GB2209275A

GB2209275A - Bedhead

Info

Publication number: GB2209275A
Application number: GB8720831A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Goodridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-04
Filing date: 1987-09-04
Publication date: 1989-05-10
Also published as: GB8720831D0

Abstract

The invention comprises a bedhead incorporating at least one table and/or armrest which when not in use is stored so that it lies flush with the vertical structure of the bedhead. In addition, the front face (at least) of the table and/or armrest may be upholstered so as to blend in with the upholstery of the front face of the bedhead. The invention utilises either a primary strap hinge and a secondary sliding hinge or a high strength abutment hinge to limit the rotation of the table and/or armrest to 90 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

Bedhead This invention relates to a bed, and more particularly to bedheads.

According to the present invention a head for a bed comprises a substantially vertical structure which provides the "headboard" and a table top and/or armrest pivoted to the vertical structure so that, when the table top and/or armrest is in an inoperative position it is located substantially vertically within or resting against the vertical structure and when in the operative position it extends substantially horizontally from the vertical structure.

The table top and/or armrest may simply rest against the front face of the vertical structure in the upright inoperative position, but according to a preferred feature, the vertical structure is of sufficient thickness from front to rear to accomodate at least part of the thickness of the table top and/or armrest, and a recess or hole is formed in the vertical structure to receive at least part of the table top and/or armrest when it is in the inoperative position.

The vertical structure may be a plate-like element made of timber or plastics sheet or it may comprise a frame upholstered on the front side. The upholstered form of the structure lends itself to accomodate the table top or armrest in the inoperative position.

According to another aspect of the present invention a bed is provided with a bedhead which comprises a substantially vertical structure which provides the "headboard" and a table top and/or armrest pivoted to the vertical structure so that, when the table top and/or armrest is in an operative position it is located substantially vertically within or resting against the vertical structure and when in the operative position it extends substantially horizontally from the vertical structure.

In the case where the table top and/or the armrest are accomodated in the vertical structure it is preferred that the table top and/or armrest lies flush with the front surface of the vertical structure when not in use.

Preferably the front face of the table top and/or the armrest is or are designed so that when the table top and/or armrest is up when not in use, they blend in with the design of the front surface of the plate. For instance, the front face may be upholstered.

The table top and/or the armrest may incorporate a primary hinge mechanism, in the form of a conventional strap hinge, and a secondary hinge mechanism, in the form of a sliding hinge which limits the rotation to substantially 900. Alternatively, the table top and/or armrest may incorporate a high strength abutment hinge, characterised in that the armrest and/or table is pivotable freely about an axis located a short distance from the headboard and thereof so that, when the armrest and/or table is in the operative position, the headboard end of the armrest and/or table is restrained from moving upwards by means of an abutment located on or in the vertical structure.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a bed and a bedhead; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bed and bedhead of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the bed and bedhead of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a bed and a bedhead; Figure 5 is a plan view of the bed and bedhead of Figure 4; and, Figure 6 is a perspective view of an armrest and/or table top hinge mechanism.

In Figure 1 a "double" or "king-size" bed comprises generally a bedframe 1, to which is fixed by known means a vertical bedhead 2 and a loose mattress 6.

The bedframe 1 comprises a closed rectangular frame 5 having a pair of rear legs 3, located one at each rear corner, and a pair of front legs 4, located one at each front corner. The mattress 6 is located directly upon and supported by the bedframe.

The bedhead 2 comprises a substantially vertical structure 7 of appreciable thickness (see Figures 1 and 2) having a pair of vertically-orientated deep narrow recesses 8 formed one at each of the extreme edges of the structure, and a single vertically-orientated deep wide recess 10 formed in a central part of the bedhead. The respective sizes of the recesses are not critical but, as an example, the narrow recess is approximately 100mm wide, approximately 600mm long and approximately 50mm deep, whereas the wide recess is approximately 400 to 500mm wide, approximately 600mm long and approximately 50mm deep.

