Vanity mirror comprising light sources and methods of manufacture thereof

• US 10,076,176 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Original Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Frank, Wei, Tzu-Hao, Cohen, Guy, Sandor, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): MAY, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US15/060,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20160255941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 362135-144
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/18 Manifold reflecting mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/04 Multi-part mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0263 with positional variation of the diffusing properties, e.g. gradient or patterned diffuser

Abstract

A mirror assembly can include a housing, a mirror, and a light source. In some embodiments, the mirror comprises one or more adjustable sections. In certain embodiments, the mirror includes a light column configured to emit a substantially constant amount of light along a periphery of a mirror section. In some embodiments, the light column can produce various color temperatures. In some embodiments, the mirror assembly comprises a capacitive touch sensor that allows control of one or more features of the light emitted from the light source. In some embodiments, the mirror assembly includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly can be configured control on/off settings and other features of the emitted light.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly comprising:

a first mirror;

a second mirror disposed laterally adjacent to the first mirror and in mechanical communication with the first mirror via a hinge, the hinge configured to allow movement of the second mirror with respect to the first mirror such that a reflective face of the first mirror and a reflective face of the second mirror are configured to form a plurality of angles α

relative to each another;

a light source disposed on or in the mirror assembly such that the light source is configured to emit light at a user in a manner that causes the light to be reflected back to the first or second mirror, the light source comprising;

at least a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode disposed to emit light in a general direction along a length of a first light path;

a controller configured to adjust relative light intensities of at least the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode to selectively simulate a plurality of different lighting environments including natural sunlight and indoor light; and

a sensor assembly comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the sensor is configured to relay information to the controller, the sensor assembly comprising;

a housing, a gasket, and a cover, wherein the housing supports the transmitter and the receiver and the gasket provides a seal between the cover and the housing preventing electromagnetic radiation from bleeding from the transmitter to the receiver.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light emitting diode emits light of a first color temperature and second light emitting diode emits light of second, different color temperature.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the first light emitting diode emits light of a first color and second light emitting diode emits light of second, different color.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller allows a user to control one or more of the color, brightness, or color temperature of light emitted from the light source.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a capacitive touch sensor in electronic communication with the light source and configured to transmit information sent by a user to the light source.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive information sent by a user to the controller using one or more of a computer and a mobile device.

7. The mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the computer or the mobile device is in wireless communication with the controller.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein the computer is a handheld device.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror assembly further comprises:

a third mirror laterally adjacent to the first mirror and on a side of the first mirror opposite the second mirror, wherein the third mirror is in communication with the first mirror via a second hinge, the second hinge configured to allow movement of the third mirror with respect to the first mirror such that a reflective face of the first mirror and a reflective face of the third mirror are able to form angles α

′

relative to one another;

a second light source disposed to a side of the first mirror and disposed to emit light in a general direction along a second light path; and

wherein the second light path is disposed so that the length of the second light path is adjacent to at least a portion of a periphery of the third mirror.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the first light source is disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror and the second light source is disposed between the first mirror and the third mirror.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a cam configured reduce the distance between the first mirror and the second mirror during opening of the hinge.

12. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light scattering region disposed along the length of the light path and having a gradient of light scattering elements with a lower density of light scattering elements nearer the first and second light emitting diodes and a higher density of light scattering elements farther from the light emitting diodes, the light scattering elements configured to encourage a portion of the light contacting the light scattering region to be emitted out of the light path and toward a user of the mirror assembly, thereby facilitating a substantially constant amount of light emitted along the length of the light path.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a head portion comprising the first mirror;

a shaft portion connected to the head portion via a pivoting joint; and

a base portion connected to the shaft portion at a distal side of the shaft with respect to the head, the base portion configured to support the mirror assembly and to allow the mirror assembly to stand substantially upright on a surface.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising an additional mirror that is configured to reversibly adhere to the mirror assembly to provide an additional view of a user.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alarm feature that provides a sensory cue to a user.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising an LCD screen disposed behind a portion of mirror and visible only when activated, wherein the LCD screen provides visual information a user.

