GB2512298A

GB2512298A - Adjustable headboards for beds

Info

Publication number: GB2512298A
Application number: GB201305358A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Tyler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-25
Filing date: 2013-03-25
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Also published as: GB201305358D0

Abstract

A device for enabling the angle of a headboard to be adjusted comprising a first elongate member 100 adapted for attachment to the base of a bed or a wall, a second elongate member 101 adapted to be attached to a headboard 102, a carriage 105 adapted to be retained on the second elongate member 101 such that it can move along its longitudinal length and a hinge 107 connecting the carriage 105 to the first elongate member such that the second member 101 can move away from the first elongate member 100 in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first elongate member 100. A leaf or torsion spring may be provided to urge the hinge 107 towards a closed position. The carriage 105 may have two elements which slide with respect to each other using ball bearings, a double hinge may be employed and the second elongate member 101 may be partially contained within the first 100 when in a closed position.

Description

ADJUSTABLE HEADBOARDS FOR BEDS

The present invention relates to devices for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of the headboard to be varied.

Devices for enabling the angle with respect tO the vertical of the headboard of a bed to be varied are known. Examples are shown in patent specifications GB 1137465, GB 1 507 000, GB 2 169 501, GB 183 469, GB 2 185 881, GB2 270 621, US 3 774 247 and US'4 955 094.

Specification GB 1 137 465 discloses an arrangement in which two panels in a domestic bed headboard are mounted pivotally such that each of the panels can be rotated by pressure on the upper edges of the respective panel until further rotation is prevented by a stay reaching an abutment member. A release mechanism allows, the panel to be returned to the vertical position by pressure on the' lower edge of the panel.

Specification GB I 507 000 discloses an arrangement in which a single panel in a domestic bed headboard is hinged at its upper edge and can be moved to a desired angle by pulling on the lower edge of the panel. The panel can held at a desired angle to the vertical by means of a ratchet and pawl mechanism. It is not clear how the pawl is released from the ratchet to enable the panel to be returned to a vertical position.

Specification GB 2 159.501 discloses a hospital bed in which the bed head includes a iiiOkable panel the angle of which to the vertical can be varied so as to provide a back rest for a patient. The mechanism is such that as the panel is moved from the vertical the lower edge of the panel rises so as to clear the mattress of the bed, but there is included a resilient strut such that as the weight of a patient is taken by the panel, the panel moves to a position where the lower edge of the panel rcsts on the mattress of the bed.

Specification GB 2 183 469 discloses an arrangement in which a.,p. l.in A dorn,,,tic bed headboard is attached to a backboard via upper anSlower linkage arms, the upper linkage arms being shorter than the lbwer linkage arms, such that when the panel is pulled forwards it initially moves away.Qth the backboard and then tiit until the upper edge of the panel contacts the backboard, in which position the panel is capable of being rested against. For a double bed, two such panels are provided. Only one operative position is provided.

Specification GB 2 185 881 discloses an arrangement in which there is disclosed an adjustable support frame, one component of which can be attached to a headboard of a bed and another component of which is attached to vertical member, which in turn can be attached either to a wall or to the base of the bed. A guide and traveller enable the first component of the frame and a bed headboard attached to it to move in a vertical plane as the bed headboard is moved forwards. A telescopic strut or an over-centre linkagc maintains the first component and attached headboard in their working position. No provision is made for varying the angle with respect to the vertical of the headboard of the bed.

1 s Specification GB 2 270 621 discloses a bed headboard which includes at least One panel the angle of which with respect the vertical can be changed by pulling the panel, or panels forwards. An over-centre locking strut is provided. Reference is made to a mechanism which allov's the panel to move longitudinally as it is moved forwards, but no details of the construction of the mechanism are given, nor is it clear from the drawings as to how this mechanism works.

Specification US 3 774. 247 discloses various mechanisms for enabling the angle of the headboard of a bed to the vertical to be varied, but they all have the feature that the mechanisms are permanently attached to a wall, which may be undesirable. The mechanisms all allow the headboard of a bed to move in a vertical plane as the headboard is pulled forward, so as to cause it to tilt and also include means for locking the headboard at a desired angle with respect to the vertical. One embodiment of the invention includes a short upper link and a longer lower link. In all the embodiments of the invention described, the angle of tilt of the bed headboard s maintained by means of a member, which engages with one or another of a series qf indentations in a slot of a locking bar.

Specification US 4 955 O94 discloses a bed headboard structure which is adapted to be attached permanently to a wall or other structure. As disclosed, the arrangement is for a double bed, but it is apparent that it could be used for a single bed. The component of the device (referred to in the specification as a recliner) against which a user would rest is attached to a back piece by means of upper and lower butt hinges.

The lower hinge has one leaf which is longer than the other, the shorter leaf being attached to the recliner. The free end of the longer leaf of the lower hinge has a pin, which engages with a vertical slot in a side piece and a block (actually referred to in the specification as a lever). Moving the block downwards causes the lower edge of the recliner to move forwards and vice versa. Noprovision is made for the recliner to move in a vertical plane.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of a headboard of abed to be varied.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of headboard of a bed to be varied, comprising a first 1 elongated member of channel section which is adapted to be attached vertically to a wall or to a base of a bed, a second elongated member also of channel section which is adapted to be attached to a headboard of a bed, a carriage adapted to be retained * within the second elongated member and to move longitudinally therein, a hinge connecting the carriage to the first elongated member, the* hinge being adapted to enable the second elongated member to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member.

