Patent Application
20120069439
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the demisting of mirrors. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices that utilize an air blower to demist a mirror.
2. Description of Related Art
The misting over of a mirror, for example mirrors adjacent to a shower or sink, is a problem that one frequently encounters. This represents an annoyance which renders the mirror temporarily unusable for such tasks as shaving, grooming, and applying makeup. A common approach to the problem is to wipe the mirror off with a dry towel, however, this usually provides only temporary relief since the moisture remaining in the bathroom environment will tend to continue to condense and cloud the mirror surface. Other common efforts at remedying this problem involve the opening of a bathroom window, if there is one, or opening the bathroom door so as to vent the airborne moisture. Unfortunately, this method does not work instantly and may affect one's comfort, convenience, and privacy. Another way to combat the problem is to pre-treat the mirror by spraying it with a chemical substance that minimizes the condensation of moisture on the mirror surface; however, there are several reasons why a chemical solution to the problem is not desired.
Hand held hair dryers are a very common household appliance. Many people use a hair dryer to style their hair daily. However, the motor or blower section of some of the larger sized hair dryers will not fit in a standard vanity cabinet drawer making storage of the product awkward when not in use. Such an appliance is often left sitting on the sink or vanity basin when not in use taking up counter space. Additionally, some typical bathrooms and salon work areas have extremely limited counter and drawer space. A user may wish to use the limited space for items other than a hair dryer.
Therefore, what is needed is a device that may efficiently and easily demist a mirror. Further, what is needed is a device that may conveniently store a hair dryer or other portable air blower.
The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.
In one aspect, a demisting mirror assembly is provided. The demisting mirror assembly comprises a housing forming a substantially hollow inner portion, an aperture in its surface, and an air outlet, an air blower may be removably mounted to the housing, and a mirror may be attached to a front face of the housing.
In another aspect, a mirror demister for an existing mirror is provided. The mirror demister comprises a housing forming a substantially hollow interior portion, an aperture, and an air outlet, an air blower may be removably mounted to the housing, the housing may be positioned adjacent to the existing mirror, an air blower removably mounted to the housing, and a second mirror may be attached to a front face of the housing.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.
Generally, the present invention concerns a demisting mirror assembly that utilizes air from an air blower to demist the mirror. The mirror described herein may be easily incorporated to existing mirror mounting areas. Further, the mirror may be mounted adjacent to a pre-existing conventional mirror, and may utilize heated air to demist both the demisting mirror assembly contemplated herein, and an adjacent conventional pre-existing mirror. The demisting mirror may further serve as a holster for a traditional hair dryer and may utilize the hair dryer as the source of heated air to demist the mirror. Demisting a mirror in this fashion provides an efficient and convenient way to use a mirror after it has been misted, and also as a convenient and neat storage place for a hair dryer.
In one aspect, a demisting mirror assembly, or demisting apparatus, is provided. The assembly may have a housing that provides the structure for the mirror assembly. The housing may define an aperture sized to receive an air blower. The housing may also have a mirror attached to its front face, the mirror being capable of being demisted via the air blower inserted within the aperture formed by the housing.
The housing of the mirror assembly may provide structure for the mirror and the demisting elements. The housing may be of any size and shape capable of supporting a mirror and an air blower that is also capable of being mounted to a wall, or placed on a surface. In one embodiment, the housing is substantially box shaped with a rectangular cross section. In another embodiment the housing is substantially box shaped with a triangular cross section.
The housing may be constructed of any material capable of supporting a mirror and an air blower that is capable of being mounted to a wall or placed on a surface. Materials of which the housing can be made include, but are not limited to, mirrored glass, glass, plastics, metals, woods and composite material. Preferably, the material is water resistant and capable of existing in a humid environment without structural breakdown or corrosion. The housing may be manufactured using methods known to those skilled in the art such as molding, casting, bending of sheet metal, attachment of multiple flat plates, and the like.
The housing may have a front face with a mirror attached thereto. Further the housing may have rear, top and bottom faces that may be mounted to a wall, set on a surface or hung from a ceiling.
The housing may form an aperture that provides fluid communication to its substantially hollow interior. In one embodiment, the aperture may be substantially circular and sized to receive a standard sized hair dryer or other portable air blower. In a further embodiment, the aperture may serve as a storage holster for a hair dryer. In this embodiment, the aperture may be positioned and designed to hold and secure the hair dryer neatly, and to provide convenient access for conventional hair dryer use. In one embodiment, the aperture may be positioned on a top of the housing, such that an air blower may be supported and removably secured, and at the same time, easily accessible by a user.
