GB2451847A

GB2451847A - Accessory to extend the length of a bed

Info

Publication number: GB2451847A
Application number: GB0715828A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neville Tinsley Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Publication date: 2009-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-14
Also published as: GB0715828D0; GB2451847B

Abstract

An accessory offers a solution to insufficient bed length and comprises extenders Y and a pillow support board X. To provide additional length, the extenders are fixed between the bed-base and the headboard and the pillow support board is fitted, preferably with Velcro G, to the top of the extenders so that it is level with the upper surface of the mattress. The extent E to which the extenders extend a bed may be of fixed or adjustable. The extenders are preferably formed form channel-shaped members, one in the case of a fixed width E and two cooperating in the case of the extendable width version (Figure 3). The extenders may be manufactured from metal or plastics. If manufactured from plastics both open ends of the channels may be closed and reinforcing (P2, figure 7) provided to improve rigidity. Positioning of the Velcro when the board is in position may form a clamp to hold firmly in position the bed under-sheet and, to assist firm holding, clips may be provided, held in grooves and positioned near the outer edges of the pillow support board.

Description

IntcUectua Pr*)erty O e FC! Ci eai:wI n oO1,o, Apphcdtlon Ni GBO7 I 528 0 RTM DatC 5 Dccinhcr 2007 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro UK Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office Jt.

Accessory to Extend the Length of a Bed The length (Imperial 6ft-6ins) of the standard bed has not changed since the 19th. century despite the present generation being significantly taller than their predecessors of that time.

In consequence, many through lack of space at the foot of the bed, do not enjoy regular comfortable sleep. Some twenty years ago, being tall and to allow more space in which to lie, I fitted blocks of wood, some 85mm thick, between the base and the head-board of my bed. Through neither the media nor having my attention being drawn to references, have I been made aware of any conunercially available alternative with an equivalent purpose to that of my blocks of wood. By that, it would appear evident any demand for such is not presently being satisfied To remedy this, the design covered by this application provide a similar solution., a means for adding length to a bed, placed at the head, and level with the top, of the mattress, rather than at the foot o the bed. When occupied, much of the weight of the upper half of a sleeping person is on the shoulder resting on the bed's mattress. The only weight taken at the very top portion of the bed being that of the pillow and the head of the sleeping person, lightened somewhat by a space left between the top of the person's head and the headboard.. This will still be the case after fitting a Bed Extending Accessory', whilst the mattress will remain in the original position, that of the sleeping person, and his/her upper body weight, will be closer to the upper edge of the mattress..

The Bed Extending Accessory', for a fixed additional length, consists of three component parts, two identical extenders' (Y, figure 1, sheet 1 /3) and a pillow support board', (X, figure 1, sheet 1 /3). When additional length not offered by the fixed length Bed Extending Accessory' is needed, designed is a variable version using part extenders' (K! & 1(2, figure 3, sheet 2/3). These allow flexibility to vary the length of an extension. The Bed Extending Accessory' used for the purpose consists of five components; two, right hand part extenders', (Ki, figure 3, sheet 2 / 3), two, left hand part extenders' (1(2, figure 3, sheet 2 / 3) and the pillow support board'. Extenders' of a fixed length are of three sided box section, (Y, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3), those for varying length are of similar section, constructed with a right hand and a left hand part extender' (K! & K2 figure 3, sheet 2 / 3) fastened together, using the slots (H, figure 3, page 2 / 3) and supplied set-screws and nuts and washers. The extenders' are firmly held to the pillow support board' by pads of Velcro' type fixing, (G, figure 1, page 1 I 3), this allowing leeway in positioning and facility for removing the board', when required.

Slots of identical length ( F, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3) are positioned in the extenders' for use for fixing these to the bed base' (N, figure 4, page 2 / 3) and the headboard support stays (I, figure 4, page 2 / 3). To fasten the extenders' to the bed-base it is intended that the existing screws will be used (V, figure 4, page 2 / 3), set-screws, washers and nuts ( W, figure 4, page 2 / 3) will be provided for fixing the eenders' to the headboard stays.

Orders placed by customers will influence the different sizes of extenders' (E, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3) and pillow support boards' (A, figure 1, sheet 1 1 3). The widths ( D, figure 1, page 1/ 3) across the opposite walls of the box section will be influenced by the width found across a range of headboard stays.

Extenders' are of a uniform length, from the upper to the lower edges, as the length of the slots (F, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3) need to be suitable for fitting to any of the different types of bed-bases and head-board support stays. For visual effect, the open side of the box section should be inwards when fastened to the board'..

Both the extenders' and the pillow support boards' and can be manufactured in either metal or non-metallic material, for example, a suitable plastic. Designs shown on sheet 1 / 3 and sheet 2 / 3 are based on extenders' being of metal construction; sheet 3 / 3 gives an indication of a plastic version. If plastic is used, for added rigidity, both the open end of the extender' will need to be closed ( Q, figures 5 & 7, sheet 3 / 3) and a reinforcing web or webs' between and within the three sides of the units ( P1, figures 5 & 7, sheet 3 / 3). As the Extension Unit' is intended as a universal fitting, to cater for heavy wooden headboards and also depending on the type of plastic used in their manufacture, extenders' may also require additional reinforcing members, an example of such reinforcing is shown ( P2, figures 5 & 7, sheet 3 / 3). Figure 7, sheet 3 / 3, gives an indication of the ratio of the extenders' length ( C, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3) to width (the additional length added to the bed).

