GB2406506A

GB2406506A - Bed including a concealed visual display screen movable between a stored and a use position

Info

Publication number: GB2406506A
Application number: GB0323190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael David Munden
Original assignee: Mayflower Designs Ltd; MAYFLOWER DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: Mayflower Designs Ltd; MAYFLOWER DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-03
Filing date: 2003-10-03
Publication date: 2005-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-03
Also published as: GB2406506B; GB0323190D0

Abstract

A bed 10 includes a concealed visual display screen (22,Fig.7), a base 13, a footboard 12 connected to and supporting one end of the base, and a headboard 11 connected to and supporting the opposed end of the base. A mechanical lift (26,Fig.7) is mounted wholly within the footboard, and the screen is mounted on the lift for movement between a stored position (Fig.1) and a use position (Fig.7). At the stored position the screen is wholly located within the footboard and at the use position the screen extends out through an opening at the top of the footboard. The screen is visible to a person on the bed, and there is a door 15 that covers the opening when the screen is in the stored position. A shelf 17 may be connected to the underside of the base along one side thereof and may be used to store appropriate media (e.g. video cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs and minidisks) for use by audio visual equipment which may be associated with the display screen.

Description

BED

The present invention relates to a bed, and in particular to a bed incorporating a movable visual display screen.

It is common practice to provide visual display screens such as televisions in bedrooms so that the television, whether showing a contemporaneous broadcast or a pre-recorded program, may be watched by people lying in or on the bed. Previous attempts have been made to provide means to more closely associated or position a television with a bed. These have included the provision of mechanisms by which a television might be mounted on a bracket in a relevant position, or the provision of specially designed furniture in which a television is provided at the end of the bed.

Some such previous devices have provided simple mechanical means for concealing and revealing the television as desired, as this offers the advantage of being able to hide the television when not in use. However the previous devices capable of achieving this have been large, cumbersome and visually unappealing.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a simple and elegant solution to the problem, and to provide a movable concealed television forming part of the bed and for view from that bed.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a bed including a base, a footboard connected to and supporting one end of the base, a headboard connected to and supporting the opposed end of the base, a mechanical lift mounted wholly within the footboard, a visual display screen mounted on the lift for movement between a stored position whereat the - 2 screen is wholly located within the footboard and a use position whereat the screen extends out through an opening at the top of the footboard and is visible to a person on the bed, and a door that covers the opening when the screen is in the stored position.

As used herein the term "visual display screen" encompasses any suitable screen that generates a moving image for viewing. In practice this would generally comprise a television particularly of a flat panel construction using LCD or gas plasma technology. However, other visual displays such as computer monitors are also included within the meaning.

It is very important that the bed according to the present invention remains normal in its appearance such that it is not made undesirable for its primary function as a sleeping place. To that end it is preferred that the thickness of the footboard from front (i.e. the side facing the base) to back (i.e. the side facing away from the base) is approximately equivalent to that of a normal bed. Preferably the thickness would be in the range of 100 to 1 80mm.

Any appropriate mechanical lifting arrangement can be used to move the screen between the storage and use positions, including screw lifts, scissor mechanisms, pulley and cables and pistons. However it has been found that a rack and pinion type is preferable because it provides a conveniently narrow arrangement. Further, any suitable mechanical power source can be employed but advantageously the lifting mechanism utilises electrical power in the form of one or more motor. This is particularly convenient as the screen and other associated equipment will tend to be electrically powered and all can then be run from a single power supply. 3

In addition to the screen it is preferred that the bed is further provided with other audio visual equipment that may or may not be directly connected to the screen. Such equipment could include video cassette players/recorders, DVD players/recorders, satellite, cable and terrestrial program decoders/receivers, computer and video game apparatus and hi-fi equipment. Preferably such equipment would be concealed beneath the base but would be controllable by a person on the bed. In addition it is preferred that the bed be provided with a storage area for media associated with such audio visual equipment. Such media could include videos, CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs and mini disks, and the storage area could be provided with appropriate formations dependent upon the type or types of media to be stored.

Advantageously the bed may be provided with a shelf below the base on which shelf the additional audio visual equipment as well as inpuVoutput connectors for the screen may be located. Such a shelf may also provide the media storage area.

The screen, the lift, and any other audio visual equipment will preferably be adapted to be controlled by a person lying or sitting on the bed.

