Abstract:
A pair of folding orthogonal mirrors is disclosed, including first and second plates, each provided on a face thereof with a surface mirror; hinges, attached to the first and second plates to movably join the two together, so that the plates are movable from an unfolded position, in which the surface mirrors on each of the plates are arranged orthogonally, to a folded position, in which the surface mirrors on each of the plates face one another. The pair of folding orthogonal mirrors is provided with a magnet assembly, attached to the first and second plates, for maintaining the plates in the unfolded position by magnetic attraction; and include means for adjusting the angle between the surface mirrors in the unfolded position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a pair of mirrors wherein two surface mirrors arranged orthogonally at right angles and wherein two surface mirrors dually reflect light that is incident from a viewer and present reversed mirror images in which the right and the left sides are correctly positioned as if the viewer were facing himself, and more particularly, to a pair of mirrors equipped with mechanisms enabling unfolding and folding of the mirrors through changes in the intersection angle thereof. 
     Prior orthogonal mirrors were disclosed in Japan Patent Application Nos. Tokuganhei 7-217034 and Tokuganhei 9-209536, filed by the inventor. The former prior art was a glass mirror system for industrial use, and especially, for electronic image acquiring systems. The latter prior art was a pair of foldaway orthogonal mirrors made of glass mirrors and holders. 
     Those prior arts used glass mirrors. Therefore, the exposed edges were possibly injurious in environments of consumer use and, especially, the latter complicated structures were costly. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONS 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a pair of holdaway orthogonal mirrors with low cost and high safety, designed especially for consumer use, wherein the dually-reflected lights visualize reversed mirror images of a viewer&#39;s face or portrait in which the right and the left sides are correctly positioned. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of orthogonal mirrors which have so simple a structure that they can be fabricated even by molding. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of orthogonal mirrors with safe mirror edges. 
     Another, more particular, object of the present invention is to provide a pair of orthogonal mirrors held with a stand or a frame. 
     A further particular object of the present invention is to provide a pair of holdaway orthogonal mirrors which work as a planar mirror as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a pair of mirrors comprises two plates equipped with respectively silverized mirror surfaces, and also with plate connectors, which movably join both plates, enabling transition from an unfolded pose, where the mirror surfaces are arranged orthogonally, to a folded pose where the mirror surfaces face one another. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a pair of holdaway orthogonal mirrors comprises a frame; a first plate having a silverized surface and an external edge rotatably held with the frame; a second, wider plate having a silverized surface; and plate connectors, attached to respective mirror sides of both plates, which movably connect both plates, enabling transition from an unfolded pose where the mirror surfaces are arranged orthogonally, to a folded pose where the mirror surfaces face one another. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a fabrication method for fabricating a pair of orthogonal mirrors includes procedures wherein each of two orthogonally arranged planes of a solid is silverized to constitute a pair of orthogonal mirrors, wherein incident light is dual reflected and then emitted to present reversed mirror images of a viewer. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, a fabrication method for fabricating a pair of orthogonal mirrors includes procedures wherein two silverized plates are arranged orthogonally with respect to one another so as to form a pair of orthogonal mirrors, wherein incident light is dually reflected and then emitted to present reversed mirror images of a viewer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate schematically the principle of action of a pair of orthogonal mirrors of the present invention—a schematic perspective view of the mirrors (FIG. 1A) and the dual reflection pathways (FIG.  1 B); 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 3C and 3D are schematic sectional plans of a pair of mirrors of an embodiment of the present invention in a folded pose (FIG. 3C) and an unfolded pose (FIG.  3 D); 
     FIGS. 4E and 4F are a schematic top view (FIG. 4E) and a schematic front view (FIG. 4F) of a pair of orthogonal mirrors held with a stand of another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 5G and 5H are a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process for a pair of orthogonal mirrors in accordance with the present invention illustrating an example of the fabrication method; 
     FIGS. 6J,  6 K and  6 L are a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process for a pair of orthogonal mirrors in accordance with the present invention, illustrating an example of another fabrication method; 
     FIGS. 7M and 7N are schematic sectional plans of a pair of orthogonal mirrors held with a frame of yet another embodiment of the present invention in a folded pose (FIG.  7 M), and in an unfolded pose (FIG.  7 N); 
     FIGS. 8P and 8Q are schematic front views of a pair of orthogonal mirrors illustrated in FIG. 7 in a folded pose (FIG.  8 P), and in an unfolded pose (FIG.  8 Q); and 
     FIGS. 9R and 9S are schematic sectional plans of a pair of orthogonal mirrors of still another embodiment of the present invention in a folded pose (FIG. 9R) and in an unfolded pose (FIG.  9 S). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The function of a pair of orthogonal mirrors can be understood through the schematic illustrations shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     When one looks at oneself using an ordinary glass, one finds a false image of oneself, that is, the right and the left are reversed. Since an ordinary planar glass reflects structured light from an object with right angles, the right-to-left relations of the mirrored image are seen as reversed. It is called a “mirror image,” as compared with a real image. It has been a recognized phenomenon from ancient times that one cannot see oneself as others do. 
