AU703279B2

AU703279B2 - A mirror assembly

Info

Publication number: AU703279B2
Application number: AU72684/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: George Johnston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-31
Filing date: 1996-10-31
Publication date: 1999-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-31
Also published as: AU7268496A

Description

P/AQ RECEIVrn I 9 JUN 1997 1 "A MIRROR ASSEMBLY" This invention relates to a mirror assembly, particularly designed for use with an existing mirror for providing a rear view of an object or person.

Mirrors of many types are presently available, however wall mounted mirrors or other upright fixed mirrors only enable an opposite facing reflection to be seen. This is a particular disadvantage in personal hairdressing or toilet applications where it may be desired that a rear view of the head be observed. Whilst in these situations it is possible to use hand mirrors in conjunction with fixed mirrors, the use of hand mirrors is generally awkward and inconvenient.

The present invention aims to alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and to provide a mirror assembly suitable for use with a fixed or existing mirror to enable a view of the rear of a person or object to be seen from the fixed or existing mirror which will be reliable and efficient in use. The present invention also aims to provide a mirror assembly which is of relatively simple constructions and which may be adjusted in a n umber of different directions.

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides in a mirror assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent a fixed or existing mirror, said mirror assembly including: a supporting arm assembly adapted to be mounted at one end adjacent said fixed or existing mirror; a further mirror supported by said support arm assembly at a position spaced in use from said fixed or existing mirror whereby the rear view of a person or object interposed between said mirrors may be viewed in said fixed or existing mirror; a downwardly depending distal portion on said support arm assembly remote from said fixed or existing mirror; a ball and socket joint upon which said further mirror is mounted, said ball and socket joint enabling said further mirror to be pivoted or rotated about a vertical axis and AMENDED SHEET

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fcrA96 0 0 6 84 i I z- I- C- J moved to a limited degree universally so that its inclination to the vertical may be varied, and wherein said ball and socket joint includes a ball engaged between the opposed complementary apertures in a plane substantially parallel with the plane defined by the centre lines of the support arm assembly and the distal portion whereby the further mirror is free to rotate within said plane and also to rotate about an axis substantially colinear with the centreline of the distal portion.

Preferably the support arm assembly is adjustable in length to enable it to be extended from the fixed mirror as desired and locking means are suitably provided for locking the support arm assembly in a selected position. Preferably the arm assembly is of a telescopic construction.

Suitably, the arm assembly is mounted at its one end on AMENDED SHEE

IPENAJAU

WO 97/16098 PCT/AU96/00684 2 a bracket which permits pivotal movement of the arm assembly about a substantially vertical axis such that the arm assembly may be moved between an operative position extending outwardly from the fixed or existing mirror and an inoperative position adjacent and substantially planar with the fixed or existing mirror when the mirror assembly is not in use. Preferably also the support arm assembly is mounted to the bracket means for movement about a horizontal axis, such that the height of the further mirror may be adjusted, and the locking means enables the support arm assembly to also be adjustably locked at a preferred elevation. In a preferred embodiment, the further mirror comprises a circular mirror which is pivotally moveable about a substantially vertical axis and which may also be adjusted in inclination.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view of the mirror assembly of the invention in an operative attitude; FIG. 2 is a front view of the mirror of the mirror assembly of the invention; and FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the mirror assembly of the invention in inoperative attitude.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a mirror assembly 10 according to the present invention adapted to be mounted adjacent a fixed or existing mirror 11 which may be a wall mounted mirror, a mirror associated with a piece furniture, such as a dressing table mirror or any other fixed or existing mirror. The mirror assembly 10 includes a mounting bracket 12 which maybe fixed adjacent an upper side of the fixed mirror 11 such as by means of screws to support an arm 13 which is connected to the mounting bracket 12 through an intermediate bracket assembly 14 and which extends in a cantilever fashion from the bracket 12. The WO 97/16098 PCT/AU96/00684- 3 intermediate bracket assembly 14 additionally includes a second part which is fixed to the arm 13 and which is pivotally connected to the first part.

The connection between the bracket parts is such as to allow adjustment of their pivotal position about the axis 16 and locking in that position. This may be achieved by having the two parts formed with co-operating radial teeth and a locking screw therebetween.

