EP0351239A1

EP0351239A1 - Backrests

Info

Publication number: EP0351239A1
Application number: EP89307174A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph A. Medley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-15
Filing date: 1989-07-14
Publication date: 1990-01-17

Abstract

A backrest 4 for a bed is pivotally connected to a headboard 2 on the bed or to a wall adjacent the head of the bed, by links 6 such that the backrest can be moved between a stowed position (fig. 1a) and an extended position (fig. 1c) in which the lower end of the backrest is supported by the mattress.

Description

This invention relates to backrests for beds.
It is useful, when in bed, to be able to attain a half sitting - half lying type of position, for example for reading or watching television. This is normally achieved by propping pillows against the head board of the bed and using them for support. Some beds have a frame on top of the bed base and hinged to the base about a third or halfway along the base. A mechanism is provided at the head end of the frame or raising and lowering the frame to form a backrest for sitting up in bed. This type of bed is somewhat complex to manufacture and is consequently expensive.
According to the present invention there is provided a backrest for a bed, the backrest being pivotally connected at one end to a frame or headboard on the bed, or to a wall adjacent to the head of the bed such that it may be moved between a stowed position close to and substantially parallel to the headboard or wall and an operative position in which it is supported at its pivoted end by the headboard or wall and at the opposing end by the end.
The invention is further defined in the appended claims to which reference should now be made.
The invention is particularly useful for beds used in confined spaces such as boats, caravans and the like. It is however suitable for use as an integral part of a headboard of a traditional bed.
The invention will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 a), b) and c) show side views of a first embodiment of the invention in a stowed, a semi-open, and a fully open position respectively;
Figure 2 shows a side view similar to Figure 1 c) of a similar embodiment in the fully open position but with armrests;
Figure 3 shows a front view of the embodiment of Figure 2;
Figure 4 a), b) and c) shows perspective views of a modification to the embodiment of Figure 1 in a stowed and two open positions respectively;
Figure 5 a) and b) show side views of a further embodiment of the invention in the stowed and fully open positions respectively;
Figure 6 shows a further modification of the backrest according to the invention; and
Figure 7 shows a further modification of the backrest according to the invention.

