Illumination – With viewing mirror – Inspection type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-12
2003-07-29
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With viewing mirror
Inspection type
C362S140000, C600S248000, C600S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598992
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to lighted mirrors, specifically to a small, portable, lightweight, and easily maneuverable foot inspection mirror, preferably battery operated but not limited thereto, and a method for its manufacture. The present invention has sufficient magnification and a sufficient amount of high intensity lighting, preferably by using one or more high intensity LED lights, hereinafter referred to as Hi-LED light or lighting, or in the alternative fiber optic lighting, for detailed viewing by a human adult of all of the skin surfaces on his or her own feet from a standing or seated position, without having to lean over or become contorted into uncomfortable positions for enhanced foot visibility. At least one light source stays on at reduced power between uses, so that a person needing to locate the present invention in a dimly lit or darkened room can easily find it. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also has a switch that is illuminated so that it can be promptly located, and is preferably placed in a centered position below its magnified reflective surface. Preferably also, a skin touch switch activated by body electricity is used, which is configured and dimensioned for easy operation by a toe or other portion of a foot whereby the light source used for inspection purposes is promptly brought to full power, although other switch configurations could also be used, to include but not be limited to toggle switches, depressible switches, and optical switches that used interruption of an optical signal to bring the light source to full power. In addition, the present invention has timed operation that allows for automatic power reduction of the light source to approximately two percent or less of its operating intensity, at a pre-set time after it is switched on, to conserve power and minimize the frequency of battery and/or light source replacement. Further, an elongated handle is optional and configured for easy user movement of the magnified reflective surface from one location or spatial orientation to another without the user having to directly touch the reflective surface, or its supporting frame, with his or her hands. The elongated handle can be straight, curved, made from flexible material, detachable, folding, or telescoping. Although not limited thereto, use of the present invention is particularly suited for foot inspection by diabetic adults and others needing to frequently monitor foot health, and for a variety of inspection applications by those who are wheelchair bound, to include inspection of feet and other body parts. Many other industrial and personal inspection applications, such as viewing hidden areas behind or under large and/or difficult to move pieces of equipment or furniture, are also contemplated for the present invention and considered to be within its scope.
2. Description of Prior Art
Healthy feet are important to overall good health, however, they are frequently the object of injury, neglect, and/or abuse. Ill-fitting shoes can cause corns, blisters, and calluses on feet, while bruises, punctures, and abrasions can occur when shoes are not worn. In addition, feet support the entire weight of a person, and when they are sore feet can cause unsuspected changes in posture that over extended periods of time can lead to back pain as well as undue stress on knee and hip joints. Therefore, it is important for all people to regularly inspect the condition of their feet for imperfections, so that what initially may start out as a small cut, blister, skin discoloration, abrasion, or minor skin infection can be treated promptly, before it leads to more serious medical conditions. However, self-inspection of certain parts of the foot, such as the outer rim of a foot, is difficult for many adults to achieve, particularly those who are overweight, less flexible due to injury or disease, those who are wheelchair bound, and those who are exceptionally tall. While most adults can easily view the majority of the skin surfaces on the top and inside portions of their own feet, a clear view of the skin surfaces on the outer rim of each foot, the entire bottom of each foot, and between the toes is more difficult to accomplish. Use of a small and inexpensive hand manipulated mirror in a well-lit room improves foot inspection capability, but can still be awkward and/or place the user in uncomfortable contorted positions. However, the ideal combination of bright illumination positioned close to a foot, optimal rewardly-inclining angle of the reflective surface for enhanced foot viewing by a person in a standing or comfortably seated position, and sufficient magnification in the reflected image, preferably magnification that enlarges the reflected image approximately five times actual size, would greatly facilitate foot self-inspection by all adults. While many types of lighted mirrors are known for applying make-up to the face and for shaving, none is known to have a combination of portability, ease of use, optimal amount of magnification, proper rearwardly inclining angle of the reflective surface, and bright illumination that allows adults to critically inspect scratches, blisters, skin discolorations, irritated areas, and other skin imperfections on their own feet by foot movement in front of a substantially stationary reflective surface, without the user having to lean over or become contorted into uncomfortable positions that would otherwise be required for viewing of all of the skin surfaces on one's own feet with known prior art devices.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The primary object of this invention is to provide an easy-to-use foot inspection mirror for diabetic adults and others who have an interest in frequently monitoring foot health. It is also an object of this invention to provide a foot inspection mirror with sufficient illumination and magnification for most adults to easily, and without contortion, see all of the skin surfaces of each of their own feet from a standing or comfortably seated position. It is a further object of this invention to provide a foot inspection mirror with a light source that can be activated without employing the operator's hands. It is also an object of this invention for thorough foot inspection to be possible through movement of the operator's feet instead of his or her hands. A further object of this invention is to provide an inspection mirror for human feet that is optionally cordless, easily portable, is made from low maintenance materials, and conserves power for infrequent light source and battery replacement. It is also an object of this invention to provide a foot inspection mirror that is lightweight and easily positioned into the needed spatial orientations for viewing all of the skin surfaces on a human foot. A further object of this invention is to provide an inspection mirror for human feet that is made from durable materials, is cost efficient to manufacture, and is aesthetically appealing. It is also an object of this invention to provide a lighted mirror with magnification that can also be used or adapted for use by adults with limited mobility or flexibility due to injury or disease, those who are wheelchair bound, and other adults simply for the convenience of the viewing other body parts such as the back of an elbow or knee, the face for make-up application, seeing behind large or difficult to move objects, or seeing under pieces of furniture, and for other uses such as by police and customs agents to quickly inspect the underside surfaces of an automobile or truck. A further object of this invention is to provide an inspection mirror for human feet that remains illuminated at reduced power so that it can be easily located in a dimly lit or darkened room.
As described herein, properly manufactured and used, the present invention would enable those adults needing to conduct frequent inspections of their own feet to do so easily and without having to lean over or become contorted into uncomfortable positions. Althoug
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Morse Dorothy S.
O'Shea Sandra
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