US3772508A

US3772508A - Toilet mirror

Info

Publication number: US3772508A
Application number: US00164320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zapater F Solana; Zapater P Solana; Zapater J Solana
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-07-21
Filing date: 1971-07-20
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13
Also published as: FR2103074A5; AU3146271A

Abstract

A toilet mirror, such as a shaving mirror, includes a plain mirror is mounted on the front of a hollow casing. There are apertures in that front around the mirror which have deflecting fins for directing an air flow from inside the hollow casing toward a face situated before the mirror. The casing contains an electric fan and also has further apertures in another wall of the casing so that when driven the fan creates an air flow into the casing through the latter apertures and out through those beside the mirror to cool the face and reduce perspiration while shaving. A lamp, connecting plug for an electric razor, motor for the fan and a support for a razor may also be provided on the casing.

Description

United States Patent Zapater et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 TOILET MIRROR inventors: Francisco Solana Zapater; Pedro Solana Zapater; Jose Solana Zapater, all of 581 Avenida Jose Antonia, Barcelona, Spain Filed: July 20, 1971 Appl. N0.: 164,320

Foreign Application Priority Data July 21, 1970 Spain 160838 July 21, 1970 Spain 160839 US. Cl. 240/4.2, 312/224 Int. Cl. F21v 33/00 Field of Search 240/4.1, 4.2, 6.4 S, I

240/2 BB, 2 V; 132/79 B, 79 G, 80 A, 83, 83 A, 83 E; 350/305; 312/224; 35/58; 98/1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1931 Brown 312 242 x Williams et a1. 312/224 Pabst .1 312/224 X Primary Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Att0rneyHarold D. Steinberg et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A toilet mirror, such as a shaving mirror, includes a plain mirror is mounted on the front of a hollow casing. There are apertures in that front around the mirror which have deflecting fins for directing an air flow from inside the hollow casing toward a face situated before the mirror. The casing contains an electric fan and also has further apertures in another wall of the casing so that when driven the fan creates an air flow into the casing through the latter apertures and out through those beside the mirror to cool the face and reduce perspiration while shaving. A lamp, connecting plug for an electric razor, motor for the fan and a support for a razor may also be provided on the casing.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED MW 13 I973 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR5 HAM/550 MAM Z WA BY ZAPAIZA TOILET MIRROR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toilet mirror incorporating a series of improvements which may render it more practical.

As is known, one of the outstanding disadvantages of shaving with an electric razor is the presence of perspiration on the face and under the beard. In fact, the transpiration of the skin over which the electric razor is required to travel makes the sliding of the razor difficult and is furthermore unpleasant for the user. When the ambient temperature is moderately warm, a shaver will readily perspire during shaving, in as much as any lights which it is conventional to arrange near the users face give off additional heat and the same applies also to the razor, as the latter heats up.

With a view to overcoming such disadvantages, the toilet mirror forming the subject of the, present invention has been conceived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a toilet mirror consisting of a hollow casing carrying the mirror proper on its front face, the casing being provided with a lower widened portion having support legs and within which is mounted an electric fan disposed before a plurality of air flow apertures formed in the lower face of the casing, the latter being formed with a plurality of air flow apertures located on both sides of the mirror and provided with fins for deflecting the air flow which they orientate towards the users face. An air current is set up by the fan, in through the lower apertures and out through those around the mirror. The casing may have an upper screen under which is a luminous tube. It is also provided with plug and connection means and with a support for the electric shaver.

In a variant, the mirror proper is disposed on the front face and in the interior of the casing there is arranged an electric motor driving the fan through the agency of'appropriate transmission means. The casing is provided with rear apertures for the inflow of air and with apertures located on both sides of the mirror and provided with deflecting fins orientating the air outflow supplied by the fan towards the face of the person situated before the mirror.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of what is described in the present specification, the specification is accompanied by a plurality of drawings in which, purely by way of example, there are shown some practical modes of carrying the subject of the invention into effect.

In the said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mirror; 4

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective detail of the upper portion of the mirror of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, in longitudinal section, the mirror of FIG. 1 in position for use;

I FIG. 4 is a view in cross-section of the mirror of FIG. 1 again in position for use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the mirror;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the casing of the mirror of FIG. 5, the mirror having been removed; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are each views in longitudinal section of the mirror of FIG. 5 in position for use, and in crosssection, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIAL EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. lto 4, these figures show a toilet mirror having a hollow casing 1 provided with an upper screen 2 under which is a lighting tube 3. Underneath, the casing 1 has a widened portion 4 provided with legs 5. disposed in the said widened portion is an electric fan 6, opposite to a groove 7 formed in the lower face of the casing. Secured to the front face of the casing is a mirror 8 and on both sides of the latter there are a plurality of apertures 9 in the casing provided with internal deflecting fins 10 for orientating a flow of air expelled by operation of the fan.

The casing has a rear aperture 11 for suspending the toilet mirror from a hook or the like when such is required, a support 12 for an electric razor, a plug piece 13 for connecting the shaver, a switch 14 for the starting up of the fan 6 and a further switch (not shown) for lighting up the tube 3.

On starting up the fan 6, there is set up an air flow which passes in through the lower aperture 7 and is directed out through the lateral apertures 9 by the deflecting fins 10 which orientate the flow of air towards the face of a person situated before the mirror, in such manner as to keep the skin cool and prevent perspiring.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a variant of the preceding embodiment, comprising a hollow casing 21 having a projecting upper plate 23 below which is a lighting'tube 24. Disposed within the casing is an electric motor 25 driving a fan 26 through the agency of a transmission means 27.

The casing 21 is formed with a plurality of apertures 28 in its rear face for the entry of air, whereas there are formed in the front face and on both sides of a mirror 22 two apertures 29 across which extend many deflecting fins 30 which are inclined at varying angles to deflect the flow of air towards the face of a person situated before the mirror.