     Shown in FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a pair of orthogonal mirrors, wherein two planar surface mirrors  11  and  12  are arranged orthogonally so that the surfaces might abut each other with the interior angle  15  of π/2. In the mirror arrangement shown schematically in FIG. 1B, primary light of an angle θ which is incident to the right mirror surface  11  is reflected, with an angle θ, and then hits the left mirror surface  12  as secondary incident light of an angle (π/2−θ), and is further reflected with an angle (π/2−θ). 
     Through dual reflection, a pair of orthogonal mirrors reverse mirror images, replacing the right with the left, and vice versa, correctly. Consequently, one  14  can look at one&#39;s own correct FIG.  13 . 
     Here, it will be noted that the roles of both mirrors are quite similar, and they are interchangeable. 
     For the mirror  11  or  12 , a surface mirror must be used. A surface mirror reflects light at the reflective obverse. On the other hand, an ordinary mirror reflects light at the inner face of the reverse. In the latter, light passes twice through the glass and is refracted twice at the air-glass interface. A pair of orthogonal mirrors essentially utilizes dual reflection steps. Therefore, if such an ordinary mirror is used in an embodiment of the present invention, the quadrupled refraction greatly degrades its image quality. Thus, an ordinary mirror cannot be adopted in the embodiments of the present invention. 
     The present invention provides several types of consumer-use orthogonal mirrors and fabrication methods thereof. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is depicted schematically in FIG.  2 . In the figure, one plate  23  having a mirror surface  21  is joined by means of hinges  25  to another plate  24  having a mirror surface  22  so that a user may fold and unfold the plates  23  and  24 . The right mirror surface  21  has been obtained by silverizing the obverse of the plate  23 , and the left mirror surface  22  has been obtained by silverizing the obverse of the plate  24 . Because the contact of one mirror surface with another mirror edge is inevitable, to embody a pair of orthogonal mirrors, each internal side  26  of the plate  23 , or the plate  24 , is formed obliquely so that the mirror surfaces  21  and  22  may contact each other directly and orthogonally in the unfolded pose. 
     The embodiment is illustrated also in the schematic sectional plans of FIG. 3, where FIG. 3C is in the folded pose and FIG. 3D is in the unfolded pose. The size and the position of each part and the inclination angle of the oblique internal sides of both plates shown there is relative, and the number of each part is not necessarily unity. 
     In FIG. 3, the mirrors  31  and  32  have been made by silverizing the respective obverses of the plates  35  and  36  with Ag deposition, for example, by vacuum evaporation or by plating. 
     The respective internal sides  38   r  and  38   l  are partly orthogonal and partly oblique. Parts  33  and  34  are orthogonal to the respective mirror surfaces  31  and  32 . Parts  33 ′ and  34 ′ are next to the respective orthogonal parts  33  and  34 , and are oblique to the respective mirror surfaces  31  and  32 . Owing to the shapes, the orthogonal part  34  of the plate  36  can meet closely with the mirror surface  31  of the plate  35  in the unfolded pose (FIG.  3 D). Close contact of the mirror surface  31  with the orthogonal part  34  is a condition inevitable for keeping the unfolded orthogonal pose stable. 
