GB2426370A

GB2426370A - Device for displaying images sporadically on a mirrored surface

Info

Publication number: GB2426370A
Application number: GB0510246A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jesus Leon Molleda
Original assignee: International Media Publiespejo SL
Current assignee: International Media Publiespejo SL
Priority date: 2005-05-19
Filing date: 2005-05-19
Publication date: 2006-11-22
Also published as: GB0510246D0

Abstract

Device for displaying messages or images sporadically on a mirrored surface, wherein the message (4) is placed between a see-through mirror (2) that constitutes the mirrored surface and a plurality of light fittings (9) that can be turned on by the action of an electronic controller (11), such that when the light fittings (9) are turned off the see-through mirror (2) presents a reflecting surface while when the light fittings (9) are turned on the see-through mirror (2) loses its reflecting properties, revealing the message or image (4) through it. The see-through mirror (2) may be placed in an outer frame (1) that can be secured by a lock (3) with respect to a box (8) that contains the light fillings (9) and the electronic control (11). The message or image (4) may be held on a translucent central part of an opaque frame by attachment devices (5).

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING IMAGES SPORADICALLY ON A MIRRORED

SURFACE

Device for displaying images sporadically on a mirrored surface.

The present invention relates to a device that can display a message or image in a sporadic manner on a mirrored surface.

Its field of application is advertising, as well as signalling of any type, whenever a surprise effect is sought that catches the user's attention towards the message to convey.

The diverse problems currently suffered by advertising are well known. Among them are the following: * The high cost of certain media, such as TV, magazines, radio, etc. * The saturation to which the public is subjected on the street by static advertising * The need to reach a specific consumer more directly, at the best time and place.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost device that allows displaying advertising focussed at a specific consumer in a specific location, in an unexpected and surprising way.

The device object of the present invention comprises a mirror of the type known as a see-through mirror, behind which the message is placed on a suitable support. A plurality of light fittings are placed behind the message which light up sporadically under the control of an electronic controller, at which time the message becomes visible through the seethrough mirror. In the context of this document, a see-through mirror is defined as a transparent panel with a surface treatment based on metallic compounds that confer the property of making one of its faces act as a mirror, reflecting light, whenever it is not illuminated on the opposite face; at such time, it will lose its reflecting properties and act as a simple stained glass, allowing one to see through it. This type of mirror is known and usually used as a peephole in doors, wherein it acts as a conventional mirror in one direction while in the other it allows one to see through it. The invention is based on the hitherto unexploited face that this type of mirror loses its reflective properties if it is illuminated from the rear face with sufficient intensity.

This allows one to issue optical messages of any type, whether advertising, informative, safety, etc. The advantages of the device of the invention are the following: * It does not constitute an optical intrusion on the decoration when the light fittings are turned off * It allows a great flexibility for both the message insertion time and the message type, as well as its adaptation to the places best-suited to the target public * It offers a high effectiveness due to its individuality, as in addition to the fact that nothing similar exists in the market, the surprise effect draws attention to the message.

To complete the description being made and in order to aid a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a detailed description is made of a preferred embodiment based on the drawing accompanying this description, where for purposes of illustration only and in a non-limiting sense the following is shown: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention.

In said figure the numerical references correspond to the following parts and elements: 1. Outer frame 2. See-through mirror 3. Lock 4. Message 5. Attachments 6. Translucent central part of the opaque frame 7 7. Opaque frame 8.Box 9. Light fittings 10. Screws 11. Electronic controller As can be seen in figure 1, the device of the invention comprises a box 8 which can be attached to the wall by the screws 10. Inside the box are placed a plurality of light fittings 9 and an electronic controller 11. Fitted to the front part of the box 8, such that it can be secured with respect to it by a lock 3, is an outer frame 1, whose central part is occupied by a see-through mirror 2.

Between the see-through mirror 2 and the light fittings 9 is placed a message 4 in the form of a slide or transparency, attached to the translucent central part 6 of an opaque frame 7 by attachments 5.

The operation of the device object of the invention is as follows. While the light fittings 9 are turned off, the see-through mirror 2 behaves as a normal mirror, totally reflecting the light and objects placed in front of it, such as for example any onlookers. Sporadically, by the action of the electronic controller 11, the light fittings 9 are activated, revealing the message 4 through the see-through mirror 2 as the latter loses its reflecting properties.

An expert in the field will find obvious a number of alternative industrial embodiments and adaptations to specific purposes that may be executed without straying from the essence of the invention, as claimed in the claims. For example, the outer frame I can be fitted on the box 8, as described, but could alternatively have the form of a hinged door. The message 4 could be secured by various means using any type of suitable attachments 5, such as metal clips, grooves or even adhesive strips, including even the elimination of the opaque frame 7, as the message 4 could be placed directly on the box 8 or the outer frame 1.

Claims

1. Device for displaying messages or images sporadically on a mirrored surface, characterised in that the message is placed between a seethrough mirror that constitutes the mirrored surface and a plurality of light fittings that can be turned on by the action of an electronic controller; such that when the light fittings are turned off the seethrough mirror presents a reflecting surface while when the light fittings are turned on the see-through mirror loses its reflecting properties, revealing the message or image through it.

2. Device for displaying messages or images sporadically on a mirrored surface according to claim 1, characterised in that the see-through mirror is placed in an outer frame that can be secured by a lock with respect to a box that contains the light fittings and the electronic controller.

3. Device for displaying messages or images sporadically on a mirrored surface according to claim 2, characterised in that the message or image is placed on a translucent central part of an opaque frame by the attachment.

4. Device for displaying messages or image sporadically on a mirrored surface according to claim 3, characterised in that the attachments are constituted by metallic clips.

5. A device for display messages or images sporadically on a mirrored surface substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figure.