Patent Application
20100073792
The present invention relates in general to the field of mirrors, and more specifically to a mirror having a fan component to direct airflow to a user's face.
a and 5b Illustrate alternate embodiments of a make-up mirror with an airflow component having optional lighting components.
Make-up mirrors specifically adapted for use when applying make-up, styling hair, using cosmetic devices or performing other activities which require a view of the user's face are well known in the art. A swivel-type mirror is popular to allow users to move the mirror to provide the desirable reflection angle. Additionally, considerable competition exists for lighted make-up mirrors which allow users to see how make-up looks in various types of lighting (e.g., fluorescent and natural) and to illuminate the facial features to more easily apply make-up. Additionally, two-sided mirrors which have a magnifying mirror on one side are popular, as are a number of different stands, pedestals and mounting components.
Make-up mirrors are sold in large numbers of retails stores, and consumers have many choices in size, shape, style, base, materials, color and mounting options. There are numerous websites offering make-up mirrors in multiple styles and price points, such as the website www.makeupmirrors4you.com located at http://www.makeupmirrors4u.com/?gclid=CM-04Ou99ZUCFQOjFQodhSzohq. Competitors in the vast make-up mirror market include companies such as Vidal Sassoon, Homedics (See also; Swissco, Annick Goutal, Clinique, Nickel, Conair, Jerdon, Kimball & Young, Zadro Products, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, BABOR, Sanrio). A typical retail store such as Target Corporation or Sears Holdings Corporation carries a number of make-up mirrors, and manufacturers compete for market share and shelf space among these major retailers. It is thus desirable to introduce a make-up mirror having enhanced functionality and capturing a greater market share.
One problem known in the application of make-up is that of perspiration and humidity making make-up more difficult to apply and causing it to smear or evaporate more quickly.
Another problem is the time involved in make-up application; it is necessary to to allow liquid cosmetics such as foundation and eye-liner to dry after application, and for certain facial treatments and applications to dry prior to applying others.
In addition, make-up mirrors and mirrors in general tend to fog up in wet or steamy environments. Numerous attempts have been made to resolve this problem. Most attempts to defog mirrors involve heating the mirror in some form. Mirrors have been created which include a heat source around the perimeter of the mirror, either externally or electrically powered. When treated properly, mirrors can be defogged even in warm conditions.
It is desirable to have a make-up mirror that facilitates the application of make-up in hot and humid environments, and which facilitates proper application and drying of make-up.
As used herein, the term “mirror” means an object which a has specular reflection sufficient to form an image. A mirror may be curved, flat or have magnification or illumination capability.
As used herein, the term “flush mount” means mounted flush or with minimal protrusion from the surface of a wall.
As used herein the term “hard-wired” means connected to the electrical system of a building or structure.
As used herein the term “wall mounting component” or “arm” means any structural component adapted to attach a make-up mirror with airflow to a wall without interrupting the venting or airflow functionality, including but not limited to brackets.
As used herein, “stand” means any structure adapted to support a make-up mirror with airflow on a planar surface (e.g., table or countertop), and may include pivotal or lighted components or elements of a housing.
As used herein, a “housing” means any structure adapted to support and encase one or more elements including a fan power source, a fan rotor, and vents and/or mirror with airflow, and which may include optional elements such as lighting, tinted lighted, ornamental design components and audio or visual components.
As used herein, a “fan” or “airflow” component is a device which creates airflow by using a power source to turn a rotor, fan blades, fin or other structural element which may be adapted to create airflow.
As used herein, a “light” or “lighting component” means any component for illumination or visual effect, and may include variable or selective lighting to emulate fluorescent, natural lighting, stage lighting, pixilated lighting or any other type of lighting known in the art.
As used herein the term “power source” means an electrical power source, battery power, solar power or any other power which may be used to power the motion of a fan rotor and/or other component.
The invention disclosed herein is a make-mirror designed to direct airflow to the face, by embedding a mirror a housing that encases a fan, and is vented to direct airflow to a user's face. Various embodiments may include lighting, bases, stands, extension arms, components for flush mounting the invention to a wall, electrical wiring, battery adapted power components, and solar power components.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of a make-up mirror with integrated air-blowing component, only some of which are depicted in the figures. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar materials from which a make-up mirror and air-blowing component is made, and the inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.
Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring to
b illustrates alternate embodiments of make-up mirror with airflow component 100 which include optional lighting component 80 to illuminate the face or create a particular aesthetic lighting effect. In the embodiment shown, optional lighting components 80 are shown fastened to housing 30 and are powered by a inner battery-powered motor. Alternatively, optional lighting component 80 can be integrated into housing 30, fastened in front of mirror, or added to the outside of housing 30. Like fan 45, lights 80 can be powered electrically or by battery or solar power via any power source adapted to power fan 45.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/100,183.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61100183 | Sep 2008 | US |