The housing may further include cord guides to guide the cord of the air blower along its surface. The cord guides may be in the form of clips, hooks, and the like. Embodiments having cord guides may further enhance the convenience and neatness of the blow dryer support and storage.
In one embodiment, the housing may have ducting attached to the aperture that may direct air flow to a front face of the housing, thereby heating the housing, and in turn the mirror, which may demist the mirror. Further, the ducting may be directed to an air outlet formed by the housing to allow the escape of inlet air.
In one embodiment, the demisting mirror assembly may be designed to be mounted adjacent to an existing conventional mirror, to provide demisting both to the mirror of the mirror assembly as well as the existing conventional mirror. The air outlet so formed may serve to direct an airflow along the surface of the adjacent conventional mirror. In this embodiment, the air outlet formed by the housing may be formed as a long narrow aperture that runs from a top to a bottom of the housing. In this embodiment, the mirror assembly may be attached adjacent to the conventional mirror such that the air outlet is directed towards the conventional mirror. The demisting mirror assembly may be attached to a wall using methods known in the art such as adhesive, bolting, screwing, nailing or hanging. Alternatively, the mirror assembly may be hung from a ceiling or placed on a surface adjacent to the existing conventional mirror. In this embodiment, the air from the air blower is initially directed at the front face of the housing to heat the mirror attached thereto, and then is directed out of the air outlet and over the surface of the conventional mirror, thereby demisting both mirrors.
In another embodiment, two demisting mirror assembly housings may be employed. A first demisting assembly housing may be mounted to, or adjacent to, a first side of an existing, conventional mirror. A second demisting assembly housing may be mounted adjacent to, or adjacent to, a second side of the existing, conventional mirror, the two housings being mounted substantially opposite to each other. In this embodiment, the air outlet formed by the housing may be formed as a long narrow aperture that runs from a top to a bottom of the housing. The mirror assembly may be attached adjacent to the conventional mirror such that the air outlet is directed towards the conventional mirror. A hair dryer or other air blower may be mounted in an aperture of one or both housings. Further, the aperture may serve as a holster for a hair dryer, allowing for its neat convenient storage. The air outlet so formed may serve to direct an airflow along the surface of the adjacent conventional mirror, and along a surface of a mirror mounted on the second housing. This embodiment of the demisting mirror assembly may be provided, packaged and sold as a two piece device for mounting on opposite sides of existing mirrors. Further, this embodiment may have the added feature of providing two angled mirrors to supplement the front facing existing mirror.
The mirror attached to the front face of the housing may be of any size and shape that may be attached to the housing. For example, the mirror may be substantially rectangular, circular, oval shaped, and the like. The mirror may have a length and width substantially equal to the housing in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the mirror may have a length and with slightly larger than the housing to allow some overlap of the mirror from the housing. In another embodiment, the mirror may be smaller than the housing. In still another embodiment, the mirror may be hingedly attached to the housing, allowing access to the substantially hollow interior portion by pivoting about the hinge.
The mirror may be constructed of any material capable of mounting to the housing, and reflecting a substantial amount of light. Materials of which the mirror may be made include, but are not limited to, mirrored glass, mirrored plastic, polished metals, mineral composites, and the like. Preferably, the mirror may be constructed of a material that is substantially resistant to humidity, and that will not rapidly corrode in a humid environment. Further, in one embodiment it is preferable that the material of which the mirror is made be capable of transferring heat relatively rapidly, as rapid heat transfer may allow the heated air from the air blower to rapidly heat the mirror, speeding the demisting of the mirror.
The mirror may be attached to the housing by methods known to those skilled in the art. Attachment methods may include adhesive attachment, inserting the mirror into slots to hold the mirror in place, hinged connection of one side of the mirror to the housing, or passing a bolt through the mirror into the housing.
An air blower may be removably mounted and secured to the housing. The air blower may be any portable air blowing device. Preferably, the air blower may be capable of providing heated air. In one embodiment, the air blower may be a hair dryer. The air blower may be sized and shaped to be mounted, removably or permanently, at least partially through the aperture of the housing. In one embodiment wherein the air blower is a hair dryer, the aperture of the housing may serve as a storage place for the hair dryer. The air blower may utilize a power source to provide energy needed to blow air. In one embodiment, the power source may be a conventional electric wall outlet. However, other embodiments utilizing power sources such as battery power and other power sources are within the scope of this disclosure.
Turning now to
While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61403509 | Sep 2010 | US |
