Abstract:
A dual magnification reversible spot mirror device includes two mirrors having different magnifications, e.g., 5X and  10 X, mounted back-to-back in a cylindrical frame ring which has an outer cylindrical wall surface from which protrudes a circumferential annular ring-shaped rib, and a mirror frame holder which has protruding forwardly from a base thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, longitudinally disposed flange walls which are elastically deformable in a radially outwardly direction from a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the base. Retainer lips protruding radially inwardly from inner longitudinal wall surfaces of the flange walls are forced radially outwardly in response to rearward forcible contact with the lips by the frame rib, whereupon the flange walls deflect elastically inwardly to an undeformed position in which the mirror frame ring with a reversible selected mirror facing outwards is captivated between a front wall surface of the base and rear surfaces of the flange wall lips. The base of the mirror frame holder is pivotably mounted to a mounting base which has suction cups protruding rearwardly therefrom for releasable attachment to a flat surface such as the vertical surface of a larger wall or cabinet mirror, or the horizontal surface of a table top or vanity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to mirrors of the type used by people to facilitate performance of personal care functions such as shaving, applying cosmetics, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel mirror device which includes a mirror frame assembly in which is mounted a pair of back-to-back mirror plates of different relative magnification, a mirror frame support assembly into which the mirror frame assembly is reversibly installable with a mirror plate of selected magnification facing outwardly, and a mounting base which is releasably attachable to a flat surface such as that of a large flat mirror or table top, with the mirror positioned at an adjustable inclination angle relative to the mounting surface. 
   B. Description of Background Art 
   Some aspects of a person&#39;s appearance are best attended to by observing his or her image in a relatively large “wide angle” mirror, which has unity or “1×” magnification, such as a full length wall mirror, a dresser mirror, or a bathroom mirror mounted on a wall or cabinet. On the other hand, certain personal grooming functions such as shaving, applying cosmetics and the like are generally more easily performed while viewing a larger image of one&#39;s face, which can be provided by positioning the face closer to a flat mirror of. In some circumstances, however, it is not convenient to position one&#39;s face sufficiently close to an existing flat mirror to provide an image of the face which is sufficiently large to enable a desired personal grooming task to be easily performed. In such situations, it would be desirable to have available a mirror having a magnification factor greater than one. Since available counter space in locations such as bathrooms is often at a premium, it would also be desirable to have available a magnifying mirror which is releasably and conveniently attachable to a vertical surface, such as that of an existing wall or cabinet-mounted mirror. Additionally, since different mirror magnifications are useful for performing different aspects of a person&#39;s grooming, it would be desirable to have a mirror releasably attachable to a flat surface, which had a range of different, selectable magnifications. A wide variety of magnifying and non-magnifying mirrors are available for use in people&#39;s homes. However, since a person&#39;s vision generally degrades with age, there is an accompanying need for a small, “spot” mirror of selectable magnification which can be attached to an existing larger mirror to enable a person to see image details required to perform personal care functions. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an inexpensive dual magnification spot mirror which is readily attachable to existing household mirrors, thus enhancing the utility and value of a person&#39;s investment in such mirrors. The present inventor is unaware of any existing mirror device which possesses the foregoing characteristics, and that unavailability was a factor motivating the present invention. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a mirror device which has two selectable magnifications and which is releasably attachable to flat surfaces. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a mirror device which includes a mirror frame assembly, in which are mounted back-to-back a pair of mirror plates having different relative magnifications, a mirror frame support or holder assembly into which the mirror frame is releasably insertable and retainable therewithin with a selected one of the two mirror plates facing outward of the mirror frame support assembly, a mounting base which supports the mirror frame holder assembly at an adjustable inclination relative to the mounting base, and fastening members attached to the mounting base for releasably fastening it to a flat surface, such as the vertical surface of a larger mirror. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a dual magnification mirror device which includes a mounting base that is provided with fasteners for releasably fastening the mounting base to a flat mounting surface, a mirror frame holder assembly which is pivotably mounted to the base, and a mirror frame assembly in which is mounted a back-to-back pair of mirrors of different relative magnification, the mirror frame assembly being retained within the mirror frame holder assembly and removable therefrom to enable the mirror frame assembly to be reversed and reinserted into the mirror frame holder assembly, thereby enabling reversibly selectable orientation of the two mirror plates outwardly of the flat mounting surface to provide a selectable image magnification. 
