Abstract:
A winged rotatable mirrored stile is provided having a post mounted to define a vertical rotational axis in a mirror labyrinth. A plurality of wings extends radially from the post with each of the wings, at least one wing face supporting a mirror. 
     A mirror labyrinth is provided that includes multiple fixed position interreflective mirrors and a rotatable mirrored stile sharing reflections with the multiple fixed position interreflective mirrors to enhance the disorienting and therefore amusement value of the labyrinth.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/434,345 filed May 1, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention in general relates to a rotating mirrored stile and in particular to a motorized rotating mirrored stile incorporated into a mirror labyrinth in order to enhance the visual complexity associated with navigating the mirror labyrinth. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A mirror labyrinth represents a source of amusement associated with the visual disorientation created by multiple reflections between mirrors within the labyrinth. These multiple reflections not only create a perception of an infinite repeating space, but also can be constructed to obscure a portal within the labyrinth and a mirror surface. The visual trickery creates a sense of amusement; however, as one navigates a mirror labyrinth, visual perception becomes heightened to successfully navigate the labyrinth and distinguish between portals through which a user can pass from a mirrored surface. With experiential training, mirror labyrinth navigation becomes easier thereby diminishing the amusement value. Prior art attempts to increase the optical illusion associated with a mirror labyrinth have included mounting of clear glass or polymeric panes in lieu of a mirror or the inclusion of floor lighting as detailed in US 2008/0205046 A1. While these improvements have proved somewhat successful, the resultant mirror labyrinth remains static with respect to multiple reflections between mirrors. 
         [0004]    Thus, there exists a need for a rotating mirrored stile to create dynamic interreflective mirrors. There further exists a need for a rotating mirrored stile to be motor driven so as to afford a dynamic mirror labyrinth. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A winged rotatable mirrored stile is provided having a post mounted to define a vertical rotational axis in a mirror labyrinth. A plurality of wings extends radially from the post with each of the wings, at least one wing face supporting a mirror. 
         [0006]    A mirror labyrinth is provided that includes multiple fixed position interreflective mirrors and a rotatable mirrored stile sharing reflections with the multiple fixed position interreflective mirrors to enhance the disorienting and therefore amusement value of the labyrinth. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an inventive rotating mirrored stile; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an alternate pentagonal mirrored post depicting a distorting, nonplanar mirror; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of an exemplary mirror labyrinth including an inventive mirrored stile; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an inventive rotating winged mirrored stile; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative exemplary mirror labyrinth including an inventive mirrored stile. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The present invention has utility in increasing visual illusion associated with a user navigating a mirror maze. Through the inclusion of a rotatable mirrored stile within a mirror labyrinth, the image interreflection associated with a mirror labyrinth is dynamic as the mirrored stile rotates. Preferably, the rotatable mirrored stile has a motor drive mechanism which during activation creates a dynamic interreflective illusion. The drive mechanism is optionally activated upon sensing a person in proximity to the rotatable mirrored stile. 
         [0013]    The present invention will be further detailed with respect to the following nonlimiting figures. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an inventive rotatable mirrored stile is shown generally at  10 . The stile  10  includes a polygonal post  12  rotatable about a vertical axis  14 . The post  12  has two to eight rotationally degenerate faces  16  relative to the rotational axis  14 . In the instance when post  12  has two rotationally degenerate faces, the post is actually quadrangular in top view with two opposing faces with a long linear extent relative to the two intermediate adjoining faces. The polygonal post  12  depicted in  FIG. 1  is triangular with three rotationally degenerate faces  16 . Preferably, a triangular post is formed as approximately an equilateral triangle when viewed from above. It is appreciated that an equilateral triangle has a high degree of symmetry and therefore has a larger number of points of interreflective overlap with a surrounding mirror labyrinth upon rotation about the axis  14 . A post  12  is formed by joining sheets of material such as sheet metal, plywood, or mirrored sheeting to form a polygonal structure. Corner braces  18  and spanning braces  20  are used to strengthen the polygonal structure to a desired degree of rigidity. A cover  21  optionally encloses the space within the polygonal structure. In instances when a face  16  is itself not mirrored, at least one such face  16  has a mirror  23  secured thereto. The post structure is secured to a base  22 . The base  22  is mounted to a floor or ceiling within a mirror labyrinth by conventional means such that the base  22  is capable of rotation about axis  14 . In the simplest embodiment, base  22  has a spindle extending along axis  14  that engages a floor or ceiling mounted bearing race. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the base  22  engages a motor drive mechanism  26  that is in turn mounted to a floor or ceiling within the mirror labyrinth. The motor drive mechanism  26  includes a diameter ball bearing swivel powered by an electric motor  30 . The diameter ball bearing swivel preferably includes holes  32  adapted to receive a fastener  34  maintained in simultaneous contact between the base  22  and the swivel  28 . Optionally, the motor drive mechanism  26  has limit switches  32  that are capable of stopping the drive mechanism  26  at any point of a clockwise or counterclockwise movement. A clutch assembly  34  is preferably provided that allows the post  12  to be disengaged from active movement by the drive mechanism  26  upon the post  12  contacting an external obstruction. A drive mechanism  26  operates in a number of modes including continuous rotation within a mirror labyrinth, activated upon an individual coming into proximity thereto through tripping an infrared, pressure or other type of switch; or through a mirror labyrinth operator selectively operating a radiofrequency remote control. It is appreciated that such controls include the ability to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a pentagonal post  