With Viewing Mirror Patents (Class 362/135)
  • Patent number: 4916430
    Abstract: A backup sideview mirror light for a motor vehicle is provided and consists of a housing that has a rearwardly facing opening mounted to underside of a sideview mirror which is adapted for attachment to a door of the motor vehicle, with an auxiliary lamp mounted within the housing. A reflector mirror and a transparent lens each cover a portion of the opening. Reflected light beams from the auxiliary lamp cause the reflector mirror to serve as an auxiliary backup warning light while direct light beams from the auxiliary lamp coming through the transparent lens are directed rearwardly to illuminate rear fender of the motor vehicle to help driver to see at night when parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventors: Thuan D. Vu, George Spector
  • Patent number: 4910648
    Abstract: A visor mounting bracket includes a lamp housing integrally formed with the visor mounting bracket and a lens covering a lamp socket and lamp mounted therein with an electrical supply line extending through the bracket for connection to the vehicle's electrical power supply system. Such construction provides a unique dual functioning structure which provides desirable interior lighting for a vehicle at a unique location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. Van Order, Kenneth D. Kreuze
  • Patent number: 4909618
    Abstract: A mirror system for enabling viewing of a baby mounted on the rear seat of the car while facing rearwardly by the normal rear view mirror. A second mirror is provided on the rear shelf of the rear seat and a baby's safety carrier is mounted on the rear seat of the car, which safety carrier is arranged so that the baby views the rear window and second mirror. Illuminating means for vehicles without factory installed overhead interior lights may be provided on the second mirror to illuminate the baby's face during night driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Richard A. Gardner
  • Patent number: 4884177
    Abstract: A torch has a tray (1) for batteries and a mounting for a bulb (19). A cover (3,17) fits over this, confining the batteries and having a hole (20) into which the bulb projects. The material of the cover causes light to travel through it to a diffuser (21) which illuminates a zone out of the direct beam of the bulb. A mirror (16) fixed to the tray or to the cover adjacent the diffuser may be used with the diffused light as the sole source of illumination. The cover may have discontinuities elsewhere (18) which will show graphics or pictorial design illuminated by light diffused through the cover. The cover may be of J form, the hooked portion having the bulb hole (20) centrally and the diffuser (21) at its extremity, while the long limb (18) may carry the discontinuities. A switch for the torch is provided by a slider (8) captive to a side of the tray (1) and co-operative with the cover (3) to deform that side as it moves, to make and break an internal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Burke C. Pullman
  • Patent number: 4884176
    Abstract: A lighted tri-view medicine cabinet which may be mounted on a wall surface. Three access doors are provided to the cabinet interior, each of which has an outer mirrored surface so that the two outer doors may be pivoted relative to the central door for facilitating full face reflective viewing. A soft diffused light is provided about the entire peripheral surface of the cabinet, such that the aesthetic appearance of the cabinet is enhanced as well as providing a source of soft diffused light which may be reflectively applied to the face of a person using the cabinet by the positioning of the outer reflective surface of the cabinet doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Pace Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Palka, Robert B. Rekart
  • Patent number: 4809140
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle sun visor comprising an illuminated mirror (2) and a sliding panel (6) to cover the mirror when the mirror is not in use. According to the invention the dimensions of the sliding panel are such that the lighting units (3,4) are covered by the panel when in its position covering the mirror (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventor: Mats Jonsas
  • Patent number: 4803602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sun visor for vehicles, which is provided with an illuminated mirror. The invention relates in particular to simplified manufacture of such sun visors. According to the invention, the mirror unit consists only of a mirror plate (1) with openings (2,3), of units (4) consisting of lamp holders (6) and prisms (5), said units being pressed into said openings, and of contact means for supplying electric current to the lamp of the illuminating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventor: E. Gunnar Svensson
  • Patent number: 4792884
    Abstract: An illuminated vanity mirror visor includes a light-transmitting housing which allows the utilization of a single light source such as a bulb which can be located behind the mirror to transmit light to opposite sides of the mirror through integral lenses for directing the light outwardly for use of the mirror in low ambient light conditions. The light-transmitting housing includes opposed spaced and curved light collecting surfaces at legs which extend towards opposite ends of the housing and terminate in integrally molded lens. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the light source mounted between the facing spaced surfaces of the light-transmitting housing is rotatably mounted and includes multi-colored surfaces such that the color temperature of the light can be varied to provide different lighting effects for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suman, Wesley D. Mersman
  • Patent number: 4791537
