The present application generally relates to hand held rear view devices. More specifically, a glove having a mirror is provided, where the placement of the mirror is adjustable.
A mirrored glove is useful for several activities where viewing to the rear without turning is desirable. Such activities include bicycling, motorcycling, roller skating including inline skating, snowboarding, snowmobiling, skiing, and ice skating. Several mirrored gloves are available, including those described in German Patent Publication No. DE 199 49 392 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,717,403; 4,863,239; and 5,003,637; and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2005/0034212 A1; 2008/0259477 A1; and 2009/0034102 A1. However, the mirrored gloves that are available have limited adjustability and/or can be cumbersome in use.
There is thus a need for a simple mirrored glove that can be adjusted to multiple positions. The present invention addresses that need.
Provided is a glove comprising an outer shell comprising a back portion; and a mirror secured to the back portion at one or more points, where the mirror can be adjusted to a plurality of positions on the back portion.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Additionally, the use of “or” is intended to include “and/or”, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Provided is a mirrored glove where the mirror can be adjusted to numerous positions. The glove comprises an outer shell comprising a back portion and a mirror secured to the back portion at one or more points. The mirror of the glove can be adjusted to a plurality of positions on the back portion.
In some embodiments, the mirror is permanently secured to the back of the glove. In other embodiments, the mirror can be removed from the glove. The latter embodiments are useful, e.g., when the gloves are used for purposes other than where the mirror is desired, or when the user would like to use different types of mirrors for different purposes, for example when a convex mirror is desired for bicycling but a flat mirror is desired for skiing. A removable mirror is also desirable where the user would like to use a mirror on more than one glove, for example another style of glove, or a paired glove (i.e., left vs. right glove).
In various embodiments, the mirror is secured to the back portion at a first point and a second point.
In various embodiments, the first point comprises a first adjustment means. The first adjustment means can adjust the mirror in any direction, for example in the forward-rear direction, or, as in the embodiment illustrated in
The second point of mirror attachment can utilize any means to attach the mirror known in the art, for example using Velcro, any buckle (e.g., a cam buckle, a friction buckle or a side release buckle), a snap, a clip, a spring, a zipper, or a magnet. In some embodiments, the second point comprises a second adjustment means. The second adjustment means can be designed to adjust the mirror in any direction, for example in the medial-peripheral direction, or, as in the embodiment illustrated in
The second point of mirror attachment for the glove 10′ illustrated in
Thus, the glove 10′ illustrated in
In other embodiments, the mirror is secured to the back portion of the glove at one point. In some of these embodiments, the one point comprises a rigid bendable material, for example a metal, e.g., a wire or a mesh screen. The rigid bendable material is optionally covered with, e.g., a soft, flexible material, for example plastic, rubber, foam or leather.
In various embodiments, the glove having the mirror secured to the glove at one point further comprises a means for elevating one side of the mirror (i.e., the side of the mirror opposite the point where the mirror is secured). In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, as shown in
The mirrors on the gloves described herein are not narrowly limited to any particular shape, size or composition and includes any surface that is reflective enough to provide a reflected view. In some embodiments, the mirror is flat. In other embodiments, the mirror is convex. In additional embodiments, the mirror is flat in some areas and convex in other areas. The mirror can be made from any material, e.g., glass, metal, or chromed plastic (including plexiglass). In other embodiments, the mirror is encased in a supporting structure, for example a rubber or plastic casing.
The glove to which the mirror is secured can be of any size or shape. For example, the mirror can be for the left hand, for the right hand, or it can be ambidextrous. The glove can also be a mitten. In some embodiments, the glove comprises fingers, e.g., full fingers, or short fingers terminating at an opening. In other embodiments, the glove is fingerless.
In one embodiment, the base unit 102 is wedge shaped such that the portion of the base unit 102 closest to the fingers of the glove raises to a point higher than the portion of the base unit 102 located farthest from the fingers. In another embodiment, the mirror 104 is a concave mirror. In yet another embodiment, the mirror 104 is a convex mirror. In one embodiment, the mirror 104 is substantially oval in shape. In another embodiment, the mirror is substantially round in shape. In another embodiment, the lower portion of the base unit 102 is contoured the shape of a human hand on the portion of the glove 100 where the base unit 102 resides.
In another embodiment, the base unit 102 includes at least one lighting unit 106. The lighting unit 106 generates a light beam allowing a user to see in dark environments. In one embodiment, the lighting unit 106 is a light emitting diode. In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 is a incandescent light. In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 is positioned on a portion of the wedge unit 102 closest to the fingers of the glove. In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 is positioned on a side of the wedge unit 102. The side is a lateral portion that is transparent, where the light beam is output through the lateral portion. In yet another embodiment, the base unit 102 may include a plurality of lighting units 106 arranged around the perimeter of the mirror 104 such that the mirror is illuminated in dark environment.
In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 emits a white light used to illuminate a dark environment. In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 emits a red light. In yet another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 is adjustable to provide either white light or red light. In one embodiment, the lighting unit is a LED device which changes colors based on the voltage supplied to the LED. In another embodiment, the lighting unit 106 includes multiple lights of different colors and a switching device located on the base unit 102 electrically coupled to the lighting unit 106 and a power supply that allows a user to select the color of the light emitted from the lighting unit 106.
Other embodiments within the scope of the claims herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification or practice of the invention as disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification be considered exemplary only, with the scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the claims.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved and other advantages attained.
As various changes could be made in the above methods and compositions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
All references cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. The discussion of the references herein is intended merely to summarize the assertions made by the authors and no admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/715,138 filed 18 May 2015; which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/093,758 filed 25 Apr. 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,032,552 issued 19 May 2015; which claims a benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/327,233 filed 23 Apr. 2010; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61327233 | Apr 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14715138 | May 2015 | US |
Child | 15676124 | US | |
Parent | 13093758 | Apr 2011 | US |
Child | 14715138 | US |