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US 5,346,433 AGranted
Mirror illusion
AssigneeInventures, Inc.
InventorSteve Weinreich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
By a new configuration which more efficiently controls illumination, it is possible to make a mirror dissolve illusion which uses less power than those previously known in the art. A reflector and lamp assembly is provided in front of a partially reflective and partially transparent (one-way) mirror to direct light to a viewer via the one-way mirror. The technique includes use of a backlit wall pattern and a reflective floor surface along with a mirror of reduced density.
Claims25
A vanishing illusion device for disappearing an object located within the device comprising:
- a housing;
- a partially reflective and partially transparent mirror within said housing, said mirror having a first surface and a second surface;
- an object to be vanished located rearwardly of and facing the second surface of said mirror;
- variable illumination means for alternatively illuminating primarily said object to be vanished whereby the object may be directly observed through the mirror from a position facing the first surface of said mirror or primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror whereby the object will be obscured from being viewed through the mirror by an observer facing the first surface of the mirror;
- said variable illumination means comprising a first reflector and lamp assembly positioned to direct light towards a viewer facing the first surface of the mirror to thereby increase the amount of light reflected directly toward such viewer when the variable illumination means is illuminating primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror, thereby facilitating the obscuring and vanishing illusion of the object;
- and
- a second lamp and reflector assembly located within said housing and adjacent to the second surface of the partially reflective and partially transparent mirror and positioned to illuminate said object to be vanished and said first reflector and lamp assembly positioned to direct light towards a viewer facing the first surface of the mirror via the first surface of the mirror to thereby obscure said object to be vanished from being viewed through the mirror.
4 more elements
A vanishing illusion device comprising,
- a housing;
- a partially reflective and partially transparent mirror within said housing, said mirror having a first surface and a second surface;
- a reflective surface, other than said mirror, on the floor of said housing, and positioned, with respect to said mirror, to direct light towards a viewer facing the first surface of the mirror;
- and
- variable illumination means for alternatively illuminating primarily an object to be vanished located rearwardly of and facing the second surface of said mirror whereby the object may be directly observed through the mirror from a position facing the first surface of said mirror or primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror whereby the object will be obscured from being viewed through the mirror by an observer facing the first surface of the mirror;
- said variable illumination means comprising a reflector and lamp assembly positioned to direct light towards a viewer facing the first surface of the mirror to thereby increase the amount of light reflected directly toward such viewer when the variable illumination means is illuminating primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror, thereby together with the reflective surface facilitating the obscuring and vanishing illusion of the object.
3 more elements
A vanishing illusion device comprising,
- a housing;
- a partially reflective and partially transparent mirror within said housing, said mirror having a first surface and a second surface;
- a first pattern within said housing located forwardly of and facing the first surface of said mirror;
- variable illumination means for alternatively illuminating primarily an object to be vanished located rearwardly of and facing the second surface of said mirror whereby the object may be directly observed through the mirror from a position facing the first surface of said mirror or primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror whereby the object will be obscured from being viewed through the mirror by an observer facing the first surface of the mirror;
- said variable illumination means comprising a first reflector and lamp assembly positioned to direct light towards a viewer facing the first surface of the mirror to thereby increase the amount of light reflected directly toward such viewer when the variable illumination means is illuminating primarily the space in front of the first surface of the mirror, thereby facilitating the obscuring and vanishing illusion of the object;
- and
- means for hiding the first pattern when the first pattern is unilluminated by the variable illumination means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.