Mirror with digital clock readout

• US 6,996,031 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffery L. Cripe
• Original Assignee: Jeffery L. Cripe
• Inventors: Cripe, Jeffery L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/392,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 368/82, 368/10, 368/223, 368/239, 368/278
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/00 Visual time or date indication means

Abstract

A typical mirror combined with digital clock for reading time while simultaneously looking in the mirror. To attain this, the clock, which is mounted behind the mirror, has a plurality of display devices for reading hours and minutes aligned with apertures in the black template and reflective surface of the mirror. These display devices can be light emitting diodes, liquid crystal devices, electro-luminescent displays, illuminated apertures, or other type display technology. The digital clock can be powered either by battery or from a 110-volt power source. As a product, the combinational mirror and clock can be decorative to brighten up a room. The digital clock display can have various appearances depending on the placement of the hour and minute display devices. In addition to the numeric clock display devices, an alphanumeric device can also be added for displaying various messages. The apparatus can be used by consumers and commercial establishments in a multitude of colors, shapes, styles, patterns, sizes, and designs. In a preferred embodiment, the one-to-twelve hour digits are placed in vertical lines along each edge of the mirror with the zero-to-fifty nine minutes being readout in a two-digit window placed conveniently on the face of the mirror. In an alternative embodiment the one-to-twelve hour digits are placed in a more standard circular clock arrangement with the sixty minutes being displayed in a circular arrangement of backlighted segments located just inside the hour digits, which are sequentially enabled to indicate minutes.

Claims

1. A digital clock in combination with a mirror, comprising:

a digital clock, said clock further comprised of;

one or more circuit boards;

one or more control integrated circuit chips mounted on the backside of said circuit board for controlling said clock;

a plurality of numeric display devices arranged on the front side of at least one of said circuit boards in a format for displaying hours;

one or more numeric display devices arranged on the front side of at least one of said circuit boards in a format for displaying minutes, said numeric display devices on at least one of said circuit boards comprising;

at least nine single-digit numeric display devices arranged on said circuit board for reading hours one through nine;

at least three double-digit numeric display devices arranged on said circuit board for reading hours ten through twelve; and

at least one double-digit numeric display device arranged on said circuit board for reading minutes zero through sixty;

a black template mounted in front of at least one of said circuit boards by attaching means, said black template having a plurality of template apertures aligned to match said display devices on said front side of at least one of said circuit boards;

two or more control buttons attached to at least one of said circuit boards for setting said digital clock;

a low-voltage DC power supply for providing power to at least one of said circuit boards; and

a mirror mounted in front of said black template by attaching means, the reflective surface of said mirror having a plurality of mirror apertures aligned with said black template apertures for viewing the digits of said display devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus has at least one alphanumeric display for displaying messages.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes signage on the surface of said apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of a battery and a DC power supply being sourced from 110-volt AC.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display devices are attached to said circuit board such as to readout around the perimeter of said mirror, said circuit board having a picture-frame shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display devices are attached to small individual circuit boards, said control integrated circuit chips further installed on a small individual control circuit board.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display devices are of the group comprised of:

light emitting diodes, liquid crystal devices, electro-luminescent displays, and illuminated apertures.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit chips are from the grouped comprised of:

programmable logic arrays, microprocessors, display drivers, and applications specific integrated circuits.

9. A digital clock in combination with a mirror, comprising:

a digital clock, said clock further comprised of;

a circuit board;

one or more control integrated circuit chips mounted on the backside of said circuit board for controlling said clock;

twelve numeric display devices arranged on the front side of said circuit board in a clock-like circular format for displaying hours;

sixty back-lighted light segment means circularly arranged on the front side of said circuit board inside said numeric display devices for indicating minutes;

a black template mounted in front of said circuit board by attaching means, said black template having a plurality of template apertures aligned to match said display and light segment devices on said front side of said circuit board;

two or more control buttons attached to said circuit board for setting said digital clock;

a low-voltage DC power supply for providing power to said circuit board, said power supply being sourced from 110-volt AC; and

a mirror mounted in front of said black template by attaching means, the reflective surface of said mirror having a plurality of mirror apertures aligned with said black template apertures for viewing the digits of said display devices and said light segments.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said numeric display devices on said circuit board comprising:

at least nine single-digit numeric display devices suitably arranged on said circuit board for reading hours one through nine; and

at least three double-digit numeric display devices suitably arranged on said circuit board for reading hours ten through twelve.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said apparatus has at least one alphanumeric display for displaying messages.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said apparatus includes signage on the surface of said apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said apparatus is battery powered.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said display devices are of the group comprised of:

light emitting diodes, liquid crystal devices, electro-luminescent displays, and illuminated apertures.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said integrated circuit chips are from the grouped comprised of:

programmable logic arrays, microprocessors, display drivers, and applications specific integrated circuits.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a sixty-output demultiplexer circuit is used to drive said sixty backlighted light segment means.

17. A digital clock in combination with a signage board, comprising:

a digital clock, said clock further comprised of;

a circuit board;

one or more control integrated circuit chips mounted on said circuit board for controlling said clock;

a plurality of numeric display devices mounted on said circuit board for displaying hour and minute display digits, said display devices on said circuit board comprising;

at least nine single-digit numeric display devices arranged on said circuit board for reading hours one through nine;

at least three double-digit numeric display devices arranged on said circuit board for reading hours ten through twelve; and

at least one double-digit numeric display device arranged on said circuit board for reading minutes zero through sixty;

a black template mounted in front said circuit board by attaching means, said black template having a plurality of template apertures aligned to match said display devices on said circuit board;

two or more control buttons attached to said circuit board for setting said digital clock;

a power supply for running said clock; and

a front signage board mounted in front of said black template by attaching means.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said front signage board is a mirror mounted in front of said black template by attaching means, the reflective surface of said mirror having a plurality of mirror apertures aligned with said black template apertures for viewing said display digits from the front of said mirror.