Patent Application
20210298537
Not applicable
Bathrooms are uniquely discreet settings in which we address some of our most private grooming needs. Indeed our home bathrooms are often the only places we take care of personal care issues that make us most self-conscious about our physical appearance. However, most of our bathrooms are equipped with just one standard vanity mirror that allows us to inspect just one angle of just one portion of our bodies.
Likewise, at-home personal grooming and haircare (e.g. cuts, color, styling) is more popular than ever, yet adequate mirror apparatuses for these tasks are seldom a part of our bathrooms, and we are seldom able to achieve the necessary angle views. Our sub-optimal options to access the increased angle viewing necessary for this personal care include handheld mirrors to complement the vanity mirror angle, which is inconvenient as a non-hands-free option and inadequate in its ability to provide simultaneous and adequate angle viewing; temporary grooming mirrors that need to be suspended somewhere, then then taken down and moved after every use; various mirror apparatuses that occupy valuable counter space and wall space and still do not provide adequate multi-angle viewing; and vanity mirrors. Even with the availability of vanity mirrors with tri-fold characteristics, complicated installation and alteration of the bathroom walls is required, and the mirror image sizes are often inadequate as they are limited by the dimensions of the sink area.
And yet, the user is still not able to view full-length panoramic images.
Although full-length mirrors are readily available, we seldom see them in the bathroom, and when we do, they merely allow users to inspect one angle of their full-body image at a time, and they often must be installed, and still they occupy valuable wall, door, or floorspace. The options for viewing full-length images of one's body from all angles in the privacy of a bathroom are even more limited. Bathroom layouts are seldom conducive to installing some sort of mirror system that allows for multi-angle full-length images; such a system is impractical for most bathrooms, as it would crowd the room and require a rather involved installation project that also alters the bathroom walls' surfaces unless it's placed on the bathroom floor. However, utilizing valuable bathroom floorspace to bring in a mirror apparatus for multi-angle full-length image viewing is problematic because the floors are often slippery with shower/bath condensation and because bathroom layouts are also seldom conducive to doing so.
As a result of inadequate panoramic mirror images accessible to the bathroom user, we far too often see: toilet paper or some other indication of an accident on a person's backside after using the facilities; people who didn't quite reach the back of their heads with their haircolor; hairstyling and haircuts that look markedly better in the front than they do on the back or sides; people missing a rear-side beltloop; and general accidents, or outfit mishaps, on the back of one's person. Likewise, people often get dressed in the bathroom immediately after bathing, thereby also missing the opportunity to ever view the various angles of one's naked body.
Although there are sometimes more adequate mirror apparatuses in people's home dressing areas outside of the bathroom, it is seldom appropriate for a guest to avail of these areas in a social setting. However, it is often in that social setting where it is highly desirable for that guest to be able to view privately view their entire outfit or hairstyle, for example, or even their naked body from all angles.
Notwithstanding the unique privacy of a bathroom environment, there are no practical mirror solutions for viewing all angles of one's body in this discreet setting. Thus, there currently remains a need for a convenient multi-angle mirror solution, as part of one's bathroom, for personal grooming and maintenance, that doesn't occupy or alter valuable floor, wall, or counter surfaces, and doesn't require an involved installation project.
A mirrored shower curtain includes a main curtain, usable with conventionally-known bathtubs/showers and accessories, and one or more mirror panels affixed to the main curtain to increase the reflection images available to the bathroom user. There are preferably three full-length mirror panels hinged together and suspended from the main curtain to provide an angularly adjustable tri-fold mirror system that also unfolds to occupy virtually zero bathroom space.
The main curtain is preferably made from two-ply fabric, with interior magnets sewn in at specific points to align with magnets affixed to the mirror panel(s)′ back sides. The two side mirror panels are also preferably hinged to the center panel such that the user may selectively target multiple images and angles simultaneously with the three-panel mirror that remains suspended from the main fabric curtain. When angular adjustments are made, one or more panels remain affixed to the main fabric curtain while the other panel(s) may be placed in folded position(s) off the curtain.
This preferable configuration provides the benefit of a full-length panoramic view for reflections viewable from all angles when the three-panel mirror is folded accordingly. When unfolded, the three-panel mirror lays flat on the main fabric curtain, preferably with each panel magnetically affixed to the main fabric curtain at respective contact points. The entire three-panel mirror is preferably removable to allow for washing the main fabric curtain. The curtain's mirror panels can be used with each other to increase viewable angles and/or with the vanity mirror, depending on panel position and bathroom layout.
