[go: up one dir, main page]

WO1994020867A1 - Miroir refletant les images a l'endroit - Google Patents

Miroir refletant les images a l'endroit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994020867A1
WO1994020867A1 PCT/US1994/002650 US9402650W WO9420867A1 WO 1994020867 A1 WO1994020867 A1 WO 1994020867A1 US 9402650 W US9402650 W US 9402650W WO 9420867 A1 WO9420867 A1 WO 9420867A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mirror
mirror assembly
side walls
pair
reflectors
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US1994/002650
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Lucas G. Leone, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU64455/94A priority Critical patent/AU6445594A/en
Publication of WO1994020867A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994020867A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B17/00—Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
    • G02B17/02—Catoptric systems, e.g. image erecting and reversing system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G1/00—Mirrors; Picture frames or the like, e.g. provided with heating, lighting or ventilating means
    • A47G1/02—Mirrors used as equipment
    • A47G1/04—Multi-part mirrors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/08—Mirrors

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains true-image mirrors and, more partic- ularly, to a cosmetic mirror that provides a true non-reversed image of a person viewing himself or herself in the mirror.
  • the present invention is particularly useful as a makeup or cosmetic mirror, but is by no means limited to only such uses.
  • plane mirrors One of the most common uses of plane mirrors is to enable people to see their image when shaving, combing the hair, applying makeup, dressing, and the like.
  • a single reflection in a flat mirror produces a virtual image which is reverted, or reversed, in appearance.
  • Each ray of light reflected from the mirror appears to come from a point image located a distance behind the mirror equal to the distance of the object point in front of the mirror.
  • the face can be considered as a set of points, each of which is imaged by the plane mirror. Since the viewer is viewing the facial image from the object side of the mirror, the face will appear to be reversed left for right in the virtual image formed by the mirror.
  • the plane mirror provides a virtual or imaginary image in which the left-right symmetry of the viewer's image is reversed.
  • a viewer be able to adjust the field of view of the mirror.
  • the viewer may wish to restrict the view of a dressing mirror so that unnecessary background may be eliminated from the viewer 's vision, thereby allowing the viewer to more clearly focus on the face or hair when applying makeup or when combing or styling the hair.
  • the present invention is directed to a mirror for displaying true images of objects in front of said mirror.
  • the mirror comprises two substantially plane reflecting surfaces arranged to intersect each other at an angle of approxi ⁇ mately ninety degrees.
  • Figure 1 is an isometric illustration of one embodiment of a mirror according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mirror of Figure 1, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of the mirror of Figure 1, taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is an illustration of the reflection of an object by an ordinary mirror.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the optical principles by which the mirror of the present invention is believed to function.
  • FIG. 1 a mirror 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the mirror 10 comprises two substantially " plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14, which are arranged with respect to each other at an angle ⁇ of approximately 90°.
  • Plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 each have one edge at which they intersect, as along line L.
  • plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 are front surface mirrors, i.e., light is reflected from the front surface of the mirror instead of from the rear surface, as with conventional mirrors.
  • a conventional mirror consists of a thickness of glass behind which is a reflective silvered layer at which reflection takes place.
  • housing 16 comprises top wall 18, bottom wall 20, and side walls 22, 24, 26 and 28, respectively.
  • Plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 may be adhered to side walls 26 and 28 by a suitable adhesive layer 30, or by any other suitable means.
  • plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 are coextensive with the inside surfaces of side walls 26 and 28, although plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 may also cover only a portion of the inside surfaces of walls 26 and 28.
  • angles a the included angle between walls 22 and 26, is approximately 90°, as is angle ⁇ , the included angle between walls 14 and 28.
  • the housing 16 has a front opening generally indicated by reference numeral 32, which forms an obtuse angle ⁇ with side walls 22 and 24. Opening 32 permits a viewer to see into the interior of housing 16 and view the true images reflected by plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14. Top and bottom walls 18 and 20 preferably have one side cut away at an angle to lie flush with the opening 32, although it is not necessary that they be so configured.
  • housing 16 may be of any desired shape or configuration without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • housing 16 could have curved or other non- planar contours to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance, without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • Housing 16 serves not only to support plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14, but also to limit extraneous reflections and images, particularly in those cases where mirror 10 is intended for use as a make-up mirror.
  • top and bottom walls 18 and 20, and side walls 22, 24, 26 and 28 all serve to minimize "stray" light which falls on plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14. This enables the view to concentrate on the image displayed in mirror 10 without distraction.
