US3799489A

US3799489A - Mirror arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3799489A
Application number: US00292627A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Goerditz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-27
Filing date: 1972-09-27
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26

Abstract

A bracket is mountable on a support adjacent a mirror provided thereon and has an upright rod over which a mounting block which is provided on one end of a boom and which has a passage dimensioned to accommodate the rod, can be slipped. The free end of the boom has a hole extending transversely to the elongation of the latter, and an elongated arm is shiftably received in this hole, so as to depend from the boom downwardly in parallelism with the rod. The lower end of the arm carries the pivoted mirror.

Description

United States Patent [191 Goerditz Mar. 26, 1974 1 MIRROR ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventor: Hans Goerditz, 156 Little Tor Rd.

South, New City, NY. 10956 [22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 292,627

[52] US. Cl. 248/480, 248/285 [51] Int. Cl A47g l/24 [58] Field of Search 248/103, 125, 285, 287,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,250 12/1898 Clark 248/287 X 966,077 8/1910 Bonta 248/296 X 2.065.317 12/1936 Knotschke 248/327 755.668 3/1904 Hurxthal 248/295 X 763,380 6/1904 Eble 350/305 X 2.915.944 12/1959 Butts 248/480 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 812,577 9/1951 Germany 350/305 553,615 5/1923 France 248/103 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A bracket is mountable on a support adjacent a mirror provided thereon and has an upright rod over which a mounting block which is provided on one end of a boom and which has a passage dimensioned to accommodate the rod, can be slipped. The free end of the boom has a hole extending transversely to the elongation of the latter, and an elongated arm is shiftably received in this hole, so as to depend from the boom downwardly in parallelism with the rod. The lower end of the arm carries the pivoted mirror.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAR 2 6 I974 SIEET 10F 2 PATENTEDHARZS 1924 3,799,489

sum

2 or 2 MIRROR ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates generally to a novel article of manufacture, and more particularly to a novel mirror arrangement.

In many instances it is necessary or desirable to be able to inspect the back of the head of a person. Although various reasons exist, including medical reasons, what comes most immediately to mind in this connection is the desire to be able to inspect a female coiffure from all sides, including the back of the head.

The prior art has attempted to provide arrangements which afford this possibility, including the use of tripartite mirrors wherein two mirrors are pivoted to opposite lateral edges of a third one located between them. However, this still does not provide an entirely clear view of the rear of the head of a user, aside from the fact that such arrangements require a relatively large amount of space which is often not available. Also, they are of course highly succeptible to breakage because as a rule they cannot be removed from the position where they are located, being thus succeptible to breakage by playing children, during housecleaning or the like.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel mirror arrangement of the type outlined above.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a novel arrangement which can be readily adjusted for various requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a novel mirror arrangement which requires little or no space when not in use.

In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, briefly stated, in a novel mirror arrangement comprising a bracket mountable on a support adjacent a mirror provided thereon and having an elongated guide portion which is vertically oriented when the bracket is so mounted. A boom is provided, having two spaced end portions one of which has mounting means provided thereon, the mounting means serving the purpose of mounting the boom on the guide portions so as to extend transversely therefrom and to be arrestably displaceable along the same. An arm is pivoted to the other of the end portions and extends in substantial parallelism with the guide portion, carrying at its lower region a mirror which is pivoted to the arm.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention showing how the novel arrangement can be placed out of the way against a supporting structure on which it is mounted when the arrangement is not being used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of FIG. 1 when in use;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary exploded perspective show ing details of the bracket of the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 3B is a fragmentary section of the same bracket; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view on an enlarged scale, showing the connection between the boom and the arm of the arrangement in FIGS. 1-3.

Discussing the drawing in detail, as it relates to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, it will be seen that a portion of a wall or other support S has been illustrated in FIG. 1. Provided on this wall or support S is a mirror M, The mirror arrangement according to the present invention is to make it possible to view the back of the head of a user in conjunction with the mirror M for which purpose the novel arrangement has the mirror M It will be seen that the arrangement according to the present invention has a bracket 1 which can be mounted on the support S adjacent the mirror M for instance by means of the diagrammatically illustrated screws shown in FIG. 2. The bracket is substantially C- shaped or U-shaped (see FIG. 2) and carries on its arms a rod-shaped guide portion 2 which may be solid or tubular and which, when the bracket 1 is mounted on the support S, has a vertical orientation as shown. Reference numeral 1a and reference numeral lb respectively designate the upper and lower arms of the bracket 1 (see FIG. 3), and it will be seen that the upper arm 1a has a cutout 1a whose cross-section first converges and then diverges in direction from the free end of the arm 1a. The rod-shaped guide portion 2 is provided with a circumferential groove 2a to reduce its diameter, and the dimension of the groove 2b is such that when the groove is in alignment with the narrowest portion of the recess 111', it can slip into and out of the recess through this narrowest portion. The lower end of the rod-shaped guide portion 2 is designated with reference numeral 2b and extends through a hole in the arm lb (see FIG. 3) into a bore or other passage 13 provided in a mount 12 (for instance a block of synthetic plastic material or the like) which is the illustrated embodiment is located beneath the arm 1b and is secured thereto in suitable manner, as by the use of screws or the like (not shown). A spring 14 is located in the recess 13 and engages the lower end 2b, biasing the guide portion 2 in upward direction. Thus, when the guide portion 2 is to be introduced into the recess la, a slight downward pressure is exerted on it to bring the recess 2a (which under the upward urging of the spring 14 is located slightly above the general plane of the recess la) into this general plane whereupon the guide portion 2 is moved so that the reduced-diameter portion thereof having the recess 2a enters into the recess 1a. When the downward pressure is thereupon released, the spring 14 urges the guide portion 2 upwardly until its normal-diameter portion located downwardly of the recess 2a enters into the inner portion of the recess la, which inner portion has a dimension corresponding to that of the normal diameter of the guide portion 2. The latter is thus releasably locked in the recess la. To disengage the guide portion 2, the operation is reversed.