   Various other objects and advantages of the present invention, and its most novel features, will become apparent to those skilled in the art by perusing the accompanying specification, drawings and claims. 
   It is to be understood that although the invention disclosed herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages described, the characteristics of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, I do not intend that the scope of my exclusive rights and privileges in the invention be limited to details of the embodiments described. I do intend that equivalents, adaptations and modifications of the invention reasonably inferrable from the description contained herein be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated, the present invention comprehends a dual magnification mirror device which includes a reversible mirror frame that holds two circular mirror plates in a back-to-back configuration. The two mirror plates have spherically concave front surfaces of different curvatures which produce reflected images of different magnifications, e.g., 5× and 10×. 
   A dual magnification reversible mirror device according to the present invention also includes a mirror frame holder which has a front receptacle portion for receiving and holding the mirror frame in a fixed but reversible position within the frame holder. In a preferred embodiment, the mirror frame has a circular plan view shape; the mirror frame holder has a flat rear base wall which has a has four radially outwardly disposed legs which form a cross-like, or cruciform plan view shape. The outer transverse end of the bottom of a longer vertical portion of the base wall corresponding to the upright of the cross, and the outer transverse ends of cross bar portions of the base wall which angle laterally away from the upright, have curved transverse edges. The three curved transverse edges lie on a circle of approximately the same diameter as that of the mirror frame. 
   Each of the three aforementioned transverse ends of the mirror frame holder base legs has protruding perpendicularly forwards therefrom a thin, generally uniform thickness flange wall which has a plan-view curvature which conforms to that portion of the flat base of the frame holder from which the flange wall depends. Each of the three flange walls has an arcuately curved lip which protrudes radially inwardly from the front or outer edge of each of the three annular flange walls, which are made of a rigid yet flexible material, such as a synthetic polymer. The three curved lips which protrude radially inwardly from inner surfaces of the three flange walls lie on a circle which is of approximately the same diameter as that of the mirror frame, and form with the base of the mirror frame holder a generally cylindrical shaped or cup shaped receptacle or pocket, which is “skeletonized” by the absence of a cylindrical wall surfaces in the areas between adjacent legs of the base. 
   The mirror frame which holds the two mirror plates in a back-to-back configuration has an outer cylindrical wall surface from which protrudes a longitudinally centrally located, annular ring-shaped rib of slightly larger diameter than the inner diameter of a circularly-shaped opening formed between the diametrically opposed inner wall surfaces of the frame holder flange lips. With this construction, the mirror frame is insertable into the opening formed in the front of the mirror holder base, the annular rib protruding from the mirror frame contacting the radiused inner surfaces of the mirror frame holder flange lips and thereby deforming the flange walls radially outwardly sufficiently far to enable the frame rib to advance rearwardly of the flange lips, whereupon the flange walls deflect elastically inwards to their undeformed positions, thereby captivating the frame within the holder. Thus constructed, the frame is readily removable from the holder, reversed to position the other selected mirror plate in an outer facing, use position, and reinserted into locking engagement within the holder. 
   The dual magnification reversible mirror device according to the present invention also includes a mounting base which enables the mirror frame holder to be releasably yet securely fastened to a smooth, flat mounting surface such as the vertical surface of a larger flat mirror, e.g., a wall mounted or cabinet mirror, as well as a smooth horizontal surface such as that of a vanity or table top. In a preferred embodiment of a dual magnification reversible mirror device according to the present invention, the mounting base includes a mounting bracket plate which pivotably supports the mirror frame holder base. 
