Mirror

• US 4,530,571 A
• Filed: 03/01/1983
• Issued: 07/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clearplas Limited
• Original Assignee: Clearplas Limited
• Inventors: Connor, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Bruce S.
• Application Number:
  US06/471,189
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 350/288, 350/6.6, 350/310, 350/289-309, 248/466, 248/467-498
• US Class Current: 359/844
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material in the shape of a shallow tray having a base which is metallized on its internal or external surface. The shallow tray has a rim integral with the periphery of the base. The shape of the cross-section of the rim enables the peripheral edge at the front of the mirror to be convexly rounded to a required radius greater than the thickness of the base. The shape of the cross-section of the rim also serves to hold the base from distortion and so maintains the optical properties of the mirror.

Claims

1. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising:

a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge;

a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and

a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively;

wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base, such that, together, the peripherally-inner wall portion, the crest portion and the peripherally-outer wall portion form a U-shape, the thickness of said rim extending substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion.

2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1 in which the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said rim and said base throughout the whole area of said base.

3. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising:

a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge;

a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and

a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively;

wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base;

wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion; and

wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim, said remaining portion provided by a stepped forward front face extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion.

4. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising:

a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge;

a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and

a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively;

wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base;

wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion;

wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim; and

wherein said remaining portion is provided by a stepped rearward rear face extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion.

5. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising:

a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge;

a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and

a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively, wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base;

wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion;

wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim; and

wherein said remaining portion is provided by a stepped forward front face and a stepped rearward rear face each extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion.