abstract

A main mirror 11 is rotatably mounted on a wall-fixing member, with an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the reflecting surface (i.e. the mirror rotates within its own plane). The main mirror is non-magnifying, but has a smaller mirror 18 mounted to it, eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation so that the smaller mirror’s position can be adjusted along a partly circular path 28 by rotating the main mirror about its axis. In this way, the smaller mirror’s position can be adapted for users of different height. The main mirror might be rotatable through a full revolution (360 degrees). The main mirror may be mounted on the wall fixing member using a bearing track (22-24, fig. 5). The smaller mirror may be mounted to the main mirror using an adhesive 21 to attach it to a cut-out 20 of the main mirror’s glass (fig. 6).

Description

ADJUSTABLE MULTI-IMAGE MIRROR UNIT

The present invention relates to an adjustable multi-image mirror unit, especially a unit of a kind suitable for use as a vanity, cosmetic or shaving mirror, thus a toilet mirror.

Toilet mirrors used in a domestic context or in other situations such as hotels, washroom facilities, shops, etc., generally provide a non-magnified, i.e. true-to-size, image of a user. Also in widespread use are smaller-size magnifying mirrors which are commonly freestanding and portable or fixed to a wall near a larger-size principal mirror. Both support solutions for the magnifying mirror can be disadvantageous in terms of practicality and/or aesthetics. A particular issue with magnifying mirrors is that because of their relatively small size, free-standing versions of such mirrors are primarily intended to be placed on a table top or similar and thus conveniently usable only by a sitting rather than standing user, whilst wall-mounted mirrors cannot satisfactorily accommodate users of different height unless, for example, a tilt facility is provided to incline the mirror upwardly or downwardly from a median position. Wall-mounted mirrors of that kind are often inconvenient to use, intrusive and not in harmony with decor.

One commercially available product which seeks to overcome some of these constraints consists of a non-magnifying main mirror to which is magnetically attached a small-size magnifying auxiliary mirror capable of being moved up and down on the main mirror at one side of the latter so as to adjust to users of different height. The smaller magnifying auxiliary mirror is thus incorporated in the area of the larger non-magnifying main mirror and overcomes the disadvantage of a separate magnifying mirror that is either freestanding or independently wall-mounted. However, the auxiliary mirror is intrinsically a separate component, which is susceptible to being knocked off the main mirror and thus being damaged or causing damage and also susceptible to theft. This is an obvious concern in the case of use in hotels and other facilities to which the public have access.

There is therefore a need for a single mirror unit capable of providing both a magnified and a non-magnified or substantially true-to-scale image, thus without resort to separately located mirrors for the two purposes, and particularly a unit adaptable to different user heights. Such a unit should also be free of susceptibility to component separation and consequent risk of loss, theft or damage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable multi-image mirror unit for reflecting images of different scale, comprising a main mirror having a substantially non-magnifying reflective surface and mounted on a wall fixing member to be rotationally movable relative thereto about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the reflective surface and a magnifying auxiliary mirror smaller in size than the main mirror and mounted thereon eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation to be movable on an at least partly circular path about the axis of rotation when the main mirror is rotationally moved about the axis of rotation.

A mirror unit embodying the present invention has the advantageous feature that, when the fixing member is fixed to a wall, rotational movement of the main mirror about the axis of rotation also produces movement of the auxiliary mirror, which by virtue of its eccentric location with respect to the axis of rotation travels on an arcuate or circular path concentric with the axis and thus produces a change in its height position and lateral position. Subject to appropriate orientation of the wall fixing member, the change in height position able to be achieved allows adjustment to users of different height, for whom the auxiliary mirror might otherwise be too high or too low. The capability of rotational movement of the main mirror means that the auxiliary mirror can be a permanent fixture at the main mirror and is not susceptible to loss, theft or breakage, such as might be the case if it were to be a component separable from the main mirror.