The upper end of the guide portion 2 extends up wardly beyond the arm la in the illustrated embodiment, and a mounting element 2, for instance an upper block of synthetic plastic material or the like, can be cured to or embedded in it, with the inner diameter of the tubular section being just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guide portion 2. When it is not desired to be able to move the mounting element 3 downwardly longitudinally of the guide portion 2, then the mounting element can simply be placed onto the upwardly extending end of the guide portion 2 above the arm la. Thus, the arrangement may be so mounted that a person of average height can use it without having to move element 3 downwardly. On the other hand, a user may wish to inspect, for instance, the back of her dress, or a child may wish to use the arrangement. Then, the location of element 3 as aforedescribed may not be satisfactory and downward movement of the element may be required. In such a case, the guide portion 2 is first released from the recess la as discussed above, the mounting element 3 is placed onto it, and thereupon the guide portion 2 is again engaged in the recess 1a. Because of the slight play possible between the

elements

2 and 3 due to the slightly greater diameter of the passage in the element 3, the longitudinal axis of this passage can extend skew with respect to the longitudinal axis of the element 2, and when this takes place, frictional engagement will result between the two in a sense providing a self-locking action. Thus, the element 3 can be arrested under such circumstances anywhere along the length of the guide portion 2.

The element 3 is provided at one end of a boom which may be of one piece and of hollow tubular configuration, but which could also be solid. In the illustrated embodiment the boom is shown as being composed of two (more could be provided) sections 5 and 6, one of which is telescoped into the other. This arrangement makes it possible to increase or decrease the length of the boom 5 as desired. Thus, the distance between the mirrors M and M can always remain the same. or it can be varied as desired. Of course, it is possible to provide a suitable detent arrangement which prevents complete disengagement of the sections 6 from one another.

The free end of the boom Sbis provided with a hole therethrough (see FIG. 4), designated with reference numeral 5a and extending transversely to the elongation of the boom. Extending through this hole 5a is an arm 7 which may be of solid cross section and has at its upper end a curved portion 8 at the free end of which there is provided a ball-shaped portion 9 or similar means preventing it from sliding through the opening 5a. The portion 9 could be made removable, that is it could for instance be threaded onto the portion 8, to facilitate insertion of the arm 7 through the hole whereupon the portion 9 would then be put in place. It is desired that the arm 7 be slidable in the hole 5a but be capable of arresting in any desired location. According to the invention this is achieved by having at least the free end ofthe boom 5, 6 be hollow as shown in FIG. 4. Located within this free end is a friction brake arrangement having a first portion of the illustrated or another configuration, which is located at the inward side of the hole 5a, being biased into the hole by a spring 16 which abuts it and whose other end abuts an appropriate abutment, for instance provided by punching a small hole 17 into the boom to have some of the material thereof extend inwardly and form the abutment. However, other abutment means could be utilized. Located at the outward side of the hole 5a, but also in the interior of the boom, is another portion 18 having the illustrated configuration or another suitable configuration and extending in part outwardly beyond the open end of the boom 5, 6 as shown. A suitable means (not illustrated) may be provided for preventing the portion 18 from unintentionally completely sliding out of the boom 5, 6. It will be seen that under the pressure exerted by the

elements

15 and 16 the arm 7 is normally urged against the outside edge bounding the hole 5a, whereby it is retained in position. When it is desired to move the arm 7 upwardly or downwardly in the hole 5a, slight pressure of a finger on the portion 18 in inward direction will suffice to move the arm 7 out of engagement with this edge of the hole 5a, counter to the biasing action of the

elements

15 and 16, whereupon the arm 7 can be raised or lowered in the hole 5a. When the desired position is reached, pressure on the detent portion 18 is released and the arm will return to the position shown in FIG. 4 and will be locked in place. This locking action is of course of the frictional type and need not be particularly strong to retain the arm 7 against undesired displacement.

The provision of the portion 8 of the arm 7 makes it possible to fold the latter into parallelism or substantial parallelism with the boom 5, 6. This may be desirable,

for instance if the boom 5, 6 is to be disengaged from the guide portion 2 and stored. In this case the arm 7 is moved downwardly until the curved portion 8 passes through the opening or hole 5a, now permitting the arm 7 to move into parallelism with the boom.

