U.S. patent number 3,737,646 [Application Number 05/189,717] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-05 for removable peripheral light assembly for bathroom mirror.
Invention is credited to Joseph M. Burrows.
United States Patent |
3,737,646 |
Burrows |
June 5, 1973 |
REMOVABLE PERIPHERAL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR BATHROOM MIRROR
Abstract
An inverted U-shaped frame including an upper bight portion from
whose opposite ends a pair of generally parallel legs depend.
Longitudinally spaced portions of the legs are provided with
illumination sources for casting light outwardly of one side of the
U-shaped member and the latter includes structure for supporting
the U-shaped member with its other side substantially flush against
a bathroom mirror or the like. Further, an extension cord is
provided and electrically connected to the various illumination
sources whereby the latter may be electrically connected to a
suitable source of electrical potential.
Inventors: |
Burrows; Joseph M. (Warren,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22698481 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/189,717 |
Filed: |
October 15, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/140; 312/224;
362/249.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
33/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
33/00 (20060101); F21v 033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/4.1,4.2
;312/223,224 ;248/301,304,307,225 ;211/113 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Matthews; Samuel S.
Assistant Examiner: Sheer; Richard M.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A light assembly for positioning closely adjacent a panel having
a substantially planar mirror surface and an upper horizontal
marginal edge portion, said light assembly comprising a frame
having upstanding opposite side portions and an upper generally
horizontal portion extending between and secured to the upper ends
of said upstanding opposite side portions and which together define
a void area between said opposite side portions and said upper
horizontal portion, said opposite side portions and said upper
horizontal portion each having a front surface, said front surfaces
being disposed generally in the same upstanding plane, illumination
means on each of said opposite side portions at points spaced
longitudinally therealong operative, when actuated, to direct light
outward of said front surface, means for removably supporting said
frame in front of said mirror surface with the front surface of
said opposite side portions and said upper horizontal portion
adjacent and generally paralleling said mirror surface, said
supporting means comprising a lateral outward extension of said
upper horizontal portion, which extension extends in a direction
opposite the direction of said light and defines a horizontal
downwardly opening channel extending outwardly from the rear
surface of said upper horizontal portion for removably receiving
the upper horizontal marginal edge portion of the panel.
2. A light assembly comprising, in combination, a panel having a
substantially planar mirror surface and an exposed upper horizontal
marginal edge portion, a frame comprising upstanding opposite side
portions and an upper generally horizontal portion extending
between and secured to the upper ends of said upstanding opposite
side portions and which together define a void area between said
opposite side portions and said upper horizontal portion, said
opposite side portions and said upper horizontal portion each
having a front surface, said front surfaces being disposed
generally in the same upstanding plane, illumination means on each
of said opposite side portions at points spaced longitudinally
therealong operative, when actuated, to direct light outward of
said front surface, means for removably supporting said frame in
front of said mirror surface with the front surface of said
opposite side portions and said upper horizontal portion adjacent
and generally paralleling said mirror surface, said supporting
means comprising a lateral outward extension of said upper
horizontal portion, which extension extends in a direction opposite
the direction of said light and defines a horizontal downwardly
opening channel extending outwardly from the rear surface of said
upper horizontal portion for removably receiving the upper
horizontal marginal edge portion of the panel.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said opposite side portions
define upstanding channel members opening toward said other side of
said frame, said illumination means including electric lamp socket
means supported from the bight portions of said channel members and
having electric lamps secured therein, and electrical conductor
means disposed within said channel members and electrically
connecting said electric lamp sockets in parallel relation, said
conductor means including a free extension cord defining portion
adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electrical
potential.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein one of said bight portions
also includes a female plug electrical receptacle supported
therefrom, said receptacle also being connected to said electrical
conductor means.
Description
The light assembly of the instant invention has been designed to
provide a means whereby a person using a bathroom mirror or the
like may have light cast upon his face from positions disposed
forward of and to the opposite sides of the face of the user of the
associated mirror. In this manner ample illumination of all
portions of the face of a person looking into the associated mirror
are illuminated with substantially no shadows present.
The light assembly has further been designed in a manner such that
is may be readily removed from an associated mirror and supported
adjacent another remotely disposed mirror also, the light assembly
includes a female receptacle into which the male plugs of various
electrical appliances such as shavers and hair dryers etc. may be
plugged.