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory assembly is disclosed for mounting on an interior panel, such as on a visor, for example, and includes an accessory devce, such as a vanity mirror assembly, interconnected with the visor or other vehicle panel at a generally fixed location thereon. A preferred laterally sliding accessory door is interconnected with the visor or other interior panel for selective lateral movement between a closed position wherein the accessory device is substantially covered and an open position wherein the accessory device is substantially exposed. Preferably, a switch is provided for electrically energizing a light or other electrical component in response to movement of the accessory door from its closed to its open position, and a manually operable override feature is also preferably provided in the event that the user wishes to disable the switch and prevent such energization in response to the opening movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Irvin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Fisher, Mark Lobanoff, Michael P. Brennan
  • Patent number: 4764852
    Abstract: A vanity mirror mounted to a vehicular visor via a mirror frame of electrically insulating material has a pair of illuminating lamps on its opposite sides. The lamps have their opposite polarity terminals electrically coupled to, and mechanically supported by, a pair of sheet-metal power conductors and a pair of sheet-metal ground conductors. The sheet-metal power conductors are electrically interconnected and coupled to a power line via an on-off switch. The sheet-metal ground conductors are secured, each by a threaded fastener element of electrically conducting material, to a visor frame of conducting material which is to be held at ground potential. The fastener elements serve the purpose of both grounding the required lamp terminals and mounting the complete vanity mirror assembly to the visor. No wiring is required for grounding the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Koito Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toranosuke Sakuma
  • Patent number: 4761719
    Abstract: A dental lighting device arranged such that the light from a light source is reflected by a reflection plate and is cast into the inside of the mouth, wherein a mirror member used to look at the inside the mouth is provided in combination with a lighting device component so that the mirror member can take a mirror use posture where the surface of the mirror member is almost perpendicular to the light beam from the reflection plate at least when the mirror member is used. The mirror member of the lighting device can also take a mirror non-use posture where the mirror surface does not intercept the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Morita Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kosaku Yamada
  • Patent number: 4760503
    Abstract: A visor assembly including a pivoted cover for a vanity mirror which includes camming surfaces on the pivot socket for urging the cover between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the visor is selectively illuminated by the operation of a cover controlled switch. In another embodiment, the mirror and cover assembly is snap fitted within the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. VandenBerge, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Patent number: 4752863
    Abstract: A light apparatus consisting of a cover, light source and activation device provides for greater illumination in the area of a wall mounted mirror. The cover is pivotable between a closed and open position. When in the open position the activation device will cause illumination of the light source. When the cover is in the closed position, the activation device will turn off the light source. In the closed position, the cover hides the light source and activation device from view. The light source may be either mounted on or movable with the cover or may be mounted stationarily within a housing. The light apparatus may be mounted beneath a mirror or on each side of the mirror. Additionally, the light apparatus may be built into the wall or may be mounted on the wall upon which the mirror is mounted. This light apparatus provides for additional illumination which may be used in shaving, applying makeup, or any other task involving a wall mounted mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Inventor: Victor E. Parrott
  • Patent number: 4751618
    Abstract: A lighted automobile vanity mirror for mounting on an automobile sun visor has a switch for operating the illumination only when the vanity mirror is in the vertical position. This switch is a ball contact switch which rolls from an inoperative horizontal position of the vanity mirror to an operative vertical position where gravity draws the ball switch into contact with the circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Rally Accessories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc R. Iacovelli
  • Patent number: 4744645
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly, which can be lighted, and which can be built into a sun visor for an automobile or other motor vehicle. Electrical components including a heat-dissipative component are screen-printed on a polymeric film substrate mounted adhesively to the back face of a glass mirror, which serves as a heat sink for such components. Shards of the mirror tend to be adhesively retained by the substrate if the mirror happens to shatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4745528
    Abstract: A lighted travel mirror adapted to alternatively stand alone or be hand held including a housing with a pair of side lights, a reflective surface on one surface, a side having a lower edge, and an elongate recess opening to the housing along the lower edge. The recess includes slots upon opposing sides to receive a base support slidingly and frictionally mounted in the recess, and the support includes pivot arms at its inner end with the pivot arms being operatively engaged with the slots. The result is a mirror with a base support which can be alternatively stored within the recess or withdrawn from the recess and pivoted so as to form a stable T-shaped base for the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne D. Dieterle
  • Patent number: 4710856
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly comprising a mirror mounted on the front face of a mirror support, sometimes referred to as the mirror body proper. A cover is mounted on the mirror body proper for sliding movement from a closed position overlying and concealing the mirror to an open position exposing the mirror for use. The mirror is illuminated by one or more light bulbs and an electric circuit housed in the mirror body proper. The circuit is closed when the cover is in open position and is opened when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Chi Kuan Manufactory Limited
