Mirror with adjustable magnification and with a plurality of displays and devices

• US 20050068646A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Golan, Shachar, Lev, Mordechai, Nemazi, John E.
• Application Number:
  US10/671,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/871
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/16 with other suspending or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/24 Flexible mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24

Abstract

A variable magnification cosmetic mirror apparatus for is disclosed. The cosmetic mirror comprises a reflective flexible substrate, a housing assembly and a motor assembly. The motor provides power to curve the flexible substrate to control a magnification factor of the flexible substrate. Further, a manual variable magnification cosmetic mirror apparatus with an annular connection to the reflective substrate is disclosed. The annular connection provides control of the magnification factor of the flexible substrate with minimal image distortion. Further, a dual cosmetic mirror apparatus with a plurality of displays, devices, and light sources is provided.

Claims

1. A cosmetic mirror for providing a variable magnification factor comprising:

a housing having an internal annular region oriented about a central axis;

a flexible substrate having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and an opposed rear surface, the peripheral edge being affixed to the housing, the rear surface having a connector extending centrally therefrom;

a reflective coating provided on one of the front and rear surfaces, the reflective coating causing the substrate to be reflective when viewed by a user from the front surface side;

an electric motor/transmission assembly mounted to the housing, the electric motor/transmission assembly having an output member, operably engaged with the connector, for displacing the connector fore and aft relative to the housing annular region and consequently flexing a central portion of the substrate fore and aft relative to the housing annular region thus varying the magnification factor of the flexible surface; and

a user-selectable switch connecting a source of power to the electric motor/transmission assembly for providing user adjustment of the magnification factor.

2. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the housing internal annular region limits maximum curvature of the flexible substrate.

3. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a ball joint.

4. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the connector provides an annular connection to the rear side of the flexible substrate.

5. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is provided with a touch sensor cooperating with the switch.

6. The cosmetic mirror of claim 5, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive switching circuit pad.

7. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an external portion defining a central opening;

and

an internal frame for supporting the flexible substrate and the electric motor/transmission assembly.

8. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the switch is received by the housing.

9. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1 further comprising an information display mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate.

10. The cosmetic mirror of claim 9 further comprising at least one light source mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate.

11. The cosmetic mirror of claim 10 further comprising the switch mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate providing control of the information display and the at least one light source.

12. The cosmetic mirror of claim 10 wherein the at least one light source provides a plurality of light modes including a night light setting.

13. The cosmetic mirror of claim 10 wherein the at least one light source provides an automatic shut off feature.

14. The cosmetic mirror of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate includes at least one non-reflective portion.

15. The cosmetic mirror of claim 14, wherein the at least one non-reflective portion is an opening in the reflective coating.

16. The cosmetic mirror of claim 14 further comprising an information display received by the at least one non-reflective portion and viewable by a user.

17. The cosmetic mirror of claim 14 further comprising at least one light source received by the at least one non-reflective portion.

18. The cosmetic mirror of claim 17 wherein the at least one light source provides a plurality of lighting modes including a night light setting.

19. The cosmetic mirror of claim 17 wherein the at least one light source provides an automatic shut-off feature.

20. The cosmetic mirror of claim 17, wherein the at least one non-reflective portion receives the switch, the switch controlling the information display and the at least one light source.

21. A cosmetic mirror for providing variable magnification comprising:

a housing having an internal annular region formed about a central axis;

a flexible substrate having a peripheral edge, a front surface, and an opposed rear surface, the peripheral edge being affixed to the housing, the rear surface having an annular connector extending centrally therefrom;

a reflective coating provided on one of the front and rear surfaces, the reflective coating causing the substrate to be reflective when viewed by a user from the front surface side; and

a handle shiftably connected to the housing and operably engaged with the connector, where movement of the handle displaces the connector fore and aft along to the housing central axis and consequently flexing a central portion of the flexible substrate thus varying the magnification of an image viewed by the user.

22. The cosmetic mirror of claim 21, wherein the housing assembly limits maximum curvature of the flexible substrate.

23. The cosmetic mirror of claim 21, wherein the annular connector includes a ball joint.

24. The cosmetic mirror of claim 21, wherein the housing includes an external portion defining the opening and annular region;

and

an internal frame for supporting the flexible substrate and the handle.

25. The cosmetic mirror of claim 21 includes an information display mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate and viewable by a user.

26. The cosmetic mirror of claim 25 includes at least one light source mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate.

27. The cosmetic mirror of claim 26 wherein the at least one light source provides a plurality of light modes including a night light setting.

