US1832492A

US1832492A - Movable reflector

Info

Publication number: US1832492A
Application number: US521085A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marchand Adolph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-03-09
Filing date: 1931-03-09
Publication date: 1931-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1948-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1931. A. MARCHAND MOVABLE REFLECTOR 7 Filed March 9, 1931 ADOLPH MARCHAND ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 ADOLZPH MARCHAND. OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK MOVABLE REFLECTOR Application filed March 9,

This invention relates to reflectors, adapted for use on dresser mirrors, beds and the like, and particularly of the kind that can be removed from sight when not in use.

The main object of this invention is to enable a reflector of the class described to be attached to the back of a mirror or other object in conjunction with which it isto be used,'in such a manner as to be ordinarily hidden from views, but which can readily be brought from its invisible to its operative position whenever needed.

Another object of my invention is to combine in one operation the steps of moving the reflector and actuating the switch for the light therein, thereby eliminating a step and obviating the necessity of installing costly and unsightly switches.

A further object is to render the entire operation of this device exceedingly simple, so that it could be readily performed by anyone desiring to use the reflector.

Still another object of my invention is to enable the operating mechanism of the reflector to be'so compactly arranged as to render it adaptable for attachment to the back of a mirror or other similar device without interferring with its position against a wall.

It is another object of this invention. to accomplish the above-described results and objects without the use of motors or other complicated mechanisms,using only relatively simple, inexpensivev and sturdy elements to perform its function.

Most dressers, particularly those used in boudoirs, have mirrors thereon, and are generally equipped with side lights or shaded lamps. These not only obstruct part of the 'mirror, especially the wings of three section mirrors, but have the further disadvantage of casting a direct light upon the glass, thereby detracting from the reflecting properties of the mirror, and frequently making visibility poor. To overcome this deficiency, shades are often placed over the lamps; but the resulting diminished intensity of the light necessitates a backward tilting of the shade to permit the light to shine directly upon the person in front of the mirror, and

1931. Serial No. 521,085.

to keep the light from the glass. This is not only troublesome, but results in considerable wear and tear on the shade,and consequent replacement expense. To use ordinary reflectors on the dresser, or to place a 5 bracket or reflector on the wall above the mirror, might, to a degree, solve the problem of reflection,but these would prove highly undesirable from an ornamental viewpoint. V Particularly in houses where a great deal of attention is given to interior furnishings, an unsightly bracket or reflector might be quite out of harmony with the decorative motif. To fill the need for an efficient req flector that would not obstruct any part of 05 the mirror, that would cast its light directly upon the observer, and not upon the glass; and that could be completely hidden from View when not in use, I have conceived this invention. Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings, and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings: I j Figure 1 is a perspective view of a three section mirror, showing the elevated position of the reflector.

Figure 2 is a rear View of the device with part of the back cover broken away to show the interior mechanism. 0

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the middle panel of Figure 2 with the device in place.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the mirror of Figure 2, with the reflector stem'in section. 5

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig- 5 ure 2. y

Figure 6 is a detail view of the j oint of the cable and reflectorstem. Figure 7 illustrates the application of the w invention to a bedstead. r

In the drawings, the casing 10 is attached to the back portion 11 of the mirror 12 so that no part thereof protrudes beyond the sides of the panel. The hollow stem 13, which can be of standard metallic tubing, is movable vertically within the supporting brackets 14. which are secured .to the casing 10. Attached to the top of stem 13 is the reflector light 15, which, in its inoperative position, is below the top of the mirror 12; 1 0

and secured to the bottom of said stem is the cross-bar 16, the finger 17 at the as tremity thereof extending through the vertically disposed slot 18 in the casing 10. The lower portion of said slot is slightly bent, at 19, away from its normal vertical course,ending at the recess 20.

The helical spring 21, anchored at 22 and attached to the bar 16 at 23, is under tension when the device is in its inoperative position. The rack 2a is secured to the stem 13, the teeth thereof being engageable with those of the gear 25 mounted on the said casing. The counterweight 26 is adjustably fixed to the gear in such a position that its normal tendency, when the stem 13 is at its lowest position, is to raise said stem upwardly.

The diagonal brace 27 serves the pur 3086 of holding the cross-bar 16 rigidly fixec to the stem 13, thereby preventing any relative movement between these two members. This brace can either be a separate member, or a continuation of the rack 24:, its width being such as to permit it to clear the lower bracket 14 during the movement of the stem.

Allixed to the bar 16 is the stud 28, which is slidably and pivotally engageable with the slot 29 of link 30. The toggle switch 31, to which link 30 is pivotally attached, is electrically connected, through the box 32, with the house current and the refiector,the cord 33 leading from an ordinary wall outlet to said box, and the flexible cable 3 1, leading from the box, through the elbow 35 and the hollow stem 13 to the reflector light 15.

