Mirror unit

Abstract

A mirror unit 100 comprises a mirror body 104 to which a mirror surface 102 is attached. The mirror unit 100 further comprises a detachable frame / bezel108 that can be coupled to the mirror body 104. T

Description

Field of the Invention

[01] The present invention relates to a mirror unit. In particular, a modular mirror unit in which a frame, or bezel, part is interchangeable. Background

[02] Mirrors are a ubiquitous household accessory that is almost essential for modern living. Mirrors are typically arranged, particularly on walls, to facilitate such tasks as dressing oneself, applying make up, brushing teeth, combing hair, and so on. The mirror, or more generally mirrored surface, is often provided as part of a mirror unit which provides a frame or support for the mirrored surface, and may include additional aspects such as means for attaching the mirror unit to a wall and / or a cabinet for storing items. Recently there has also been a trend towards including electrical components, such as lighting, as part of the mirror unit.

[03] Mirrors also have an aesthetic quality which may arise from, inter alia, a design of its shape, frame, and so on. However, should an owner, decorator, etc, desire to change the aesthetics generated by their mirror, there is a need to replace the whole mirror, causing substantial waste. Summary

[04] The present invention is defined according to the independent claims. Additional features will be appreciated from the dependent claims and the description herein. Any embodiments which are described but which do not fall within the scope of the claims are to be interpreted merely as examples useful for a better understanding of the invention.

[05] The example embodiments have been provided with a view to addressing at least some of the deficiencies that are encountered with current mirrors, whether those deficiencies have been specifically mentioned above or will otherwise be appreciated from the discussion herein.

[06] In one aspect of the invention there is provided a mirror unit, comprising a mirrored surface, a body and a detachable frame (otherwise termed a bezel herein). The mirrored surface is attached to the body, and the body comprises first magnetic coupling means. The detachable frame comprises second magnetic coupling means, wherein the first and second magnetic coupling means are configured to couple together to attach the frame to the body. In this way the frame may be made interchangeable, so that different frames may be used with the same base mirror (i.e., body) to change the aesthetics of the mirror without causing wastage.

[07] The first magnetic coupling means and second magnetic coupling means are disposed on the body and frame respectively to, when coupled, align the frame in a predetermined orientation so that particular weight distributions are ensured while allowing for aesthetic choice for a user. Suitably, the body may be configured with a first shape profile (for example circular), and the frame configured with a second profile substantially different to the first shape profile (for example, rectangular).

[08] In an example, the first magnetic coupling means comprises a set of coupling means, and the second magnetic coupling means comprises a corresponding set of coupling means. The sets of coupling means may comprise different numbers of means - for example, different numbers of permanent magnets - to allow for the bezel to achieve different predetermined orientations when coupled to the body. Brief Description of the Drawings

[09] For a better understanding of the present disclosure reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[10] Fig. 1 shows an example mirror unit;

[11] Fig. 2 shows another example mirror unit;

[12] Fig. 3 shows another example mirror unit; and

[13] Fig. 4 shows another example mirror unit. Detailed Description

[14] At least some of the following example embodiments provide an improved mirror unit. The example mirror is simple and convenient for use by a user. Many other advantages and improvements will be discussed in more detail herein.

[15] With reference to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown an example mirror unit 100.

[16] The mirror unit comprises a mirrored surface 102, which may be fully reflective or partially reflective. In one example, the mirrored surface 102 may comprise a reflective layer comprising a metal such as silver, nickel, tin, chromium, aluminium, and the like. In another example, the mirror may be made from one or more layers of transparent material with suitable indices of refraction. Other forms of mirrored surface will be appreciated in the art.

[17] The mirror unit 100 also comprises a body 104 on which the mirrored surface 102 is provided. That is, the body 104 may provide a base, or mount, for the mirrored surface 102. In some examples the mirrored surface may be integral to the body 104, for example being manufactured as a part thereof. In other examples, the mirrored surface may be manufactured separately and attached to the base by suitable means such as screws, nuts, bolts, glue, etc. Not shown, the body 104 may comprise means for mounting the mirror unit 100 to a surface such as a wall, electronic controllers for controlling electrical components of the mirror (such as lights) which are becoming more common, electrical or battery connectors, and so on. For example, as shown, the body 102 may comprise a strip of light emitting diodes ‘LEDs’ 112 disposed on the body 102 in alignment with an edge of the mirrored surface 102, including being arranged behind a lip created by the edge of the mirrored surface to provide a glow effect. The mirrored surface may also comprise a touch sensor 114 for activating the LEDs or a smart function of the mirror unit 100.

