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. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1997
William J Witchger, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Mir-Tec LLC, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A thin film mirror including a frame, a board, and a thin plastic film having a reflective metal deposit on one side thereof. The thin plastic film is pre-stretched over the frame and is secured thereto by an epoxy adhesive and a double-sided tape which prevents creep of the mirror during curing of the epoxy. The board is adhered to the reverse of the frame in order to protect the reflective surface of the mirror and to impart additional rigidity to the structure. Various embodiments of the thin film mirror are provided which employ an aperture to connect the air space formed between the mirror and the board with the atmosphere to thereby avoid any deformation of the mirror's surface due to atmospheric pressure changes. These various embodiments also include filter mechanisms to allow air flow but prevent debris from entering the air space. Various other embodiments incorporate an opaque tape disposed at and adhered to the periphery of the mirror to disguise any imperfections therein. In this way, a precise planar mirror surface may be fabricated that has all the advantages of a traditional glass mirror without the undesirable weight and fragility associated with those mirrors.