The first embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises a headboard 2, a backrest 4 and a pair of connecting links 6 between the headboard and backrest and pivotally connected to each. Fig. 1 a) shows a backrest in its stowed position. The backrest is parallel to the headboard and the connecting links are angled upwards from the headboard to the backrest. Preferably the bottom of the backrest rests on a ledge fitted to the headboard. This prevents it from slipping down behind the mattress and prevents the top from swinging outwards.
To use the backrest, the lower end of the backrest is lifted upwards and outwards to the position shown in Fig. 1 b) such that the connecting links are close to horizontal land the bottom of the backrest extends down the bed. The top of the backrest is then able to rest on the headboard as shown in Fig. 1 c) and the foot of the backrest rests on the bed. The connecting links are thus angled downwards from the headboard to the backrest. Use of the connecting links 6 enables a backrest that is long enough to be supported by the mattress in the inclined position to be stowed vertically without its lower end passing down between the mattress and the headboard.
Figure 2 shows the same type of backrest but with arm supports 8 fitted. The arm supports are pivotally connected to the headboard and have grooves 15 on their underside which engage projections 13 which extends outwardly from the sides of the backrest. Three or four grooves 15 are provided to give alternative positions in which the arms can engage the projections, thus giving various backrest positions. A connecting rod 10 between the two arm supports keeps them at the same level relative to one another. When the backrestis in its stowed position, the arms fold upwards and the backrest is folded up against the headboard. Thus the connecting rod 10 istrapped between the headboard and the backrest and the arm supportscannot fall down accidentally.
The backrest is shown in front view in Figure 3. It comprises two upright members 12 with cross members 14 between the uprights. These may be upholstered to provide greater comfort.
The headboard 2 may be a standard one supplied with a particular bed. The backrest could then be fitted onto it.
Alternatively the whole headboard and backrest may be supplied together, the headboard having two legs extending downwards for securing it to the bed frame. These legs have slots or holes for fixing the legs to the bed base in the conventional manner.
One possible modification to this embodiment is to have two or more connecting links in series between the headboard and backrest. This would then give greater adjustability to the position of the backrest since the backrest could be used with all the links in tension and the backrest suspended by them or with the links folded together so that they rest against the headboard and the backrest rests against the folded links. Such a modification is shown in Figure 4 a), b) and c). The backrest shown has two connecting links 26, 28 between the headboard 2 and the backrest 4. The two links 26, 28 are connected together by a hinge 30, the arrangement being such that they may be swung between the position in Figure 4 a) where the ends of the links butt against each other and the position in Figure 4 b) where the sides of the links are adjacent, link 28 having been swung through 180 relative to link 26.
Figure 4 a) is the stowed position in which the connecting links lead upwards from the headboard 2 to the top of the backrest 4. Two pegs 32 are also shown upon which the backrest rests in the stowed position.
In Figure 4 b) the two links 26, 28 are shown folded together such that they rests against the headboard 2 and the backrest restagainst them.
In Figure 4 c) the links 26, 28 are fully extendeddownwards with the backrest 4 hanging from them. Thus it can be seenthat using more connecting links gives a greater range of possible positions for the backrest.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 a) comprises a mounting member 16 which is attached to a wall at the head of the bed. This is connected to a backrest 18 by a hinge 20. The backrest 18 is connected by a further hinge 22 to an extension 24. The whole assembly folds against the wall as shown in Figure 5 a). In use, the backrest is swung away from the wall and then the extension 24 is pivoted through 180o such that it attains the position shown in Figure 5 b) with the bottom of the backrest abutting the top of the extension to serve as a stop and prevent further pivoting of the extension about the hinge 22. With the extension 24 thus in line with the backrest, the lower end of the extension rests on the bed supporting the backrest in the inclined position. This type of backrest is particularly useful on divan beds where there is no headboard fixing location.
The backrests described above may be held in the upright stowed position by clips or ties. Alternatively strips of materials of the type used for burr and loop tape fasteners, such as is sold under the Trade Mark VELCRO may be used. The surface of the wall or headboard, and the backrests which come together when the backrest is stowed may have strips of the materials attached to them by adhesive. A strip of the burr or hook piled fabric may be attached to one surface and a strip of the loop piled fabric may be attached to the other surface. When the two surfaces are brought together the fabrics releasably engage one another.
Figure 6 shows the backrest 4 with strips of burr piled fabric fastener 50 secured to its back surface. Strips of loop pile fabric fastener 51 are secured to the front surface of the frame or headboard 2. The strips 50 and 51 are secured with adhesive and are aligned with each other and vertical with the backrest in the stowed position. When the backrests are vertical in the stowed position, the burr pile is brought into contact with the loop pile and the backrest is thus held in position. To release the backrest it is necessary merely to pull the backrest away from the frame. In other respects the backrest can be similar to those of the previous embodiments. It will be appreciated that alternatively the loop pile fabric fastener 50 may be secured to the front of the headboard and the hook pile fabric fastener may be secured to the back of the backrest.
As mentioned above, the backrest may be upholstered for greater comfort. Figure 7 shows an example of an upholstered backrest incorporated into a headboard. The backrest 4 of figure 7 is upholstered and fits between two upholstered panels 60 secured to the headboard 2. Vertical battens 61 are secured to the headboard to either side of the backrest. Connecting links 62 are attached at one end to the battens 61 and at the other end to vertical battens 63 secured to the back of the backrest 4. Movement of the backrest between a vertical stowed position and an extended position is controlled by the links 62 in the manner described with reference to figures 1a, b and c. Burr and loop pile fabric strips 50 and 51 may be secured to the opposing faces of the backrest and the headboard to secure the backrest in the stowed position as described with reference to figure 6.

Claims

1. A backrest for a bed, the backrest being pivotally connected at one end to a frame or headboard on the bed, or to a wall adjacent to the head of the bed such that it may be moved between a stowed position close to and substantially parallel to the frame or headboard or wall and an operative position in which it is supported at its pivoted end by the frame or headboard or wall and at the opposing end by the bed.

2. A backrest according to claim 1 in which the pivotal connection comprises at least one linking member between the frame or headboard or wall the linking member being pivotally connected at one end to the backrest and at the opposing end to the frame or headboard or wall.

3. A backrest according to claim 2 including a ledge attached to the frame or headboard or wall on which the backrest is supported in its stowed position.

4. A backrest according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the backrest comprises at least two sections hinged together such that they may be folded one against the other prior to stowage of the backrest.

5. A backrest according to any preceeding claims including a pair of armrests one on either side of the backrest and pivotally connected to the frame or headboard or wall such that they may be moved between a stowed position close to and substantially parallel to the backrest or wall and an operative position substantially parallel to the bed, at least one interconnecting groove and projection being provided between each armrest and each side of the backrest for holding the armrests in at least one desired position.

6. A backrest according to claim 5 including a connecting rod between the two armrests and parallel to the frame or headboard or wall, the arrangement being such that in the stowed position the connecting rod is retained between the backrest and the frame or headboard or wall thus holding the armrests in the stowed position.

7. A backrest according to any of the preceding claims in which on opposing surfaces of the backrest and the frame or the headboard or the wall, are respective parts of a burr and loop fabric fastener for securing the backrest in the stowed position.