[18] The body 104 comprises first magnetic coupling means 106. The first magnetic coupling means may comprise a set 106a-d of magnetic coupling means. The set may be comprised of like means (each with the same polarity), or a combination of different forms of magnetic couplings. In one example, the first magnetic coupling means are permanent magnets; that is, they may comprise a hard magnetic material such as neodymium. In another example, the first magnetic coupling means may be formed from a soft magnetic material such as annealed iron; that is, they may be considered temporary magnets (which are magnetised by an externally applied field).

[19] In the present examples the set of first magnetic coupling means 106 comprises four such means 106a-d; preferably four permanent magnets. The first magnet coupling means 106a-d are arranged around predetermined points of the body 102. Preferably, the first magnetic coupling means are arranged on a surface of the body 102 which is parallel to the mirrored surface 102.

[20] In one example, the points at which the set of means 106a-d are provided are spread equidistant from a centre of mass of the body 104. For example, where the body 104 has a substantially circular shape (Figs. 1, 3), the set of means 106 may be arranged at a common radius from the centre of the body 104, and distributed such that there is an equal arc between each means in the set 106a-d. Where the body has a substantially square, or rectangular, shape (Figs. 2, 4), the set of means 106a-d may be arranged at each of the corners, as shown, or at bisection points of the sides of the body 104.

[21] In other examples, not shown, the set of magnetic coupling means 106a-d may be arranged in an irregular pattern on the body 104. Rather than corresponding to the shape and weight distribution of the body 104, the magnetic coupling means may be arranged on the body to correspond to a shape of a bezel, or frame, 108.

[22] Suitably, the mirror unit 100 comprises a detachable bezel 108. That is, the bezel 108 may be removed from the body 104 and reattached. Put another way, the bezel 108 of the mirror unit 100 may be interchangeable.

[23] Suitably, the bezel 108 comprises second magnetic coupling means 110. The second magnetic coupling means 110 correspond to the first magnetic coupling means 106, so that the first and second means magnetically couple to attach the bezel 108 to the body 104. For example, the first magnetic coupling means 106 may comprise means of a first magnetic polarity (e.g., North aligned), and the second magnetic coupling means 110 may comprise means of a second magnetic polarity which is opposite to the first polarity (e.g., South aligned).

[24] Like the first magnetic coupling means 106, the second magnetic coupling means 110 may comprise a set 110a-d of magnetic coupling means. The set 110 may be comprised of like means (each with the same polarity), or a combination of different forms of magnetic couplings. In one example, the second magnetic coupling means 110 are permanent magnets; that is, they may comprise hard magnetic material such as neodymium. In another example, the second magnetic coupling means may be formed from a soft magnetic material such as annealed iron; that is, they may be considered temporary magnets (which are magnetised by an externally applied field). In particular, at least one of the first and second magnetic coupling means 106, 110 may comprise permanent magnets, while the other is formed from a soft magnetic material. In preferred examples, however, both first and second magnetic coupling means comprise permanent magnets which are suitably aligned with opposite polarity in order to attach to each other.

[25] In the present examples, the set of second magnetic coupling means 110 comprises four such means 110a-d (preferably four permanent magnets) corresponding to the four magnetic coupling means in the first set 106a-d. The second magnet coupling means 110a-d are arranged around predetermined points of the bezel 108; preferably facing the body 104, so that when the first and second magnetic coupling means 106, 110 are engaged, the first and second means 106, 110 are covered by the body 102 and bezel 108.

[26] In one example, the points at which the set of means 110a-d are provided are spread equidistant from a centre of mass of the bezel 108. For example, where the bezel 108 has a substantially circular shape (Figs. 1, 3), the set of means 110 may be arranged at a common radius from the centre of the bezel 108, and distributed such that there is an equal arc between each means in the set 110a-d. Where the body has a substantially rectangular, shape (Figs. 2, 4), the set of means 110a-d may be arranged at each of the corners, as shown, or at bisection points of the sides of the bezel 108. In other examples, not shown, the bezel 108 may be provided with an irregular shape, and the second magnetic coupling means 110 may be arranged in an irregular pattern on the bezel 108 corresponding to the weight distribution of the bezel 108; suitably the first magnetic coupling means 106 may be positioned on the body 104 to correspond to the irregular shape of the bezel 108.

[27] Suitably, the first magnetic coupling means 106 and second magnetic coupling means 110 are suitably disposed on the body 104 and bezel 108, respectively to, when coupled, align the frame in a predetermined orientation. In other words, the arrangement of the magnetic coupling means on the body 104 and bezel 108 define the resultant shape of the mirror unit 100. In this way a user may select a bezel 108 that suits their aesthetic needs while only requiring one form of base. This makes manufacture much more straight forward for mirror manufacturers, and also allows the user to change the look of their mirror without having to purchase a completely new mirror, thus reducing waste and improving convenience for the user.

[28] Advantageously, where the body 104 is configured with a first shape profile - here taken as the shape observed from a direction orthogonal, and toward, the plane of the mirrored surface - then the bezel 108 may be configured with a second, different, shape profile. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the body 104 may have a first shape profile which is substantially circular, while the user is able to attach a bezel 108 with a second shape profile which is substantially square / rectangular. In the example of Fig. 4, the body 104 may have a first shape profile which is substantially square / rectangular, while the user is able to attach a bezel 108 with a second shape profile which is substantially circular. Thus the user is not restricted in the overall shape profile formed by their mirror, providing ad hoc interchangeability in mirror design and aesthetics previously not available to users without purchasing brand new mirrors.

[29] Suitably, in one example a number of first magnetic coupling means in the first set of magnetic coupling means 106, and the number of coupling means in the second set of magnetic coupling means 110, may be different. For example, the first set 106 may comprise fewer coupling means than the second set 110, or the first set 106 may comprise more coupling means that the second set 110. For example, the first set of magnetic coupling means 106 may comprise 4 magnets, while the second set of magnetic coupling means 110 may comprise 8 magnets.

[30] Suitably, in this example, the arrangement of the first and second magnetic coupling means on the body 102 and bezel 108, respectively, may be provided to allow for different orientations of the bezel 108 with respect to the body 104. For example, where the bezel is circular, having different numbers of magnets in each of the first and second sets 106, 110, may allow for the bezel 108 to be arranged in different rotations corresponding to an artistic design on the bezel 108. Where the bezel 108 is square, provision of different numbers of magnets in each set 106, 110, may allow for the bezel to be arranged in a first orientation in which the bezel 108 comprises a bottom and top edge parallel to the ground and side edges vertical to the ground (i.e., appears regularly orientated), or a second orientation in which each of the edges of the bezel 108 are diagonal to the ground (i.e., appears diamond shaped).

[31] In summary then, exemplary embodiments of an improved mirror unit with an interchangeable bezel have been described. Additionally, the described exemplary embodiments are convenient to manufacture and straightforward to use.

[32] The mirror unit described herein may be manufactured industrially. An industrial application of the example embodiments will be clear from the discussion herein.

[33] Although the example embodiments have been described with reference to the components, modules and units discussed herein, such functional elements may be combined into fewer elements or separated into additional elements. Various combinations of optional features have been described herein, and it will be appreciated that described features may be combined in any suitable combination. In particular, the features of any one example embodiment may be combined with features of any other embodiment, as appropriate, except where such combinations are mutually exclusive. Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” or “comprises” means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others.

[34] Although preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[35] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[36] Each feature disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[37] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A mirror unit, comprising:a mirrored surface,a body to which the mirrored surface is attached, wherein the body comprises first magnetic coupling means,a detachable frame [bezel] comprising second magnetic coupling means, wherein the first and second magnetic coupling means are configured to couple together to attach the frame to the body.

2. The mirror unit of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic coupling means and second magnetic coupling means are disposed on the body and frame respectively to, when coupled, align the frame in a predetermined orientation.

3. The mirror unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is configured with a first profile, and theframe is configured with a second profile, and wherein a shape of the first profile is substantially different to a shape of the second profile.

4. The mirror unit of claim 3, wherein one of the first or second profile are substantially circular.

5. The mirror unit of claim 3, wherein one of the first or second profile are substantiallyrectangular.

6. The mirror unit of any preceding claim, wherein the first magnetic coupling means comprises a set of magnetic coupling means, and the second magnetic coupling means comprises a corresponding set of magnetic coupling means.

7. The mirror unit of claim 6, wherein a number of coupling means in the first set of magnetic coupling means is different to a number of coupling means in the second set of coupling means.

8. The mirror unit of claim 7, wherein the second set of magnetic coupling means comprises a greater number of coupling means.

9. The mirror unit of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first magnetic coupling means and the second magnetic coupling means comprises a permanent magnet.

10. The mirror unit of claim 9, wherein both the first magnetic coupling means and second magnetic coupling means comprise a permanent magnet.

11. The mirror unit of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first magnetic coupling means and second magnetic coupling means comprise a magnetically soft material.

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