   The mounting bracket plate according to the present invention includes a plurality, preferably three, of suction cups which protrude rearwardly from the bracket. To facilitate removal of the mirror holder mounting bracket from a vertical mounting surface, the suction cups are preferably removably attachable to the bracket plate. This construction enables the bracket plate to be detached from the suction cups, which are then more readily released individually from sealing engagement with a mounting surface by peeling an edge of each suction cup away from the mounting surface. 
   In a preferred embodiment, each suction cup has protruding upwardly from the inverted cup-shaped base thereof, a neck or stem terminated at an upper, outer end thereof by a disk-shaped head of larger diameter than the stem but smaller diameter than the base. Also, the mounting bracket has through its thickness dimension three keyholes spaced angularly apart from one another. Each keyhole has a generally circularly-shaped portion of a diameter sufficiently large to insertably receive the head of a suction cup, and, extending laterally from the circular portion, an oval-shaped slot of smaller width than the suction cup head, but of sufficient width to enable the neck of the suction cup to slide laterally in the slot, thus securing the larger diameter head behind the outer end of the slot. This construction enables the suction cups to be attached to the mounting bracket backing plate, whereupon the rear surfaces of the suction cups are placed against a flat mounting surface, and the bracket plate pressed down towards the mounting surface to hermetically adhere the suction cups to the surface. 
   To remove the mounting bracket, the mirror frame holder is moved parallel to a mounting surface to thereby position a suction cup head beneath the larger diameter, circular portion of a keyhole, and the bracket plate pulled forwards away from the mounting surface, the larger diameter circular portions of the keyholes enabling the suction cup heads to be pulled through the keyholes. The suction cups are then individually removed from hermetic contact with the mounting surface. Optionally, each suction cup is provided with a small lifting tab which protrudes radially outwards from a lower peripheral edge of the surface-contacting edge wall of the suction cup. Grasping this tab and pulling it away from a surface to which the suction cup is hermetically adhered breaks the hermetic seal between the surface and the suction cup, enabling the suction cup to be easily detached from a mounting surface. 
   In the preferred embodiment of a dual magnification reversible mirror device according to the present invention, the mounting bracket plate is vertically elongated, and is provided at an upper end thereof with a pair of laterally spaced apart, horizontally outwardly protruding pivot pins which fit within a pair of opposed, laterally disposed and aligned tubular bushings that protrude rearwardly from the rear of the circular mirror frame holder base, near an upper peripheral edge of the vertical, upright portion of the cross-shaped back wall of the frame holder. With this construction, the mirror frame is pivotably adjustable from an orientation parallel to the vertical surface of a larger mirror or other such mounting surface, to a desired upwardly angled inclination. Thus, the dual magnification reversible mirror device according to the present invention provides a smaller, “spot” image of selectably greater magnification than a larger flat mirror to which the device is releasably mounted. Preferably, the frame holder base has through its thickness dimension a plurality of clearance holes which are aligned with the mounting bracket suction cups. The clearance holes are provided to receive the heads of the suction cups, thus enabling the mirror frame holder to be pivoted into a flush, overlying relationship with the mounting bracket plate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual magnification reversible spot mirror releasably attachable to a flat mirror according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the mirror of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a front perspective view of the mirror of  FIG. 1 , showing a mounting bracket thereof pivoted away from a frame holder thereof. 
       FIG. 3B  is a rear perspective view of the mirror of FIG.  3 A. 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary plan view of the mirror of  FIG. 1 , showing a mounting bracket thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 4 , taken in the direction of line  5 — 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a frame holder part of the mirror of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the frame holder of  FIG. 7  taken in the direction of line  7 — 7 . 
       FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of the mirror of  FIG. 1 , showing the mirror frame holder and mirror frame thereof pivoted away from a mounting surface to an inclined viewing angle. 
       FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view of a mirror frame which has been removed from the mirror frame holder of  FIG. 8 , and reversed. 