The casing 21 is provided with a lateral support 31 for a razor, a plug base 32 for connecting an electric razor, a switch 33 for lighting up the lamp and a further switch (not shown) for starting up the fan.

With this mirror, shaving can be much more convenient and this applies not only to shaving but also to any other supplementary toilet operation which can be performed before the mirror, such as for example the application of make-up by a lady.

Thus, it will be seen that with the structure described above the casing l of FIGS. 1-4 and the casing 21 of FIGS. 5-8 form a support means supporting the mirror 8 of FIG. 1 and the mirror 22 of FIG. 5, respectively, in a generally upright position enabling the user to see his reflection in the mirror when the user situates his head at a location in front of the mirror, as indicated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8. The

fans

6 and 26, respectively illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, together with the

fins

10 and 30 of FIGS. 3 and 7 form an airflow means operatively connected with the support means and mirror for creating a flow of air from the space behind the mirror to the above location at the front of the mirror so as to reduce the extent to which the user perspires. In both embodiments the casing defines with the mirror the hollow space behind the mirror from which. the airflow means directs the air around peripheral edge portions of the mirror to the location where the head of the user is situated. The casing has a rear wall situated behind the mirror and a bottom wall situated at least as low as the bottom edge of the mirror, and in the case of FIG. 3 it is this bottom wall while in the case of FIG. 7 it is the rear wall which is formed with openings through which air is drawn by the fan of the airflow means into the hollow space behind the mirror and then directed out of this hollow space to the location in front of the mirror where the head of the user is located, the air being directed to this latter location by way of the

fins

10 and 30 arranged along opposed side edges of the mirror and supported by the casing for deflecting the air which issues from the space in the casing around the opposed side edges of the mirror to the location where the head of the user is situated. Of course, in the case of FIG. 3 where air is drawn in through the bottom wall of the casing the casing is provided with feet 5 for situating the bottom wall of a support surface engaged by the feet 5.

In addition, the structure of the invention includes such features as the

illuminating means

3, 24, carried by the casing over the mirror for directing light downwardly across the front of the mirror and the

means

12, 31 carried by a wall of the casing at the exterior of the latter for supporting an implement, such as a razor, which is thus conveniently situated for use by the operator.

As is apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4 as well as FIGS. 7 and 8, the location where the user situates his head is at the same elevation as the mirror approximately at an axis normal to and extending from the center of the mirror, and the airflow means directs the air from behind the mirror toward at least part of the peripheral edge thereof, with

fins

10 or 30 forming deflecting means to deflect the air at the peripheral edge toward this latter axis. In this way the air is directed into contact with the face of the user whose head is situated at the above location.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device to be used in connection with operations such as shaving, applying cosmetics, and the like, a mirror having a peripheral edge, support means operatively connected with said mirror for supporting the latter in a generally upright position enabling the user to see his reflection in the mirror when the user situates his head at a location in front of and at the same elevation as the mirror approximately atan axis normal to and extending from the center of the mirror, said support means coacting with said mirror for providing a free space behind the mirror, airflow means operatively connected with said support means and mirror for creating a flow of air from the space behind the mirror toward at least part of the peripheral edge thereof, and

deflecting means at said peripheral edge for deflecting the air therefrom inwardly across the front of the mirror toward said axis to said location in front of the mirror so as to reduce the extent to which the user perspires during such operations.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said mirror has said peripheral edge formed by opposed top and bottom edges as well as opposed side edges of the mirror and wherein said support means includes a hollow casing carrying said mirror and defining with the latter said free space which is behind the mirror, said casing having a rear wall spaced behind the mirror and a bottom wall located at an elevation at least as low as the bottom edge of the mirror, at least one of said walls being formed with an opening through which air may enter into the interior of the casing to the space behind the mirror, and said airflow means including a fan within said casing for drawing air in through said wall opening to the space behind the mirror, said casing defining with at least part of the peripheral edge of the mirror a gap through which air issues from the space behind the mirror toward said location.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said rear wall is formed with the said opening through which air enters into the free space behind the mirror.

4. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said bottom wall is formed with said opening through which air enters into the space behind the mirror, said casing carrying feet for supporting said casing on a surface above which said bottom wall is spaced.

5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said deflecting means includes deflecting fins situated in said gap and operatively connected with said mirror and casing for directing air issuing through said gap toward said location. i

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said casing defines with said mirror a pair of elongated gaps respectively extending along said opposed side edges of said mirror and said deflecting means includes deflecting fins distributed along both of said gaps for directing air issuing from the space behind the mirror around the opposed side edges thereof toward said location.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means carries at an elevation at least as high as the top edge of the mirror an illuminating means for directing light downwardly in front of the mirror between the latter and said location.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means carries at an exterior wall portion thereof a means for supporting an implement.

9. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said support means carries an electrical connection for an electric razor.

Claims

1. In a device to be used in connection with operations such as shaving, applying cosmetics, and the like, a mirror having a peripheral edge, support means operatively connected with said mirror for supporting the latter in a generally upright position enabling the user to see his reflection in the mirror when the user situates his head at a location in front of and at the same elevation as the mirror approximately at an axis normal to and extending from the center of the mirror, said support means coacting with said mirror for providing a free space behind the mirror, airflow means operatively connected with said support means and mirror for creating a flow of air from the space behind the mirror toward at least part of the peripheral edge thereof, and deflecting means at said peripheral edge for deflecting the air therefrom inwardly across the front of the mirror toward said axis to said location in front of the mirror so as to reduce the extent to which the user perspires during such operations.

5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said deflecting means includes deflecting fins situated in said gap and operatively connected with said mirror and casing for directing air issuing through said gap toward said location.