GB2350559A

GB2350559A - A bed headboard

Info

Publication number: GB2350559A
Application number: GB9913064A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Edward Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: GB9913064D0

Abstract

A headboard 10 is hinged horizontally 16 and is fastened to a wall, or other rigid structure, or to a bed baseframe. By means of a further hinged support 18 near the base, the headboard can be inclined to provide a comfortable sitting position or replaced to a vertical position when necessary. The angle of inclination of the headboard can be determined by the length of the hinged support.

Description

2350559 A BED HEADBOARD This invention relates to headboards f or beds.

Bed headboards are used to provide a comfortable, padded and substantially vertical surface at the head of the bed. This surface fulfils two roles: an upperbody rest to support the occupant when sitting up, perhaps reading; and a surface against which the pillows are placed during sleep.

However, in its role as an upper body support, the conventional headboard is not ideal. In order to attain a comfortable position, it is often necessary to arrange the pillows in the corner described by the bed and the bed headboard interface, so as to provide is a support that is no longer substantially vertical, but inclined.

A solution to this problem would be to incline the head board to the vertical, thus providing an inclined support and a corresponding increase in comfort. However, this approach would then undermine the aforementioned second role of the headboard, that of a surface against which the pillows are placed during sleep. An object of this invention is to overcome these 25 problems.

2 According to this invention there is provided a headboard for beds, comprising a means for mounting said headboard so that its angle of inclination is variable in order to incorporate its two modes of use.

It is a feature of the present invention that the bed headboard is capable of mounting on a structure which is separate f rom. the base of the bed.

A specific embodiment of this invention is now described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the headboard in the vertical position; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the headboard in the inclined position.

With reference to Figure 2, there is provided a bed headboard (12) fastened to solid structure (14), such as a wall, by means of a series of hinges (16) situated adjacent and parallel to its top edge so as to allow free rotation of the headboard about the hinges and relative to the solid structure. In order to facilitate easy fitting and removal of the headboard to and from the solid structure, the hinges are of the rising but-hinge type.

Attached to the side of the headboard adjacent to said solid structure is a supporting member ( 18).

3 This supporting member is attached by means of a hinge (20) and is arranged so as to rotate in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the headboard; the range of rotation being constrained by a chord connecting the free end of the supporting member with the surface of the headboard between the hinges (16) and the hinge (20). This chord is of a length which allows rotation of the supporting member up to an angle where it is able to locate against a locating member (24) which is attached to said solid structure. In this example the locating member is a baton positioned horizontally on the solid structure in order to act as a ledge for receiving and locating the supporting member.

Figure 1 depicts the headboard in the vertical position. To move the headboard into the inclined position of Figure 2. the lower edge of the headboard is pulled away from the solid structure so as to describe an arc about the hinges (16). As the gap between the headboard and the solid structure widens, the free end of the supporting member (18) descends under its own weight and about its hinge (20). This will continue until the chord (22) is taut and the supporting member is in the required "down" position and in direct abutment with the headboard. The lower 4 edge of the headboard is then released so as to allow abutment of the supporting member against the locating member, thereby completing the positioning of the headboard in the predetermined inclined position of Figure 2. In this way, a load applied to the headboard is transmitted to the solid structure (14) predominantly by the supporting member (18), rather than by the hinge (20).

To revert the headboard back to the vertical position of Figure 1, it is necessary to pull the lower edge of the headboard (12) away from the solid structure (14), whilst at the same time lifting the supporting member (18) from its "down,' position to a position whereby it is substantially parallel to the end of the headboard. The headboard is then lowered back towards the solid structure (14), thereby attaining the vertical position of Figure 1.

Claims

1 A headboard which is supported by two or more hinges mounted horizontally, and which can be inclined by means of a hinged supporting member near its base.

2. A headboard as claimed in Claim 1 where the length of the lower supporting member can determine the angle at which the headboard rests.

3. A headboard as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 where the supporting member is provided with a chord to ensure correct positioning against a locating member.

4. A headboard as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 can be fitted with hinges of the rising butt or removable pin type for ease of fitting and removal of the said headboard, or, in some situations, a fixed type hinge can be used.