       FIG. 10  is a vertical sectional view of the mirror of  FIG. 8 , showing a dual mirror plate frame thereof having been removed from the mirror frame holder, rotated 180 degrees to reverse positions of two different magnification mirror plates thereof, and reinstalled in the mirror frame holder. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-10  illustrate various structural and functional aspects of a dual magnification, reversible spot mirror according to the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3B , a dual magnification reversible mirror  20  according to the present invention includes a dual mirror frame assembly  21  that contains within a circular ring-shaped frame hoop  22  a pair of circular mirror plates  23 ,  24 . As may be seen best by referring to  FIG. 9  in addition to  FIGS. 1-3B , mirror plates  23 ,  24  have concave, spherically curved reflective surfaces  25 ,  26  of different curvature. Thus, mirror plates  23 ,  24  have different magnifications, e.g., 5× and 10×. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , mirror plates  23 ,  24  have convexly curved rear surfaces  27 ,  28 . Also, mirror frame hoop  22  has formed in an inner cylindrical wall surface  29  thereof front and rear counterbore entrance openings  30 F,  30 R which form front and rear annular ring-shaped shoulder ledges  31 F,  31 R, respectively, that support the outer peripheral edges of rear surfaces  27 ,  28  of mirror plates  23 ,  24 . Mirror plates  23 ,  24  are retained within mirror frame hoop  22  by conventional means, such as by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer  32  between the transverse surfaces  33 F,  33 R of ledges  31 F,  31 R and the outer peripheral edges of rear mirror plate surfaces  27 ,  28 . Preferably, mirror plates  23 ,  24  are also held in fixed relative relation and therefore fixed within hoop  22  by an additional adhesive layer  34  between central regions of rear surfaces  27 ,  28  of mirror plates  23 ,  24 . As is also shown in  FIG. 9 , frame hoop  22  is provided with an annular ring-shaped rib  35  which protrudes radially outwardly from outer cylindrical surface  36  of the frame hoop. Hoop rib  35  is located equal distances from front and rear faces  37 F,  37 R of hoop  22 , i.e., is longitudinally centrally located on the hoop. Rib  35  has a radiused, i.e., convex, arcuately curved outer surface  38 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3B , it may be seen that mirror  20  according to the present invention includes a mirror frame holder  40  which releasably holds mirror frame assembly  21 , and a mounting bracket  41  which is releasably attachable to a flat mounting surface and pivotably supports the mirror frame holder. 
   The structure and function of mirror frame holder  40  may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A,  3 B and  6 - 10 . As shown in those figures, mirror frame holder  40  has a laterally symmetric plan-view shape which is similar to that of a cross having a relatively wide, vertically elongated central upright web section  42  which has protruding from opposite vertical sides thereof a pair of laterally opposed, upwardly angled left and right cross arms  43 L,  43 R. Frame holder  40  has a plate-like base portion  44  of generally uniform thickness, and has protruding rearwardly from rear surface  45  thereof a generally rectangular cross-section peripheral rib  46  which has a rear wall surface  47  spaced rearwardly of and parallel to rear base surface  45 . Peripheral rib  46  arcuately joins outer wall surfaces of a lower end portion  48  of central vertical web section  42 , and left and right cross arms  43 L,  43 R. Also, peripheral rib  46  has a pair of parallel, laterally spaced apart posts  49 L,  49 R adjacent to opposite sides  50 L,  50 R of an upper end portion of the central vertical web section  42  of frame holder base  44 . A pair of coaxially aligned bushings  52 L,  52 R protrudes laterally inwardly from inner facing sides  53 L,  53 R of posts  49 L,  49 R. Bushings  52 L,  52 R have vertically disposed, laterally spaced apart inner facing vertical faces  54 L,  54 R which have extending outermost therefrom a pair of coaxially aligned, pivot pin bores  55 L,  55 R. 