Rotational movement of the main mirror when the fixing member is fixed to a wall produces both a change in height and a change in lateral position of the auxiliary mirror, the nature of the change being dependent on the orientation and length of the at least partly circular path. For preference, the main mirror is rotatable through 360 degrees relative to the wall fixing member and the path is then circular, in which case the change in height position can extend over a full available height dimension and the change in lateral position over a full available width dimension of the mirror unit. Such a change in lateral position can be particularly helpful in the case of, for example, shared use of the mirror unit by two users each using a respective one of the mirrors. If the users are alongside one another the auxiliary mirror can be shifted to a position convenient for one user and out of the way of the other user.

In one convenient embodiment the main mirror comprises a mirror glass carried by a carrier member mounted on the wall fixing member by rotary mounting means, so that a backing for the mirror glass of the main mirror can be used for mounting. This enables area mounting of the main mirror rather than just, for example, point mounting by way of a central axle or bearing. The mounting of the main mirror on the wall fixing member can then be of particularly stable form with load distribution over an area.

In these circumstances the rotary mounting means preferably comprises a bearing track extending concentrically with respect to the axis rotation, which allows the bearing load to be distributed over a track of suitably large diameter. For preference, the bearing track is defined by two annular bearing races respectively connected with the wall fixing member and the carrier member and interengaging by way of rollable bearing elements. This bearing construction can combine low friction, thus light rotary motion, with a highly stable support of the main and auxiliary mirrors at the wall fixing member and thus on a wall to which that member may be fixed.

Preferably, the mirror glass has a cut-out and the auxiliary mirror is fixed to the carrier member by way of the cut-out. This enables the auxiliary mirror to be fixed in place without requiring a bond to, for example, the mirror glass of the main mirror. The auxiliary mirror can be fixed to a carrier member surface which, for example, may have a degree of porosity or, at least, does not present the same adhesion challenge as the ultra-smooth surface of glass. The auxiliary mirror can be fixed to the carrier member by, for example, an adhesive compound in the cut-out, so that the fixing can be strong and durable and also completely concealed. The auxiliary mirror can, however, additionally or alternatively be bonded to the main mirror by a suitable adhesive.

The main mirror can be of any suitable shape, but in view of its rotational capability is preferably circular. In that case, the wall fixing member is preferably also substantially circular and can be of smaller diameter than the main mirror. The main mirror can then be easily gripped for the purpose of rotation.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the mirror unit, showing a non-magnifying main mirror thereof and a smaller-size auxiliary mirror mounted on the main mirror and depicted in a low height position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the main mirror rotated to redispose the auxiliary mirror into a high height position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the main mirror further rotated to redispose the auxiliary mirror into a median height position laterally displaced to the other side of the mirror unit;

Fig. 4 is a side view, to enlarged scale, of the mirror unit in the direction of arrow IV of Fig. 1, showing - from left to right - auxiliary mirror, main mirror, carrier member of the main mirror, rotary mounting means and wall fixing member, which collectively form the unit;

Fig. 5 is a sectional scrap view, along the line V-V of Fig. 1 and to further enlarged scale, showing details of the rotary mounting means; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional scrap view, along the line VI-VI of Fig. 1 and to the same scale as Fig. 5, showing details of the mounting of the auxiliary mirror.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown an adjustable multi-image mirror unit 10 for reflecting images of different scale, in particular a non-magnified image and a magnified image, the unit comprising a circular main mirror 11 having a non-magnifying reflective surface 12, a circular carrier or backing member 13 carrying the main mirror and of substantially the same diameter as the main mirror, a circular wall fixing member 14, which is of smaller diameter than the mirror 11 and carrier member 13, for detachably fixing the mirror unit to a suitable support, usually a vertical wall surface, and rotary mounting means 15 mounting the assembly of mirror 11 and carrier member 13 on the wall fixing member 14 to be rotatable about an axis 16 of rotation perpendicular to the reflective surface 12. The wall fixing member 14 has, at its side intended to adjoin the support, two spaced keyhole-type undercuts 17 (one schematically shown in Fig. 4, the other behind that illustrated) intended to receive and retain the heads of fixing screws in a manner known per se for fixing articles to walls and to resist rotation of the wall fixing member relative to a wall surface to which it is fixed.

