Mirrors having stretched reflective sheet materials

Claim 2

A planar mirror having a reflective surface formed by a metallized thin-film reflective sheet material in a stretched condition over a supporting frame comprising a frame including upper and lower flange members extending inwardly from a peripheral side member toward the central portion of the frame defining an inwardly open channel, means for securing said sheet material in said stretched condition over said frame, a supporting substrate member positioned and gripped within said flange members to provide reinforcement to said frame, a raised ridge positioned along the upper side of said frame over which the metallized thin film is stretched in spaced relation to the upper surface of said substrate member, and at least one resilient member positioned between the upper flange member of each channel member and the marginal edge portions of the supporting substrate member along at least a portion of the length of each channel member, said resilient members being in compression therebetween to provide a reinforcement in said frame in relationship to the compressive and bending forces of said stretched film such that the compressive reaction forces of the compressed resilient members are in balanced equilibrium with said compressive and bending forces of the film, thereby creating a continuous and optically correct reflecting mirror surface.

Claim 3

a lower flange member extending from the rear portion of each side member toward the central portion of the frame; and

Claim 4

a lower flange member extending from the rear portion of each side member toward the central portion of the frame; and

Claim 5

The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said supporting substrate member comprises a foamed plastic material and said frame comprises aluminum inwardly open channel members having mitered end portions positioned in adjacent end-to-end relation defining an angle therebetween, said end portions held in end-to-end relation by a fusion-welded portion at the interface between said mitered end portions of said channel members.

Claim 6

The mirror according to claim 2 wherein said resilient members comprise wedge-like strips positioned in end-to-end relation between the upper flange member of each channel member and the substrate member such that the strips provide a continuous reinforcement along the inner periphery of the channel members between the upper flange members and the peripheral edge portions of the supporting substrate member. a. The mirror according to claim 3 wherein the resilient wedge-like strips have mitered end portions such that they are positioned in end-to-end angular relationship corresponding to the angles formed by the corresponding channel members of said frame.

Claim 7

an upper flange member spaced apart from said lower flange member and extending from said side member toward the central portion of said frame; b. adjacent side members having mitered end portions positioned in face-to-face relation to form a joinder of said frame members, said joinder being fusion-welded to secure the members in angular relation with respect to each other; c. a foamed plastic supporting substrate member configured to substantially conform to the configuration of said frame and positioned with said frame between the upper and lower flange members of said channel-like side members; d. a raised ridge positioned along the upper side of said frame immediately above the upper flange member and having an upper surface portion, the end portions of each ridge being bevelled similarly to its associated frame member such that adjacent ridges are positioned in face-to-face relation defining an angle therebetween substantially corresponding to the angle between said frame members, said ridges further defining a continuous and coplanar upper surface portion along the upper side of said frame over which said metallized reflecting sheet is held in a stretched condition; and e. a resilient member having a triangular cross section posiTioned between the upper flange member of each channel-like member and the marginal edge portions of the supporting substrate member along the lengths of the channel members, said resilient members being in compression therebetween to provide a reinforcement in said frame in relationship to the compressive and bending forces of said stretched film such that the compressive reaction forces of the compressed resilient members are in balanced equilibrium with said compressive and bending forces of the film creating a continuous and optically correct reflecting mirror surface.

Claim 8

an upper flange member spaced apart from said lower flange member and extending from said side member toward the central portion of said frame; b. adjacent side members having mitered end portions positioned in face-to-face relation to form a joinder of said frame members, said joinder being fusion-welded to secure the members in angular relation with respect to each other; c. a foamed plastic supporting substrate member configured to substantially conform to the configuration of said frame and positioned with said frame between the upper and lower flange members of said channel-like side members; d. a raised ridge positioned along the upper side of said frame immediately above the upper flange member and having an upper surface portion, the end portions of each ridge being bevelled similarly to its associated frame member such that adjacent ridges are positioned in face-to-face relation defining an angle therebetween substantially corresponding to the angle between said frame members, said ridges further defining a continuous and coplanar upper surface portion along the upper side of said frame over which said metallized reflecting sheet is held in a stretched condition; and e. a resilient member having a triangular cross section posiTioned between the upper flange member of each channel-like member and the marginal edge portions of the supporting substrate member along the lengths of the channel members, said resilient members being in compression therebetween to provide a reinforcement in said frame in relationship to the compressive and bending forces of said stretched film such that the compressive reaction forces of the compressed resilient members are in balanced equilibrium with said compressive and bending forces of the film creating a continuous and optically correct reflecting mirror surface.

Claim 9

The mirror according to claim 1 wherein said supporting substrate comprises a foamed plastic material and said frame comprises a bent unitary aluminum channel member having two end portions secured by attachment means, said channel member having notched portions removed from the upper and lower flange members at each bend defining an angular relationship between adjacent bent portions of the channel member, said unitary channel member defining a polygonal configuration of said frame.

Claim 10

The mirror according to claim 5 wherein said resilient members comprise wedge-like strips positioned in end-to-end relation between the upper flange member of each channel member and the substrate member such that the strips provide a continuous reinforcement along the inner periphery of the channel members between the upper flange members and the peripheral edge portions of the supporting substrate member.

Claim 11

The mirror according to claim 6 wherein the resilient wedge-like strips have mitered end portions such that they are positioned in end-to-end angular relationship corresponding to the angles formed by the corresponding channel members of said frame.

Claim 12

In a planar mirror having a reflective surface formed by a metallized polyester reflective sheet material supported over a peripheral ridge on a substantially rigid backing member, the combination comprising: a backing member having a frame defined by a metal member, each member having an inwardly opened channel-like cross section of the type including:

Claim 13

In a planar mirror having a reflective surface formed by a metallized polyester reflective sheet material supported over a peripheral ridge on a substantially rigid backing member, the combination comprising: a backing member having a frame defined by a metal member, each member having an inwardly opened channel-like cross section of the type including: