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This invention relates to a headboard, and particularly although
not necessarily exclusively to a headboard for use with a bed.
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It is well known to provide headboards for connection with a
bed to increase the comfort of a user when sitting up in the bed
and to prevent the user's head or pillow from falling off the top
of the bed during sleep. Conventional headboards typically
include a substantially rigid board with fabric material fixedly
connected thereto by adhesive, staples or some other form of
permanent fixing means. Cushioning material is typically
provided between the fabric material and the rigid board to
provide a cushioned surface for a user to lean against. In
addition, the headboard is typically fixedly connected to the bed.
Thus, once the fabric material becomes soiled or worn, the
headboard is useless and needs to be replaced in its entirety. In
addition, the headboard is not easily changed if the user's bed is
changed.
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It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
headboard which overcomes the abovementioned problems.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
headboard which increases the aesthetic appeal of the same to a
user, such as a child.
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According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a headboard for attachment to a bed, said headboard
provided with one or more characters, images, text, symbols
and/or pictures on an outer surface thereof, and wherein the
outer shape of the headboard relates to said characters, images,
text, symbols and/or pictures.
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The outer shape of the headboard is typically directly associated
with the characters, images, text, symbols, pictures and/or the
like shown on the headboard. For example, the outer edge of the
headboard can be in the shape of the outer profile of a
particular character, image and/or the like.
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The characters, images, text, symbols, pictures and/or the like
typically protrude outwardly from a surface of the headboard,
such as from a front face of the headboard and/or from one or
more edges or sides of the headboard.
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Preferably the outer surface of the headboard is formed from a
first material layer and the one or more characters, images, text,
symbols, pictures and/or the like are formed, at least in part
from a further material layer, which can be the same or different
material to the first material layer.
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In one embodiment the headboard is inflatable and can be
provided with air inflation means for inflating the same. Air
inlet means are typically provided on the headboard to allow
inflation of the same. Closure means, such as a valve
arrangement, can be provided in association with the air inlet
means to close and/or open said air inlet means as required.
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In one embodiment the headboard includes an outer portion and
at least one inner portion, the outer portion being removably
located with said inner portion.
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Preferably an outer portion is provided which forms the outer
surface of the headboard and an inner portion is located at least
partly within said outer portion.
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Preferably said outer portion is in the form of a cover which is
located with or over a whole or substantial part of said inner
portion.
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Preferably the inner portion is, includes or houses at least one
inflatable member.
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In one embodiment said cover is provided with attachment
means for location with said inner portion.
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In an alternative embodiment said cover has an opening with
closure means provided therewith, the inner portion being
located through said opening in a cavity defined by the walls of
said cover.
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Preferably the closure means are in the form or any or any
combination of one or more zips, Velcro, buttons, clips, press
studs, ties and/or the like.
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In one embodiment the outer portion is a different shape
and/or size to the inner portion. Thus, portions of the outer
portion protrude beyond the outer edge of the inner portion.
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Preferably the outer portion is formed from substantially
flexible material.
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Preferably the inner portion includes at least one layer of
substantially resilient or soft material.
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In one embodiment the inner portion includes a housing in
which resilient and/or soft material is located. The housing in
one example is in the form of a bag made from a textile material.
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Preferably the substantially resilient and/or soft material
contained in the housing includes any or any combination of
fabric, foam, feathers and/or the like.
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The inner portion housing can include at least one opening
which is provided with closure means, thereby allowing user
access to the contents of said housing for replacement and/or to
add to the same.
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In one embodiment the inner portion housing constitutes at
least a first resilient layer and at least one further resilient layer
provided therein.
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Preferably the at least one further resilient layer is formed from
foam material.
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In one embodiment the inner portion includes a substantially
rigid material layer to provide support for the headboard
structure.
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In one embodiment the headboard is provided with attachment
means for attachment of the headboard to an existing headboard
or wall surface. In this embodiment the attachment means
includes any or any combination of adhesive, strap and buckle,
ties, nuts and bolts, one or more clips and/or the like.
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The advantage of the present invention is that the headboard
can be provided in association with any type of bed and can be
removably located therewith, thereby allowing the headboard to
be transported easily between locations. The headboard has
particular appeal to children due to the variety of different
characters, toys and/or scenes that can be depicted thereon. In
addition, the cover of the headboard can easily be removed for
cleaning, repair and/or replacement.
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According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a bed having a headboard located therewith.
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According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a headboard for attachment to a bed, said headboard
including inflatable means.
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Preferably the headboard includes at least one inflatable member.