     The slopes  33 ′ and  34 ′ have such inclination angles that the mirror surfaces  31  and  32  may be arranged orthogonally in the unfolded pose. In the embodiment of the present invention, the respective angles are obtuse with the mirror surfaces  31  and  32 , so that, in the unfolded pose, a space is produced between both slopes  33 ′ and  34 ′ which enables intervention, between both plates  35  and  36 , of unfolded pose-maintaining devices and interior angle adjusters to be mentioned subsequently (FIG.  3 D). 
     The plate  35  is hinged to the plate  36  with hinges  37 , so that one can fold and unfold both plates. Flaps of the hinges  37  are fixed adjacent to the respective inner edges of the obverses of the plates  35  and  36 . Each flap is precisely positioned so as to attain the above-mentioned close contact of the mirrors  31  and  32 . Although one hinge is illustrated in FIG. 3, in practice two hinges are used, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The hinges  37  enable transition from the folded pose (FIG.  3 C), where the mirrors  31  and  32  face each other, to the unfolded pose (FIG.  3 D), where the mirrors  31  and  32  are arranged orthogonally. Rotation of the plate  35 , or the plate  36 , around the hinges  37  enables also folding of the unfolded mirrors. The hinges  37  may be positioned elsewhere so long as both surface mirrors  31  and  32  abut each other orthogonally. 
     Overall uniform planar contact of both mirror surfaces  31  and  32  and the 90 degree-angle intersection are definitive requisites for a pair of mirrors intended to produce correct reversal images. If either condition is lost, images will be degraded. 
     In order to establish a stable orthogonal arrangement this embodiment of the present invention has an unfolded pose-maintaining system with which both internal sides  38   r  and  38   l  may strike each other strongly. 
     Nuts (female screws)  40  are embedded in the internal side  38   r , and magnetic bolts (male screws)  39  are screwed into the nuts  40 . Magnets  41  are embedded in the internal side  38   l . A combination of the magnets  41  and the magnetic bolts  39  produces a magnetic system which serves for stabilizing the unfolded mirrors. When one unfolds the mirrors, the magnets  41  approach the bolts  39  and pull them, and finally, the internal side  38   l  strikes the internal side  38   r.    
     The magnetic system of magnets  41  and bolts  39  exactly reproduces just the orthogonal posture that has been precisely adjusted in the manufacturing line prior to delivery. Owing to magnetic attraction, users get rid of cumbersome adjustments in orthogonalizing both mirrors  31  and  32 . 
     Prior to delivery, the intersecting angle must be adjusted to 90 degrees. In this embodiment of the present invention, lengths of the bolts  39  which are screwed out from the nuts  40  function as adjustable spacers inserted between the internal sides  38   r  and  38   l.    
     Fine adjustment of the intersection angle between the mirror surfaces  31  and  32  is achieved by screwing the bolts  39 . In a contact pose of the mirror surfaces  31  and  32  (FIG.  3 D), an operator screws up or down the bolts  39  until the separate right and left images unite into one coordinated figure. Once the coordination is accomplished, the operator fixes the bolts  39  to the respective nuts  40  using a fixing agent. The fixed bolts  39  guarantee the reproducibility of orthogonal intersection established between the mirror surfaces  31  and  32 , even when an innocent user would unfold the mirrors carelessly. 
     The adjuster does not need to be a combination of bolts and nuts. Any space adjuster whatever can be used. As is shown in FIG. 3D, similar adjuster effect can be obtained with male screws  42  which are screwed directly into the plate  35  from the reverse to cause the tips to push the internal side  38   l.    
     In this embodiment of the present invention, a transparent material such as uncolored polycarbonate or acryl resin is used for the plate  36 , so that the opposite side of the mirror  32  works as a usual planar mirror with which one can see accustomed self images for make-up and other uses. 
     FIG. 4 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein use of a pair of orthogonal mirrors with no hand-hold for make-up and other uses is realized. Another embodiment is equipped with a stand which supports a pair of orthogonal mirrors. FIG. 4E is a top view of the stand supporting a pair of orthogonal mirrors, and FIG. 4F is a front view of it. 
