WO2022084658A1

WO2022084658A1 - Headboard

Info

Publication number: WO2022084658A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/052674
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard ESSERY; Dean Wilkinson
Original assignee: Hs Products Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-20
Filing date: 2021-10-15
Publication date: 2022-04-28
Also published as: GB202016642D0; GB2601895A; GB202114750D0

Abstract

A headboard (700) for a bed comprises a body portion (710) and a support portion (720), the body portion having upper and lower edge regions (711, 712) and opposed side edge regions (713, 714), wherein the support portion is connectable to the body portion and wherein, when connected, the support portion (720) extends from the lower edge (712) region of the body portion, substantially continuously with at least one side edge (713, 714) region of the body portion. At least a part of the support portion (720) is arranged in use to lie substantially flush with a side edge (713, 714) region of the body (710) when connected.

Description

Headboard

The present invention relates to headboards and to methods of attaching them to beds .

A headboard is a structure that is mounted to the end of a bed where the sleeper' s head would lie . It typically comprises a substantially rigid panel or pad which may be upholstered, and which is af fixed to the bed base or bed frame so that it proj ects above the sleeping surface to provide comfort and support to a person sitting up in bed . The headboard is also used to create an aesthetic appearance for the end of the bed .

Headboards mainly come in two di f ferent types . One is known as a "deep" headboard because it is substantially coextensive with the end of the bed, extending the full width of the bed and from the floor to the desired height above the sleeping surface . The other type is known as a " strut" headboard and it consists of a main panel body which is permanently attached to two legs , or struts , that extend from a lower edge of the body . In both cases , the headboard is removably secured to the bed using fixings such as bolts that typically pass through slots in the headboard/ struts and engage with threaded holes in the bed .

Whilst the strut type is more easily transported through and around doorways , stairwells , elevators and the like , the deep type of headboard is seen as more luxurious and is therefore considered to be more desirable . Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a headboard and a method of attaching the same to a bed in which problems associated with the prior headboards are addressed .

The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims , to which reference should now be made . Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto .

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headboard for a bed, the headboard comprising a body portion and a support portion, the body portion having upper and lower edge regions and opposed side edge regions , wherein the support portion is connectable to the body portion and wherein, when connected, the support portion extends from the lower edge region of the body portion, substantially continuously with at least one side edge region of the body portion .

Preferably, at least a part of the support portion is arranged in use to lie substantially flush with a side edge region of the body when connected .

The support portion may comprise two legs , wherein, when connected to the body portion, the legs each extend from the lower edge region of the body portion, preferably substantially continuously with the respective side edge regions . In a preferred arrangement , the support portion is connectable to the body portion with a male- female engagement . Preferably, the support portion has a male part that is receivable in a corresponding female part of the body portion .

The support portion may connect to the body portion with more than one male- female engagement . The support portion may comprise two separate legs . Where the support portion comprises two separate legs , each leg may connect with the body portion in a male- female engagement , more preferably with each leg comprising a male part that is received in a corresponding female part of the body portion .

The support portion is preferably connectable to the body portion such that , when connected, a surface of the support portion facing away from the bed in use and a surface of the body portion facing away from the bed in use are substantially flush, i . e . may form a substantially continuous surface . Alternatively, or in addition, a bedfacing surface of the support portion and a bed- facing surface of the body portion may be substantially flush .

The support portion is preferably detachably connectable to the body portion . The support portion is preferably detachably connectable to a bed, more preferably to a bed base , in use . The support portion preferably includes a fixing portion for receiving a fixing element , such as (but not limited to ) a bolt , for fixing the support portion to a bed in use . The headboard is preferably arranged in use to extend substantially the full width of a bed . The support portion is preferably arranged in use to lie substantially flush with a side of a bed .

The headboard may be provided with a removable cover . The removable cover may be arranged in use to substantially enclose at least the body portion . In a preferred arrangement , the cover is openable so as to receive at least the body portion, or a part thereof , by operation of a closure member such as , but not limited to a zipper .

The invention also provides a bed having a headboard according to any statement herein .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching a headboard to a bed, the method comprising connecting a body portion of the headboard to a support portion of the headboard so that the support portion extends from a lower edge region of the body portion substantially continuously with a side edge region of the body portion, and mounting the support portion onto the bed .

The connecting and mounting steps may take place in any order .

Preferably, the method includes connecting the support portion to the body portion such that it lies substantially flush with a side edge region of the body portion . The method preferably comprises mounting the support portion on the bed so that at least a part of the support portion lies substantially flush with a side of the bed .

The method may include connecting the support portion to the body portion by a male- female engagement , more preferably wherein a male part of the support portion is received in a female part of the body portion .

The invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein, except such a combination of features as are mutually exclus ive , or mutually inconsistent .

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings , in which :

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bed and "deep - type headboard;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a deep headboard;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the bed and deep headboard of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a " strut"-type headboard;

Figure 5 is a schematic rear view of the strut headboard of Figure 4 ; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of part of a bed with the strut headboard of Figures 4 and 5 ;

Figure 7 is a schematic front view of a headboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic front view of the support portions of the headboard of Figure 7 ;

Figure 9 is a schematic rear perspective view of a bed with the headboard of Figures 7 and 8 ; and

Figure 10 shows a portion of the headboard of Figures 7- 9 with an optional removable cover .

Figures 1- 6 depict previously considered headboards .

Turning to Figure 1 , a bed is shown generally at 10 and comprises a bed base 100 and a mattress 110 . A deep-type headboard 200 is attached to the bed base 100 at the head of the bed .

Figure 2 shows the deep headboard generally at 200 . The deep headboard has a substantially rigid rear panel 210 and a cushioned front portion 220 facing the bed . The rigid panel 210 has slots 230 to enable attachment of the headboard 200 onto a bed 10 by means of bolts or other fixing elements (not shown) that in use pass through the slots 230 and into the base 100 . Figure 3 shows the bed 10 in side view, including the deep headboard 200 attached to bed base 100 with fixing 240 .

Figure 4 shows a strut-type headboard generally at 400 , comprising a rigid panel portion 410 , and struts 420 . The struts 420 have slots 430 to allow for the strut headboard 400 to be attached to bed 10 , using fixings (not shown) .

Figure 5 shows the strut headboard 400 from the rear, with struts 420 permanently attached to the rigid panel portion 410 using attachment screws 440 .

Figure 6 shows part of the strut headboard 400 attached to bed 10 . To achieve this , fixings (not shown) pass through the slots 430 and into the base 100 of the bed 10 .

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of headboard according to the present invention, generally at 700 . The headboard 700 comprises a panel-like body portion 710 , and support portions 720a, 720b . The body portion 710 comprises upper edge region 711 , lower edge region 712 , and oppos ing side regions 713 , 714 . Support portions 720a, 720b are connected to body portion 710 by the engagement of a male part or limb 730a, 730b of the support portions into corresponding female parts or sockets of the body portion 740a, 740b .

Figure 8 shows the support portions 720a, 720b of an embodiment of the headboard according to the present invention . The support portions have slots 750a, 750b which allow for attachment of the headboard 700 onto a bed 10 . Figure 9 shows the headboard 700 attached to a bed 10 . When the support portions 720a, 720b and the body portion 710 are connected, the support portions 720a, 720b are substantially flush with the side edges 713 , 714 of the body portion 710 , as well as with a rear- facing surface of the body portion 710 .

Turning to Figure 10 , this shows part of the headboard 700 from Portion A in Figure 9 . An optional removable cover 800 is fitted over the body portion 710 of the headboard . The optional cover may be removably fitted over the body portion 710 by opening an end of the cover, which end is closeable by a closure member, such as zipper 810 ( shown in partially closed configuration) .

The cover 800 may be provided with openings along a bottom edge thereof (not shown) to accommodate the support portions of the headboard .

The cover 800 may be interchanged with other covers to provide alternative decorative finishes , or di f ferent levels of comfort . The cover 800 may include padding, which padding may be received in a pouch or sleeve of the cover . The padding may comprise a pocketed spring unit , such as is described in our European Patent No . 2672862 , for example .

The present invention allows for assembly and disassembly of a headboard into body and support portions , which are easily transportable , and readily manoeuvrable , for example in elevators and through doorways , unlike current deep-type headboards . After transportation, the headboard can be assembled by engaging male limb parts of the support portions with female socket parts of the body portion . After assembly, the headboard appears as a deep-type headboard which is more luxurious in appearance and desirable than current struttype headboards .

When the headboard is assembled, the support portion fixes flush with the sides of the bed and the rear face of the headboard is a substantially continuous surface . Apart from helping to maintain the illusion of a deep-type headboard, this is advantageous as it allows for space ef ficiency, and for the headboard to be placed substantially flat against a wall , in contrast with headboards having proj ecting struts and external fixing means , which can compromise space ef ficiency .

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing speci fication to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance , it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features referred to herein, and/or shown in the drawings , whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon .

Claims

1 . A headboard for a bed, the headboard comprising a body portion and a support portion, the body portion having upper and lower edge regions and opposed side edge regions , wherein the support portion is connectable to the body portion and wherein, when connected, the support portion extends from the lower edge region of the body portion, substantially continuously with at least one side edge region of the body portion .

2 . A headboard according to Claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the support portion is arranged in use to lie substantially flush with a side edge region of the body when connected .

3 . A headboard according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the support portion comprises two legs , wherein, when connected to the body portion, the legs each extend from the lower edge region of the body portion, preferably substantially continuously with the respective side edge regions .

4 . A headboard according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the support portion is connectable to the body portion with a male- female engagement .

5 . A headboard according to Claim 4 , wherein the support portion has a male part that is receivable in a corresponding female part of the body portion .

6 . A headboard according to Claim 4 or 5 , wherein, where the support portion comprises two separate legs , each leg may connect with the body portion in a male- female engagement , more preferably with each leg comprising a male part that is received in a corresponding female part of the body portion .

7 . A headboard according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the support portion is connectable to the body portion such that , when connected, a surface of the support portion facing away from the bed in use and a surface of the body portion facing away from the bed in use are substantially flush .

8 . A headboard according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the support portion is detachably connectable to a bed, more preferably to a bed base , in use .

9 . A headboard according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the headboard is arranged in use to extend substantially the full width of a bed and the support portion is arranged in use to lie substantially flush with a side of a bed .

10 . A headboard according to any of the preceding claims , comprising a removable cover arranged in use to enclose at least a part of a body portion of the headboard .

11 . A bed having a headboard according to any of the preceding claims .

12 . A method of attaching a headboard to a bed, the method comprising connecting a body portion of the headboard to a support portion of the headboard so that the support portion extends from a lower edge region of the body portion substantially continuously with a side edge region of the body portion, and mounting the support portion onto the bed .

13 . A method according to Claim 12 , wherein the method includes connecting the support portion to the body portion such that it lies substantially flush with a side edge region of the body portion .

14 . A method according to Claim 12 or 13 , wherein the method comprises mounting the support portion on the bed so that at least a part of it lies substantially flush with a side of the bed .

15 . A method according to any of Claims 12- 14 , wherein the method includes connecting the support portion to the body portion by a male- female engagement , more preferably wherein a male part of the support portion is received in a female part of the body portion .