  • the field of view of mirror 10 may thus be adjusted to desired viewing angles by controlling the size of housing 16 and the size of opening 32.
  • the interior of housing 16 may, although it need not, be covered with a light absorbing covering 34, as seen in Figure 3.
  • Light absorbing covering 34 can be a dull finish such as a black matte paint, or a light absorbing fabric material such as black velvet. Black velvet also serves to give mirror 10 a more elegant appearance, which is advantageous when mirror 10 is intended to be used as a make-up mirror.
  • Mirror 10 may be supported on a flat surface such as a table or dresser by a base 36, best seen in Figure 3. While base 36 may have any shape, it is preferably circular (as best seen in Figure 2, where the dashed circle represents base 36), and is arranged to swivel with respect to housing 16. Such an arrangement permits mirror 10 to be located at any desired position for comfortable viewing. In addition, base 36 may be structured to permit tilting of housing 16 with respect to the horizontal, so that mirror 10 can be placed at the most comfortable angle for viewing.
  • Housing 16 may also be provided with suitable means, such as a bracket 38 having a bore 40 therein, by which mirror 10 may be suspended from a support structure, such as a wall or a ceiling.
  • suitable means such as a bracket 38 having a bore 40 therein, by which mirror 10 may be suspended from a support structure, such as a wall or a ceiling.
  • mirror 10 may be placed in other configurations, whereby top and bottom walls 18 and 20 are generally vertical.
  • the mirror may be mounted above a bed, or in any other desired position.
  • Plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 may, as already described, be front surface mirrors. Such mirrors are typically made of glass. In that case, one edge of each of plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 is optically ground, so that the line L along which plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 intersect does not distract the viewer from the image being observed in mirror 10. Although mirror 10 will function even if the edges along with plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 intersect are not optically ground, the image will have some distortion due to imperfections in the reflecting surface along the line of intersection. Optical grinding serves to minimize those imperfections and provide the appearance of a smooth transition between surfaces 12 and 14. Fine grinding and polishing makes the joint lines virtually invisible.
  • plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14 may be of glass, they need not be. They can be other reflective materials, such as a highly polished metal, or even a highly reflective metallized polymeric substrate, such as metallized Mylar ® . Such materials are well known and are suitable for mirror 10 of the present invention. Thus, for example, two substrates of non-reflective material, such as plywood, can be arranged at a right angle, and then covered with a single sheet of highly reflective metallized Mylar ® to form a mirror according to the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an ordinary plane mirror 100 with an object O, such as a left hand, located at a distance o in front of mirror 100.
  • object O such as a left hand
  • Light rays reflected by the left hand strike mirror 100, and are reflected, producing an image /, which appears at a distance i behind mirror 100.
  • the left-right symmetry of the image is interchanged compared to the left-right symmetry of the object.
  • the image of a left hand in mirror 100 looks like a right hand to the viewer.
  • an object O such as a left hand undergoes two reversals by plane reflecting surfaces 12 and 14.
  • Exemplary light rays 42 and 44 from left hand object O strike plane reflecting surface 12 at points PI and P2, respectively, from which they are reflected.
  • rays 42 and 44 are reflected at angles equal to the angles at which they strike plane reflecting surface 12. Reflected rays 42' and 44' thus are directed to plane reflecting surface 14, where they strike plane reflecting surface 14 at points P3 and P4, respectively. Rays 42' and 44' are reflected from plane reflecting surface 14 as rays 42" and 44". It is these rays 42" and 44" that are perceived by the eye as image /, which is perceived as a left hand because of the double reversal of the image due to reflection by both plane reflecting surface 12 and plane reflecting surface 14.
  • the mirror may be suitable for use as an inspection mirror to inspect or observe objects which are not easily accessible to the viewer.
  • Inspection mirrors in which an ordinary mirror is mounted at the end of a rod or handle, are well known.
  • a typical example is a dental mirror.
  • the present invention may find utility in an improved dental mirror, for example, in which the image of teeth inspected by the dentist is a true, rather than reverse, image.
  • the mirror according to the present invention can also function as a safety mirror to enable a viewer to see around corners.
  • the mirror according to the present invention may also be suitable as a rear view mirror for certain types of vehicles, where a true image ,to the rear of the vehicle is desired.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un ensemble à miroir (10) qui permet de voir à l'endroit les images d'objets placés en face du miroir. Ce miroir comporte deux surfaces réfléchissantes essentiellement planes (12, 14) disposées de façon à s'entrecroiser entre elles selon un angle d'environ 90°, ces surfaces réfléchissantes étant soutenues par une première paire de parois latérales (26, 28). Une seconde paire de parois latérales (22, 24) sont disposées à peu près à angles droits par rapport à la première paire de parois latérales et définissent entre elles une ouverture de visualisation (32) permettant de voir les images à l'endroit et en même temps de bloquer la vision des images non désirables.
PCT/US1994/002650 1993-03-12 1994-03-11 Miroir refletant les images a l'endroit Ceased WO1994020867A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU64455/94A AU6445594A (en) 1993-03-12 1994-03-11 True image mirror