Another example of a mirrored shower curtain utilizes one or more shorter mirror panels such that the enhanced angle viewing is limited to the head and neck area for various personal grooming activities. In another example of a mirrored shower curtain, only two angularly adjustable mirror panels may be necessary to achieve the desired views when an adequately placed vanity mirror can serve as the third panel. Another example of the mirrored shower curtain may have multiple mirror panels, but only one panel is affixed, temporarily or permanently, to the curtain.
The curtain itself may be made from various conventional shower curtain materials and fabrics and is constructed to support the additional weight of the temporary or permanent reflective surface panel(s). The curtain can be utilized with various hanging apparatuses and may be utilized in other areas of the house.
Although the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a specific preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, it is not intended to be limited thereto. It should be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications, which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art, can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims for the invention described herein. It should also be understood that the various identified components of the mirrored shower curtain disclosed herein are merely terms of art that may vary from one manufacturer to another and should not be deemed to limit the present disclosure.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings (
As seen in
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, main fabric curtain 15 is of conventional length and width and extends from curtain rod 12 to below, and outside, the top of tub front wall 16. In the non-limiting preferred embodiment shown, the main fabric curtain is made from 2-ply heavy-duty polyester fabric, though other embodiments can include variations including, but not limited to, alternative curtain materials and sizes, curtains that include or function as shower liners, shorter curtains that don't provide the shower enclosure, and one-ply curtains. Other embodiments can also be suspended in alternate locations. Other embodiments can also include reinforcement mechanisms or means at specific locations in, or on, the main curtain to support the additional weight of the mirror panel(s) and any adhesive materials or mechanisms.
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, a full-length three-panel mirror 17 is suspended from the external-facing surface 28 of the main fabric curtain 15 by five neodymium magnets 18 sewn into the interior of the 2-ply fabric curtain 15 and five corresponding neodymium magnet mates 27 attached to the back sides 26 of mirror 17's three-panels 21, 22, and 23; the magnet mates 27 are permanently attached to the panel back sides 26 with high temperature epoxy resin. In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, the three-panel mirror 17 is suspended from the external-facing surface 28 of the main curtain 15 by aligning the magnet mates 27 (on the back sides 26 of three-panel mirror 17) with the corresponding interior magnets 18 in the fabric curtain 15.
Other embodiments may have any number, size, shape, and placement of mirror panel(s) including, but not limited to, those designed for limited head/neck viewing, and can simply include one or more mirror panel(s). Other embodiments may also achieve one or more full-length panel image, for example, using more than one panel per full-length image, to facilitate packaging in smaller boxes. Other embodiments may also include mirror panels affixed to the interior-facing, exterior-facing, or both sides of the curtain.
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment shown, the three-panel mirror has a first side panel 21, a center panel 23, and second side panel 22; each panel is made from fogless break-resistant acrylic mirror, though other embodiments may use alternative reflective surface materials. In the non-limiting preferred embodiment shown, center panel 23 is located intermediately between side panels 21 and 22; side panels 21 and 22 are affixed to opposing linear edges 25 of the center panel 23 with four metal hinges 24 affixed with screws 30 to the panels' rear sides 26 (
Other embodiments can include reflective surface panels affixed to each other using alternative mechanisms to hinges for maneuvering the panels to achieve the desired views. Other embodiments may include varying number, type, and placement of magnets, various adhesion methods, and no magnets at all; other embodiments can also include other mechanisms to temporarily affix the mirror panel(s) to the curtain including, but not limited to, Velcro. Other embodiments may also permanently affix one or more the reflective surface panel(s) to the main curtain. Other embodiments may also include no mechanisms that affix the reflective surfaces to each other.
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, center panel 23 has more magnets 27 than side panel 21 and side panel 22; these magnets 27 correspond with the magnets 18 in the main fabric curtain 15 and create a stronger bond between center panel 23 and main curtain 15, as side panels 21 and 22 will be folded off main fabric curtain 15 more often than center panel 23. When bathroom layouts permit, as in
In the non-limiting preferred embodiment, the entire three-panel mirror 17 is removable from main fabric curtain 15 to allow for washing of the fabric curtain 15. Other embodiments may include one or more mirror panels permanently affixed to the curtain with glue or other adhesion materials.
While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific preferred embodiment, it should be understood that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art and may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. It should also be understood that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements subsequently made to this invention by those skilled in the art are also intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63001452 | Mar 2020 | US |