The inflatable member typically includes air inlet means and
closure means associated therewith for allowing said air inlet
means to be moved between open and closed conditions.
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Preferably the headboard is removably located with respect to
said bed. The bed can include any type of mattress which a user
would typically sleep on.
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An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the following figures wherein:
- Figures 1a and 1b illustrate front and rear views of a head board
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the head board in one
embodiment.
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Referring to the figures, there is illustrated a three dimensional
headboard 2 for use with a bed (not shown). The headboard 2
includes a front face 4, rear face 6, side walls 8, top 10 and base
12.
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At least the front face 4 of headboard 2 is provided with an
aesthetic design thereon, which in this example is in the form of
a baseball glove and ball. The peripheral edge 14 of the front
and rear faces 4, 6 are shaped according to the outer shape of a
baseball glove. The design within the peripheral edge 14 of front
face 4 includes additional three dimensional shaped items, such
as base ball 16 and finger portions 18. These additional items
are typically in the form of one or more compartments provided
on front face 4, the outer edges of the compartments being
defined by stitching 20. Padding in the form of foam can be
contained in the compartments. Alternatively, padding can be
provided on the opposite surface of said front face (i.e. located
internally of the headboard). In either embodiment, the
additional items, such as the base ball 6 typically protrude to a
small degree from the front face 4, thereby providing increased
realism of the items they are depicting. Printed matter or further
additional fabric portions can be provided on front face 4 to add
realism to the design. Thus, for example, stitching of the base
ball glove can be depicted using fabric strips 22 which are
stitched or adhered onto front face 4.
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Piping or trimming can be provided around the peripheral edges
of the front or rear faces and/or the additional items if required.
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The rear face 6 of the headboard 2 is provided with attachment
means in the form of two ties 24, 24' connected via a buckle 26.
The ties can be located around an existing headboard or part of
an existing headboard structure to attach headboard 2 thereto.
The buckle can be adjusted with respect to the two ties 24, 24'
to secure headboard 2 to the existing headboard/structure.
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In addition, adhesive pads 28 can be provided on rear face 6
with release paper attached thereto. A user can remove the
release paper when required and adhere the headboard 2 to a
required surface. The adhesive pads can be attached to the rear
face 6 by adhesive or via some other form of attachment means,
such as VELCRO, thereby allowing the adhesive pads to be
detachably attached to rear face 6. Thus, the user can then
choose whether they wish to secure the headboard in a required
position using the adhesive pads or using the ties/straps 24, 24'
and buckle 26.
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The headboard 2 typically includes an outer portion in the form
of a cover 30, the external surfaces of which are shown in
figures 1a and 1b and the cross section of which is shown in
figure 2. The walls of the cover form front face 4, rear face 6,
side walls 8, top 10 and base 12 and typically define an interior
cavity. Closure means in the form of a zip can be provided along
one wall of the cover, thereby allowing access to the interior
cavity for repair and/or replacement of the contents therein and
to allow the cover to be removed for washing purposes or repair.
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The cushioning of headboard 2 is typically provided by an inner
portion including a first cushioning layer 32 and a second
cushioning layer 34. The thickness of these layers can vary as
required but is typically of sufficient flexibility and
softness/cushioning to allow a user to rest their head against
headboard 2 without discomfort.
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In the embodiment described, first cushioning layer 32
comprises a foam material of a required thickness. This layer can
be provided in association with the interior surface of the front
face 4, such as for example, to provide cushioning and/or shape
to base ball 20 and/or other additional items depicted on front
face 4. Alternatively, the foam material can be freely located in
the cover to allow the cover to be easily removed from the inner
portion.
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Second cushioning layer 34 includes a bag type of housing in
which cushioning material is provided, such as foam or lengths
of fabric. Layer 34 can also be provided with closure means if
required to allow a user to gain access thereto. Further layers
can be provided as required.
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It will be appreciated that a range of different designs can be
provided by changing the two dimensional or three dimensional
articles/ designs defined on the outer surfaces of the headboard
and/or by changing the shape of one or more outer edges of the
headboard. The size of the headboard can also be changed to
allow the same to fit to a camp bed, single bed, double bed, king
size bed and/or the like.
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The headboard can be formed from at least one inflatable
member or one or more inflatable members can be provided
within an outer cover of the headboard if required.
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Although the above description refers almost exclusively to a
headboard for location at the head of a bed, it will be
appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the headboard
could be located in any required position, such as the foot of a
bed, and can be used independently of a bed (i.e., attached to a
wall surface for a user to lean on).