     A pair of orthogonal mirrors  51  with a structure similar to that shown in FIG. 3 is supported with a pair of arms  55  of a stand  54 . The pair of orthogonal mirrors  51  has oblique external sides  51 ″ whose angles are 45 degrees with the mirror  51 . Nuts  53  are embedded in the external sides  51 ″. Bolts  52  are screwed into the nuts  53  via holes (not shown) of the arms  55 , and then the pair of orthogonal mirrors  51  is supported with the stand  54  rotatably. One can place the stand  54 , for example, on a desk and turn the mirror surface  51 ′ to an up or down angle most feasible for gazing at one&#39;s facial image. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  5 . This embodiment is a method for manufacturing a pair of orthogonal mirrors. 
     In the first step of its fabrication, a solid with orthogonally contacting surfaces  61  and  62  is made as a basal body for a pair of orthogonal mirrors, as shown in FIG.  5 G. Whereas the solid in FIG. 5G is depicted as if it had been made by orthogonal intersection of one plate  63  with another plate  64 , crossing of two plates is not inevitable for the basal body. The only requisite for the basal body is the possession of the orthogonally intersecting planar surfaces  61  and  62 . The basal body may also be produced using a mold. 
     In the second step, a pair of orthogonal mirrors is accomplished by silverizing the surfaces  61  and  62  with Ag evaporation, and others, to obtain the respective surface mirrors  61 ′ and  62 ′ (FIG.  5 H). Silverizing the contact regions of the surfaces  61  and  62  is inevitable. 
     In this embodiment, equipping the pair of orthogonal mirrors with a stand  54 , as shown in FIG. 4, enables orientation of the mirror surfaces  61 ′ and  62 ′ to an angle favorable for looking. 
     Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  6 . This embodiment is another method for manufacturing a pair of orthogonal mirrors. 
     In the first step of its fabrication, two separate solids  73  and  74 , having respective flat surfaces  71  and  72 , as shown in FIG. 6J, are prepared. Whereas the solids  73  and  74  are depicted as if they were two plates in FIG. 6J, plates are not inevitable for the basal bodies. The only requisite for the basal body is the planar front surface of  71  and  72 . 
     The second step is a silverizing process of the surfaces  71  and  72 , with Ag evaporation, and others, to produce surface mirrors  71 ′ and  72 ′ (FIG.  6 K). 
     The third is a step of joining the mirror  71 ′ to the mirror  72 ′, keeping an orthogonally intersecting pose between both surfaces (FIG.  6 L). 
     In this embodiment also, equipping the pair of orthogonal mirrors  71 ′ and  72 ′ with a stand  54 , as shown in FIG. 4, enables orientation of the surfaces  71 ′ and  72 ′ to an angle favorable for looking. 
     Yet still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as sectional plans (in FIG.  7 ), and as frontal views (in FIG.  8 ), of a pair of orthogonal mirrors in a folded pose or in an unfolded pose. This embodiment is a large pair of foldaway orthogonal mirrors enabling wall-hanging or standing-alone as a professional-use looking glass. 
     As is shown in FIG. 7, a right surface mirror  81  has been made by silverizing a face of one plate  83 , with Ag evaporation, and others, and a left surface mirror  82  has been obtained through similar processing of a face of another transparent plate  84 . Owing to the wall-hanging or standing-alone style, users would hardly touch the mirror edges. Therefore, the plate  83  and/or the plate  84  can be made of glass as well as synthetic resin. 
     In this embodiment, the external edge of the right plate  83  is rotatably connected to a frame  92  with a fixed pivot  90 . Hinges  86  work as floating pivots. 
     The left plate  84  is held with the right plate  83  via the hinges  86 . Either edge of the left plate  84  is free. 
     In the folded pose of FIG. 7M, the reverse of the left plate  84  is oriented to the front as is shown also in FIG.  8 P. Owing to the transparency, the reverse  82 ′ of the left mirror  82  works as a planar mirror (FIG.  8 P). 