    Inventor: Kee K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 4683522
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a vehicle sun visor having a recess in one of its surfaces and a housing in the recess where the bottom of the housing is a trough having a detent in one of its side walls and carrying a light source and an operating switch for the light source. The top is a insert which includes a detent clip to clip it to the bottom part. An opening in the top part provides access to a switch for the light source in the bottom part. A mirror is in the top part. An illumination window in the top part permits light to exit from the bottom part. There may be a point radiator for light at the illumination window. A displaceable cover over the mirror is spring-biased to translate open over the surface of the mirror to expose the mirror. There may be a point radiator for light at the illumination window. A spring-loaded knob connected with the cover holds the same closed and when the knob is operated, it releases the cover to be biased open by the rubber band spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Klaus-Peter Kaiser
  • Patent number: 4652982
    Abstract: An illuminated vanity mirror package includes guide and support members which allow the package to translate and rotate to a variety of use positions. In a preferred embodiment, the package is mounted within a recess of a vehicle visor and can be reversed between flush-mounted stored and use positions as well as intermediate use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Carl W. Flowerday
  • Patent number: 4648011
    Abstract: An insertable mirror package for a visor which includes at least one panel defining a mirror frame and integrally including a lateral extension which defines at least in part guide means for a sliding cover extending and movable in a plane parallel to and in front of the mirror for selective movement between a first position covering the mirror and a second position uncovering the mirror. In the preferred embodiment, lamps are positioned behind lenses mounted adjacent the mirror in the mirror frame and a switch is mounted to cooperate with a cam on the cover such that as the cover is moved to an open position, the lamps are illuminated to provide illumination for the mirror for use in low, ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Carey J. Boote, Craig Robbins, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Patent number: 4623955
    Abstract: The ano-genital self-viewing device is used in conjunction with a conventional toilet to permit a person to conveniently view his or her own ano-genital region while seated in the conventional manner. The device has a fluorescent lamp with batteries, supporting arms to contain the device below the user and mirrors, one planar to reflect normal images and another concave to reflect magnified images from the illuminated ano-genital region upwards. The arms and mirrors fold compactly onto the base of the device to facilitate transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Inventor: Luis A. Santini
  • Patent number: 4591956
    Abstract: A sun visor for an automotive vehicle having a swivel bearing at one upper longitudinal edge region. The swivel bearing includes a non-metallic, plastic bearing part having a bearing borehole for the metallic sun-visor shaft and a parallel plug opening for an electric contact element. The electric contact element in the plug opening is connected to one of the wires from the light source which illuminates the mirror on the sun-visor body. A passage channel between the bearing borehole and the plug opening has a contact projection on the contact element biased through it to project into the bearing borehole and contact the shaft therein. The shaft has a recess extending partially around it at a region along it such that the contact projection will or will not make electric contact with the visor shaft depending upon the swivel position of the visor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Majchrzak
  • Patent number: 4561044
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel is hinged on a body comprising a case provided with an electric circuit therein. On the case, a mirror is provided for watching an image on the liquid crystal display panel by the light passing through the display panel. An electroluminescence device is detachably provided in a receptacle in the case. The electroluminescence device can be positioned at a position adjacent the liquid crystal display panel so as to light the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ogura, Toshihide Hirohara, Masaaki Matsunaga, Kiyoshi Kamiya, Tetsuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4491899
    Abstract: A vehicle visor having a mirror and cover includes a body member with one of a socket or pivot axle for receiving, in a snap-in fashion, the cover which includes the other of a socket or axle and pivotally moves with respect to the body member between closed and open positions. A tension spring extends from the body member to the cover at a position remote from the pivot axis of the cover to provide an over-center spring for alternately urging the cover toward open or closed positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the cover is employed in connection with an illuminated mirror in which the cover also has a recess for holding an electrical contact which is press-fit into the recess and includes an extending portion which engages a fixed electrical contact for applying power to lamps associated with the illuminated mirror when the cover is moved toward an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis J. Fleming
  • Patent number: 4479172
    Abstract: A mirror assembly comprising a shallow dish-like housing containing at least one pair of elongate conductors together defining an electrically-conductive seating for at least one electric lamp to be mounted therebetween within the housing, the conductors extending with the interior of the housing to terminal connectors, whereby connection to an electrical supply externally of the housing can be effected, a frame or bezel detachably secured around the periphery of the housing and defining a first aperture closed by a mirror facing outwardly of the housing and at least one second aperture containing a lens through which light from the or each lamp, when energized, will be so directed as to illuminate a region in front of the mirror. The mirror is spaced from the base of the housing and the rear surface of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Inventor: John Connor
