Patent Application
20220061558
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This application relates to the field of sleep support items and more specifically to bed dividers to reduce the transmission of germs or infectious diseases between individuals sharing a bed and to reduce noise (such as from snoring).
When a person is sick with an infectious disease, it is desirable for others to limit the amount of contact with this person so as not to contract the illness. In a sleeping arrangement where two individuals share a bed, limiting contact may be difficult due to proximity. Furthermore, breathing in such close proximity to sick individuals, as is typical in when sharing a bed, increases the likelihood that the infectious disease will be transmitted from one individual to the other. Additionally, noise, such as from a snoring sleeper, can interfere with a partner's sleep. The transmission of germs and the transmission of noise could be reduced by a divider which separates partners in a bed.
Many bed dividers have been proposed which place a removable physical barrier between bed sharing individuals. However, these designs have many drawbacks. Some of the dividers are large and cumbersome, making them difficult to wash or store when not in use. Others are composed of a hard material with hard edges, making them either intrusive or uncomfortable. Others are permanent fixtures. In each of these cases, the bed divider can become an inconvenience to the user.
In view of these considerations, a new design for bed dividers is needed that is easier to use with easy assembly/disassembly, easy to clean, sturdy yet comfortable, and naturally germ resistant.
Briefly, a bed divider is disclosed which, when assembled, provides a physical barrier between bed mates and which rests atop a mattress of a bed near a head of the bed. The bed divider comprises a support column, a divider removably connectable to the support column, and at least one side arm removably connectable to the support column. The divider has opposed main side surfaces and opposed end surfaces, and is formed of a material such that at least the opposed main side surfaces are soft. The at least one side arm similarly has opposed main side surfaces and opposed end surfaces and is formed of a material such that at least the opposed main side surfaces are soft. Connectors are provided on the support column, the at least one side arm, and the divider for removably connecting the at least one side arm and the divider to the support column.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the at least one side arm comprises of a rigid core.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the divider comprises a rigid core.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the at least one side arm comprises two side arms which are removably connectable to opposite sides of the support column, such that in the assembled configuration, the two side arms create a backplane.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, in the assembled configuration, the divider is attached to the support column, such that the divider extends generally perpendicularly to the backplane created by said side arms and support column, thereby creating a T-like configuration.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the at least one side arm has a sloping end portion defined by a surface sloping inwardly from an end of the at least one side arm to a generally planar front surface of the at least one side arm. This end portion can provide additional support to pillows while containing pillows within a predefined space.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider the side arms and the divider are sized to be fitted into a removable outer cover sized to match the size of a pillowcase for a full sized, queen sized, or king sized pillow. Preferably, the outer cover is a pillowcase.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the cover is composed of an antimicrobial and/or hypoallergenic material.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the bed divider can be disassembled into separate components.
In accordance with an aspect of the bed divider, the bed divider includes a storage bag which will accommodate all the components of the bed divider.
Additional details of the bed divider will be described herein with reference to the drawings and detailed description in the following sections.
Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention, and describe I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The claimed invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A bed divider 20, as shown in
The bed divider 20, when in use, is generally positioned upon a mattress of a bed 10 proximate to the wall or headboard 13, such that the support column 23 is approximately centered on the mattress between opposite sides of the bed 10. The main support column 23 is generally rectangular cubic in shape, having generally square top and bottom surfaces and generally rectangular on side surfaces, all four sides having the same height dimensions.
The side arms 26a,b extend from the support column 23 generally parallel to the wall or headboard 13 a length at least approximately equal to the width of a pillow. It should be noted that the width of a pillow based on the type of bed it is intended for. For example, a standard pillow is about 26 inches wide, a queen pillow is about 30 inches wide, and a king pillow is about 36 inches wide. As seen in
The side arms 26a,b can have tapered end portions 28a,b, as shown in
The divider 29 extends generally perpendicularly from the support column 23 and the arms 26a,b away from the headboard 13 towards the foot of the bed along a line B-B. The divider has a length approximately the depth of a standard pillow from the support column 23. As such, the divider 29 is sized to fit into a standard sized pillowcase.
The divider 29 may be generally rectangular cubic in shape, but may have a taper (as shown exaggerated in
The side arms 26a,b and the divider 29 are removably secured to the support column 23 by means of connectors 27. The side arms 26a,b are attached to opposite faces of the main support column 23 via the connectors, thereby creating a backplane of the bed divider 20. The divider is then connected to the face of the main support column facing away from the wall via its connector. The connectors 27 can be any type of connector which will allow for easy and simple assembly and disassembly of the bed divider 20. In a preferred embodiment, the connectors 27 are all hook and loop connectors, such as mating pairs of Velcro® strips which are secured to respective faces of the main support column, the side arms, and the divider. Other types of connectors can be used as well. For example, the connectors can comprise snaps or hooked protrusions which are received in slots.
As can be appreciated from
The support column 23 is composed of a material sufficiently rigid to provide support to the arms and the divider. Similarly, the divider 29 is sufficiently rigid such that it can remain generally vertical along its length, when supported at only one end. The material may be a hard plastic or foam, but other rigid materials capable of providing support may be used. The side arms 26a,b and divider 29 have, at a minimum, a soft, compressible outer material, such as a foam, similar to a foam pillow. The foam material is preferably hypoallergenic, and can have, or be provided with, antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties. The side arms 26a,b and divider 29 can also include a rigid core, if desired, for added support. Such a core could, for example, comprise a sheet of plastic. Such a core would only be necessary if the arms 26a,b and divider 29 were not otherwise sufficiently rigid to remain generally vertical when in use.
When in use, the arms 26a,b and divider 29 act as a barrier, reducing the transmission of germs, virus, or other infectious diseases between individuals sharing a bed. Because the side arms and divider are the size of a pillowcase, they can each be covered with a standard pillowcase. The pillowcases used to cover the side arms and divider can be washed between uses of the divider, reducing the ability for germs to infest the elements of the bed divider 20, and thus providing additional protection from the spread of germs. Additionally, the pillowcase may be composed of any material that is capable of trapping germs, infectious diseases, or microbes, thereby, further reducing transmission between sleeping individual.
In view of the above, it will be seen that a simple to use bed divider has been provided. The bed divider is not mounted to the wall, headboard, or any other part of the bed. The divider thus is simple to erect and to take down. Further, its small size allows for easy storage.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
