US3022709A - Novelty reflector device for self-viewing of a person by reflection - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1962 M. DUGGAN 3,022,709

NOVELTY REFLECTOR DEVICE FOR SELF-VIEWING OF' A PERSON BY REFLECTION Filed Nov. 20, 1958 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. L EE M. DUGQAN WWW ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3 Claims. (Cl. 88-84) This invention relates to a novelty reflector' device for self-viewing of a person by reflection in which the part of the person facing and close to and in front of the reflector device will cause an image of `the person to appear in thereilector. This invention is to be distinguished from a signaling device such as used on highways, in which, for instance, light from the headlight of a distant automobile impinging on the reflector will be reflected back to the driver o f the automobile. In such a case n o actual clear picture image of the headlight will be observed by the driver, but he only observes va reflector area as a bright thing.

One of the objects of this invention is to p rovide a novelty'refletor device having reflecting surfaces of dimensions suilcient so that a person close to and in front of the reflector device will be reflected so as to cause a eries of clear picture images of the person to appear side y side.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description, in which will be set forth a number of embodiments; it is to be understood, however, that this invention is susceptible of various embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top view of `a novelty reflector device embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the reflector device and;

FIG. 3 is a detail showing another embodiment of this invention, the parts 2, 3 and 5 being shown in plan and not 1n section.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 `designates a support of any suitable construction, which has arranged therein a contiguous series of reflecting units, each composed of reflecting surfaces Zand 3 and arranged in series with their apexes in a plane 'along the back of the rcfleetor to present successive optical apertures in 4a plane along the front of the reflector device. The surfaces 2 and 3 of each of the units are plane mirrors and are arranged in relative right angular relation, and with the units arranged in a contiguous series horizontally along the front of the reflector device. Accordingly light emanating from a person will ybe multiply reflected at varying angles Lback to the person. The apices formed by the adjacent reflecting units are vertical on the support 1 `and the reflecting surfaces 2 and 3 thereof are in vertical planes. Accordingly a part of -a person, such as the head 4 in front of the reflector, FIG. l, will be multiply reflected to `appear as a series of clear picture images of the person and these are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. 2. The dimensions of each of the units and of the `apertures thereof are, however, of sufficient dimen sions, so that the part of a person facing and placed close to and in front of the reflector device will be multiply reilected by lthe several uni-ts to cause ya series of clear picture images of the person to lappear side by side along the front of the reflector. As a practical example, the transverse dimension of each of the surfaces 2 and 3 may be on the order of three inches but the vertical dimension may -be variable on the order of twelve inches or even higher so that each optical aperture will be about 4.25

by l2 inches.

The reflecting surfaces 2 and 3 may be of glass, which is silvered on the back 4in the manner in which mirrors are made. However, these surfaces may be of metal such 'ice as aluminum which can be highly polished to form re fleeting surfaces. The surfaces may, however, be formed of any other metal, -which may be elec-troplated with 'siiver and polished to form reflecting surfaces. When the reflecting surfaces are made of metal that may be made in one piece, it can be bent as shown in FIG. l.

The operation of this device is striking in its novel action. Thus, if in FIG. 1 -an object such as the head and upper part of a person indicated at 4 -be placed in front of and close to the novelty reflector device at about the position shown, that is between the two ends of the reflector device, a series of clear picture images of the person will appear side by side along the front of the reflector device, FIG. 2. Thus, if there are a series of four units, four images will appear. However, the person at 4 facing and close to and in front of the reflector will only see picture images of himself; and he will not see picture images of anybody to the right or left at all, although images of persons and objects some distances back of 4 will also appear. In the operation -asshown in FIG. 2, `the person will appear head-up and not head-down, although laterally the Iarms will appear reversed.

In order to further vary the construction and operation of the reflector, placed in one or more of the units, FIG. 3, `are transparent screens 5, which are in the path of the rays from one surface to the other surface. Accordingly, if the screen 5 be colored, a colored image will appear. The screens 5 in the several units may have different colors. Thus, reading from left to right, the first screen may be plain glass, the second red, the third yellow and the fourth brown. Accordingly, the person at 4, FIG. l, will see (if white) images reading again from left to right, white, red, yellow and brown.

The novelty reflector device is capable of various uses. Thus, it may be placed in back of the bar in taverns and the person at the bar will only see his or her own image. Another application is for washrooms above the washbowls, cocktail lounges, etc. The effect of the novelty reflector is striking and will attract attention. Not only will Va part of a person such as the head in front of the reflector be multiply reflected to appear `as la series of clear picture images arranged side by side, FIG. 2, but a person in front of the reflector will only see himself or herself and no one to the right or left.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A novelty reflector device for self-viewing of a person -by reflection, comprising, a support, multiple reflecting units arranged in a contiguous series to present successive optical apertures horizontally along the reflector device, the apertures being arranged in a substantially contiguous plane horizontally along the front of the reflector device, each unit having plane mirrors `arranged in relative right-'angular relation, the back apexes of the units being arranged vertically on said support, said units being constructed to multiply reflect light emanating from the person close to and yin front of the reflector device and substantially at right angles to the apexes and impinging on each of the units to lbe multiply reflected at varying angles back to the person, the dimensions of each of the units and of the apertures thereof being suilicient so that only the part of the person facing and close to the reilector will be multiply reflected by the several units to cause a series of clear picture images of the person only to appear horizontally side by side along the front of the reflector device.

2. A novelty reflector device for self-viewing of `a person by reflection, comprising, a support, multiple reflecting units arranged in a contiguous series to present successive optical apertures horizontally along the reflector device, the apertures being arranged in a substantially contiguous plane horizontally along the front of the re- AHector device, each unit having plane mirrors arranged in relative right-angular relation, the back -apexes of the units being arranged vertically on said support, said units being constructed to multiply reect light emanating from the person close to and in front of the relector de` vice and substantially -at right angles to the apexes and Aimpinging on each of ythe units to be multiply reected at varying angles back to the person, each of said 11n-its having a colored light screen in the path of fthe reflected light, the dimensions of each of the units and of the apertures thereof being sulicient so that only the part of the person facing and close :t0 lthe rector will be multiply reilected by the several units to cause a series of colored clear picture images of the person only to appear horizontally side by side along the front of the reectordevice.

3. A novelty reflector device for self-viewing of a person by reflection, comprising, a support, multiple reflecting units arranged in a contiguous series to present snccessive optical apertures, horizontally along the reflector device, the apertures being arranged in a substantially contiguous plane horizontally along the front of the reector device, each unit having plane mirrors arranged in relative right-angular relation, the back apexes of the units being arranged vertically on said support, said units being constructed to multiply reilect light emanating from the person close to and in front of the rel-lector device and substantially at right angles to the apexes and impinging on each of the units to be multiply retiected at varying angles baciato the pe1sonsaid .units having light screensY of various colors arranged successively along and in the paths of the reiiected light, the dimensions of each of the units and of the apertures thereof being sufficient so that only the part of the person facing and closentlo the re ector will be multiplyl reected by -the several vunits '-to cause a Series of differently colored clearv picture images of the person only to appear Vhorizontally side by side along the front of the reflector device.

References cned in the me olf-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES The Sunday Star,Dccember 19, 1926, l sht, drawing cited (Underwood 8: Underwood photograph)..

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