Mirrored element

• US 8,021,004 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jacek Helenowski
• Original Assignee: Jacek Helenowski
• Inventors: Helenowski, Jacek
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAKIYA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US11/653,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,711 Days
• Field of Search: 362/128, 362135-144, 362/129, 359/528
• US Class Current: 359/839
• 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: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated

Abstract

A mirrored element (101) includes a first section (201) that is translucent when a backlight (301) is on and mirrored when the backlight is off (301). A second section (203) provides a mirrored surface when the backlight (301) is on and when the backlight (301) is off. The mirrored element (101) may optionally be provided with an enclosure (103). A baking process may be utilized to provide the second section (203) of the mirrored element (101).

Claims

1. A mirrored element comprising:

a substrate;

a reflective coating disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a gray opaque material disposed on a part of the reflective coating;

a first section that is translucent when a backlight is on and mirrored when the backlight is off;

a second section corresponding to the gray opaque material that provides a mirrored surface when the backlight is on and when the backlight is off.

2. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein, when the backlight is off, the first section and the second section provide a virtually uniform mirror.

3. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein the second section is disposed near a center of the first section.

4. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein the second section is comprised of a material that is baked onto the mirrored element.

5. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein the second section is comprised of a movable opaque material.

6. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein the second section is variable in size during use of the mirrored element.

7. The mirrored element of claim 1, where the second section comprises at least two separate areas.

8. The mirrored element of claim 1, where the first section and the second section provide a unified mirrored surface effect when the backlight is off.

9. The mirrored element of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure;

a light disposed inside the enclosure, wherein the mirrored element covers at least a part of the enclosure.

10. The mirrored element of claim 9, wherein an inside surface of the enclosure is comprised of a reflective surface.

11. The mirrored element of claim 1, wherein the second section is not substantially visibly discernable from the first section when the backlight is off.

12. A mirrored element comprising:

a substrate;

a reflective coating disposed on a first side of the substrate;

a gray opaque material baked on a part of the reflective coating;

a first section that is translucent when a backlight is on and mirrored when the backlight is off;

a second section, corresponding to the gray opaque material, that provides a mirrored surface when the backlight is on and when the backlight is off;

wherein the first section and the second section provide a virtually uniform mirrored surface when the backlight is off.

13. The mirrored element of claim 12, where the second section comprises at least one element of signage.

14. The mirrored element of claim 12, further comprising a light disposed inside an enclosure, wherein the mirrored element covers at least a part of the enclosure.

15. The mirrored element of claim 12, wherein the second section comprises a light gray coating paint.

16. The mirrored element of claim 12, wherein the first section and the second section provide a unified mirrored surface effect when the backlight is off.

17. The mirrored element of claim 12, wherein the first section is substantially visibly indiscernible from the second section when the backlight is off.

18. A mirror comprising:

an enclosure;

a light disposed within the enclosure;

a mirrored element comprising;

a substrate comprising a first side facing the light;

a reflective coating disposed on a part of the first side;

a gray opaque material disposed on the reflective coating;

a first section that is translucent when the light is on and mirrored when the light is off;

a second section corresponding to the gray opaque material that provides a mirrored surface when the light is on and when the light is off.

19. The mirror of claim 18, wherein the mirrored element covers at least a part of the enclosure.

20. The mirror of claim 18, wherein the second section comprises a light gray coating.

21. The mirror of claim 18, wherein the substrate is comprised of glass.

22. The mirror of claim 18, wherein the first section and the second section provide a unified mirrored surface effect when the backlight is off.

23. The mirror of claim 18, wherein any edge of the second section is substantially indistinguishable from the first section when the backlight is off.