Illuminated mirror employing cross and parallel polarization

• US 7,004,599 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dermlite LLC
• Original Assignee: 3GEN Incorporated
• Inventors: Mullani, Nizar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/751,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 362/19, 362/138, 362/139, 362/140, 362/141, 359/493, 359/501, 359/884
• US Class Current: 362/139
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/281 used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illuminated personal hygiene mirror for viewing facial skin or other areas of the body. In each of the embodiments of the present invention, a hand-held frame receives and supports a mirror. The mirror is covered with a polarizer for polarizing any reflected light falling thereon. A light source is positioned within the frame about the periphery of the mirror and is covered by a polarizing filter for polarizing light emitted therefrom. The mirror polarizer and light source polarizer are out of phase providing cross-polarized light to the eye of the user. An integral handle supports the frame and is held by the user when viewing facial skin. Other embodiments of the present invention include the same components, except a two-way mirror is employed and the mirror frame has a removable back portion to allow viewing by a second person. Other embodiments include an illuminated mirror employing cross and parallel polarization using two light sources. Other embodiments incorporate the use of a mirror filter which can rotate within the frame of the mirror to provide variable polarization to the user.

Claims

1. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) a polarized image reflecting surface comprising a two-way mirror having a reflecting side and a viewing side, wherein said reflecting includes a polarization filter having a first plane of polarization;

(b) at least one polarized illumination source positioned relative to the polarized reflecting surface for directing polarized light upon the face of a user, said polarized illumination source having a second plane of polarization;

(c) wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light.

2. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

3. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

4. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

5. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

6. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

7. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 6 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

8. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the two-way mirror is flat.

9. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein the two-way mirror is a magnified mirror.

10. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is an incandescent light having a polarizing filter.

11. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a fluorescent light having a polarizing filter.

12. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a fluorescent ring light having a polarizing filter.

13. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a series of spaced incandescent lights positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said incandescent lights having a polarizing filter.

14. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 1 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflection surface wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

15. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) a polarized image reflecting surface comprising a variable magnifying mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface;

(b) at least one polarized illumination source positioned relative to the polarized reflecting surface for directing polarized light upon the face of a user, said polarized illumination source having a second plane of polarization; and

(c) wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light.

16. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

17. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

18. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

19. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

20. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said polarized reflecting surface is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

21. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 20 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

22. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 20 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

23. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 20 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat two-way mirror.

24. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 20 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified two-way mirror.

25. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is an incandescent light having a polarizing filter.

26. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a florescent light having a polarizing filter.

27. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a ring florescent light having a polarizing filter.

28. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a series of spaced incandescent lights positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said incandescent lights having a polarizing filter.

29. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a series of spaced luminous diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said luminescent diodes having a polarizing filter.

30. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 wherein said at least one polarized illumination source is a series of spaced luminous diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface and a planar filter defining a center opening and an outer edge, said center opening positioned in corresponding alignment with the polarized image reflecting surface to provide an unfiltered view thereof and said outer edge positioned in corresponding alignment with said luminous diodes to provide polarized light.

31. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 15 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflection surface wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

32. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) A polarized image reflecting surface having a first plane of polarization;

(b) at least one luminous diode having a polarizing filter with a second plane of polarization positioned relative to the polarized reflecting surface for directing polarized light upon the face of the user; and

(c) wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light.

33. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

34. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

35. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

36. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

37. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein said polarized reflecting surface is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

38. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 37 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

39. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 37 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

40. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 37 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat two-way mirror.

41. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 37 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified two-way mirror.

42. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein said at least one polarized luminous diode includes a series of spaced luminous diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said luminescent diodes having a polarizing filter.

43. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 wherein said at least one polarized luminous diode includes diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface and a planar filter defining a center opening and an outer edge, said center opening positioned in corresponding alignment with the polarized image reflecting surface to provide an unfiltered view thereof and said outer edge positioned in corresponding alignment with said luminous diodes to provide polarized light.

44. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 32 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflection surface wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

45. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) a polarized image reflecting surface having a first plane of polarization;

(b) a series of spaced luminous diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said luminescent diodes having a polarizing filter, the luminous diodes positioned relative to the polarized reflecting surface for directing polarized light upon the face of a user, said polarized illumination source having a second plane of polarization; and

(c) wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light.

46. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

47. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

48. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

49. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

50. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein said polarized reflecting surface is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

51. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 50 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

52. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 50 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

53. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 50 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat two-way mirror.

54. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 50 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified two-way mirror.

55. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 wherein a planar filter defines a center opening and an outer edge, said center opening positioned in corresponding alignment with the polarized image reflecting surface to provide an unfiltered view thereof and said outer edge positioned in corresponding alignment with said luminous diodes to provide polarized light.

56. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 45 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflection surface wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

57. An Illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) a polarized image reflecting surface having a first plane of polarization;

(b) a series of spaced luminous diodes positioned about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface and a planar filter defining a center opening and an outer edge, said center opening positioned in corresponding alignment with the polarized image reflecting surface to provide an unfiltered view thereof and said outer edge positioned in corresponding alignment with said luminous diodes to provide polarized light the luminous diodes positioned relative to the polarized reflecting surface for directing polarized light upon the face of a user, said polarized illumination source having a second plane of polarization; and

(c) wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light.

58. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

59. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

60. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

61. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

62. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein said polarized reflecting surface is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

63. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 62 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

64. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 62 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

65. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 62 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat two-way mirror.

66. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 62 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified two-way mirror.

67. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 wherein each of said luminescent diodes has a polarizing filter.

68. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 57 further comprising a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflection surface wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

69. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) a polarized image reflecting surface having a first plane of polarization;

(b) a frame for receiving and supporting said polarized image reflecting surface;

(c) a first illumination source comprising a plurality of spaced luminous diodes positioned upon said frame about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said diodes having a polarizing filter having a second plane of polarization; and

(d) a second illumination source comprising a plurality of spaced luminous diodes positioned between diodes of the first illumination source to form an alternating series of diodes about the polarized image reflecting surface;

wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user from the first illumination source is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light, and non-polarized light falling on the face of the user from the second illumination source is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of the user as polarized light.

70. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 further comprising a switch having a first mode for initiating the first illumination source, a second mode for initiating the second illumination source and a third mode for initiating said first and second sources simultaneously.

71. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein said first illumination source and said second illumination source have different color wavelengths.

72. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

73. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

74. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

75. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

76. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein said mirror is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

77. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

78. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 77 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

79. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

80. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

81. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a variable magnifying mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

82. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 69 wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

83. An illuminated personal hygiene mirror comprising:

(a) an image reflecting surface;

(b) a frame for receiving and supporting said image reflecting surface;

(c) a first illumination source comprising a plurality of spaced luminous diodes positioned upon said frame about the periphery of the polarized image reflecting surface, each of said diodes of the first illumination source emitting light of a color of a first wavelength

(d) a second illumination source comprising a plurality of spaced luminous diodes positioned between diodes of the first illumination source to form an alternating series of diodes about the polarized image reflecting surface, said diodes of said second illumination source emitting a colored light of a second wavelength; and

(e) a switch having a first mode for initiating the first illumination source, and a second mode for initiating the second illumination source.

84. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 83 wherein said image reflecting surface is polarized.

85. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 83 wherein said image reflecting surface is polarized with a first plane of polarization and each of the diodes of the first illumination source having a polarizing filter having a second plane of polarization wherein polarized light falling upon the face of the user from the first illumination source is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of user as cross-polarized light, and non-polarized light falling on the face of the user from the second illumination source is reflected from the polarized image reflecting surface to the eye of the user as polarized light.

86. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization are in orthogonal relationship.

87. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

88. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may be aligned in either a parallel or orthogonal relationship.

89. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is rotationally positionable within the frame such that the respective planes of polarization of the first and second planes of polarization may vary in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.

90. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein said image reflecting surface is a two-way mirror having a reflecting side with a polarizing filter affixed to the surface of said reflecting side and a viewing side.

91. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 90 wherein said frame includes an aperture for receiving said two-way mirror, said reflecting side facing the user and allowing viewing of the cross-polarized light upon the face of the user by a second person through the viewing side.

92. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 91 wherein a removable cover is releasably insertable into said aperture to cover the viewing side of said two-way mirror when placed in said frame.

93. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a flat mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

94. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a magnified mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

95. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 85 wherein the polarized image reflecting surface is a variable magnifying mirror having a polarizing filter affixed to the surface.

96. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 83 wherein said frame has an integrally formed handle.

97. The illuminated personal hygiene mirror of claim 83 wherein said switch has a third mode for integrating said first and second sources simultaneously.