The hinge may be provided with resilient means adapted to urge the hinge towards a closed position.

Preferably the second elongated member is adapted to be contained within the first elongated member when the said hinge is in the closed position.

The said resilient means adapted to urge the hinge towards a closed position may be a leaf spring attached to or forming one leaf of the said hinge.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa part-sectioned side view of a portion of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the invention and Figure 4 is a part-sectioned side view of a portion of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a device for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of a head board of a bed to be varied comprises a first elongated member 100 of channel section which is either adapted to be attached directly to a base of a bed, which is not shown in Figures 1 or 2 of the drawings, or directly to a wall, a second elongated member 101 which can be attached to a headboard 102 of the bed by means of lugs 103 which project from the side walls 104 of the second elongated member 101 Within the second elongated member 101 there is a carriage 1 5 105 which can move longitudinally with: respect to the second elongated member 101. The carriage 105 is attached to one leaf 106 of a hinge 107. The other leaf of the hinge 107 is attached to a leaf spring 108, which in turn is attaèhed to the base 109 of the first elongated member 100 at its upper end. The carriage 105 has two components, a first one of which, 110, is shorter than thc other: 111, and is attached to the leaf 106 of the hinge 107. The component 111 of the carriage 105 is free to move longitudinally with respect to the component 110 of the carriage 105 and the second elongated member lOL The side walls 112, 104, respectively, of the component 110 of the carriage 105 and the elongated member 101 are arcuate in cross sectionso as to encompass a series of ball bearings 113 mounted in the side walls 112 of the component 111 of the carriage. 105. The ball bearings 113 serve both to reduce friction between the components 110, 111 of the carriage 105 and to retain the components 110, 111 of the carriage 105 in position. Stops which are not shown in Figure 1 limit the travel of the carriage 105 within the length of the second elongated member 101. The upper end of the second elongated member 101 is provided with a roller 114, which in use, bears on and travels down, a wall behind the bed as the bed headboard is inclined to the vertical. The elongated member 100 is provided with a longitudinal slot, which is not shown in Figure 1, at its lower end by means of which it can be attached the base of bed in the conventional way, or to a wall.

Alternatively, there may be provided countersunk holes in the base of the channel of the second elongated member 101, by means of which it can be attached to the headboard 102 of a bed.

Referring to Figure 3, the action of the device is as follows; as the bottom of the headboard 102 of a bed 301 is pulled forwards, the hinge 107 opens until the roller 114 contacts a wall 302 behind the bed 301. Further forward movement of the headboard 102 causes a lever action which deflects the leaf spring 108, moving the axis of the hinge 107 forwards, enabling further inclination of the bed headboard 102.

As the angle of inclination of the bed headboard 102 is increased, the lower edge 303 of the bed headboard 102 rises. The weight of the bed headboard 102 causes it to move the carriage 105 downwards until the lower edge 303 of the bed headboard 102 rests upon a mattress 304 forming part of the bed 301. Raising the bed headboard 102 causes the reverse sequence of actions to occur. - 1 Referring to Figure 4, in which components which have counterparts in the first embodiment of the invention have the same reference numerals, the hinge 107 and associated leaf spring 108 are replaced with a double hinge 401, the remainder of the device being unchanged. In this embodiment of the inventiOn the restoring force tending to close the hinge 401 is provided by a torsion spring 402, which acts upon that portion of the double hinge 401 which is attached to the first elongated member 100. The second embodiment of the device operates in the same way as the first embodiment.

The elongated members 100, 101 can be made of metal, rigid plastics material or wood, the preferred option being aluminium.

In the ease of a single bed, two of the devices would be used, but with a double bed, depending on the stiffliess of the headboard of the bed, it may be necessaiy to use more than two of the devices. Also, with a double bed, .the headboard of the bed may be divided, in which case, four of the devices would be used

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of a headboard of a bed to be varied, comprising a first elongated member of channel section which is adapted to attached vertically to a base of a bed or a wall, a second elongated member also of channel section which is adapted to be attached to a headboard of a bed, a carriage adapted to be retained within the second elongated member and to move longitudinally therein, a hingc connecting the carriage to the first elongated member the hinge being adapted so as to enable the second elongated member to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member.
2. A device according to claim I wherein the carriage comprises a first component which is adapted to move longitudinally within the second elongated member and a second component which is adapted to move longitudinally within the first component of the carriage, the said hinge being attached to the second component of the carriage.
3. A device according to claim br claim 2 wherein there is included means adapted to urge the hinge towards a closed position.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the means adapted to urge the hinge towards a closed position comprises a leaf spring attached to or forming one element of the said hinge.
5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the means adapted to urge the spring towards a closedposition comprises a torsion spring.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the hinge is a double hinge having two parallel axes of rOtation.
7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the second elongated member is adapted to be at least partially contained within the first elongated member when the said hinge is in the closed position.
8. A device for enabling the angle with respect to the vertical of a head board of a bcd to be varied substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.