Patent Application
20090194650
This application is submitted in the name of the following inventors:
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mirror with pegs, posts, grommets, or the like for hanging or otherwise storing accessories such as jewelry, scarves, purses, gloves, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many jewelry boxes, armoires, and other storage items include mirrors for seeing how jewelry and other accessories look when worn. However, jewelry and accessories themselves are usually stored within drawers or other containers when not worn. Some of these pieces are often forgotten or ignored for long periods of time because they are “out of sight, out of mind.”
One embodiment of the invention is an accessory storage mirror that includes a mirror and one or more accessory holders attached to or configured to attach to the surface of the mirror. In a preferred embodiment, the mirror includes a magnetically active material backing the mirror, and the accessory holders include magnets. The magnets preferably are rare-earth Neodymium magnets, and the accessory holders include a non-scratch backing. The accessory storage mirror provides an aesthetically pleasing setting for viewing and displaying jewelry and accessories.
The mirror and holders can be configured in various ways to enhance their utility and aesthetic value.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
One aspect of the invention is a mirror with one or more holders that are or can be attached to the surface of the mirror.
The mirror can be any type of mirror, but preferably is a standard mirror with a glass or glass-like facing. The mirror preferably reflects an undistorted image. Alternatively, the mirror can reflect a distorted image.
The holders are for jewelry or other accessories. The types of items that can be held or stored by various embodiments of the invention preferably include one or more of necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, scarves, ties, gloves, hats, and any other jewelry and accessories. Some embodiments can hold or store a limited subset of these accessories, while others can store more. Both women's and men's accessories can be stored. In addition, other items such as kitchen dishware, tools, and any other small (or even not so small) items can be stored or held. The term “accessories” should be read broadly to include such items. The result of this arrangement is a visually pleasing and convenient storage location for the accessories.
One embodiment of the invention is a mirror backed with a magnetically active material (i.e., a material to which magnets are attracted), for example steel or some other metal. The mirror can have any desired symmetrical or asymmetrical shape, for example square, rectangular, circular, oval, wavy, or any other shapes. The magnetically active material can be affixed to the back of the mirror using a suitable adhesive (tile adhesive has been found to work well), can be part of the construction of the mirror, or can be attached to the back of the mirror in any other way. The material can cover all or part of the back of the mirror.
In this embodiment, a number of magnet-backed accessory holders are provided for placement on the mirror surface. In a preferred embodiment, the magnets are rare-earth Neodymium magnets because of their strong holding power, even through a mirror. However, other types of magnets can be used. The magnet's shape preferably matches the shape of the holder (for aesthetic reasons), but this need not be the case.
The magnet-backed accessory holders preferably are in the form of magnet-backed grommets. In one prototype, the grommets were simply sewing machine bobbins. Such bobbins have the added benefit of including small holes around their sides through which dangling earrings and the like can be hung. Other types of holders also can include such holes.
Another possible type of accessory holder is a finger-like holder that can accommodate rings. Hooks, snaps, loops, rings, or any other type of holders also can be used. Furthermore, the holders can have various shapes—they are not limited to round shaped holders.
In a preferred embodiment, the holders also include some type of non-scratch backing on the magnets such as rubber, felt, or some other soft material to help prevent scratching the mirror whenever the holders are placed or moved on the mirror.
The accessory holders can be all of one type or can be of various types. For example, larger holders with stronger magnets can be provided for holding heavier jewelry, clothing accessories such as belts or scarves, or the like, while smaller holders with smaller magnets can be provided for holding lighter jewelry such as small earrings or the like.
Any number of accessory holders can be provided. Preferred embodiments include ten, a dozen, two dozen, or more holders.
In use, the magnet-backed accessory holders are placed on the mirror. The magnets in the holders are attracted to the magnetically active backing on the mirror, thereby holding the holders in place on the mirror. Jewelry and other accessories can be then be placed on the holders. The result is an aesthetically pleasing accessory holder. Furthermore, a person can simple move the holders in order to re-arrange their storage space on the mirror.
The holders can also include a small hole or other attachment for “niche jewels” or other ornamentation, for example plastic pieces that have a girly, tropical, musical, geometric (modern), colorful (kiddie), colorful and geometric (art deco), rustic/worn (Tuscany), or other appearance. Thus, the holders preferably can be customized by a person in accordance with some type of theme. Alternatively, the holders might not include such holes or other attachments.
Some embodiments of the invention include one or more templates for placement of the holders. The templates preferably have an outline that matches the corresponding mirror's shape and holes or markings for possible placement of accessory holders. The holes or markings can be in any desired pattern, and one or more patterns can be included on each template (possibly marked or color coded). The templates preferably are made of paper, pattern fabric (e.g., of the type used for clothing patterns), or some other suitable lightweight and inexpensive material. The templates help a person to easily align their accessory holders when the person places or moves the holders on their mirror.
In an alternative embodiment, the mirror is made of a magnetically active material. For example, the mirror can be made of polished steel or brass. Mirrors made from such materials can be coated with a scratch resistant coating. These mirrors also preferably reflect an undistorted image, but can reflect a distorted image (for example, in the case of a mirror made from beaten brass).
In a less preferred embodiment, the mirror is backed with magnets, and the holders include a magnetically active material.
In another embodiment, the mirror might not be backed with or made of a magnetically active material, and magnets are not used. Instead, the holders (possibly all of one type or of various types) are affixed using some other mechanism such as temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent adhesive, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc. A person preferably can still configure the arrangement of the holders according to their wishes at least the first time the holders are placed on the mirror.
In yet another embodiment, the accessory holders are temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently affixed to the mirror when the accessory storage mirror is manufactured.
Plural same or differently shaped accessory storage mirrors can be put together to generate a more complex appearance. In some embodiments, the mirrors can have shapes that fit together like a puzzle or in some other predetermined fashion. In addition, the mirror (or mirrors) can include frames. For example, art deco, silver (modern), worn/rustic (Tuscany), shabby chic (worn out white wood), colorful (kiddie), pink lacquered (girly), or any other type of frame can be provided. These options permit further customization of the accessory storage mirror(s) to fit virtually any home decoration theme.
Another possible addition to the accessory storage mirror is a shelf at the bottom of the accessory storage mirror, for example to hold smaller pieces, the “day's take offs,” or other miscellaneous items. This space can also include a ring organizer, jewelry box, or any other additional storage or holding space. Other elements also can be added.
Some examples of the foregoing embodiments and aspects of the invention are shown in the figures, as described below. The invention is not limited to the embodiments and aspects shown.
Accessory storage mirrors according to the invention are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. In fact, people who purchase and install accessory storage mirrors according to the invention should feel as if they purchased a work of art for their living space that permits them to conveniently organize and display their jewelry and other accessories.
The invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particular embodiments and examples disclosed herein. For example, the terms “preferably,” “preferred embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “this embodiment,” “alternatively,” “might,” “can,” “can be,” “example,” and the like denote features that are preferable or exemplary, but are not essential to include in embodiments of the invention. Possible variations described with respect to one embodiment are also applicable to other embodiments. The terms “comprising” or “including” mean that other elements and/or steps can be added without departing from the invention. Many other variations are possible which remain within the content, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/018,020, titled “Accessory Storage Mirror,” in the name of the same inventors, filed Dec. 31, 2007.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61018020 | Dec 2007 | US |
