HINGED VANITY MIRRORS

• US 20190175780A1
• Filed: 02/06/2019
• Published: 06/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sterilumen Inc. (Applied UV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sterilumen Inc. (Applied UV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Munn, Max
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0091 Electronic or electric devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 67/005 Mirror cabinets; Dressing-tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/02 Mirrors used as equipment hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0622 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/26 Textiles, e.g. towels, beds, cloths
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/15 Supporting means, e.g. stands, hooks, holes for hanging
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A vanity mirror comprising a substantially enclosed cabinet having top, bottom and lateral ends and rear and front walls when mounted on a wall, said cabinet ends and said walls together forming a substantially enclosed space defining a vertical direction extending between said top and bottom ends, said front wall comprising a mirror panel; mounting means for mounting said cabinet on a wall, wherein said mounting means includes a hinge at one of said lateral ends to movably mount said cabinet for movement between a normally closed position substantially juxtaposed against the wall and an open position to provide access to a surface normally covered by said cabinet, when in said closed position, whereby said normally covered surface can be cleaned and disinfected.

Claims

1. A vanity mirror comprising a substantially enclosed cabinet having top, bottom and lateral ends and rear and front walls when mounted on a wall, said cabinet ends and said walls together forming a substantially enclosed space defining a vertical direction extending between said top and bottom ends, said front wall comprising a mirror panel;

mounting means for mounting said cabinet on a wall, wherein said mounting means includes a hinge at one of said lateral ends to movably mount said cabinet for movement between a normally closed position substantially juxtaposed against the wall and an open position to provide access to a surface normally covered by said cabinet, when in said closed position, whereby said normally covered surface can be cleaned and disinfected.

2. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said chassis hinge is connected to one of said cabinet lateral ends and connectable to a mounting surface, such as a wall.

3. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, further comprising a mirror hinge for pivotably mounting said mirror panel relative to said cabinet so that said mirror panel can be moved between a closed position to enclose said cabinet space and an open position to provide access to said cabinet space.

4. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said chassis and mirror hinges are arranged for independent pivotable movements.

5. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said hinges is formed of metal.

6. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said hinges is formed of plastic.

7. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 2, further comprising a mirror hinge for pivotably mounting said mirror panel to said cabinet so that said mirror panel can be moved between a closed position to enclose said cabinet space and an open position to provide access to said cabinet space.

8. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 7, wherein said chassis and mirror hinges are connected to a common cabinet lateral end.

9. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 8, wherein said chassis hinge comprises two spaced hinges proximate to said top and bottom ends and said mirror hinge is arranged between said two spaced chassis hinges.

10. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said mirror panel is a backlit mirror provided with light generation means;

and further comprising means for energizing said light generating means independently of the pivoted positions of said cabinet.

11. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said mirror panel is a backlit mirror provided with light generation means;

and further comprising means for energizing said light generating means independently of the pivoted positions of said cabinet.

13. A disinfecting vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, further comprising a magnetic or other wall lock for normally retaining said cabinet in said closed position and selectively enabling movement of said cabinet to an open position to expose said normally covered wall surface.

14. A disinfecting vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of UV light sources are provided within said enclosed space.

15. A disinfecting vanity mirror as defined in claim 14, wherein said plurality of UV light sources comprise UV LEDs spaced from each other along said vertical direction.

16. A disinfecting vanity mirror as defined in claim 1, further comprising an easily-removable or interchangeable flange or bracket extending generally along said bottom end, and at least one UV light source mounted on said flange or bracket that is configured to direct UV light substantially downwardly away from said cabinet.

17. A vanity mirror as defined in claim 16, wherein said flange or bracket is removably attached to said bottom end of said cabinet.

12. A method comprising the steps of providing a substantially enclosed cabinet having top, bottom and lateral ends and rear and front walls when mounted on a wall, said cabinet ends and said walls together forming a substantially enclosed space defining a vertical direction extending between said top and bottom ends, said front wall comprising a mirror panel;

and pivotably or hingedly mounting said cabinet on a support surface such as a wall with a hinge at one of said one lateral ends to movably mount said cabinet between a normally closed position substantially juxtaposed against the wall and an open position to provide access to a surface normally covered by said cabinet when in said closed position, whereby a normally covered support surface can be cleaned and/or disinfected.