     In the folded pose of FIG. 7M, moving a projection  91  of the left plate  84  along an aperture guide  93  opened obliquely in the top of the frame  92  causes both plates  83  and  84  to rotate around the fixed pivot  90 , and further causes both mirrors  81  and  82  to unfold around the hinges  86 . In this movement, the right mirror  81  rotates by 45 degrees and the left mirror  82  rotates by 135 degrees. A pair of orthogonal mirrors of this embodiment is thus attained as is shown in FIG.  7 N and FIG.  8 Q. The projection  91  may be moved either manually or electrically. 
     The left plate  84  is wider than the right plate  83 . The unfolded pose of FIG. 7N is obtained by bringing the internal side  85  of the right plate  83  into contact with the mirror surface  82  of the left plate  84 . For vertical contact of the mirror  81  with the mirror  82 , the internal side  85  of the right plate  83  has been made vertical to the right mirror surface  81 . 
     The plate  83  is hinged to the plate  84  with hinges  86 , so that one can fold and unfold both plates. Respective flaps of the hinges  86  are so fixed to the obverses of the plates  83  and  84  as to yield a minute space between the side  85  and the obverse of the plate  84  permitting intervention of an unfolded pose-maintaining system and an interior angle adjuster to be mentioned subsequently. 
     This embodiment of the present invention is equipped with an unfolded pose-maintaining system, wherein pieces of magnetic material  87  are embedded in the internal side  85  of the right plate  83  and magnets  88  are also embedded in the obverse of the left plate  84 . A combination of the magnets  88  and the magnetic pieces  87  produces a magnetic system which serves for stabilizing the unfolded mirrors. When one unfolds the errors  81  and  82 , the magnets  88  approach the pieces  87 , and pull them, and finally the obverse of the left plate  84  strikes the internal side  85 , thus reproducing just the orthogonal posture that has been precisely adjusted, prior to delivery, in the manufacturing process. 
     Magnetic action is not necessarily required for maintaining the unfolded pose. Similar effect can be obtained using an elastic material. For example, by fixing one end of a slightly stretched spiral spring to the external edge of the right plate  83 , and by fixing the other end of it to the internal edge of the left plate  84 , the external edge of the right plate  83  forcibly attracts the internal edge of the left plate  84 , and finally the obverse of the left plate  84  strikes the internal side  85 . 
     To attain a precise intersection angle of 90 degrees, as is depicted in FIG. 7N, this embodiment of the present invention is equipped with adjustable spacers. Bolts or male screws  89  are screwed into the left plate  84  from the reverse, and the tips protrude from the obverse, pushing the internal side  85  of the right plate  83 . By screwing up or down the bolts or male screws  89 , fine adjustment of the intersection angle is achieved. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention concerning a pair of orthogonal mirrors is illustrated as sectional plans of a folded pose or an unfolded pose in FIG.  9 . Similar to a pair of orthogonal mirrors depicted in FIG. 7, this embodiment is a large pair of foldaway orthogonal mirrors enabling wall-hanging or standing-alone as a professional-use looking glass. 
     Except that the reverse  106  of the left plate  104  can be utilized for a planar mirror, this embodiment has basically a similar structure as that shown in FIG.  7 . Thus, explanation of the similar factors is as follows: the fixed pivot  111  corresponds to fixed pivot  90  of FIG. 7; projection  112  corresponds to projection  91  of FIG. 7; plates  103 ,  104  correspond to plates  83 ,  84  of FIG. 7; internal side  105  corresponds to internal side  85  of FIG. 7, while frame  113 , aperture guide  114  and screw  110  correspond to the structure at numerals  92 ,  93  and  89 , respectively, and magnets  108 ,  109  correspond to magnets  87 ,  88  of FIG.  7 . Finally, hinge  107  corresponds to hinge  86  of FIG.  7 . As is shown in FIG. 9, a right mirror surface  101  has been made by silverizing a face of a right plate  103 , with Ag evaporation, and others, and a left obverse mirror surface  102  and a left reverse mirror surface  106  have been obtained through similar processing of both faces of the left plate  104 . In the folded pose of FIG. 9R, where the reverse  106  of the left plate  104  is oriented to the front, the silverized face  106  can be used as a planar mirror.