  • Patent number: 4475100
    Abstract: A side rearview mirror of a vehicle is provided with an indicator light. A margin is provided with an indicator light to aid in driving safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Inventor: Ching-Jeng Duh
  • Patent number: 4443831
    Abstract: A portable auxiliary light having a case, a battery positioned within the case, and a light house on the end of the case. The light also has bellows interattaching the case and the light house and a related circuitry positioned in the case. The method for lighting includes locating the light behind a rear view mirror such that a recess in the case straddles the support post of the rear view mirror, and securing the light to the mirror. A switch on the case is activated to furnish lighting to the inside of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Inventors: Timothy D. Godfrey, Rodger L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4411467
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a sun visor for an automotive vehicle wherein the foamed body of the sun visor is surrounded by a covering layer of flexible, foil material. The sun visor body has a recess defined in it for holding a mirror or the housing that supports the mirror. The section of the covering layer overlapping the recess is more expansible than the remainder of the covering layer. To make this section more expansible, it is punched with holes defining a lattice of the material, and various shapes holes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Cziptschirsch, Klaus-Peter Kaiser, Gerhard Zwirner
  • Patent number: 4353592
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a sun visor having an illuminated mirror supported in a housing in a recesss in the body of the sun visor. A light source is located behind the mirror and it has exposed contacts. A metal heat insulating plate is located between the light source and the mirror and the metal plate has an anodized, electrically non-conductive surface facing into the housing preventing short circuiting of the light source if the contacts touch the metal plate. The metal plate is deformed to produce beads projecting forward into contact with the mirror, thereby defining an insulating air space between the mirror and the metal plate. A translucent frame in the housing supports the mirror and permits emergence of light around the mirror. The frame includes clip connections for holding the mirror and the metal plate and for holding the frame to the sun visor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Cziptschirsch
  • Patent number: 4333128
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a spheroidal concave reflector is described for imparting vision to the aphakic eye without the use of a transparent external lens or aperture. A critical radius for the reflector between about 41/2" and 91/2" is defined, and associated apparatus for the convenient illumination and inspection of the eye is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Inventor: Francis D. Moore
  • Patent number: 4314314
    Abstract: An illuminated mirror device is provided as an aid to application of cosmetics. The mirror device provides two mirror-carrying wings that are pivotable between an open planar position and a closed, cassette-like, construction that conveniently provides the mirror device with character as a travel appliance. Pivoting of the wings is about a translucent tube that surrounds an electrically energized source of illumination, and which tube transmits light to the wings which, by reason of their character, guide light therethrough to the free edges of the wings from where illumination is directed toward the object that is to be seen in the mirrors. The wings are provided with inclined border surfaces from which light is reflected toward the object to be illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Inventor: Otto Hubner
  • Patent number: 4253164
    Abstract: A multi-purpose seismic transducer includes a first seismic sensor having a first transfer function. A transfer-function shaping filter is coupled to the output of the first seismic sensor. The filter is adjustable to shape the first transfer function to match a plurality of different second transfer functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Western Geophysical Co. of America
    Inventor: Ernest M. Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4241383
    Abstract: A cosmetic mirror comprising a mirror housing having a centrally-located aperture therein, lighting means mounted within the housing laterally adjacent the aperture, a mirror assembly comprising two back-to-back mirrors pivotally mounted within the aperture, a rotatable support stand attachment secured to the housing, comprising a rotatable cylindrical support bar having a center aperture section therein, end aperture sections therein, a first set of meshing gears within the end aperture sections, spring means operatively communicating at one end thereof with the meshing gears and at the opposite end thereof with the end aperture sections of the rotatable support bar for outwardly biasing the meshing gears in the end aperture sections, and a second set of meshing sections fixed to the mirror housing at the base thereof or fixed to guide rails slidably secured within said mirror housing at the base thereof for contacting the first set of meshing gears in a meshing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Inventor: John W. Shea
  • Patent number: 4227241
    Abstract: A visor assembly incorporating a padded visor provided with a build-in lighted vanity mirror. The visor assembly also includes a padded cover which when opened uncovers the mirror and also actuates a lighting system. The lighting system then illuminates an object such as an observer of a map with a light intensity that can manually be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Konrad H. Marcus
  • Patent number: 4084085
    Abstract: A woman's handbag is adapted to have a mirror with side illumination means attached to the undersurface of an outer flap which is an integral part of the handbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Inventor: Sunyong P. Kim