GB2421427A

GB2421427A - Leisure bed armrest assembly including a laminar surface spanning the bed width and an armrest positioned on each side of the bed

Info

Publication number: GB2421427A
Application number: GB0428126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Hogan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-22
Filing date: 2004-12-22
Publication date: 2006-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-22
Also published as: GB2421427B; GB0428126D0

Abstract

An armrest assembly for facilitating the use of leisure beds by larger people comprises a laminar surface 100 having a central portion 103 adapted to span the width of a leisure bed and two armrest portions 101, 102 adapted to extend longitudinally on each side of the leisure bed. Hinges 104 may be provided between the armrests and the central portion, and a hinge 105 may be provided across the central portion, allowing the armrest assembly to be folded down for packing and transport.

Description

1 2421427

ARMRESTS FOR LEISURE BEDS

The present invention relates to leisure beds, that is to say, temporary bed-like structures which are used for recreational purposes such as sunbathing on beaches, swimming pool surrounds, terraces and the like.

Leisure beds usually are narrower than conventional beds. As a result, larger people often find that such beds do not provide any support for their anns, which have to hang over the sides of the beds, be crossed over their bodies or placed behind or above their heads. For such people, normal leisure beds cannot comfortably be used for any length of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for facilitating the use of leisure beds by larger people, and more particularly to provide such an apparatus which is readily can be moved from one leisure bed to another.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for facilitating the use of leisure beds by larger people, comprising a pair of armrests adapted to be positioned one on each side of a leisure bed and extend longitudinally thereof and means for so positioning the armrests.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that the armrests readily can be moved from one leisure bed to another.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a lamina of material which has two opposed longitudinal extending portions which form the armrests and a central transverse portion adapted to span the width of a leisure bed with which the apparatus is to be used.

Preferably, in the above embodiment of the invention, the two armrest portions are hingedly attached to the central portion and the central portion is hinged so that the entire apparatus can be folded up to make it more convenient for carrying.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, an apparatus for providing armrests for a leisure bed comprises a lamina 100, which may be made of plywood or a plastics material, which has two longitudinally extending portions 101, 102, which in use form armrests for a leisure bed, which is not shown in the drawing, which are joined by a central, transverse portion 103, the length of which is such as to span the width of a leisure bed (normally some 75 cm or so) and allow the arnirests 101, 102 to extend along the sides of the leisure bed. The edges of the lamina 100 may be rounded and, if so desired, a measure of resilience may be imported to a surface, which in use is intended to be uppermost. Also, decoration may be applied at least to that surface.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention which, in general, is similar to the first embodiment and similar numbers are applied to similar components.

Referring to Figure 2, the armrests 101, 102 are attached to the central portion by respective hinges 104, 105 and the central portion 103 has a central hinge 106. Thus, the apparatus may be folded into a relatively small form to facilitate its packing and transport.

The apparatus may be produced with central portions 103 of differing lengths for use with leisure beds of different widths.

In use, the apparatus is placed on the leisure bed with which it is to be used, preferably under any mattress which may be present, at a position convenient for the user. The weight of the user when he or she is lying down prevents any tendency for the apparatus to tilt when the person's arms are placed on the armrests 101, 102.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating the use of leisure beds by larger people, comprising a pair of armrests adapted to be positioned one on each side of a leisure bed and extend longitudinally thereof and means for so positioning the armrests.

2. An apparatus according to claim I wherein there is provided a lamina of material which has two longitudinally extending armrest portions and a central transverse portion adapted to span the width of a leisure bed with which the apparatus is to be used so as to cause the armrest portions to extend longitudinally on each side of the leisure bed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the armrests are attached to the central portion by hinges.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the central portion includes a central transverse hinge.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein at least the operative surfaces of the armrests are provided with a layer of resilient material.

6. An apparatus for facilitating the use of leisure beds by larger people substantially as herembefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.