52  is shown that represents an alternate embodiment to post  12  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Post  52  has a base  22  adapted to engage fasteners  34  in instances when post  52  is coupled to a drive mechanism  26  or alternatively includes an axial spindle  54  in instances when the post  52  engages a ceiling or floor mounted bearing race (not shown). The post  52  depicts three faces as showing to the viewer. Planar faces  56  and  58  have mirrors  60  and  62  overlaying these faces, respectively. For visual clarity, the mirrors  60  and  62  are shown in partial cutaway view. Face  64  of the post  52  includes a mounting brace  66  adapted to engage the back side of a nonplanar distorting mirror  68 . A cover  70  optionally secures to the opposing terminus of the polygonal structure relative to base  22 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts the placement of an inventive rotatable mirrored stile  10  or  10 ′ within a mirror labyrinth. Preferably, the stile  10  or  10 ′ is surrounded by the labyrinth. At least one sensor  80  is present within the mirror labyrinth and is of a type such as infrared, radiofrequency, or pressure switch such that a user coming into proximity to the rotatable mirrored stile  10 ′ engages the drive mechanism  26  to cause the polygonal post  12  or  52  to rotate about rotational axis  14 . Optionally, an additional sensor  82  of a like or dissimilar type relative to sensor  80  is also placed within the mirror labyrinth to provide a separate control switch for changing the operation of the drive mechanism  26 . Changes in operation of the drive mechanism illustratively include activation/inactivation, change of drive mechanism directionality, or change in drive mechanism speed. Optionally, a second rotatable mirrored stile is deployed within a mirror labyrinth. The second rotatable mirrored stile is appreciated to be like the rotatable mirrored stile  10  or  10 ′ or vary in terms of the number of polygonal faces, the number of mirrored polygonal faces or the inclusion or exclusion of a nonplanar distorting mirror mounted thereto. The second rotatable mirrored stile is optionally continually operated or operated by a proximity switch  80 ′ or triggered by one of the sensors  80  or  82 . 
         [0017]    An inventive winged rotating mirrored stile is shown generally at  100  where like numerals used in the figures have the same meaning associated with the use of those numerals with respect to the preceding  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A post  102  is rotatable around a vertical axis  14 . The post  102  engages in a simplest embodiment a floor or ceiling mounted bearing race (not shown). Alternatively, a motor drive mechanism  26  is intermediate between the race and post  102  to provide mechanized movement of the post  102 . 
         [0018]    The post  102  has one to eight wings  104  extending therefrom. Each wing  104  has two opposing faces  106  and  106 ′. Preferably, the faces  106  and  106 ′ are substantially parallel. Each face  106  or  106 ′ of each wing  104  independently supports a planar mirror  23 , a distorting mirror  68 , contains a transparent glass panel  108 , or is painted or otherwise covered to not reflect an image  110 . Wings  104  are placed around a pole  102  at a variety of angles relative to one another. It is appreciated that the dimensions of each wing  104  can vary relative to other wings  104  on a stile  100 . It is appreciated that in instances when one wishes to enhance the disorienting effects of a labyrinth containing a stile  100 , the angles between multiple wings  104  around a post  102  are equivalent and equal to or a multiple of the mirror angles within a labyrinth. By way of example, the stile  100  depicted has inter-wing angles of 120 degrees between the three wings and is particularly well suited for placement within a mirror labyrinth based on an equilateral triangle unit cell. Similarly, four normal winged stile complements are mirror labyrinth based on a cubic unit cell. It is also appreciated that a stile having a wing omitted at a particular position also creates a degree of disorientation. For example a stile  100  having wings  104  at angles 0 degrees-120 degrees and absent a wing  104  present at 240 degrees functions to also be well suited for disorienting a user within an equilateral unit cell based labyrinth. A wing  104  is readily formed of materials conventional to the art including wood, steel, and aluminum. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  depicts the placement of an inventive rotatable winged mirrored stile  100  within a mirror labyrinth. Preferably, the stile  100  is surrounded by the labyrinth to facilitate rotation of the stile  100  and inter-mirror reflection between mirrors mounted on the stile  100  and the surrounding labyrinth. Optionally, at least one sensor  80  is detailed with respect to  FIG. 3  coupled to the stile  100  to cause the stile  100  to rotate about the vertical axis  14  in response to a user approaching stile  100 . Optionally, an additional sensor  82  of a like or dissimilar type relative to sensor  80 , as detailed with respect to  FIG. 3 , is also placed within the mirror labyrinth to provide a separate control switch for changing operation of a drive mechanism  26 , if present on the stile  100 . It is appreciated that the disorienting effect created by inventive winged rotating mirrored stile  100  operating in concert with at least one additional stile  100  is such that through multiple inter-mirror reflections, reflections occur between the two stiles  100 . It is appreciated that the second stile can vary in the number of wings, as well as whether a planar mirror, distorting mirror, transparent glass panel, or nonreflective coating is applied to a given face of the second stile. The second stile is optionally continually operated or operated by a proximity switch  80 ′ or triggered by one of the sensors  80  or  82  detailed with respect to  FIG. 3 . Preferably, a stile  100  is located within a mirror labyrinth proximal to a serpentine or “S-shaped” labyrinth path as depicted at  202  and  204  in  FIG. 5 . In instances when the mirror labyrinth contains two stiles each independently of the type  10 ,  10 ′ or  100 , the mirror labyrinth has a dual mirror sided panel  206  that prevents a single reflection interaction between the stiles along the path  210 . It is further appreciated that with variation of the lighting scheme in terms of intensity, strobes, and other lighting effects in combination with inventive stile  10  or  10 ′ or  100 , that transiting a mirror labyrinth becomes a particularly complex event that belies the comparatively small area of the mirror labyrinth. 
         [0020]    Patent documents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. These documents and publications are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document or publication was specifically and individually incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0021]    The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.