A pair of armrests 9 is hinged rotatably one to each lower front lip of each narrow recess 8 so that each armrest can be turned through 900 from a vertical position, in which the front surface of the armrest lies flush with the front surface of the structure 7, to a horizontal position (as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3).

Similarly, a table top 11 is hinged rotatably to the lower front lip of the wide recess 10 so that it too can be turned through 900 from a vertical position, in which the front surface of the table top lies flush with the front surface of the structure 7, to a horizontal position (as seen in Figures 2 and 3).

The front surface of the structure 7 has an aesthetically pleasing design 12 applied to it, as do the front faces of the armrests and the table, so that when not in use, in the vertical position, the armrests and the table merge into the design 12 of the plate 7.

The rear surface of the tabletop is covered with Formica (trade mark) or any other protective laminated, heat-resistant plastics material.

In Figures 4 and 5 a "single" or "three-quarter" bed comprises generally a bedframe 1, a loose mattress 6, and a loose pillow 14.

The bedframe 1 is identical to that of the first embodiment.

The bedhead 2, which is fixed to a wall 13 by known means, comprises a substantially vertical structure 7 of appreciable thickness (see Figures 4 and 5) having a single vertically-orientated deep narrow recess 8 formed near to one of the extreme edges of the structure, and a single vertically-orientated deep wide recess 10m formed near to the other extreme edge of the structure. The respective sizes are, for example, similar to those specified in the first embodiment.

An armrest 9 is pivoted to the vertical.

structure 7 so that each armrest can be turned through substantially 90o from an inoperative vertical position, in which the front surface of the armrest lies substantially flush with the front surface of the structure 7, to an operative horizontal position.

In substantially the same manner as the armrest, a table top 10 is pivoted to the vertical structure 7 so that it too can be turned through 900 from a vertical position, in which the front surface of the table top lies flush with the front surface of the structure 7, to a horizontal position (as seen in Figures 2 and 3).

The front surface of the structure 7 has an aesthetically pleasing upholstered design 12 applied to it, as do both the armrest and the table top, so that when either or both is or are in the inoperative vertical position, the armrests and/or the table merge into the design of the upholstery.

The rear surface of the table top is, in this embodiment, covered with a green felt or baize so that, when the table is in its operative horizontal position it can be used conveniently as a card table. It will, of course, be appreciated that other finishes could be applied to the table top so that it could be used for other purposes. In one example, the table top could include an armrest portion on one edge the remainder of the surface being covered with Formica, and, in another example, the table top could include a set of protective heat resistant ceramic tiles.

In Figure 6 a high-strength hinge mechanism comprises generally a pivotable armrest 20, a portion 21 of the vertical bedhead structure 7, and a pivot axis 22 passing through both the portion 21 and the armrest 20.

The armrest comprises a generally rectangular structure 23 having a single narrow bore formed horizontally and laterally through the structure 23 near to the bedhead-end thereof (as seen in Figure 6).

The portion 21 of the rigid bedhead structure comprises a vertically arranged strength member 24 from which project a pair of integrally parallel metal carrying arms 24 and a pair of integral metal abutments 25. As will be appreciated more readily from Figure 6 the abutments 26 comprise a wedge shape, the wider end thereof being at the bottom and are spaced apart by a distance less than the total width of the armrest 20.

The carrying arms 24 are located substantially beneath the abutments 25 and are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the armrest 20 so that the armrest may be located between both the arms 24.

A single narrow bore is formed horizontally through the end of each carrying arm 24 and, as in Figure 6, a metal pivot rod located within the bores formed through the arms 24 and the bore formed through the armrest 20 so that the armrest may rotate upon the rod 26 about the pivot axis 22.

When the armrest is in its horizontal operative position the headboard-end of the armrest abuts with the flat underside faces of both with the flat underside faces of both the abutments 25, which thereby prevent the armrest from becoming downwardly inclined away from the headboard. Such a situation is illustrated in Figure 6.