The main object of this invention is to provide a light assembly
for use in conjunction with a mirror and constructed in a manner
whereby the light assembly may be readily removably supported from
substantially any mirror.
Another object of this invention is to provide a light assembly
which, when used in conjunction with a mirror, will illuminate the
face of the user of the mirror from locations spaced forward of the
user's face and disposed on opposite sides of the user's line of
vision.
Still another important object of this invention is to provide a
light assembly for electrical actuation by conventional household
current and including a female receptable plug into which the male
plugs of various different electrical appliances may be
plugged.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated
herein is to provide a light assembly in accordance with the
preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of
manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to
provide a device that will be economically feasible, long-lasting
and relatively trouble free in operation.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light assembly of the instant
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the light assembly;
and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the view taken
substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the
U-shaped frame of the light assembly and disposed generally normal
to the U-shaped frame.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10
generally designates a bathroom wall having an opening 12 formed
therein in which a medicine cabinet referred to in general by the
reference numeral 14 is mounted. The medicine cabinet 14 includes
the usual mirrored and hinged forward door or closure 16 and it
will be noted that when the door or closure 16 is in the closed
position it is faced slightly outwardly of the wall 10 and its
peripheral portions project slightly outwardly beyond the
corresponding peripheral portions of the medicine cabinet 14.
The light assembly of the instant invention is referred to in
general by the reference numeral 18 and includes a U-shaped frame
referred to in general by the reference numeral 20 consisting of an
upper horizontal bight portion 22 and a pair of deep ending
opposite side legs 24 and 26 which project downwardly from the
opposite ends of the bight portion 22. The bight portion 22 is
rigidly connected between the upper ends of the legs 24 and 26 and
each leg 24 and 26 comprises a U-shaped channel member opening
toward the rear side of the frame 20. Also, the bight portion 22
comprises a similar channel member which opens toward the rear side
of the frame 20. However, the upper flange 22' of the channel
member defining the bight portion 22 includes a rearward extension
28 which is downturned at its free marginal edge portion as at 30
to define a retaining flange.
The retaining flange 30 is spaced rearward of the coplanar rear
edges of the legs 24 and 26 a distance approximately equal to the
thickness of the door or closure 16 of the medicine cabinet 14.
Accordingly, the upper marginal edge portion of the door or closure
16 which projects above the upper marginal edge of the cabinet 14
is receivable within the channel defined between the downturned
flange or edge portion 30 and the bight portion 22. Thus, the frame
20 may be mounted on the upper marginal edge portion of the door or
closure 16 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings for
ready removal therefrom.
A plurality of incandescent lamp sockets 32 are secured through the
bight portions 34 of the legs 24 and 26 and a plurality of
incandescent lamps 36 are removably secured in the sockets 32. In
addition, a female receptable plug 40 is secured through the lower
end of the bight portion 34 of the leg 24. A conductor assembly
referred to in general by the reference numeral 42 electrically
connects the sockets 32 and the receptable plug 40 in parallel
relation and includes a free end portion 44 which is flexible and
extends away from the central area of the bight portion 22. The
terminal end of the free end portion 44 may of course be
electrically connected to any suitable source (not shown) of
electrical potential by means of a male plug carried by the free
end portion 44 and plugged into a suitable household female
receptacle plug.
After the light assembly 18 has been mounted on the door or closure
16, the free end portion 44 of the conductor assembly 42 may be
electrically connected to any suitable source of electrical
potential. This will cause the lamps 38 to be electrically actuated
and to cast light upon the face of the user of the mirrored door or
closure 16 from both sides of the user's face and also from above
the head of the user. Further, if the user of the lamp assembly 18
desires, an electrical appliance may be plugged into the female
receptacle plug 40.
The legs 24 and 26 as well as the bight portion 22 of the light
assembly 18 may be constructed of any suitable plastic material and
an inline switch(not shown) or any other suitable switch may be
electrically connected in the conductor assembly 42 in order to
provide control over the lamps 38 and the plug 40 independent of
plugging in and unplugging the free end of the terminal end 44.
Also, if it is desired, the rearwardly opening channel members
defining the legs 24 and 26 as well as the bight portion 22 may be
closed by means of suitable panel members, if desired.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
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