In order to provide the multi-image capability, the mirror unit 10 further comprises a circular magnifying auxiliary mirror 18 mounted on the main mirror 11 eccentrically with respect to the axis 16 of rotation, the auxiliary mirror having a concave reflecting surface 19 (shown with exaggerated curvature) to confer a magnification of, for example x 5 to x 8. For the purpose of mounting the auxiliary mirror 18 the main mirror 11 has a similarly eccentrically positioned circular cut-out 20 of slightly small diameter than and underlying the auxiliary mirror (see Fig. 6). The auxiliary mirror 18 is fixed in place by a suitable adhesive compound 21 providing adhesion of the auxiliary mirror to a surface portion of the carrier member 13 exposed by the cut-out 20. The cut-out 20 also serves to accommodate much of the convexity of the face of the mirror 18 opposite its reflective surface 18. A sealing compound to prevent ingress of moisture is preferably provided at the circumference of the auxiliary mirror 18.

The rotary mounting means 15 can be of various forms of construction, but in this embodiment comprises a circular bearing track concentric with the axis 16 of rotation and formed by an annular radially outer bearing race 12 of substantially the same diameter as and non-rotatably secured to the wall fixing member 14, an annular radially inner bearing race 23 of smaller diameter than and concentric with the outer race, the inner race being non-rotatably secured to the carrier member 13, and a plurality of rollable bearing elements 24, preferably balls, captively retained between the races and mounting the races to be rotatable relative to one another. The composite of outer and inner races 22, 23 and retained bearing balls 24 is preferably a unitary, thus non-dismantable, assembly available as a proprietary component. The outer race 22 is secured to the wall fixing member 14 at equidistant annular intervals by a plurality of radially outer securing screws 25 (one shown schematically in Fig. 5) and the inner race 23 is secured to the carrier member 13 similarly at equidistant angular intervals, which are angularly offset relative to those of the outer race 22, by a plurality of radially inner securing screws 26 (again, one shown schematically in Fig. 5.)

For assembly of the mirror unit 10 the outer race 22 is first secured to the wall fixing member by the outer screws 25 and then the inner race 23 is secured to the carrier member 13 by the inner screws 26. The screws 26 are insertable through the wall fixing member 14 by way of an access opening 27 formed therein. Multiple openings can be provided, but one is sufficient if the carrier member is rotated relative to the wall fixing member to align a single such opening 27 with each of the angularly spaced screw securing points of the inner race in succession. The opening 27 is shown in Fig. 5 as a through passage, but in practice is preferably a simple slot extending from the perimeter of the wall fixing member and in that case necessarily angularly displaced from the positions of the outer securing screws 25.

The specific dimensions, shape and constituent materials of the mirror unit 10 can be selected in accordance with the requirements of a particular place of use, aesthetics and/or other factors. In an arbitrary example of a medium-size mirror unit typical for installation in a bathroom the main mirror 11 has a diameter of 550 millimetres, the auxiliary mirror 19 has a diameter of 180 millimetres and the cut-out 20 in the main mirror to enable mounting of the auxiliary mirror has a diameter of 135 millimetres and is spaced 62.5 millimetres from the closest edge of the main mirror. The carrier member 13 of the main mirror 11 has the same diameter as the mirror 11, thus 550 millimetres, and the wall fixing member 14 has a diameter corresponding with the outer diameter of the proprietary rotary mounting means 15 consisting of concentric races 22, 23 and intermediate bearing balls 24, in this instance 441 millimetres. The inner diameter of the rotary mounting means 15 is 377 millimetres. The carrier member 13 and wall fixing member 14 each have a thickness of 15 millimetres, the main mirror 11 has a thickness of 4 millimetres and the rotary mounting means 15 has a thickness/depth of 20 millimetres. The two members 14 and 15 can be conveniently made of wood or, preferably, wood composite. It is emphasised that the stated dimensions and material are merely by way of arbitrary example.