17. A method of manufacturing a mirror assembly comprising:

coupling a first mirror section to a second mirror section using a hinge;

attaching a light source comprising at least a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode to the mirror assembly such that the light source is configured to emit light toward a user for reflection back to the first and second mirror sections;

attaching a transmissive cover to the mirror assembly over the light source, the transmissive cover having a gradient of light scattering elements with a lower density of light scattering elements nearer the first and second light emitting diodes and a higher density of light scattering elements farther from the light emitting diodes, the light scattering elements configured to encourage a portion of the light contacting the light scattering region to be emitted though the transmissive cover toward the user, thereby facilitating a substantially constant amount of light emitted along the length of the transmissive cover; and

disposing a controller within the mirror assembly, the controller configured to adjust relative light intensities of at least the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode to selectively simulate a plurality of different lighting states, including indoor lighting and natural sunlight;

wherein the controller is configured to communicate wirelessly with a software module or app configured to be installed on a mobile device, separate from the mirror assembly, comprising non-transitory, computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, that, when executed by the software module or app, cause the software module or app to;

receive lighting information associated with a measured lighting environment provided from a sensing device, wherein the lighting information is gathered from a picture; and

communicate instructions to the mirror assembly to adjust the relative light intensities of the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode to approximate the measured lighting environment.

18. A mirror system comprising:

a mirror assembly comprising;

a mirror;

a light source disposed on or in the mirror assembly such that the light source is configured to emit light at a user in a manner that causes the light to be reflected back to the mirror, the light source comprising;

at least a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode, each disposed to emit light in a general direction along a length of a light path;

a processor configured to adjust relative light intensities of the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode to selectively simulate a plurality of different lighting environments including natural sunlight and indoor light; and

a light transmitting region disposed along the length of the light path facilitating a substantially constant light intensity to be emitted along the length of the light path; and

a software module or app configured to be installed on a mobile device, separate from the mirror assembly, comprising non-transitory, computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, that, when executed by the software module or app, cause the software module or app to;

receive lighting information associated with a measured lighting environment provided from a sensing device, wherein the lighting information is gathered from a picture; and

communicate instructions to the mirror assembly to adjust the relative light intensities of the first light emitting diode and the second light emitting diode to approximate the measured lighting environment.

19. The mirror system of claim 18, wherein the sensing device is configured to provide lighting information captured by the user.

20. The mirror system of claim 18, wherein the software module or app is configured to receive the lighting information from the sensing device by way of the mobile device.

21. The mirror system of claim 18, wherein the sensing device is a computer network.

22. A combination including the mirror system of claim 18 and the mobile device.

23. A mirror system comprising:

a mirror assembly comprising;

a mirror;

a light source disposed on or in the mirror assembly such that the light source is configured to emit light from a light path toward a user in a manner that causes the light to be reflected back to the mirror;

a processor configured to adjust one or more features of the light from the light source to selectively simulate a plurality of different lighting environments; and

a light transmitting region disposed along the length of the light path facilitating a substantially constant light intensity to be emitted along the length of the light path; and

a software module or app configured to be installed on a mobile device, separate from the mirror assembly, comprising non-transitory, computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, that, when executed by the software module or app, cause the software module or app to;

receive lighting information associated with a measured lighting environment provided from a sensing device, wherein the lighting information is gathered from a picture; and

communicate instructions to the mirror assembly to adjust the one or more features of the light source to approximate the measured lighting environment.

24. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein the sensing device is configured to provide lighting information captured by the user.

25. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein the picture is of the user.

26. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein the software module or app is configured to receive the lighting information from the sensing device by way of the mobile device.

27. The mirror system of claim 23, wherein the sensing device is a computer network.

28. A combination including the mirror system of claim 23 and the mobile device.