In certain embodiments, the portion of the armrest abutting the projections 25 are reinforced with a metallic section, such as a resilient steel plate.

If it is desired to move the armrest to its inoperative vertical position, the free end of the armrest is raised, in the direction of the arrow "X" of Figure 6 until the front face of the armrest lies flush with the front surface of the heaboard structure.

Although Figure 6 has been described in respect of an armrest, it will be appreciated that the highstrength hinge mechanism described can be equally well applied to a table top. However, to accomodate a greater width of table top it may prove necessary to use more than two abutments. In the same way, for a particularly narrow armrest (e.g. a children's bedhead) it may prove essential to have only one abutment.

It will be appreciated that although it is possible to use conventional strap hinges and conventional sliding hinge mechanisms to limit the rotation to substantially 900, it is unlikely that such an arrangement would be sufficiently strong to support an armrest and/or a table. The high strength abutment hinge, of which one example is described hereinabove, would, of course, be used in the case where high loads upon a table and/or an armrest were envisaged.

It will also be appreciated that the thickness of the headboard can vary to a great degree. In particular, a relatively thin utilitarian design would, perhaps, be more suitable for a cheaper version of the headboard or a much thicker ornate design for a more expensive version.

Claims

1. A head for a bed comprising a substantially vertical structure which provides the "headboard" and a table top and/or armrest pivoted to the vertical structure so that, when the table top and/or armrest is in an inoperative position it is located substantially vertically within or resting against the vertical structure and when in the operative position it extends substantially horizontally from the vertical structure.

2. A head for a bed according to Claim 1 wherein the table top and/or armrest simply rests against the front face of the vertical structure in the upright inoperative position.

3. A head for a bed according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the vertical structure is of sufficient thickness from front to rear to accomodate at least part of the thickness of the table top and/or armrest.

4. A head for a bed according to Claim 3 wherein a recess or hole is formed in the vertical structure to receive at least part of the table top and/or armrest when it is in the inoperative position.

5. A head for a bed according to Claim 4 wherein when the table top and/or the armrest are accomodated in the vertical structure the table top and/or armrest respectively lies flush with the front surface of the vertical structure when not in use.

6. A head for a bed according to Claim 5 wherein the front face of the table top and/or the armrest is or are designed so that when the table top and/or armrest is up when not in use, they blend in with the design of the front surface of the plate.

7. A head for a bed according to Claim 6 wherein at least the front face of the table top and/or armrest is upholstered.

8. A head for a bed according to any preceding claim wherein the table top and/or the armrest incorporates a primary hinge mechanism, in the form of a conventional strap hinge, and a secondary hinge mechanism, in the form of a sliding hinge which limits the rotation to substantially 900.

9. A head for a bed according to any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the table top and/or armrest incorporates a high strength abutment hinge.

10. A head for a bed according to Claim 9 wherein the armrest and/or table is pivotable freely about an axis located a short distance from the headboard and thereof so that, when the armrest and/or table is in the operative position, the headboard end of the armrest and/or table is restrained from moving upwards by means of an abutment located on or in the vertical structure.

11. A head for a bed according to any preceding claim wherein the vertical structure is a plate-like element made of timber or plastics sheet.

12. A head for a bed according to any of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the vertical structure is a frame upholstered on the front side.

13. A bed being provided with a headboard, the headboard comprising a substantially vertical structure which provides the "headboard" and a table top and/or armrest pivoted to the vertical structure so that, when the table top and/or armrest is in an operative position it is located substantially vertically within or resting against the vertical structure and when in the operative position it extends substantially horizontally from the vertical structure.

14. A bed being provided with a headboard according to Claim 13 wherein the headboard incorporates at least one of the features of Claims 2 to 12.

15. A head for a bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A bed, having a headboard, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.