Rotational mounting of the composite of main and auxiliary mirrors 11, 18 and carrier member 13 on the wall fixing member 14 by way of the wide-diameter rotary mounting means 15 with the annular bearing races has the advantage of load distribution over an area and also easy relative rotational movement due to the number of hearing balls 24 able to be accommodated along the bearing track. Other forms of rotational mounting are, however, feasible, including a central spindle, sleeve or other bearing arrangement. Use could also be made of a bearing track with two races of the same diameter and disposed either side of intermediate rollable bearing elements, thus one against the carrier member 13 and the other against the wall fixing member 14, which may, however, result in an increase in overall depth of the mirror unit 10.

In use of the mirror unit 10 the wall fixing member 14 can be fixed to a wall or other surface by way of, for example, screw heads removably engaged in the undercuts 17. If the carrier member 13 together with main mirror 11 and auxiliary mirror 18 is now rotated about the axis 16 the auxiliary mirror 18 travels on a circular path represented in Figs. 1 to 3 by the locus 28 of the centre of the auxiliary mirror. This produces a change in height position of the auxiliary mirror 18 with simultaneous change in lateral position during the change in height. Figs. 1 and 2 show low and high heights positions, respectively, but still largely within the lefthand half of the mirror unit 10 and thus not quite at the achievable maximum lower and upper height positions, and Fig. 3 shows a median height position, but redisposed to the righthand half of the mirror unit 10. The available range of different height positions of the auxiliary mirror 18 allows adaptation to the heights of different users and the range of lateral positions allows simultaneous use of the mirror unit by two sideby-side users respectively requiring a non-magnified image and a magnified image. Rotation of the carrier member 13 and mirrors 11 and 18 can be conveniently achieved by turning the carrier member 13 and/or main mirror 11 at its or their circumference, in which connection the former can possibly have a protruding lip (not shown) framing the latter and facilitating engagement by the hand of a user without touching the main mirror.

This mirror unit 10 embodying the invention is thus capable of versatile use adaptable to user needs and has an integrated construction combining features commonly provided in the past by entirely separate or otherwise separable mirrors.

Claims

1. An adjustable multi-image mirror unit for reflecting images of different scale, comprising a main mirror having a substantially non-magnifying reflective surface and mounted on a wall fixing member to be rotationally movable relative thereto about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the reflective surface and a magnifying auxiliary mirror smaller in size than the main mirror and mounted thereon eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation to be movable on an at least partly circular path about the axis of rotation when the main mirror is rotationally moved about the axis of rotation.

2. A mirror unit according to claim 1, wherein the main mirror is rotatable through 360 degrees relative to the wall fixing member and the path is circular.

3. A mirror unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main mirror comprises a mirror glass carried by a carrier member mounted on the wall fixing member by rotary mounting means.

4. A mirror unit according to claim 3, wherein the rotary mounting means comprise a bearing track extending concentrically with respect to the axis of rotation.

5. A mirror unit according to claim 4, wherein the bearing track is defined by two annular bearing races respectively connected with the wall fixing member and the carrier member and interengaging by way of rollable bearing elements.

6. A mirror unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the mirror glass has a cut-out and the auxiliary mirror is fixed to the carrier member by way of the cut-out.

7. A mirror unit according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary mirror is fixed to the carrier member by an adhesive compound in the cut-out.

8. A mirror unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main mirror is substantially circular.

9. A mirror unit according to claim 8, wherein the wall fixing member is substantially circular and of smaller diameter than the main mirror.

Intellectual Property Office