Portable expandable mirrors with lights for use in motor vehicles and elsewhere

• US 10,589,685 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lilly R. Talavera
• Original Assignee: Lilly R. Talavera
• Inventors: Talavera, Lilly R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parbadia, Balram T
• Application Number:
  US16/423,125
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/00 Hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/02 Mirrors with lipstick or powder-pads
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/16 with other suspending or supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/18 Manifold reflecting mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1269 with sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use

Abstract

Billions of people around the world use a mirror more than once a day. Millions of people own a motor vehicle. The last place we find ourselves prior to many events is in our car. Such events include going on a date, touching up makeup, an important job interview, and other instances where we need to look our best. It is crucial to provide a superior light and mirror experience for facial viewing in these situations. I have created a revolutionary product to help millions around the world succeed by helping them see themselves in better light. More broadly, I have provided solutions, involving combinations of mirrors, light elements, and display screens, for providing users with superior mirror-related experiences in various vanity, medical, travel, and entertainment situations.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a mirror body, comprising one or more mirror body sections, attachable, using a first attachment element, to a portion of a visor in a motor vehicle, wherein the mirror body is associated with an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein the one or more mirror body sections comprises a first mirror body section and a second mirror body section, wherein the first mirror body section, comprising a first reflective surface, is connected, using a second attachment element, to the second mirror body section comprising a second reflective surface, wherein the first attachment element is different from the second attachment element;

a light element comprised in or on the second mirror body section; and

a connector;

wherein, in the expanded state, the first mirror body section and the second mirror body section form a third reflective surface comprising the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, wherein continuity of the third reflective surface is broken along an edge of the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section, wherein a first area of the third reflective surface is greater than a second area of the first reflective surface or the second reflective surface, and wherein the mirror body, in the expanded state, is positionable, using the first attachment element, wherein when the mirror body is attached, using the first attachment element, to the portion of the visor in the motor vehicle, the first mirror body section and the second mirror body section do not rest on a surface of the portion of the visor, wherein, in the contracted state, the first mirror body section folds onto the second mirror body section such that the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface face each other and are not in physical contact with each other, and such that, in the contracted state, the light element, comprised in or on the second mirror body section is not in physical contact with the first reflective surface, wherein a length of at least one first edge of the mirror body in the expanded state is substantially equivalent to the length of the at least one first edge of the mirror body in the contracted state, and wherein the light element is activatable or activated when the light element or the mirror body is connected, via the connector, to a power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an element for retaining the mirror body in the contracted state such that a minor force applied to the apparatus does not cause the mirror body to enter the expanded state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the light element, and wherein the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface, and the cover for the light element are at a substantially similar surface level.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the light element, wherein a protrusion of a surface of the cover above the third reflective surface is less than or equal to one inch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second light element comprised in or on the first mirror body section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light element is comprised in or on the second reflective surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light element is comprised in the second mirror body section outside the second reflective mirror surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch for activating or deactivating the light element.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a brightness or intensity or color modifier for modifying the brightness or intensity or color of the light element, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lever for expanding or contracting the mirror body, and wherein the lever protrudes from the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source for providing power for activating the light element.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment element comprises a clip or a clasp.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment element does not wrap around a body of the visor in the motor vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the visor comprises a single edge of the visor in the motor vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the mirror body is attached, using the first attachment element, to the portion of the visor in the motor vehicle, the first mirror body section and the second mirror body section are not in physical contact with the portion of the visor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an angular orientation of the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section is adjustable after the mirror body is attached, using the attachment element, to the portion of the visor in the motor vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light element is not activatable or not activated when the mirror body is in the contracted state.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a mirror body, comprising one or more mirror body sections, attachable, using a first attachment element, to a first interior portion of a motor vehicle or a second interior portion of the motor vehicle, wherein the second interior portion of the motor vehicle comprises a visor in the motor vehicle, wherein the mirror body is associated with an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein the one or more mirror body sections comprises a first mirror body section and a second mirror body section, wherein the first mirror body section, comprising a first reflective surface, is connected, using a second attachment element, to the second mirror body section comprising a second reflective surface, wherein the first attachment element is different from the second attachment element;

a light element comprised in or on the second mirror body section; and

a connector;

wherein, in the expanded state, the first mirror body section and the second mirror body section form a third reflective surface comprising the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, wherein continuity of the third reflective surface is broken along an edge of the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section, wherein a first area of the third reflective surface is greater than a second area of the first reflective surface or the second reflective surface, wherein an angular orientation of the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section is adjustable after the mirror body is attached, using the attachment element, to the first interior portion of the motor vehicle or the second interior portion of the motor vehicle, wherein, in the contracted state, the first mirror body section folds onto the second mirror body section such that the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface face each other and are not in physical contact with each other, and such that, in the contracted state, the light element, comprised in or on the second mirror body section is not in physical contact with the first reflective surface, wherein the light element is activatable or activated when the light element or the apparatus is connected, via the connector, to a power source, and wherein the light element is not activatable or not activated when the light element or the apparatus is not connected, via the connector, to the power source.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the attachment element comprises at least one of a spring, a magnet, or a suction cup.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a retaining element for preventing the mirror body from entering the expanded state in response to a minor application of pressure or force on the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a manual, mechanical, or electronic initiation element for enabling the mirror body to be placed in the expanded state or the contracted state.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when the mirror body is attached, using the first attachment element, to the first interior portion of a motor vehicle or the second interior portion of the motor vehicle, the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section does not rest on a surface of the first interior portion of the motor vehicle or the second interior portion of the motor vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first interior portion of the motor vehicle comprises at least one of a dashboard, a central console, a rearview mirror body, or a headboard of the motor vehicle.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a mirror body, comprising one or more mirror body sections, attachable, using a first attachment element, to a visor or to an object, wherein the mirror body is associated with an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein the one or more mirror body sections comprises a first mirror body section and a second mirror body section, wherein the first mirror body section, comprising a first reflective surface, is connected, using a second attachment element, to the second mirror body section comprising a second reflective surface, wherein the first attachment element is different from the second attachment element;

a light element comprised in or on the second mirror body section; and

a connector;

wherein, in the expanded state, the first mirror body section and the second mirror body section form a third reflective surface comprising the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, wherein continuity of the third reflective surface is broken along an edge of the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section, wherein a first area of the third reflective surface is greater than a second area of the first reflective surface or the second reflective surface, wherein, in the contracted state, the first mirror body section folds onto the second mirror body section such that the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface face each other and are not in physical contact with each other, and such that, in the contracted state, the light element, comprised in or on the second mirror body section is not in physical contact with the first reflective surface, wherein the light element is activatable or activated when the light element or the apparatus is connected, via the connector, to a power source, and wherein the light element is not activatable or not activated when the light element or the apparatus is not connected, via the connector, to the power source.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein when the mirror body is attached, using the first attachment element, to the object or the visor, the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section is not in physical contact with the object or the visor.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the object comprises a substantially flat surface, and wherein an angular orientation of the first reflective surface or the second reflective surface is adjustable with respect to the substantially flat surface.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein when the mirror body is attached, using the first attachment element, to the object or the visor, a gap between the first mirror body section or the second mirror body section and the visor or the object is at least greater than 0.25 inches.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the mirror body, in the expanded state, is positionable, using the first attachment element, without being supported by an external surface located substantially perpendicular to and under the first reflective surface or the second reflective surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein an angular orientation of the first mirror body section, the second mirror body section, or the light element is adjustable after the mirror body is attached, using the attachment element, to the visor or to the object.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a length of an edge of the mirror body is less than or equal to twenty inches when the mirror body is in the contracted state.