28. The cosmetic mirror of claim 26 wherein the at least one light source provides an automatic shut off feature.

29. The cosmetic mirror of claim 26 includes a user-selected switch mounted on the front surface of the flexible substrate and connecting a source of power to and providing control of the information display and the at least one light source.

30. The cosmetic mirror of claim 29, wherein the housing receives the user-selectable switch.

31. The cosmetic mirror of claim 21, wherein front surface of the flexible substrate includes at least one non-reflective portion.

32. The cosmetic mirror of claim 31, wherein the at least one non-reflective portion is an opening in the flexible substrate.

33. The cosmetic mirror of claim 31, wherein the at least one non-reflective portion is a substrate window in the flexible substrate.

34. The cosmetic mirror of claim 31 includes an information display received by the at least one non-reflective portion for being viewable by a user.

35. The cosmetic mirror of claim 34 includes at least one light source received by the at least one non-reflective portion.

36. The cosmetic mirror of claim 35 wherein the at least one light source provides a plurality of light modes including a night light setting.

37. The cosmetic mirror of claim 35 wherein the at least one light source provides an automatic shut off feature.

38. The cosmetic mirror of claim 35, wherein the at least one non-reflective portion receives a user-selectable switch connecting a source of power to and providing control of the information display and the at least one light source.

39. The cosmetic mirror of claim 38, wherein the flexible mirror is provided with a touch sensor cooperating with the switch.

40. The cosmetic mirror of claim 37, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive switching circuit button.

41. A double-sided cosmetic mirror comprising:

a housing with a first end opening and a second end opening;

a first substrate having a first peripheral edge, a first front surface, and an opposed first rear surface, the first peripheral edge being affixed within the first opening of the housing;

a first reflective coating provided on one of the first front and the first rear surfaces, the first reflective coating causing the first substrate to be reflective when viewed by a user from the first front surface side;

a second substrate having a curvature substantially different from the first substrate, the second substrate having a second peripheral edge, a second front surface, and an opposed second rear surface, the second peripheral edge being affixed within the second opening of the housing;

a second reflective coating provided on one of the second front and the second rear surfaces, the second reflective coating causing the second substrate to be reflective when viewed by the user from the second front surface side;

a first information display oriented the first substrate for being viewable by a user;

a second information display oriented the second substrate for being viewable by the user;

an information source circuit connected to and controlling both the first and second information displays; and

at least one user selectable switch cooperating with the information source circuit for controlling the first and second information displays.

42. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41, further comprising at least one light source received by the housing;

and

the at least one switch controlling the at least one light source for selective operation thereof.

43. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41, further comprising:

at least one first light source mounted on the first substrate;

at least one second light source mounted on the second substrate; and

the at least one switch controlling the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source for selective operation thereof.

44. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41 further comprising:

a support base; and

a pivot axle mounted to the support base and pivotably attached to the housing for rotating the housing about the pivot axle, and thereby allowing the user to rotate the housing about the pivot axle to view the first front surface and the second front surface.

45. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41, wherein the information source circuit is a clock circuit.

46. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41, wherein the first substrate is provided with at least one touch sensor cooperating with the at least one user selectable switch;

and

the second substrate is provided with at least one touch sensor cooperating with the at least one user selectable switch.

47. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41, wherein the at least one user selectable switch is a capacitive switching circuit button.

48. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 41 includes:

at least one first non-reflective portion on the first substrate; and

at least one second non-reflective portion on the second substrate.

49. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 48, wherein the at least one first non-reflective portion is a first opening in the first substrate;

and

the at least one second non-reflective portion is a second opening in the second substrate.

50. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 48, wherein the at least one first non-reflective portion is a first substrate window in the first substrate;

and

the at least one second non-reflective portion is a second substrate window in the second substrate.

51. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 48, wherein the at least one first non reflective portion cooperates with the first information display;

and

the at least one second non reflective portion cooperates with the second information display.

52. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 48, wherein the at least one first non reflective portion cooperates with the at least one first light source;

and

the at least one second non reflective portion cooperates with the at least one second light source.

53. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 52 wherein the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source provide a plurality of lighting modes including a night light setting.

54. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 52 wherein the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source include an automatic shut-off feature.

55. The double-sided cosmetic mirror of claim 48, wherein the at least one first non reflective portion oriented with the at least one first switch providing control of the first information display and the at least one first light source;

and

the at least one second non reflective portion oriented with at least one second switch providing control of the second information display and the at least one second light source.