GB2466977A

GB2466977A - Footboard with embedded television

Info

Publication number: GB2466977A
Application number: GB0900713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Jenner Davey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-01-16
Publication date: 2010-07-21
Also published as: GB0900713D0

Abstract

A bed footboard 4 of sufficient width, length and depth has a visual display screen, e.g. television 8, embedded within in it, to allow the viewer to lie or sit on the horizontal sleeping surface 2 of the bed to watch the television. The television 8 is attached to the footboard by generic means, e.g. fastener 15, perhaps allowing horizontal movement of the display screen in relation to the footboard, but not allowing vertical movement or perhaps not allowing any movement at all. The display screen is either viewed through an aperture within the internal face 6 of the footboard or within a recess [17, Figure 3] within the internal face of the footboard allowing the television/visual display screen to be more or less flush with the front face of the footboard.

Description

TITLE

Bed with television/visual display screen.

DESCRJPTION

From time to time many people like to view a television/visual display screen whilst in bed. In many instances the bedroom layout/dimension, within which the bed resides, does not allow space for a piece of furniture upon which to place a television/visual display screen at the foot of the bed. In such circumstances if the occupant(s) of the bed wish to view a television/visual display screen whilst lying in or on the bed it is necessary to have the television/visual display screen to one side, where space would allow the televisionlvisual display screen and stand to be positioned. This can mean an awkward sitting position and a craning of the neck. In the circumstance where there are two people in the bed, the person furthest away from the televisionlvisual display screen may be too far away from the screen to get full viewing satisfaction, and the awkward sitting position and craning of the neck is This invention relates to beds with a televisionlvisual display screen incorporated into, or fixed to, the footboard. The televisionlvisual display screen may be pre-fitted at manufacture or by the end user as a retrospective fit. The television/visual display screen is fitted to the internal face of the footboard, and is permanently on view, and has no vertical movement This invention saves space of the television/visual display screen and stand.

Furthermore it allows the occupant(s) of the bed to view the televisionlvisual display screen from a normal and comfortable body position with no turning or straining of the neck. In the case where two people are in the bed the viewing distance is equal for them both. This invention will help relieve this area of marital stress.

For clarity purposes the bed [1] comprises of a horizontal Sleeping Surface [2], a Headboard [3] & a Footboard [4]. The Headboard & Footboard each have two vertical surfaces. The face of the headboard that faces into the bed will be known as the Internal Face of the Headboard [5]. The face of the headboard facing away from the bed (normally towards a wall) is the External face of the Headboard. The face of the footboard that faces into the bed will be known as the Internal Face of the Footboard [6]. The face of the footboard facing away from the bed (into the room) is the External Face of the Footboard [13].

Two specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the first embodiment of the bed with television/visual display screen.

Fig. 2 is a sectioned view taken in the plane 7-7 shown on figure 1 Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the bed with televisionlvisual display screen.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in accordance with the aspect of the present invention a televisionlvisual display screen [8], of indeterminate size or specification, is embedded within the internal face of the footboard [6] so that the screen area is visible by a person lying normally on the sleeping surface [2] with their head at the headboard end.

This embodiment of the invention supposes the televisionlvisual display screen [8] is embedded within the internal face of the footboard. A form of access to the internal areas of the footboard will be available from the external face of the footboard [13].

This may take the form of doors, a removable panel, a lift-up flap or any other access method. Within the internal face of the footboard [6] there is a manufactured aperture of appropriate, but indeterminate size that will allow fitment of the appropriate televisionlvisuat display screen that once fixed into position wilt allow persons lying normally on the sleeping surface of the bed [2] to view the televisionlvisual display screen.

The televisionlvisual display screen is attached from either within the internal areas of the footboard or using other means from the internal or external face of the footboard, so that the televisionlvisual display screen can be viewed through the aperture.

n this embodiment the television/visual display screen is attached more or less permanently using a generic fixing method [15], although the attachment can be reversed with appropriate tools should the television/visual display screen is needed to be replaced or maintained. However the television/visual display screen does not have any vertical or horizontal movement at the will of the end user(s) in relation to the footboard. The screen of the television/visual display screen would be aligned with the fixed attachment so that the screen can be viewed through the aperture in the internal face of the footboard. The screen is in permanent view and is not normally concealed in any way.