The arm 13, in this embodiment is formed telescopically to enable it to be varied in length and terminates at its outer end in a downwardly directed end portion 17. The arm 13 is also of a five sided cross-section to prevent the respective telescopic sections from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the arm 13. A mirror 18, which in this embodiment is of circular form, is mounted to the end of the arm portion 17 via a and ball and socket joint 20 which enables the mirror 18 to be pivoted or rotated about a vertical axis and moved to a limited degree universally so that its inclination to the vertical may be varied. The ball and socket joint 20 may be lockable by means of a thumb screw 19 to lock the mirror 10 in a desired attitude. The ball and socket joint 20 is constructed by complementary portions forming two opposed apertures, the ball being clamped therebetween.

The arm 13 may incorporate selectively actuable locking devices 21 to lock the telescopic arm portions in a desired extended or retracted position.

In its non-operative position, the arm assembly 13 is pivoted to a position to lie adjacent to the fixed or existing mirror 11 substantially flat against say a wall 21 to which the mirror 11 is mounted as shown in Fig. 3.

A person who wishes to use the mirror assembly 10 moves the assembly 10 from the Fig. 3 position to the extended position of Fig. 1 and pivots the mirror 18, so that the person's head 22 is located between the mirror 11 and mirror WO 97/16098 PCT/AU96/00684 4 18. The arm 13 may be raised and lowered through its pivotal connection 16 to the bracket 16 to suit the height of the person using the mirror assembly 10 whilst the mirror 18 maybe pivoted about a vertical axis or inclined at the joint 20 to allow different areas of the head 22 of the user to be viewed by reflection in the fixed mirror 11.

The ball of the ball and socket joint 20 is preferably engaged between the opposed complementary apertures in a plane substantially parallel with the plane defined by the centre lines of the arm 13 and arm portion 17 such that pivoting the support arm 13 about the horizontal and vertical axes will not strain the ball and socket joint 20. The ball in this arrangement is free to rotate about two axes, one being substantially colinear with the axis of the arm portion 17 and the other being normal to the plane defined by the centre lines of the arm 13 and arm portion 17, but only is able to rotate to a limited extent about the axis which is normal to the previously described axes.

The arm 13 may be made non-telescopic if desired and may be constructed of metal or plastics material. The mirror 18 may be of shapes other than circular such as rectangular or square. The arm 13 may also be mounted adjacent to the fixed mirror 11 or rotation only about a vertical axis with height adjustment being achieved at the connection of the mirror 18 to the arm 13 for example by making the mirror 18 slidably adjustable along the end portion 17 of the arm 13.

The person looking into the mirror 11 may then, through the reflection provided by the mirror 18 view the rear of the head 122 for hair dressing or toilet applications. When this activity is completed the assembly 10 may be pivoted back to the Fig. 3 position with the mirror 18 lying flat against the wall 21.

The components of the mirror assembly 10 are preferably formed of a non-corrosive material such as aluminium or plastics. The mirror 18 suitably comprises a glass mirror WO 97/16098 PCT/AU96/00684 but may comprise any other reflective surface. It will be appreciated that a user may observe the twice reflected image in either mirror as desired.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as claimed in the following claims.

Claims

2. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support arm assembly is adjustable in length to enable it to be extended from the fixed mirror as desired.
3. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, and including locking means for locking said support arm assembly in a selected extended position.
4. A mirror assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding AMENDED 8HEE IPWEA/A RECEIVED 1 9 JUN 1997 7 claims, wherein said support arm assembly is of a telescopic construction. A mirror assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support arm assembly is mounted at its one end on a bracket which permits pivotal movement of said support arm assembly firstly about a substantially vertical axis such that said support arm assembly may be moved between an operative position extending outwardly from the fixed or existing mirror and an inoperative position adjacent and substantially planar with the fixed or existing mirror when the mirror assembly is not in use, and secondly for movement about a horizontal axis, such that the height of the further mirror may be adjusted.
6. A mirror assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support arm assembly is locked into about said horizontal axis by a clamp comprising the two parts formed with co- operating radial teeth and a locking screw therebetween.
7. A mirror assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further mirror is pivotally moveable firstly about a substantially vertical axis and secondly about a substantially horizontal axis whereby the further mirror may also be adjusted in inclination. AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU