Illuminated mirror

• US 9,765,958 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seura, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seura, Inc.
• Inventors: Lumaye, Andy C., Elsing, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, NATHANIEL J.
• Application Number:
  US14/718,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• 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: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/302 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/70 on flexible or deformable supports or substrates, e.g. for changing the light source into a desired form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illuminated mirror having a mirror defining a front surface and a rear surface. The mirror includes a reflective mirror portion and a translucent portion through which light can pass. A housing is secured to the rear surface of the mirror and the housing includes a first surface, a second surface, and a gap extending between the first surface and the second surface. The mirror further includes a light source coupled to a flexible substrate and positioned behind the rear surface of the mirror; and a reflective element secured to the rear surface and positioned adjacent the translucent portion of the mirror. The flexible substrate is secured to the first surface and the second surface.

Claims

1. An illuminated mirror comprising:

a mirror defining a front surface and a rear surface, the mirror includes a reflective mirror portion and a translucent portion through which light can pass;

a housing secured to the rear surface of the mirror, the housing including a first surface, a second surface, and a gap extending between the first surface and the second surface;

a light source coupled to a flexible substrate and positioned behind the rear surface of the mirror; and

a reflective element secured to the rear surface and positioned adjacent the translucent portion of the mirror;

wherein the flexible substrate is secured to the first surface and the second surface, and

wherein the first surface and the second surface are both orthogonal to the rear surface of the mirror.

2. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the light source emits light that is reflected off the reflective element and passes through the translucent portion such that the light emitted from the light source is visible when viewing the front surface of the mirror while the light source is not visible when viewing the front surface of the mirror.

3. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion borders the entire reflective mirror portion and the reflective element is positioned adjacent the entire translucent portion.

4. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the first surface is orthogonal to the second surface and the flexible substrate includes a curved portion extending between the first surface and the second surface.

5. The illuminated mirror of claim 4, wherein the housing defines a perimeter that includes the first surface and the second surface and wherein the flexible substrate is a continuous flexible substrate that surrounds the perimeter.

6. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the light source is oriented in a direction parallel to the rear surface of the mirror.

7. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the reflective element extends from the translucent portion to a point behind the light source.

8. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion of the mirror is etched glass.

9. The illuminated mirror of claim 1, wherein the light source is one of a plurality of light sources.

10. The illuminated mirror of claim 9, wherein the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes.

11. An illuminated mirror comprising:

a mirror defining a front surface and a rear surface, the mirror includes a reflective mirror portion and a translucent portion through which light can pass;

a housing secured to the rear surface of the mirror, the housing including a first surface, a second surface non-coplanar to the first surface, and a non-orthogonal transition extending between the first surface and the second surface; and

a light source coupled to a continuous flexible substrate and positioned behind the rear surface of the mirror;

wherein the continuous flexible substrate is secured to the first surface and the second surface, and

wherein the first surface is orthogonal to the second surface and the flexible substrate includes a curved portion extending between the first surface and the second surface.

12. The illuminated mirror of claim 11, wherein the non-orthogonal transition is a gap extending between the first surface and the second surface.

13. The illuminated mirror of claim 11, wherein the housing defines a perimeter that includes at least the first surface and the second surface and wherein the flexible substrate is a continuous flexible substrate that surrounds the perimeter.

14. The illuminated mirror of claim 11, wherein a beveled edge extends between the first surface and the second surface.

15. The illuminated mirror of claim 11, wherein the housing defines a perimeter that includes only non-orthogonal angles.

16. An illuminated mirror comprising:

a mirror defining a front surface and a rear surface, the mirror includes a reflective mirror portion and a translucent portion through which light can pass;

a housing secured to the rear surface of the mirror, the housing including a first surface, a second surface, and a gap extending between the first surface and the second surface;

a light source coupled to a flexible substrate and positioned behind the rear surface of the mirror; and

a reflective element secured to the rear surface and positioned adjacent the translucent portion of the mirror;

wherein the flexible substrate is secured to the first surface and the second surface, and

wherein the first surface is orthogonal to the second surface and the flexible substrate includes a curved portion extending between the first surface and the second surface.

17. The illuminated mirror of claim 16, wherein the light source emits light that is reflected off the reflective element and passes through the translucent portion such that the light emitted from the light source is visible when viewing the front surface of the mirror while the light source is not visible when viewing the front surface of the mirror.

18. The illuminated mirror of claim 16, wherein the translucent portion borders the entire reflective mirror portion and the reflective element is positioned adjacent the entire translucent portion.

19. The illuminated mirror of claim 16, wherein the housing defines a perimeter that includes the first surface and the second surface and wherein the flexible substrate is a continuous flexible substrate that surrounds the perimeter.

20. The illuminated mirror of claim 16, wherein the light source is one of a plurality of light sources.