In this embodiment, once the television/visual display screen has been attached and all necessary cables connected, so that the television/visual display screen can function, the external face of the footboard is returned to its usual state, in that the form of access is returned to the closed position. Therefore, if in one embodiment the access was doors, then these doors would be closed and held shut using a generic door closure and in another embodiment, if the form of access was a removable panel then this panel would be returned to the footboard. The external face of the footboard would, in some embodiments, appear permanently attached to the main body of the footboard and in some embodiments when viewing the external face of the footboard it would be difficult to see, and appreciate, that a television/visual display screen was embedded in the internal face of the footboard. The method of fixing the television/visual display screen in place or the rear face closure system on the footboard, do not form part of this patent application.

In this embodiment all cables necessary to make any of the equipment work would exit the footboard at the bottom of the footboard through an aperture manufactured in the structure to allow these cables to pass through [9]. All cables could then run under or through the base of the bed to wall sockets or extension sockets or aerial sockets [10].

Refening to Figure 3, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention a television/visual display screen [8], of indeterminate size or specification, is attached to the footboard [4], using an attachment device [16] set within a manufactured niche [17] in the internal face of the footboard [6]. Accordingly the visible screen area of the television/visual display screen is more or less flush with the internal face of the footboard. There is no particular dimensional requirement to the positioning of the television/visual display screen either horizontally or vertically. In this context the screen may slightly protrude or be recessed from the footboard internal surface, but the majority of the depth of the television/visual display screen is housed in a manufactured niche in the internal face of the footboard.

In this embodiment the footboard is manufactured with a niche [17], the niche being designed into the internal face of the footboard [6]. Into this niche the televisionlvisual display screen is fitted either by the factory or end user (consumer), so that the screen faces a user who is positioned normally on the horizontal surface of the bed [2]. The televisionlvisual display screen is fixed to the internal face of the footboard so that there is no vertical movement, using a fixing not dissimilar, but not necessarily exactly, to the generic wall fixings [16] that are used to fix televisionlvisual display screens to walls. This fixing may be one that allows the televisionlvisual display screen to be horizontally moved away from the footboard, but no vertical movement is allowed. Tn general the manufactured niche within the internal face of the footboard practically accommodates the external dimensions of the televisionlvisual display screen, so that the screen is more or less flush with the internal face of the footboard [6] and the top of the televisionlvisual display screen is more or less flush with the top of the footboard. The method of fixing the televisionlvisual display screen in place on the footboard does not form part of this patent application.

In this embodiment the cables necessary for the televisionlvisual display screen to function, including any additional cables for accessories and aerials are lead to the bottom of the footboard via an appropriately sized aperture in the base of the niche [9], so that cables etc. are more or less hidden from view. The cables would then exit the footboard at the base of the footboard and can then be directed towards appropriate wall socket, aerial socket or another piece of equipment as necessary [10].

Claims

TITLEBed with television/visual display screen.CLAIMS1. A bed with a television/visual display screen embedded within the body of the footboard, and fixed in place, so that the television/visual display screen can be viewed whilst the viewer is lying or sitting on the horizontal sleeping surface of the bed.
2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein a recessed niche area within the internal face houses a televisionlvisual display screen so that the screen is more or less flush with the top and internal face of the foot board.
3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 where the televisionlvisual display screen is more or less flush with the internal face of the footboard.
4. A bed as claimed in claims 1 and 2 where the televisionlvisual display screen is not concealed to someone sitting or lying on the bed in any way by the bed footboard, and can be seen from this position.
5. A bed as claimed in claim 1 where the television/visual display screen has no vertical or horizontal movement but is fixed in place more or less permanently.
6. A bed as claimed in claim 2 where the television is fixed in place more or less permanently and has no vertical movement apart for placing the television/visual display screen in place to begin with and if it is needed to remove it for replacement or maintenance.
7. A bed as claimed in claim 2 where the fixing bracket could allow horizontal movement of the television/visual display screen on an extended arm, but when housed would fit back into the manufactured niche within the footboard.
8. A bed as claimed in claim 1 where the external face of the footboard can be temporarily removed, in whole or in part, to give access to the internal area of the footboard, to allow fitting, maintenance and wiring of a television/visual display screen within the footboard.