This can be achieved by providing control means at the head end of the bed that are wired to the electrical apparatus. Alternatively, it can be achieved by providing remote control apparatus that communicates with the electrical apparatus by known technology such as infra red or radio waves. To assist such remote control it may be appropriate to provide a receiver connected to the electrical apparatus somewhere on the footboard facing the bed within a line of sight of a person operating a remote control. - 4

In order that the appearance of the bed when the screen is concealed in the stored position is as unaffected as possible it is highly advantageous that the door covering the opening is when closed as discrete as possible.

Preferably the upper surface of the door is flush with the upper surface of the footboard and has a matching visual appearance. For example, if the footboard were predominantly constructed from polished metal the door would also be constructed from the same polished metal. Additionally the edge of the door should have as little visual impact as possible, for example by the provision of appropriate formations on the upper surface of the footboard or by precision cutting of the opening and door.

In order that it may be better understood, but by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with the screen concealed in its stored position; Figure 2 is a side view of the same embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the same embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the same embodiment but with the screen raised to its use position; Figure 5 is an end view from the foot of the bed of the configuration shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of the footboard end of the configuration shown in Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a cut away view of the footboard showing a stylised representation of the lifting mechanism. - 5

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a bed generally indicated 10 comprising a headboard 11, a footboard 12 and a base 13 supported therebetween. A mattress 14 is located on the base 13 and appropriate bed linen (not shown) would be provided prior to use of the bed.

The footboard 12 is at least partially hollow and a door 15 is provided in the upper surface 16 thereof, and is openable about hinges that are concealed when the door is in its closed position as shown in these Figures. The door conceals an opening into the hollow interior of the footboard from which the television screen will rise as described in more detail below. A shelf 17 is connected to the underside of the base 13 along one side thereof and this shelf can be used for the storage of appropriate media. Also located on the shelf 17 is a TV connection panel 18 that is electrically coupled to the television screen through a wiring bundle 20 (visible in Figure 2).

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the same embodiment but with the screen 22 raised from its concealed storage position to its use position whereat it is visible by a person lying on the mattress. As can better be seen in these drawings, the door 15 hinges to an open position substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 16 of the footboard 12. The door is connected to the footboard by concealed hinges 23 and is moved by actuating rods 24 that are pivotally connected to the underside of the door 15.

Figure 7 shows a cut away schematic view of the lift mechanism within the footboard 12. As can be seen, the screen 22 is in a raised position and is located on a lift platform 26. The lift platform 26 is vertically moveable by means of an electrically powered rack and pinion mechanism. In this simplified drawing only the racks 27 are visible. Electrical connection to the - 6 screen 22 is maintained through the wiring bundle 20 that retracts when the television is lowered by means of an elastic strap 29.

The door 15 is opened and closed by the actuating rods 24 which are themselves pivotally coupled to and moved by rotating arms 30 driven by appropriate motors (not shown).

In use, starting from the concealed position whereat the screen is wholly within the footboard and the door 15 is closed, activation by the relevant control starts the process of raising the screen to its use position.

The first stage of this process is that the rotating arms 30 move such that the actuating rods 24 open the door 15. An appropriate micro-switch is provided such that upon sufficient opening of the door 15, the main drive mechanism starts to operate such that the lift platform and consequently the screen 22 start to move upwards out of the opening. When the lift platform 26 reaches its upper position (and the screen is no longer obscured by the footboard) a further switch mechanism stops its further movement.

Conversely, when movement of the screen back to its stored position is desired the reverse process occurs. The screen 22 and lift platform 26 are moved downwards until such point as the screen is wholly within the footboard 12, at which point the rotating arms 30 are activated to close the door 15 such that the opening through which the screen has previously projected is concealed. - 7

Claims

Claims 1. A bed including a base, a footboard connected to and supporting

one end of the base, a headboard connected to and supporting the opposed end of the base, a mechanical lift mounted wholly within the footboard, a visual display screen mounted on the lift for movement between a stored position whereat the screen is wholly located within the footboard and a use position whereat the screen extends out through an opening at the top of the footboard and is visible to a person on the bed, and a door that covers the opening when the screen is in the stored position.
2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has a thickness front to back of from 100 to 180 mm.
3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the mechanical lift utilises a rack and pinion arrangement.
4. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the lift is electrically powered.
5. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the bed is further provided with other audio visual entertainment equipment that may be associated with the screen.
6. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is further provided a storage area for media readably by the audio visual entertainment equipment including video cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs and Minidisks.
7. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the lift mechanism moves the screen vertically upwards from the stored position to the use position. - 8
8. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the door has the same visually appearance as the material from which the footboard is made and lies flush with the upper surface of the footboard when closed.
9. A bed as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the operation of the door and the lift are remotely controllable by a person in the bed.
10. A bed as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.