Optical: systems and elements – Holographic system or element – Using a hologram as an optical element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-06
2001-11-13
Sikder, Mohammad (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Holographic system or element
Using a hologram as an optical element
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317229
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an adjustable mirror, namely a mirror having a flexible mirror surface to permit variation in an image viewed in the mirror.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
A number of flexible mirrors and mirror assemblies are known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,366 (Lemaitre) describes a mirror with a variable focal distance in which a reflective surface is bent elastically by applying thereto a distributed load or an axial load and balancing this load by a central or peripheral bearing pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,753 (Neubauer) describes a mirror assembly capable of continuous flexing or undulating and constructed of a flexible sheet material having a reflective surface. The flexible mirror device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,200 (Humiston) includes a frame with parallel frame members having a flexible mirror mounted thereon. A longitudinal and a transverse rotatable shaft are mounted between frame members and rotation thereof effects change in the curvature of the mirror.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,157 (Zitter) describes a manually operated distorting toy mirror, comprising a flexible mirror sheet mounted in a frame and a plurality of spaced transverse elongated elements mounted in slots in the frame, which can be twisted to increase or decrease the degree of curvature of the flexible mirror.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,292 (Pickett et al) teaches a mirror apparatus including a flexible mirror mounted in a frame and a shuttle assembly shiftable along a generally upright axis and having a cam element for selectively engaging a cam follower coupled with the rear face of the mirror to flex the mirror outwardly.
However, none of the various flexible mirror arrangements of the prior art affords a fully incremental adjustment of a mirror surface in all different directions to facilitate an unlimited range of slight modifications in the distortion or variation OF an image as seen in the mirror.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an adjustable mirror device comprising:
a flexible mirror element mounted in a frame and having a mirrored front surface and a rear surface;
said frame having a back plate and a peripheral portion which frames said mirror element;
a plurality of adjustment elements having portions secured at spaced locations to the rear surface of the mirror and to the surface of said back plate;
a plurality of control means disposed on said frame and operatively connected to each of said adjustment elements,
whereby actuation of one or more of said control means effects concomitant lateral movement of the respective adjustment element to cause flexing of the mirror element in one or more desired locations so as to vary the contour of the mirrored front surface of the mirror element and hence an image received therefrom.
Advantageously, each said control means comprises a pair of adjuster wheels mounted in the frame, each adjuster wheels being incrementally rotatable to cause concomitant lateral movement of the associated adjustment element resulting in a desired flexing or relaxing of the mirror element to vary the contour of the mirrored front surface thereof to achieve a desired or random variation in an image observed in the mirror element. In one embodiment, each adjustment element comprises a pair of arms pivotally mounted at the lower ends thereof about a common axis. The upper ends of the arms are attached respectively to the rear surface of the mirror element and the adjacent surface of the back plate, whereby rotation of one of the adjuster wheels causes expansion or retraction of the arms of the associated adjustment element to increase or decrease the distance between the frame back plate and the flexible mirror element to achieve a variation in the contour of the flexible mirror element, for instance to a concave, convex or vertically or laterally curved configuration to achieve a “fat”, “thin”, “tall” or “short” image of a person looking into the mirror.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4119366 (1978-10-01), Lemaitre
patent: 4280753 (1981-07-01), Neubauer
patent: 4288146 (1981-09-01), Johnson, Jr. et al.
patent: 4575200 (1986-03-01), Humiston
patent: 4952005 (1990-08-01), Hamiade et al.
patent: 5109300 (1992-04-01), Waddell
patent: 5673153 (1997-09-01), Soll et al.
patent: 5835292 (1998-11-01), Pickett et al.
patent: 5862003 (1999-01-01), Saif et al.
patent: 5986795 (1999-11-01), Chapman et al.
Sikder Mohammad
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
LandOfFree
Adjustable mirror does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adjustable mirror, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adjustable mirror will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603473