   As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  6 , and  7 , the outer transverse ends  56 L,  56 R, and  57  of left and right cross arms and lower end portion  48  of frame holder base portion  44  have protruding perpendicularly upwardly or forwardly of front wall surface  58  of base web  42  flange walls  59 L,  59 R, and  60 , respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  6 , flange walls  59 L,  59  and  60  have a relatively uniform thickness, and have flat and co-planar upper wall surfaces  61 L,  61 R, and  62 , respectively. Also, as may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , upper flange wall surfaces  61 L,  61 R and  62  are arcuately curved, and lie on a circle. As may be seen best by referring to  FIG. 7 , each flange wall  59 L,  59 R, and  60  has protruding radially inwardly of an inner longitudinally disposed side wall  63 L,  63 R, and  64  thereof an arcuately curved lip  65 L,  65 R,  66 , respectively. Lips  65 L,  65 R and  66  have an arcuately curved transverse cross sectional shape, i.e., are radiused. 
   Frame holder  40  is so constructed that flange walls  59 L,  59 R and  60  are elastically deformable in a radial direction, i.e., perpendicular to a longitudinal center line of the mirror frame holder. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, mirror frame holder  40  is made of an elastically flexible polymer such as plastic. Also, spacing between the center of frame holder base  42  and the inner facing radiused surfaces  67 L,  67 R and  68  of flange wall lips  65 L,  65 R and  66  is slightly less than the radius of the outer cylindrical surface  36  of circumferential frame rib  35 . With this construction, inserting mirror frame  21  into a cylindrically shaped receptacle opening  69  formed between flange wall lips  65 L,  65 R and  66  causes mirror frame rib  35  to slidably contact the lips and deform flange walls  59 L,  59 R and  60  elastically in radially outwardly directions. Pushing mirror frame  21  sufficiently far downwardly towards upper surface  70  of frame holder base  40  thus causes rear surface  71  of the frame to seat on the front surface of the frame holder, whereupon flange wall lips  65 L,  65 R, and  66  spring inwardly in front of the frame rib to thereby captivate the frame within the frame holder, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , it may be seen that mounting bracket  41  of mirror  20  includes a flat mounting bracket plate  71  of generally uniform thickness. As shown in  FIG. 4 , mounting bracket plate  71  has a laterally symmetric plan-view shape which approximates that of a cross which has a relatively wide, vertically elongated central upright web section  72  that has protruding from opposite vertical sides thereof a pair of laterally opposed left and right cross arm members  73 L,  73 R, respectively. Central upright web section  72  of mounting bracket plate  71  has a lower longitudinal end portion  74  and an upper longitudinal end portion  75 . Although not necessary for the function of mounting bracket  41 , the perimeter of mounting bracket plate may be a continuously and sinuously curved side wall  71 A which joins the lower longitudinal end portion  74 , left and right cross arms  73 L,  73 R,  11  and upper longitudinal end portion  75 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , upper longitudinal end portion  75  of mounting bracket plate  71  is terminated at an upper end thereof by a transversely disposed cylindrically-shaped enlargement  76  which has a diameter greater than the thickness of the mounting bracket plate and which arcuately and symmetrically joins front and rear wall surfaces  77 ,  78 , respectively, of the mounting bracket plate. As shown in  FIG. 4 , cylindrically-shaped enlargement  76  has a transversely disposed upper edge wall in which is formed a rectangularly shaped, vertical slot  80 . Slot  80 , which preferably has an arcuately curved, concave lower end wall  81 , bifurcates cylindrical enlargement  76  into left and right cylinders  76 L,  76 R, respectively. The latter have protruding laterally outwardly from opposite vertical faces  82 L,  82 R thereof coaxially aligned pivot pins  83 L,  83 R, respectively. As may be seen best by referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  8 , pivot pins  83 L,  83 R fit in a relatively tight, but rotatably interference fit within pivot pin bores  55 L,  55 R of mirror frame holder bushings  52 L,  52 R, respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , it may be seen that mounting