Abstract:
A mirror assembly including a collar including two side walls spaced apart from each other and a transverse member coupled to the two side walls, and a mirror releasably coupled to the transverse member. A method a method of installing a mirror includes mounting a collar on the wall, and mounting a mirror on the collar after it is mounted on the wall. A method of forming a collar from a strip of material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/016,273, filed on Jun. 24, 2014 and titled “Mirror Assembly,” the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Fixed tilt mirrors are mirrors fixed to a collar extending from a rear of the mirror, which is triangular in side view. The mirror and collar form a one-piece design. In this regard, when the mirror is mounted on a wall, the mirror is tilted forward and downward. These types of mirrors are typically installed in public bathrooms such that people in wheelchairs are better able to use them to view themselves. This one-piece mirror design makes installation difficult and time consuming as the location of the hangers which are mounted on the wall to accept the mirror can only be estimated by the installer, since the installer is not able to see the location of the hanger brackets when installing the mirror on a wall. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In an example embodiment a mirror assembly is provided including, a collar including two side walls spaced apart from each other and a transverse member coupled to the two side walls, and a mirror releasably coupled to the transverse member. In another example embodiment, the transverse member includes a notch and wherein a hanger extends from behind the mirror at least of portion of which is received in the notch. In a further example embodiment, the assembly further includes a projection extending from a rear surface of the mirror and a member coupled to the collar for being rotatable to a position for engaging the projection for preventing the hanger from withdrawing from the notch. In yet a further example embodiment, the side walls are generally triangular. In an example embodiment, when mounted on a wall, the mirror tilts forward and downward. 
         [0004]    In a further example embodiment, a method of installing a mirror on a wall is provided. The method includes mounting a collar on the wall, and mounting a mirror on the collar after it is mounted on the wall. In one example embodiment, the collar includes a cross member and the mirror includes a hanger, such that mounting the mirror on the collar includes straddling the cross-member with the hanger. In another example embodiment, the cross-member includes a notch and wherein straddling the cross-member with the hanger includes placing at least portion of the hanger within the notch. In yet another example embodiment the method also includes locking the mirror onto the collar. In a further example embodiment, a plate is coupled to a rear of the mirror, and the hanger extends from the plate and a projection extends from the plate at a location above the hanger. A rotatable member is coupled to the collar, and locking the mirror includes positioning the rotatable member over the projection for preventing upward movement of the projection and preventing the hanger from un-straddling the cross-member. In yet a further example embodiment, the method also includes forming the collar by defining two bend lines on a strip of material, bending opposite portions of the strip adjacent the bend lines along a diagonal defining a first triangular portion and a second triangular portion extending transversely from the first triangular portion, bending the strip along the two bend lines defining an upper portion there between and two side portions defined by the first triangular portions and two rear portions defined by the two second triangular portions, and attaching a cross-member to the two side portions. In yet a further example embodiment, the cross-member is attached to an end of each of the first and second side portions opposite their corresponding bend lines. In one example embodiment the method further includes bending at portion of each of the opposite portions defining a lip extending transversely from each of the first triangular portions. In another example embodiment, the method also includes attaching a second cross-member to the two lips. In yet another example embodiment, the collar includes two generally triangular side walls, wherein when the mirror is mounted on the collar it is tilted forward and downward. 
         [0005]    In a further example embodiment, a method of forming a collar is provided including defining two bend lines on a strip of material, bending opposite portions of the strip adjacent the bend lines along a diagonal defining a first triangular portion and a second triangular portion extending transversely from the first triangular portion, bending the strip along the two bend lines defining an upper portion there between and two side portions defined by the first triangular portions and two rear portions defined by the two second triangular portions, and attaching a cross-member to the two side portions. In yet a further example embodiment, the cross-member is attached to an end of each of the first and second side portions opposite their corresponding bend lines. In one example embodiment the method further includes bending at portion of each of the opposite portions defining a lip extending transversely from each of the first triangular portions. In another example embodiment, the method also includes attaching a second cross-member to the two lips. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D and  1 E are front, top, bottom, side and rear views of an example embodiment collar. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front and rear views of an example embodiment framed mirror. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment mirror releasable coupled on an example embodiment collar mounted on a wall. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a flow-chart of an example embodiment method of attaching a mirror to a wall. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a flow-chart of an example embodiment method of forming an example embodiment collar. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a strip of material used to form a collar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In an example embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D, and  1 E, a collar  10  is provided that is separate from the mirror and is triangular in side view (see  FIG. 1D ). In an example embodiment, the collar is a metal collar. The collar includes at least one cross member  12  onto which the mirror would be mounted. In an example embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1A , two cross members  12 ,  14  are mounted onto the collar one above the other and spaced apart. In an example embodiment, the two cross members are welded onto the collar at their ends  16 . The two cross members may each be a strip of material, such as metal, extending horizontally. Each cross member may include at least one notch  18 . In an example embodiment, each cross member includes two spaced apart notches  18  at a top end thereof. In an example embodiment, to provide for further strength, each cross member may be L- shaped or U-shaped in cross section. The collar includes two side walls  20  and at least one cross wall extending between the two side walls. In an example embodiment, the collar includes a top wall  22  and an bottom wall  24  both extending between the two side walls  20 . In the example embodiment, each side wall  20  has a generally triangular shape in plan view (see  FIG. 1D ). In an example embodiment, the collar includes a back wall  26  extending from at least one of a collar side wall  20 . In the shown example embodiment, a back wall  26  extends from each of the two triangular side walls  20 . Openings  28  are formed through the back walls  26  to accept fasteners. 
         [0013]    In an example embodiment, a mirror  30  is mounted on a frame  32  which includes a back plate  34  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The back plate includes at least a hanger  36 . The back plate in an example embodiment may be separate from the frame. In an example embodiment, a hanger is provided for each notch  18  on each of the cross members. In an example embodiment, each hanger may be formed by punching or stamping out a section of the back plate. When formed, each hanger has a portion  38  extending transversely from the back plate, and a portion  39  extending downward and, in example embodiments, generally parallel to the back plate defining the hanger ( FIG. 3 ). In another example embodiment, rather than punching or stamping out the hanger from the back plate, each hanger may be L-shaped in cross section and attached to the back plate, as for example by welding or other means. In other embodiments, the hanger may have other shapes in cross-section, as for example, a U-shape. Such hangers may be fastened or otherwise adhered to the back plate. In an example embodiments, the hangers are designed to be received in the notches  18  on the collar cross members  12 ,  14 , such that when the hangers are received in the notches, each hanger fits within a notch and the fit is such that it provides for minimum sideward play within its corresponding notch. In other words, the side edges of each of the hangers  37  are immediately adjacent to the side edges  35  of each of the notches. 
         [0014]    In another example embodiment, a lock mechanism  40  is provided for locking the mirror  30  onto the collar  10 . The lock mechanism includes a projection  42  extending from the rear of the back plate  34 . The projection may be a portion of the back plate punched or stamped out or it may be a portion welded to the back plate. When the mirror with the back plate is mounted on the cross members  12 ,  14 , such that the hangers are received into the notches of the cross members, the projection, in an example embodiment, extends above the upper cross member  12 . The lock mechanism also includes a lock  44  including a member  46  mounted on the collar  10  that can be rotated through the use of a key  48  in the lock from a position for engaging the projection or for extending above the projection so as to prevent or limit the upward movement of the projection, and thus, the mirror. In this regard, when the member is rotated into position, immediately above the projection, the mirror is prevented from moving upwards at all, or sufficiently, so that the hangers are prevented from dismounting from the cross member notches. In this regard, the mirror is retained locked onto the collar. 
         [0015]    In an example embodiment, during installation, the collar is first installed onto a wall  90 , as for example by fastening the collar using fasteners through the openings  28  formed through the rear walls  26  extending from the triangular sides  20  of the collar (block  70 ,  FIG. 4 ). Once installed in the appropriate position, the mirror is mounted onto the collar by having the hangers extending from the rear plate of the mirror mounted onto the cross member notches (block  72 ). The mirror may then be locked into place with the locking mechanism (block  74 ). As can be seen with this embodiment, the mirror may be mounted precisely onto the desired location without having to guess where that location is, as clear viewing and access is provided to the fastening locations through the collar prior to mounting of the mirror onto the collar. 
         [0016]    In one example embodiment, the collar is formed as follows. A single strip of material  50  is used to form the two triangular sides  20 , as well as the upper side  22  of the collar ( FIG. 6 ). In an example embodiment, the single strip of material has a length equal to the total sum of the lengths of the two sides  20  and the upper side  22  of the collar. This single piece of material is bent about two bend lines  52  (block  80 ,  FIG. 5 ) defining the upper side  22  between each side  20  extending from opposite ends of the upper side  22 . Notches  54  may be formed on opposite ends of the strip of material at the opposite ends of each bend line  52 . A section  56  of the strip of material  50  along one longitudinal edge of the strip of material is bent generally perpendicularly or transversely to the rest of the strip to define a lip. In the example embodiment, the notches  54  divide the section or lip  56  into three portions or lips  56   a,    56   b,  and  56   c  with portions  56   a  and  56   c  running along the side walls  20  and portion  56   b  running along the upper wall. The notches allow for the portions  56   a,    56   b,  and  56   c  to bend relative to each other and the strip of material  50  to be bent about the bent lines after the section  56  of the strip in bend. A longitudinal section  58  along the upper wall  20  may also be bent perpendicularly to upper wall and in the same direction as portion  56   b.  Each portion of the strip extending from opposite ends of the portion defining the upper side is bent along a diagonal  60  to define the triangular side walls  20  and the rear walls  26  extending from the triangular side walls (blocks  82 ,  84 ). The openings  28  may be formed on the rear walls to allow for the fasteners that are used to attach the collar to a wall. A lower member may be welded to the lower ends of the side walls  20  collar so as to define the bottom wall  24 . In an example embodiment, a bottom wall is not necessary as when the cross members are welded onto the side members, they may provide for sufficient stiffness and rigidity (block  86 ). It should be noted that the strip may be bent about the bend lines  52  before or after the triangular side walls are formed. 
         [0017]    Although example embodiments structures described herein have been identified as being made of metal, in other example embodiments, the structures described herein may be formed from other materials, such as composites or plastics, and may be manufactured by other processes, such as molding. 
         [0018]    While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and operations can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention, as set forth in the following claims. For example, in other example embodiments, the side walls may not be triangular in side view. They may have other shapes, as for example trapezoidal or rectangular. When the side walls are rectangular, the mirror may not be a tilt mirror. Although relative terms such as “outer”, “inner”, “upper”, “lower”, “below”, “above”, “front”, and “back” and similar terms have been used herein to describe a spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the various elements and components of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.