WO1998004169A1

WO1998004169A1 - Sunbed

Info

Publication number: WO1998004169A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/002030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Thomas Corkery
Original assignee: Zephyr International Limited
Priority date: 1996-07-29
Filing date: 1997-07-25
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Also published as: GB9615972D0

Abstract

Sunbed having a substantially flat deck the whole of which can be angled with respect to the ground on which it is placed. This allows any part of a person's body, and in particular the back of a person's legs, to be normal to the rays of the sun to give optimal tanning.

Description

Sunbed

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to sunbeds on which a person can lie to expose themselves to the sun's rays and get a tan. PRIOR ART

Most sunbeds have a generally flat deck on which somebody can lay to expose themselves to the sun's rays and get a tan. It is common for the deck to include a hinge so that a headrest portion, or an entire back portion can be raised and so angled to the remainder of the deck. It is also known to include two separate hinges so that the deck can be formed into a lazy-Z shaped configuration. By pivoting parts of the deck of a sunbed it is possible for a sunbather to get different parts of their body substantially normal to the direction of the sun's rays. In general, the further away from the equator one is the more desirable it is to be able to angle the deck of the sunbed so that the portion to be tanned is substantially normal to the direction of the sun's rays. Conventional sunbeds, particularly those having a lazy-Z configuration enable most of the body to be tanned effectively but no conventional sunbed enables the backs of a sunbather 's legs to be angled correctly with respect to the sun's rays. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to this invention a sunbed has a substantially flat deck the whole of which can be angled with respect to the ground on which it is placed.

The deck may be pivotally connected to a support frame at about its mid-point with the whole of the deck being arranged to pivot rather like a seesaw, preferably being lockable in position, to enable the deck to be angled with respect to the ground.

Preferably, the sunbed includes legs or other support connected towards one end of the deck so that the one end of the deck is supported away from the ground by the legs or other support whilst the other end of the deck rests on or adjacent the ground. In this case the sunbed may include a tie to restrain movement of the free end of the legs or other support away from the other end of the deck. Alternatively, the sunbed may include a base frame which is pivotally connected to the other end of the deck and which is arranged to receive the legs. In this latter case the base frame may include a series of locations for the free end of the legs or other support to be able to locate these securely in one of the locations to enable the angle of the deck to be varied.

The deck may be formed by a rigid frame covered by a flexible material such as canvas or, alternatively it may be formed from a generally rigid moulded plastics material. In this case the deck may be moulded to a general form to accommodate a person's body. Alternatively or additionally it may include a padded covering.

The sunbed may also include footrests arranged at the other end of the deck to help support the sunbather lying on the inclined deck of the sunbed. These may be formed by an upturned end of the deck or by a separate formation attached or forming part of the base frame, for example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation drawn to a smaller scale with the deck in an alternative position; and,

Figure 3 a plan again drawn to a smaller scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This example of sunbed comprises a deck 1 formed by a frame 2 having a padded canvas cover 3 stretched over it. It also includes a base frame 4 pivotally connected to the deck frame 2 at end 5 and a leg frame 6 which is pivotally connected to the top of the deck frame 2. The leg frame 6 fits in pairs of two series of notches 7 in the base frame and, depending upon which pair of notches 7 the leg frame 6 is engaged with, the angle of the deck 1 varies. The sunbed also includes footrests 8. A sunbather lays either face-up or face-down on the deck 1 and, particularly when laying face-down ensures that the backs of their legs are inclined at a substantially normal direction to the sun's rays to obtain a good even tan here .

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A sunbed having a substantially flat deck (1) the whole of which can be angled with respect to the ground on which it is placed.

2. A sunbed according to claim 1, in which the sunbed includes legs (6) or other support connected towards one end of the deck (1) so that the one end of the deck (1) is supported away from the ground by the legs (6) or other support whilst the other end (5) of the deck (1) rests on or adjacent the ground.

3. A sunbed according to claim 2 , in which the sunbed includes a tie to restrain movement of the free end of the legs (6) or other support away from the other end of the deck (1) .

4. A sunbed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sunbed includes a base frame (4) which is pivotally connected to the other end (5) of the deck (1) and which is arranged to receive the legs (6) .

5. A sunbed according to claim 4, in which the base frame (4) includes a series of locations (7) for the free end of the legs (6) or other support, the locations (7) being arranged to locate the legs (6) or other support securely to enable the angle of the deck (1) to be varied.

6. A sunbed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the deck (1) is formed by a rigid frame (2) covered by a flexible material (3) such as canvas.

7. A sunbed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the deck (1) is formed from a generally rigid moulded plastics material.

8. A sunbed according to claim 7, in which the deck is moulded to a general form to accommodate a person's body.

9. A sunbed according to any one of the preceding claims, further including footrests (8) arranged at the other end (5) of the deck (1) to help support the sunbather lying on the inclined deck (1) of the sunbed.

10. A sunbed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the deck (1) is pivotally connected to a support frame at about its mid-point with the whole of the deck (1) being arranged to pivot rather like a seesaw, preferably being lockable in position, to enable the deck (1) to be angled with respect to the ground.