(E, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3). For practical purposes the maximum width for E is likely to be in the region of 200 -225 mm, also customers may find this size best fills their needs.

The use of plastic for all components is the preferred option but this would depend on the potential for sales of the Bed Extending Accessories' -the following reasoning is included in this application for explanation purposes only.

( Injection moulding tooling' would be needed for the production of plastic'extenders' and the cost of these must be weighed against estimates of orders likely to placed. Such estimates, and the price the market-place can bear, will have a direct bearing on the pricing of the Bed Extending Accessories'. Whilst labour costs for manufacture in metal will remain constant for each component produced, the equivalent cost for plastic versions will vaxy depending on quantities manufactured... If it is believed that orders received will be reasonably high then it would be economic and more profitable to use plastic, as profits would rise significantly after the tooling costs had been recovered. For these reasons, prior to commencing production, a decision would need to be made as to whether or not it would be better to, initially, test market' the metal version rather than to order tooling based on grasped out of the air' figures for potential sales.) Provision is made in the design to ensure the lower bed-sheet is held finn in position, including whilst a bed is occupied. To do so it is intended that the hooks' section of the Velcro' type pads should extend much nearer to the edge of the pillow support board' than on the other sections, those on the extenders' . (R, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3 & figure 6, sheet 3 / 3)). This would cause a sheet to be held firm when the support board' is positioned, by wrapping the sheet a short way under the support board' and this being trapped between the hook' section and the extender' underneath, ( S, figure 6, sheet 3 / 3). Additional means for holding the sheet firmly in position is provided by clips' to be positioned near to the ends of the upper edge of the support board'. (U, figure 2, sheet 1 / 3). The clips used for the purpose will be chosen from a range currently commercially available; grooves being positioned near the longer edges of the support board, to assist firm holding. (L, figure 1, sheet 1 / 3, & figure 6, sheet 3 / 3) as

Claims

1. A bed extending accessory' to add length to a bed consisting of two extender' components and a pillow support board' positioned between the head of the bed and the head-board

2. A bed extending accessory' to add lengths to a bed, as claimed in claim 1, with a pillow support board and, to allow for a range of lengths to be chosen, the two extender' components are replaced by variable extender' sub-assemblies, each consisting of two, part extender' components.

3. An extending accessory' to add length to a bed, as claimed in Claim 1, but with the extender being manufactured in non-metallic material such as plastic with, if necessary, bracing-webs positioned to give added rigidity and strength. S. * S *0 S. I.. a.

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3. The extender' components of the bed extending accessory', claimed in Claim 1 & Claim 2, can be manufactured to any desired size.

4. The pillow support boards' component of the bed extending accessory', claimed in Claim I & Claim 2, can be manufactured in sizes to suit customers' requirements 5. The bed extending accessory' claimed in Claim 1 & Claim 2 has universal application for fixing a bed extension to accommodate all sizes of bed-base and thickness of mattress 6. The bed extending accessory' claimed in Claim 1 & Claim 2 has universal application for fixing bed headboards to the upper end of an extended section fitted to a bed.

7. Use of Velcro' type fixing to firmly attach the extender' components to the pillow support board' to form the bed extending accessory', claimed in Claim 1 & Claim 2; such fixing will allow for leeway when positioning the support board and the advantage of the relatively ease of removal of this, if required 8. Positioning of the Velcro' type fitting, as claimed in Claim 7, to accommodate different bed widths..

9. Positioning of the Velcro' type fixings, as claimed in Claim 7, to hold firm the sheet on which the occupant of a bed lies.

10. Use of Clips to further ensure the firmness of the sheet, as claimed in Claim 9, together with provision of grooves in the pillow support board' for hold-fast purposes for the clips.

11. Use of metal or non-metallic materials for manufacture of all component parts of the Bed Extending Accessory', claimed in Claim I & Claim 2.

12. Introduction of additional strengthening and reinforcing members to give greater rigidity to extenders' when manufactured in non-metallic material Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims Note -For the purpose of this application MHL (Multiple Hook and Loop) is used when idenljfying types offixings more generally known by the registered trademark Velcro'.

I. An accessoiy for adding length to a bed comprising a pair of bed extender, a pillow support board and MHL fixings, the extenders having means to allow adjustment of their position in use to accommodate for different mattress heights, in use the extenders being fixed where a bed headboard is normally fitted and the headboard fitted to an opposite side of the extenders to the bed, the pillow support board lying across the extenders in use flush with the top surface of a mattress of the bed, the pillow board being removably secured in use to the extenders using the MHL type fixings, the MI-EL fixings additionally retaining in place a lower bed-sheet.

2. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1, in which each extender comprises two partS comprising slots which allow adjustments to the length of the extender and so adjustment of the extent to which the bed length is increased in use.