Normally, when the device is not in use, the relative positions of the parts are as illustrated in Figure 2.v The stem. 13 is at its lowest position, and the finger 17 is in engagement with the recess 20,the tension of the spring 21 holding said finger against the walls of said recess. To raise the reflector to its operating position, the finger 17 is pushed out of the recess 20 and into the bottom eX- tremity of the slot 18. In this way the crossbar 16 is released from its fixed position, and is caused to move upwardly by the combined effects of the spring 21 and the counter- \\-'eight 26,-this upward movement being transmitted to the stem 13 and the reflector 15,and continuing until the finger 17 reaches the top 18a of the slot 18. The length of the slot is so designed as to limit the rise of the reflector to a predetermined point. The counterweight is equal to the combined weight of the reflector, the stem and cross-bar; and the tension of the spring 21 is sufiicient to overcome friction, but adjusted to permit a slow and gentle upward movement of the parts so as to prevent a sudden impact or undesirable vibration, when the finger 17 reaches the top of the slot.

The above-described upward movement of the parts causes a corresponding upward movement of the link 30, the slotted portion of which slides over the stud 28 as the radius between said stud and switch 31 is shortened.

After a certain point is reached during said upward movement, the said switch, actuated by the link 30, will close the circuit through the reflector, thereby throwing the lights on. In this way, the only time the light is on is when the reflector is in its raised position, and this is accomplished automatically durmg the operation of raising the reflector.

To lower the reflector to its inoperative position, it is simply necessary to push the finger 17 downwardly until it reaches the bottom of the slot and engages the recess 20 against the walls of which it will be held by the action of the spring 21.

The size of the finger 17 can be made relatively small, so that it will be quite inconspicuous in its position either at the edge of a mirror, or in the space between the wing and center portion of a three-section mirror.

This device can either be attached, as a unit to the back of a mirror,or it can be made an integral part of the mirror by having it serve as the back portion thereof. The casing 10, which contains the entire mechanism, is relatively flat, so that it occupies very little space, and does not in any way interfere with the placing of the mirror, or other device with which it is to be used against a wall. A hinged back cover 36 over the casing keeps the apparatus completely en closed.

Another use for this device is in conjunction with a bed, where it can be attached as shown in Figure 7, to be used for reading purposes. This has a decided advantage over the usual reading lamps placed at the side of a bed, in that it can be made to disappear from View when not in use, and is adapted to cast an overhead light and to illumine the entire width of the bed rather than only one side thereof.

The above description and the drawings refer to but one of several different mechanical forms that may be embodied in my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a reflector of the class described, an electric light, a movable member to one end of which said light is attached, said member being positioned at the rear of an object in connection with which said light is used, geared means operable on said member for moving it to a raised position above said object and a lowered position behind said object, a hand-operable member connected with said movable member, yieldable means coacting with said hand-operable member to actuate said movable member upwardly, balancing means secured to said geared means and operable against the weight of said movable member, a switch electrically connected to said light, and means to cause a single manipulation of said hand-operable member to actuate both said movable member and said switch.

2. In a reflector of the class described, an electric light, a hollow stem to one end of which said light is attached, said stem being positioned at the rear of an object in connection with which said light is used, geared means operable on said stem for causing said light to be raised to a position above said object and lowered to a position behind said object, a hand-operable member connected with said stem, yieldable means co-acting with said hand-operable member to actuate said stem upwardly, slotted means with which said hand-operable member is slidably engageable for limiting the movement of said stem, balancing means operable against the weight of said stem, a switch electrically connected to said light by wires running through said hollow stem, and means to cause a single manipulation of said hand-operable member to actuate both said stem and said switch.

3. A reflector of the class described comprising, in combination, an electric light, a relatively flat casing positioned at the rear of an object in connection with which said light is used, a hollow, vertically disposed stem to one end of which said light is attached, said stem being slidably attached to said casing and extending therethrough at the top, geared means mounted on said casing and cooperable with a rack secured to said stem, a cross-bar afiixed to said stem and having at one end thereof a finger for manual operation, said casing having in one side a slot in engagement with said cross-bar and adapted to cooperate therewith to limit the movement of said light between predetermined positions behind said object, yieldable means coacting with said cross-bar to actuate said stem upwardly, balancing means operable against the weight of said stem, a switch electrically connected to said light by wires running through said hollow stem, a slotted link slidably and pivotally engageable with an element on said cross bar and pivotally connected to said switch so as to close the circuit when the light is in its raised position and open the circuit when it is in its lowered position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my si ature.

ADOLPH MARCH ND.