The lower end of the arm 7 carries a swivel joint 10 which is connected with a semi-circular bail 11 the ends of which are in turn connected with the mirror M which is here of circular outline but could of course be of other configuration. The joint 7 permits the mirror to turn by the longitudinal axis of the arm 7, and the manner in which the ball 11 is connected with the mirror M (a conventional manner) permits the mirror M to be tilted about a pivot axis normal to the elongation of the arm 7.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement according to the present invention can be moved completely out of the way when not in use, that is it can be folded against the support S as shown in FIG. 1. It will then be completely flat and require no space. To use it it is simply necessary to pivot the boom 5, 6 about the guide portion 2 until it extends more or less normal to the general plane of the support S, as shown in FIG. 2. Now the user places his or her head between the mirrors M and M and can see the back of the head in the mirror M as reflected in the mirror M As FIG. 2 indicates by the double-headed arrow, the space between the top of the head and the boom can be adjusted as desired or required, and is sufficient to prevent any interference with free movement of the head. The distance between the mirrors M and M will always remain the same, irrespective of whether the user is in a standing or sitting position, unless it should be desired to change the distance in which case this can be carried out either by telescoping the boom 5, 6 together or apart or by pivoting it about the guide portion 2, or resorting to both possibilities. The mirror M is not in any way obstructed by any component of the novel arrangement, so that a free and unobstructed view of the back of the head of a user is obtained. The possibility of completely detaching the boom 5, 6 with the arm 7 and the mirror M from the bracket 1 makes it possible to move these components of the arrangement and to store them elsewhere, for instance as a precaution against damage, which is particularly facilitated by the possibility of folding the arm 7 into parallelism with the boom 5, 6. Again, however, it is also possible to provide two or more of the brackets l and to mount them at different locations where they might be needed, in which case the

components

5, 7 and M can simply be taken along to whatever location and can there be secured to the respective bracket.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together,may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a mirror arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. As a novel article of manufacture, a mirror arrangement comprising a bracket mountable on a support adjacent a mirror provided thereon and having an elongated guide portion which is vertically oriented when the bracket is so mounted; a boom having one end portion and an other end portion which is hollow and provided with a transverse hole; mounting means on said one end portion and mounting said boom on said guide portion so at to extend transversely therefrom and to be arrestably displaceable along the same; an arm extending with clearance through said hole in substantial parallelism with said guide portion and having a lower region; friction brake means located entirely in said other end portion and frictionally retaining said arm while permitting release and shifting of the same axially of said hole; and a mirror pivoted to said lower region.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide portion is rod-shaped, and wherein said mounting means is provided with a passage dimensioned to receive said rod-shaped guide portion with slight clearance and to frictionally engage it in response to the axis of said passage extending skew to the axis of said rodshaped guide portion due to the weight of said mirror acting on said other endportion of said boom.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, said boom being hollow at least in the region of said other endportion; and said detent means comprising a first detent portion located in said other endportion to one side and inwardly of said hole and being biased into the latter, and a second detent portion located in said other endportion at the other side and outwardly of said hole and projecting out beyond said other endportion, said detent portions defining between one another a gap narrower than said hole and said arm, the latter being urged against an edge portion bounding said hole by said first detent portion and being movable away from saidedge portion for sliding displacement in response to the exertion of inward pressure upon said second detent portion.

4. An article as defined in claim 1, said boom being pivotable relative to said bracket, and said arm and mirror being pivotable relative to said boom and said arm, respectively, so as to assure positions in which they lie adjacent the support in the general plane of said bracket.

5. An article as defined in claim 1, said mounting means including a mounting portion provided with a passage dimensioned to accommodate said guide portion with slight play, and said mounting portion being slidable off said guide portion for separation of said boom therefrom; and wherein said arm is pivoted to said boom for displacement between an operative position extending transversely to the elongation of said boom and an inoperative position extending in at least substantial parallelism with said boom.

6. An article as defined in claim 1, said boom comprising at least two telescoped-together sections so as to permit lengthening and shortening of the boom by clamping the extent to which said sections are telescoped together.

Claims

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide portion is rod-shaped, and wherein said mounting means is provided with a passage dimensioned to receive said rod-shaped guide portion with slight clearance and to frictionally engage it in response to the axis of said passage extending skew to the axis of said rod-shaped guide portion due to the weight of said mirror acting on said other endportion of said boom.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, said boom being hollow at least in the region of said other endportion; and said detent means comprising a first detent portion located in said other endportion to one side and inwardly of said hole and being biased into the latter, and a second detent portion located in said other endportion at the other side and outwardly of said hole and projecting out beyond said other endportion, said detent portions defining between one another a gap narrower than said hole and said arm, the latter being urged against an edge portion bounding said hole by said first detent portion and being movable away from said edge portion for sliding displacement in response to the exertion of inward pressure upon said second detent portion.