bracket plate  71  has through its thickness dimension three keyhole-shaped suction cup mounting holes, including left and right holes  84 L,  84 R, and bottom hole  84 B, located generally concentrically within outer portions of left and right cross arms  73 L,  73 R, and lower end portion  74  of central upright section  72 , respectively, of the mounting bracket plate. Each keyhole  84 L,  84 R,  84 B has a generally circularly shaped portion  85 L,  85 R,  85 B of a diameter sufficiently large to receive the button-shaped head  86  of a suction cup  87  which has a concave, circular suction base  88 . Also, each circularly-shaped portion  85 L,  85 R,  85 B of keyholes  84 L,  84 R,  84 B has disposed radially outwardly therefrom a generally oval shaped slot  89 L,  89 R,  89 B, respectively. Each of the slots has a width smaller than the diameter of a suction cup head  86 , but of sufficient width to enable the neck  90  of the suction cup to slide within the slot. This construction facilitates installation of suction cups  87  in mounting bracket plate  71 , and disengaging the mounting bracket plate from suction cups. This is accomplished by positioning the head  86  of suction cup in vertical alignment with a larger diameter portion  85  of a keyhole  84  and sliding the neck  90  of the suction cup in slot  89  to captivate the lower surface of the suction cup head within the slot, when it is desired to engage the suction cups with the mounting bracket plate, and reversing the aforementioned steps to unfasten the bracket plate from the suction cups. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3A , lower wall surface  91  of mirror frame holder base  44  preferably has formed therein a shallow uniform depth recess  92  which has the same outline shape but of slightly larger size than the plan-view shape of mounting bracket plate  71 . Also, recess  92  preferably has formed through base wall  93  thereof three circular perforations  94 L,  94 R,  94 B, which have the same relative orientation with respect to the perimeter of recess  92  as that of keyholes  84 L,  84 R, and  84 B to the perimeter of mounting bracket plate  71 . With this arrangement, mirror frame holder  41  is pivotable into a flush, parallel overlying relationship to mounting base  40 , with mounting base bracket  71  received in recess  92  in the rear of the mirror holder frame, and suction cup heads  86 L,  86 R,  86 B received in perforations  94 L,  94 R,  94 B, through base  44  of the mirror holder frame, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  10 . 
   The manner of using dual magnification reversible spot mirror device  20  according to the present invention may be best understood by referring to FIGS.  1  and  8 - 10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , mirror  20  is readily attached to a relatively smooth, flat vertical or horizontal mounting surface such as the front surface B of a wall or cabinet mounted mirror A by pressing the mirror holder frame downward towards the mounting surface, thereby hermetically adhering suction cups  87  which protrude rearwardly from the frame holder mounting bracket plate to the mounting surface. Mirror device  20  may be attached to a mounting surface with the mirror frame assembly  21  installed in mirror frame holder  40  and oriented parallel thereto, as shown in FIG.  1 . Optionally, frame assembly  21  may be pivoted upwardly away from mirror frame holder  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  8 , and/or may be optionally removed from the mirror frame holder, as shown in FIG.  8 . Those configurations of mirror frame assembly  21  are preferably employed to unfasten suction cups  87  from a mounting surface, since, as explained above, this facilitates sliding necks  90  of the suction cups in oval slots  84  through mounting bracket plate  71 , to thereby align heads  86  of the suction cups with larger diameter portions  85  of mounting bracket plate keyholes  84 , whereupon the mounting bracket plate can be pulled forward from the mounting surface, the suction cup heads being pulled through those circular portions of the keyholes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , mirror frame assembly  21  may be removed from mirror frame holder  40  in which it is installed with a particular magnification mirror plate, e.g., 10× magnification mirror plate  24 , facing forward for viewing by a user, reversed to position the other mirror plate, e.g., lower, 5× magnification plate  23  forward, and re-installed in the mirror frame holder as shown in FIG.  10 .