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3075593A 1993-03-12 1993-03-12
US030,755 1993-03-12
US13450193A 1993-10-08 1993-10-08
US134,501 1993-10-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994020867A1 true WO1994020867A1 (fr) 1994-09-15

Family

ID=26706423

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1994/002650 Ceased WO1994020867A1 (fr) 1993-03-12 1994-03-11 Miroir refletant les images a l'endroit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6445594A (fr)
WO (1) WO1994020867A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996030785A1 (fr) * 1995-03-27 1996-10-03 Juan Sandoval Espinosa Miroir n'inversant pas l'image
US5694260A (en) * 1995-12-11 1997-12-02 Houston; Christopher M. Video visual effects generator
US6270226B1 (en) 2000-05-16 2001-08-07 William G. Taylor Multi-view imaging device
US6322222B1 (en) * 1999-01-28 2001-11-27 Shigeki Kobayashi Pair of foldaway orthogonal mirrors and fabrication method thereof

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4720184A (en) * 1984-02-21 1988-01-19 William Watson Reversing and non-reversing mirror device

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4720184A (en) * 1984-02-21 1988-01-19 William Watson Reversing and non-reversing mirror device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996030785A1 (fr) * 1995-03-27 1996-10-03 Juan Sandoval Espinosa Miroir n'inversant pas l'image
US5694260A (en) * 1995-12-11 1997-12-02 Houston; Christopher M. Video visual effects generator
US6322222B1 (en) * 1999-01-28 2001-11-27 Shigeki Kobayashi Pair of foldaway orthogonal mirrors and fabrication method thereof
US6270226B1 (en) 2000-05-16 2001-08-07 William G. Taylor Multi-view imaging device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6445594A (en) 1994-09-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6305809B1 (en) Mirror with multiple selectable magnifications
CA2173624C (fr) Systeme d'affichage binoculaire monte sur la tete
US5682173A (en) Image Display device
TWM267463U (en) Mirror with built in display
JPH10507534A (ja) 小型画像表示システムにおける光行路延長器
US5442488A (en) Magnified mirror
JPH10246865A5 (fr)
US5173720A (en) Eyewear field-of-view changer
US3970369A (en) Corrective makeup and employing prescription lenses
US4720184A (en) Reversing and non-reversing mirror device
CN207216159U (zh) 一种手机屏幕放大装置
WO1994020867A1 (fr) Miroir refletant les images a l'endroit
US4464015A (en) Binocular stereoscopic viewers
JP2012518807A (ja) ミラーデバイス
US2558848A (en) Mirror and method of making same
US4896956A (en) Spectacles with single pivot folded rear vision elements
JPH02144240A (ja) 大型車のバックミラー
US6352347B1 (en) Viewing direction modifying device and method
WO1996030785A1 (fr) Miroir n'inversant pas l'image
JP3049940U (ja) 正像を視認し得る鏡体
KR940006774Y1 (ko) 뒷모습을 비춰 볼 수 있는 거울셋트
JPH0438908A (ja) 左右反転鏡姿見
Starkey et al. A technique for making realistic three-dimensional images of objects
US4826307A (en) Free-standing spectacles with mirror
US5886817A (en) Method and arrangement for creating a three-dimensional effect

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AU BR CA FI HU JP KR NO NZ RU

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA