Abstract:
A lighted mirror apparatus for viewing obstructed areas including a mirror, a light source connected to the mirror for illuminating the area to be viewed, a shield connected adjacent to the light to minimize diffusion of the light emitted from the light source and for directing the light emitted from the light source to the mirror to provide a clearer image in the mirror of the area viewed, a rod for holding the mirror in the desired location, and a rotatable connector for connecting the mirror to the rod.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to lighted mirrors. In particular, the present invention is related to mirrors connected to elongated handles having a light source for viewing in confined areas.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Viewing areas behind obstructions is often desired and needed by workers and the general public. Articles may be dropped behind heavy furniture at home or filing cabinets in an office unknown to the occupants of a home or office, requiring visual inspection in such obstructed areas to determine the location of the dropped object, and facilitate retrieval of the dropped object. When working on automobiles and other vehicles, a nut, bolt or other part may be dropped in an area of the automobile or other vehicle that is obstructed from view by engine parts or other parts of the vehicle.  
         [0005]     Furthermore, visual inspection of obstructed areas is commonly performed by mechanics, air conditioning technicians, welders, home inspectors, engineers, hospital personnel, maids and home cleaners, plumbers, computer technicians, television technicians, electronic repair technicians and the like. To assist such persons in viewing areas obstructed from view, lighted mirrors on elongated arms are known in the art.  
         [0006]     Some of the light rays emitted from the lighting devices of the prior art are diffused and may shine into to the eyes of the viewer causing glare and impaired viewing of the desired obstructed area. There is thus a need for a lighted mirror on an elongated arm which concentrates the light rays emitted into an obstructed area where viewing is desired without diffusing the light rays to enable improved and easy viewing of an obstructed area.  
         [0007]     Exemplary of the Patents of the related art are the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,859,682; 2,929,918; 4,039,818; 5,428,484; 5,636,918; 5,959,792; and 6,550,926 B1.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lighted mirror apparatus for viewing obstructed areas including a mirror, a light source connected to the mirror for illuminating the area to be viewed, a shield connected adjacent to the light to minimize diffusion of the light emitted from the light source and for directing the light emitted from the light source to the mirror to provide a clearer image in the mirror of the area viewed, a rod for holding the mirror in the desired location, and a rotatable connector for connecting the mirror to the rod. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view, partly cut-away, of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view, partly cut-away, of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partly cut-away, side cross-sectional view of the light assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partly cut-away, front cross-sectional view of the light assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partly cut-away, side perspective view of the light assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front plan view, partly cut-away, of a second embodiment of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partly cut-away, partly cross-sectional side plan view of the light and mirror assembly of the lighted mirror apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention being used to view the underside of an automobile. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1-5 , the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention can be seen to preferably have a telescoping rod generally indicated by the numeral  10 . Telescoping rod  10  has a first cylindrical section  10   a  having cylindrical handle  10   b  fitted thereon, and a second cylindrical section  10   c  slidably received in first cylindrical section  10   a  in telescoping arrangement. If desired, an additional third cylindrical section could be added to telescoping rod  10  to provide telescoping rod  10  with greater length in the extended position. Although telescoping rod  10  is preferred, if desired, an integral, one piece rod could be substituted for telescoping rod  10 .  
         [0018]     Preferably, each cylindrical section  10   a  and  10   c  of telescoping rod  10  are made from metals such as aluminum or steel alloys, and the like. However, if desired each cylindrical section  10   a  and  10   c  could be made from polymeric materials commonly referred to as plastics.  
         [0019]     Second cylindrical section  10   c  has a tapered portion  10   d  at its terminal end. A rigid sphere  10   e  is rigidly connected at the terminal end of tapered portion  10   d  of second cylindrical section  10   c.    
         [0020]     The light and mirror assembly generally indicated by the numeral  12  is rotatably connected to telescoping rod  10  by the rotating bracket assembly generally indicated by the numeral  14 . Rotating bracket assembly  14  includes two identical parallel plates  14   a - 14   a  connected at their center by screw fastener  14   c . Rigid sphere  10   e  is rotatably received in circular opening  14   b  in each of the two identical, spaced apart parallel plates  14   a - 14   a.    
         [0021]     Light and mirror assembly  12  of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5  includes a mirror generally indicated by the numeral  16 . Mirror  16  has a reflective side  16   a  and a non-reflective back side  16   b . Mirror  16  is rigidly connected to mirror support frame  18  by mirror connecter  18   a . Mirror connecter  18   a  is rigidly connected to the non-reflective side  16   b  of mirror  16  by any method known in the art, such as gluing or bonding mirror connecter  18   a  to the non-reflective side  16   b  of mirror  16  with any adhesive or glue known in the art.  
         [0022]     Mirror support frame  18  has a rigid sphere  18   b  rigidly connected at one end thereof. Rigid sphere  18   b  is rotatably received in circular opening  14   d  in each of the two parallel, spaced apart plates  14   a - 14   a . Rotating bracket assembly  14  thus may rotated about each of the rigid spheres  10   e  and  18   b  to adjust the angle and position of mirror  16  relative to telescoping rod  10 .  
         [0023]     Light and mirror assembly  12  includes a light assembly generally indicated by the numeral  20 . Light assembly  20  includes a generally rectangular light support frame generally indicated by the numeral  22  having a V-shaped side profile.  
         [0024]     Light support frame  22  includes a leg  22   a  rigidly connected to mirror support frame  18  by welding, gluing or any other method known in the art. Extending at an acute angle of about 45° upward from leg  22   a  is rectangular light support plate  22   b.    
         [0025]     Lights or light sources  24 - 24  extend through the outside face of light support plate  22   b  and are connected to light support frame  22 . Preferably, light sources  24 - 24  are two in number and are light emitting diodes. However, if desired, light sources  24 - 24  could be incandescent light bulbs, or the like.  
         [0026]     An upper rectangular wall  22   c  is rigidly connected perpendicularly to light support plate  22   b  and extends inward from the front face of light support plate  22   b . Rectangular side wall  22   d  is connected to upper rectangular wall  22   c  and light support plate  22   b.    
         [0027]     Rectangular side wall  22   d  has a slot  22   e  therein for sliding receipt of switch lever  26   a  of switch  26  to turn lights  24 - 24  on or off. Switch  26  is connected to the inside face of light support plate  22   b.    
         [0028]     Extending perpendicularly from the inside face of light support plate  22   b  is lower rectangular wall  22   f . Lower rectangular wall  22   f  is connected perpendicularly to rectangular side wall  22   g . Rectangular side wall  22   g  is parallel to rectangular side wall  22   d , is connected to light support plate  22   b  and upper rectangular wall  22   c.    
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an inner L-shaped wall  22   h  extends upward from the upper face of lower rectangular wall  22   f  and inward from the inside face of light support plate  22   b  to form a compartment for receiving and holding battery  28  used to energize light emitting diodes  24 - 24 . Battery  28  is electrically connected to switch  26  by electrical conductor  28   a  and to one post of one of the light emitting diode receptacles  32  on circuit board  30  by electrical conductor  28   b . An electrical conductor  28   c  electrically similarly connects battery  28  to one post of the other of the light emitting diode receptacles  32 .  
         [0030]     Circuit board  30  is rigidly connected to upper rectangular wall  22   c  and to inner L-shaped wall  22   h . Light emitting diode receptacles  32 - 32  are connected to the front face of circuit board  30  for receipt of light emitting diodes  24 - 24 .  
         [0031]     Electrical conductor  26   b  electrically connects switch  26  to one post of one of the light emitting diode receptacles  32 . An electrical conductor  26   c  electrically similarly connects switch  26  to one post of the other of the light emitting diode receptacles  32 - 32 .  
         [0032]     Light support frame  22  has a cover generally indicated by the numeral  34 . Cover  34  is connected to light support frame by two screw connectors  36 - 36  received in receptacles  36   a - 36   a  connected to the inside of light support frame  22 .  
         [0033]     Cover  34  has a back rectangular wall  34   a . Back rectangular wall  34   a  is connected perpendicularly to slotted sidewall  34   b  and to rectangular top  34   c . A portion of rectangular top  34   c  extends outward from the outside face of light support plate  22   b  past the outermost ends  24   a  of light emitting diodes  24 - 24  to provide a shield  35  to direct light rays emitted from light emitting diodes  24 - 24  toward the reflective side  16   a  of mirror  16  and to prevent light rays emitted from light emitting diodes  24 - 24  from diffusing away from mirror  16  toward the user  40  of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , if the user  40  of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention were using the apparatus absent shield  35 , some of the light rays being emitted from light emitting diodes  24 - 24  would be directed away from the reflective surface  16   a  of mirror  16 , and lighting of the obstructed area would not be as clear and intense as occurs when shield  35  directs more of the light rays onto reflective surface  16   a . Furthermore, shield  35  prevents light rays being emitted from light emitting diodes  24  from striking the obstruction rather than being reflected by mirror  16  onto the area of desired observation.  
         [0034]     For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , automobile bumper  42   a  of automobile  42  may be chrome plated and very light reflective. If shield  35  were not present, some of the light from light emitting diodes  24 - 24  would strike bumper  42  and be reflected into the eye of the user  40 , causing glare and impairing the vision of the user  40  trying to view an obstructed area beneath the automobile  42 .  
         [0035]     It is important that the shield  35  extends outward from the surface  22   b  on which the light source  24  is connected in the same direction as the light source a distance greater than the length of the light source  24  to prevent light rays emitted from the light source to be directed toward the user, and to reflect more of the light rays emitted from the light source onto the reflective surface  16   a  of mirror  16 . By the length of the light source is meant herein to be the distance of the outermost end  24   a  of the light emitting diode from light support plate  22   b . Preferably, shield  35  extends beyond light source  24  about one-fourth to one-half of the distance that the outermost end  24   a  of light source  24  extends beyond the surface, light support plate  22   b , on which it is mounted. Preferably, the side of shield  35  facing light source  24  is made from a light reflecting material such as polished aluminum or steel, chrome plated metal, or the like.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lighted mirror apparatus of the second embodiment invention can be seen to preferably have a telescoping rod identical to the telescoping rod generally indicated by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Telescoping rod  10  has a first cylindrical section  10   a  having cylindrical handle  10   b  fitted thereon, and a second cylindrical section  10   c  slidably received in first cylindrical section  10   a  in telescoping arrangement. If desired, an additional third cylindrical section could be added to telescoping rod  10  to provide telescoping rod  10  with greater length in the extended position. Although telescoping rod  10  is preferred, if desired, an integral, one piece rod could be substituted for telescoping rod  10 .  
         [0037]     Preferably, each cylindrical section  10   a  and  10   c  of telescoping rod  10  are made from metals such as aluminum or steel alloys, and the like. However, if desired each cylindrical section  10   a  and  10   c  could be made from polymeric materials commonly referred to as plastics.  
         [0038]     Second cylindrical section  10   c  has a tapered portion  10   d  at its terminal end. A rigid sphere  10   e  is rigidly connected at the terminal end of tapered portion  10   d  of second cylindrical section  10   c.    
         [0039]     The light and mirror assembly generally indicated by the numeral  50  is rotatably connected to telescoping rod  10  by a rotating bracket identical to the rotating assembly generally indicated by the numeral  14  in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 . Rotating bracket assembly  14  includes two identical parallel plates  14   a - 14   a  connected at their center by screw fastener  14   c . Rigid sphere  10   e  is rotatably received in circular opening  14   b  in each of the two identical, spaced apart parallel plates  14   a - 14   a.    
         [0040]     Light and mirror assembly  50  of the second embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , includes a mirror generally indicated by the numeral  16 . Mirror  16  has a reflective side  16   a  and a non-reflective back side  16   b . Mirror  16  is rigidly connected to mirror support frame  18  by mirror connecter  18   a . Mirror connecter  18   a  is rigidly connected to the non-reflective side  16   b  of mirror  16  by any method known in the art, such as gluing or bonding mirror connecter  18   a  to the non-reflective side  16   b  of mirror  16  with any adhesive or glue known in the art.  
         [0041]     Mirror support frame  18  has a rigid sphere  18   b  rigidly connected at one end thereof. Rigid sphere  18   b  is rotatably received in circular opening  14   d  in each of the two parallel, spaced apart plates  14   a - 14   a . Rotating bracket assembly  14  thus may rotated about each of the rigid spheres  10   e  and  18   b  to adjust the angle and position of mirror  16  relative to telescoping rod  10 .  
         [0042]     Light and mirror assembly  50  includes a light assembly generally indicated by the numeral  52 . Light assembly  52  includes a generally rectangular light support frame generally indicated by the numeral  54  having a V-shaped side profile.  
         [0043]     Light support frame includes a leg  52   a  rigidly connected to mirror support frame  18  by welding, gluing or any other method known in the art. Extending at an acute angle upward of about 45° from leg  54   a  is rectangular light support plate  54   b.    
         [0044]     Lights  56 - 56  extend through the outside face of light support plate  54   b . Preferably, lights  56 - 56  are two in number and are light emitting diodes.  
         [0045]     Rectangular side wall  22   d  has a slot  22   e  therein for sliding receipt of switch lever  26   a  of switch  26  to turn lights  24 - 24  on or off. Switch  26  is connected to the inside face of light support plate  22   b.    
         [0046]     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a battery box generally indicated by the numeral  58  is connected to the non-reflective side  16   b  of mirror  16 . A battery  60  contained in battery box  58  is electrically connected to switch  62  having switch lever  62   a  by electrical conductor (not shown) in a configuration similar to the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , and to the light emitting diode receptacles  64  by electrical conductors  66 . Light emitting diode receptacles  68 - 68  are connected to the inside face of light support plate  54   b  for receipt of light emitting diodes  56 - 56 .  
         [0047]     Light support frame  54  has a cover generally indicated by the numeral  70 . Cover  70  shown in phantom lines in  FIGS. 6 and 7  snaps onto the light support frame as shown.  
         [0048]     A cylindrical shield  72  extends outward from the outside face of light support plate  54   b  past the outermost ends  56   a  of light emitting diode  56  to provide a shield for directing light rays emitted from light emitting diodes  56 - 56  toward the reflective side  16   a  of mirror  16  and to prevent light rays emitted from light emitting diodes  56 - 56  from diffusing away from mirror  16  toward the user  40  of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , if the user  40  of the lighted mirror apparatus of the invention were using the apparatus absent shield  72 , some of the light rays being emitted from light emitting diodes  56 - 56  would be directed away from the reflective surface  16   a  of mirror  16 , and lighting of the obstructed area would not be as clear and intense as occurs when shield  72  directs more of the light rays onto reflective surface  16   a . Furthermore, shield  72  prevents light rays being emitted from light emitting diodes  56  from striking the obstruction rather than being reflected by mirror  16  onto the area of desired observation.  
         [0049]     For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , automobile bumper  42   a  of automobile  42  may be chrome plated and very light reflective. If shield  72  were not present, some of the light from light emitting diodes  56  would strike bumper  42  and be reflected into the eye of the user  40 , causing glare and impairing the vision of the user  40  trying to view an obstructed area beneath the automobile  42 .  
         [0050]     It is important that the shield  72  extend outward from the surface  54   b  on which the light source  56  is connected in the same direction as the light source a distance greater than the length of the light source  56  to prevent light rays emitted from the light source to be directed toward the user, and to reflect more of the light rays emitted from the light source onto the reflective surface  16   a  of mirror  16 . Preferably, shield  72  extends beyond light source  56  about one-fourth to one-half of the distance that light source  56  extends beyond the surface on which it is mounted. Preferably, the side of shield facing light source  24  is made from a light reflecting material such as polished aluminum or steel, chrome plated metal, or the like.  
         [0051]     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of the following claims: