Optical: systems and elements – Mirror
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2002-04-23
Robinson, Mark A. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Mirror
C359S839000, C428S912200, C052S785100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06375332
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
a. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a decorative mirror unit and to a method of fabricating the decorative mirror unit.
b. Related Art
Compared with plain mirrors, decorative mirror units are relatively uncommon. One type of decorative mirror unit that has been known for many years employs two parallel sheets of mirrored float glass spaced apart in a frame. The inner, or rear mirror is fully reflecting, and the outer, or front mirror is partially reflecting, so that the viewer sees multiple superimposed images, for example of himself, fading off to infinity.
A more recent variant of this type of mirror is disclosed in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,761, in which a third sheet of clear glass is held parallel between the two mirrors. The clear glass has clear, coloured or reflective glass stones adhered to one surface of the glass, with a clear u-v curable adhesive. The glass stones can create interesting optical effects by splitting up light incident on the stones, both as viewed directly, and in the multiple images seen in the rear mirror.
A simpler version of a decorative mirror unit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,828. This unit has one fully reflecting mirror in front of which is spaced in parallel one sheet of clear glass to which cut glass stones have been adhered with a clear u-v curable glue. The stones may be lit from the sides, again to provide interesting optical effects owing to scattering and diffraction of light from the stones.
In both cases, the glass stones are provided only on an internal surface of the unit so that they are protected from dirt, which would otherwise interfere with the optical effects.
An important feature of these prior art decorative units incorporating glass stone decorative elements is that the u-v adhesive is transparent so that it does not interfere with the optical effects. Glass stones can be provided with a very flat side to be affixed to the flat float glass so as to mimimise the amount of adhesive to be used. But it can be difficult to apply the transparent u-v adhesive in such a way that no bubbles are trapped whilst at the same time minimising any excess of adhesive pressed out around the edges into an unsightly bead around the decorative glass.
Whilst such decorative mirrors provide interesting optical effects, they effectively are limited in the type of decorative elements that may be applied, i.e. being limited to clear, coloured or reflective glass stones adhered on an inner protected surface of the unit with an optically clear adhesive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative mirror unit that addresses such limitations.
Accordingly, the invention provides a decorative mirror unit, comprising a mirror and at least one sheet of glass spaced in front of the mirror by spacer means, and a plurality of decorative elements applied to the glass by an adhesive means, characterized in that said sheet of glass has a pair of opposite plane-parallel surfaces and at least one optically non-transparent decorative element has been applied to each surface on opposite sides of the glass by said adhesive means, said decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass aligning to conceal at least partially the adhesive means between at least one of the decorative elements and the glass, wherein said plane-parallel surfaces extend away from a pair of said aligned optically non-transparent decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass so that a viewer can see one of said pair of decorative elements directly, and at the same time view through the plane-parallel surfaces a virtual image in the mirror of the other of said pair of decorative elements.
The glass will normally be a single unbroken sheet of glass, usually clear float glass. The decorative elements may be any type of decorative element that can be applied to glass. One type of decorative element is a strip of lead-alloy. These strips may have for convenience a self-adhesive backing. Areas between the strips, or between the strips and the edges of the window can be coloured by affixing a conveniently self-adhesive coloured plastic film, which can be transparent or translucent. The coloured film may be affixed first, so that the strips may be applied to cover the edges of the film, or the coloured film may be affixed on the opposite side to the strips, which then act as a template to guide placement of the film. Other type of decorative elements may also be applied, such as moulded, beveled or cut glass fixed in place, for example, by u-v curable glue. All such suitable items that may be affixed to a sheet of glass are referred to herein as “decorative elements”.
The adhesive means may be a bond between the decorative element and the glass, for example when the decorative element is a paint or resin applied to the glass. In this case the decorative elements conceal at least partially an adhesive interface between the decorative element and the glass. This is particularly effective when the resin is applied as a bead to the glass, the bead having a convex outer surface and a flat adhesive interface. The flat adhesive interface can then be concealed by another similar bead applied to the opposite surface of the glass.
Alternatively, the adhesive means may comprise an adhesive layer between at least one of the decorative elements and the glass, said decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass aligning to conceal at least partially said adhesive layer.
The invention therefore provides a wide latitude in the selection of adhesive means, and in general removes the requirement for there to be an optically clear or invisible adhesive interface. The adhesive means may therefore be optically imperfect, for example opaque, translucent, or contain visible defects, such as striations, bubbles or other imperfections in the adhesive interface with the glass. Such an optically imperfect adhesive means is best concealed when the decorative elements are optically non-transparent, i.e. opaque or at least translucent to some degree.
Adhesive means as viewed directly will, in general, be more noticeable than adhesive means as viewed in a reflected image, because the light will have crossed through less thickness of glass. Preferably though, the decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass align to conceal at least partially the adhesive means both as viewed directly and in the image reflected from the mirror.
There may, of course, be a slight view of adhesive means afforded through the thickness of the glass, if the decorative elements are not viewed straight on, but at a substantial angle. However, typical sheet glass is relatively thin, for example about 4 to 6 mm thick, and typical decorative elements are in most cases wider than this thickness. The decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass therefore in most cases will prevent a direct view of most of the adhesive means. In addition, when the decorative elements are non-transparent, i.e. translucent or opaque, the decorative elements will in normal lighting conditions cast a shadow between the oppositely aligned decorative elements, and this will tend to obscure or de-emphasize any slight view of the adhesive means that could be visible when the decorative unit is viewed at a substantial angle.
The minimum angle at which decorative elements may be viewed in the reflected image will in general be less shallow than what may be viewed directly. Nevertheless, it is preferable if decorative elements on opposite sides of the glass align to conceal at least partially the adhesive means in the image reflected from the mirror.
The mirror may be a conventional highly reflecting mirror formed from float glass, but could be any other reflecting surface in which an image may be seen, such as mirrored smoke coloured glass, a two way or partial mirror, or a polished metal mirror. Normally, both the mirror and the sheet of glass will be flat and parallel with each other. However, one or both of the mirror and the glass could be curved, and it is not necessary for
Kirton & McConkie
Krieger Michael F.
Robinson Mark A.
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