Mirror for a Mobile Device

• US 20160077401A1
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geanine M. Lamberger
• Original Assignee: Geanine M. Lamberger
• Inventors: Lamberger, Geanine M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/08 Shaving mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/24 Flexible mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence

Abstract

A mirror for a mobile device, the mirror configured as a flexible multilayered laminate electrostatically and removably adhered to a viewing screen or other smooth surface of the mobile device. The laminate has at least one reflective layer adhered to an optically transparent bottom layer made of a plastic-silicone material. In another embodiment, the laminate includes a switchable film layer that when current is applied becomes optically opaque, allowing a split screen use of the viewing screen. For instance, when current is applied to the laminate, half of the viewing screen is a mirror and the other half allows use of software and other features of the mobile device. In yet another embodiment, a true mirror is created using software to create a reflective surface beneath a glass of the viewing screen. Control of the mirror using software and physical switches are also provided. LED lighting is also provided.

Claims

1. A mirror laminate for use with a mobile device, the mobile device having a viewing screen and an outer case having a back side, the mirror laminate comprising:

a reflective top layer; and

an optically transparent bottom layer laminated to the reflective top layer,

wherein the bottom layer is at least one of a flexible plastic layer a flexible vinyl layer and is electrostatically charged;

whereby the mirror laminate is removably electrostatically adhered to at least one of the viewing screen and the outer case.

2. The mirror laminate of claim 1, further comprising a middle layer sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer,

wherein said middle layer is a switchable film, and

further comprising power means to supply current to the middle layer;

wherein supplying current to the middle layer creates an optically opaque laminate and removing current to the middle layer creates an optically transparent laminate.

3. The mirror laminate of claim 2, wherein power means to supply current to the middle layer is comprised of electrical wires housed in a frame adhered to the mirror laminate.

4. The mirror laminate of claim 2, wherein power means to supply current to the middle layer is controlled by a switch.

5. The mirror laminate of claim 2, wherein the middle layer is applied to a portion of the laminate, such that the mirror laminate is three layers thick in the portion and two layers thick in another portion.

6. The mirror laminate of claim 1, further comprising an LED array strip adhered to a perimeter of the viewing screen.

7. The LED array strip of claim 6, wherein said strip houses electrical power and supply means.

8. The LED array of claim 6, wherein current to the array is controlled by a switch.

9. A method of providing a mirror on a viewing screen of a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

Turning on the viewing screen; and

Converting a background color of the viewing screen to a reflective surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is a shiny metallic color.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of apportioning the viewing screen into a mirror portion and a light portion.

12. A system for adapting a mobile device viewing screen into a mirror, the system comprising a software application residing in a data store of the mobile device, the software application in communication with the viewing screen, the software application operable to convert a background color of the viewing screen to function as a reflective surface.