Patent Application
20190059575
Many people may use a bed for working, reading, consuming entertainment, eating, and/or other such non-sleep activities. Existing beds lack accessible storage, fail to account for use of electronic devices, and do not provide support or resources for non-sleep activities.
Therefore there exists a need for a bed with integrated storage, workspace, and electronic device support.
Some embodiments may provide a bed with integrated features. The bed may be a bunk bed. The bed may include a baseboard, headboard, and a set of rails.
The headboard and/or baseboard may include a storage area. Some embodiments may include “box” elements with a base panel, face panel, rear panel, and top panel. The box element may define a storage area. The storage area may be accessed via a lift top. The lift top may be connected via a hinge to the top panel. The lift top may be divided into multiple sections such that the storage area may be accessed while a portion of the top panel still provides a flat work or storage surface.
The lift top may include a base and a back support. The base and back support may be perpendicular to each other and may form a portion of the top panel and face, respectively. The base and back support may be able to retain a user device such as a tablet or smart phone, or non- electronic items such as books, in an appropriate viewing or use position.
Some embodiments may include a reading light (and/or other lights), power source, and charging station. The reading light may be activated with at least a portion of the lift top is in an open position (e.g., using a pressure switch). The charging station may include various appropriate outputs or other features (e.g., wireless transmitters) that may be used to provide charging power to user devices. The power source may be able to connect to a wall outlet and may provide one or more such outlets, similar to a power strip.
In some embodiments, the storage area may house a folding lap desk. The folding lap desk may include a desktop and a pair of folding legs. The desktop may have a retaining lip in some embodiments. The storage area may include dedicated supports, racks, and/or other appropriate features for conveniently storing the folding lap desk.
The preceding Summary is intended to serve as a brief introduction to various features of some exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments may be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
The exemplary features of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments are illustrated in the following drawings.
The following detailed description describes currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of some embodiments, as the scope of the disclosure is best defined by the appended claims.
Various features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. Broadly, some embodiments generally provide a bed with additional workspace features.
The bed may be a bunkbed type bed, intended to be stacked with another such bed. The bed may include a headboard with a storage area. The lid to the storage area may include a support for tablets or other user devices, books, etc. Some embodiments may include integrated power or charging sources (or “charging stations”), reading (and/or other) lights, etc. The storage area may be able to house a folding lap desk provided by some embodiments.
A first exemplary embodiment may provide a bunk bed comprising: a storage area; and a hinged lid that provide access to the storage area, the hinged lid comprising a base and a back support.
A second exemplary embodiment may provide a bed comprising: a baseboard; a set of rails; and a headboard, wherein the headboard comprises a storage area with a lid.
A third exemplary embodiment may provide a headboard for a bed, the headboard comprising: a front panel; a pair of side panels coupled to the front panel such that the side panels are perpendicular to the front panel; a rear panel coupled to the side panels such that the rear panel is parallel to the front panel; a top panel coupled to the side panels, such that the top panel is perpendicular to the side panels and the front panel; and a desktop coupled to the side panels such that the desktop is parallel to the top panel.
As shown, the bed may include a headboard 110, baseboard 120, and rails or frame 130. Different embodiments may include various different arrangements and/or sizes of elements. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that some embodiments may be implemented with various specific structural or decorative features, styles, etc. The various elements of the bed 100 may be coupled using appropriate fasteners or other appropriate elements (e.g., screws, pins, tabs and slots, etc.).
As shown in
The lift top 410 may be coupled to the desktop 230 using a hinge 420 or other appropriate element. The hinge may include, for instance, pin, leaf, and knuckle elements. The hinge may be made from various appropriate materials, such as metal, plastic, leather, etc.
In this example, the desktop 230 is split in half such that each lift top element 410 may be raised or lowered separately. Different embodiments may have different desktop arrangements (e.g., a single desktop, a desktop split into more than two elements (or split at a different location), etc.) and associated lift top (e.g., a single lift top for a single desktop, two lift tops for a split desktop, etc.).
Device 510 may be a tablet, smartphone, e-reader, and/or other electronic device that includes a display screen. In this example, the interior surface of the lift top 410 has a profile that is able to support the tablet 510 in an appropriate position for viewing and use without needing any external stands or clamps (although some embodiments may allow use of such additional support features). Such a profile may generally include a base with a retaining lip and a back support. The base and lip and back support may together allow a tablet, smartphone, book, etc. to be retained by the lift top 410 at an appropriate viewing or use angle as shown. Similarly, the lift top 410 may be able to support books, magazines, papers, etc.
Different embodiments may include different lift top profiles (and/or differing profiles between neighboring lift tops). For instance, a first lift top as shown may be optimized for tablets or other touchscreen devices, while a second lift top may be optimized for books or other physical media. In addition, the interior surface of the lift top may include various other features (e.g., local storage bins or cavities able to secure pens, pencils, etc.). As another example, some embodiments may include drink holders. As still another example, some embodiments may provide charging stands for smartphones or other devices (e.g., wearable devices). Some embodiments may include fasteners (e.g., straps, buttons, etc.) and/or other features (e.g., magnets) that may allow various items to be secured to the lift top (and/or other features of the bed).
As shown, the lap desk 600 may include a desktop 610, and two folding legs 620. In a closed position, the legs 620 may be able to be folded into a recess in the back of the desktop 610. The lap desk 600 may provide additional work space for a user of the bed 100.
In this example, the desk 600 is stored in the headboard 100, but other embodiments may provide similar storage in the baseboard 120. Likewise, the baseboard of some embodiments may include one or more flip tops, electronics, desktop, and/or other appropriate features.
The power source 1010 may be able to connect to a typical AC supply. In some embodiments, the power source may include a battery or other appropriate storage element. The power source may include various transformers, inverters, etc. that may be able to receive power (e.g., AC power) and provide appropriate power to various other elements (e.g., one or more DC outputs that may be used to charge various user devices 510). The power source 1010 may include various appropriate connectors (e.g., USB connectors, three prong receptacles, etc.).
The reading light 1020 may include one or more bulbs, LEDs, and/or other appropriate light sources. In addition, the reading light may include various adjustment elements (e.g., gooseneck, a stand with multiple pivot points, etc.) that may allow the light to be placed appropriately for use.
The pressure switch 1030 may be positioned such that the switch is open when the lift top 410 is closed (i.e., the light is deactivated) and the switch closes with the lift top is open (i.e., the light is activated). Some embodiments may include a user controlled switch, either in addition to or in place of the pressure switch 1030.
The foregoing relates to illustrative details of exemplary embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.
