The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1989
Thomas R Christianson, Napa, CA (US);
Shower Tek, Inc., Napa, CA (US);
Abstract
A condensation-free, self-supported shower mirror assembly is heated by water dispersed into a temperature-control space behind the mirror. The water is supplied by a supply tube connected from a showerhead pipe to a dispenser which disperses the heated water in either liquid or spray form, preferably from holes in a tube mounted in such temperature-control space. The tube preferably has an oval shape with the holes are formed in one of its flat sides so that when it is bent to fit around the mirror, the holes will all face inward, toward the center of the mirror. Also the tube acts as a gasket to prevent the heated water from leaking through the front of the mirror. The back surface of the mirror is thereby heated to raise the temperature of the front surface of the mirror sufficiently to eliminate water condensation thereon. In one version, mirror adjustment is accomplished through a single flex-joint, such as a hinge or a ball joint which is physically separated from the supply tube. In a preferred version, mirror adjustment is accomplished through a flex-arm which allows rotatable and translational movement. Preferably the supply tube is carried inside the flex-arm; the supply tube is mounted by friction fit in the ends of the flex-arm. A relief slot is provided in the mirror end of the flex-arm to allow water which enters the space in the flex-arm around the supply tube to leave such space. The flex-arm is attached by break-away distal and proximal joints so that the parts will not be damaged in case of trauma. The mirror is mounted in a frame with a back plate which is slightly larger than the frame so that the back plate spreads the back part of the frame, causing the front part to be compressed, thereby to squeeze the mirror into a concave shape so that it will magnify. A valve may be provided in the supply conduit (tube or flex arm) which supplies hot water to defog the mirror.