Attachment means and lamp fitting for adjustable beds

Abstract

A device for providing an adjustable bed with a bedside lighting has the shape of an angle (1). It is attached to the bed bottom of the head end of the adjustable bed. The device is provided with a contact (2) where the fitting (3) of the bedside lamp can be attached. The device is designed and applied in a stable manner to the bed bottom. Onto the contact of the attachment means a flexible lighting fitting for LED lighting is attached, the lighting can be controlled by means of the remote control belonging to the bed.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel method of arranging bedside lighting for adjustable beds. The lighting is attached to the adjustable head end of the adjustable bed. The invention also relates to a method of attaching various types of desired lighting fittings and also how these are to look.Background and prior art

[0002] Bedside lighting is at present only available as either lighting devices attachable to a wall (bedside lamps), attachable on a headboard behind the bed, or devices placed on the floor (floor lamps). DE 91 03 052 U1 discloses a bedside pull-up aid with integrated lighting.

[0003] Today it has become increasingly more common with adjustable beds, wherein the adjustability resides in that the bed bottoms can be placed at an angle in a few sections, primarily to provide a comfortable position for reading in the bed. This means that one can select a body position by changing the angle of said sections when lying in the bed. As an example, the body position can be changed from a planar bed (normal body position or sleeping position) to an almost upright position (seated body position or reading position). Most adjustable beds are provided with an electric motor for stepless regulation of the angle position of the sections.

[0004] When the head end of the bed is angled upwards the position of the head will be changed both in direction upwards and forwards relative to a fixed lighting device on a wall, a head board or a floor. Several lamps of this type have flexible arms that can be more or less manually adjusted when the bed angle is changed and thereby also the position of the head. This adjustment is required if one wants a good illumination for example on what one reads in the bed. One problem with these solutions is that the light source does not follow when the section at the head end is angled upwards or downwards.

[0005] A lighting device according to the invention is fixed on the movable part of the bed bottom and thus follows when the head end is angled upwards or downwards. This means that the fitting for the bedside lamp can be designed with a shorter length of the lamp fitting, which is also a great advantage with the invention.Problem solution and summary

[0006] The present invention solves the above described problems of the prior art by means of the features in the accompanying patent claims. It also solves the problem of enabling the provision of a more aesthetic selection of the design of fittings than the presently available, since the latter require long arms or relocation when the bed is angled. The fittings need no longer be adjustable lengthwise or vertically since the fittings due to the adherence to the head end of the bed will retain the same point of illumination over the entire path relative to the head of the user.

[0007] The invention is set out in the appended set of claims.

[0008] Advantages with the first aspect are that the bed side lighting, by being attached to the movable head end of the bed, will follow the movements of the bed. Thereby the bedside lamp will be kept in a constant position above the head end, as opposed the presently available alternatives for bed side lighting that must be adjusted according to the movement up or down of the head end.

[0009] Further fields of use and advantages of embodiments of the invention are shown in the following detailed description.Figure listing

[0010] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the invention. Figure 2 shows how the invention is positioned on an adjustable bed. Figure 3 shows the design of the angle bracket and where the exchangeable fitting has its attachment / contact. Figure 4 shows the design of the mount / contact of the fitting. Figure 5 shows the design of the lamp fitting. Detailed description of the invention

[0011] The invention comprises a device for the application of a fitting for a bedside lamp and the fitting itself. In Fig. 1 there is shown an embodiment of an attachment means 1 for attaching a lamp fitting 3 to an adjustable bed 5.

[0012] The attachment means is designed in this embodiment as an angle bracket and is applied at an angle between a lower side of the bed bottom at the head end of the bed and a side joining the lower side, either the outer side of the bed board or one of the longitudinally extending sides of the bed bottom. The attachment means 1 can further be provided with a contact 2, arranged to receive the lamp fitting 3 and to connect the fitting 3 electrically to a current source 4 via cables 6. The contact 2 can be arranged at one end of the attachment means 1 and facing an upper side of the bed bottom.

[0013] The invention is intended to be used with adjustable beds 5. With adjustable beds 5 is meant beds provided with bed bottoms, subdivided in sections, which can be angled with respect to each other, primarily for the purpose of elevating the head end to provide for a comfortable reading position when lying in the bed. Thereby one can select a body position by changing the angle position of said sections while being in bed 5. The body position can e.g. be changed from a planar bed (normal body position or sleeping position) to an almost upright position (seated body position or reading position). Most adjustable beds are provided with an electric motor for stepless regulation of the angle position of the sections.

[0014] Fig. 2 shows a further aspect of the invention, which relates to an attachment means or holder 1, arranged for attaching a lamp fitting to an adjustable bed 5 or to an adjustable section of the bed 5. The attachment means 1 is typically attached to the underside or bed bottom of the bed 5, e.g. between an underside of the bed bottom at the head end of the bed and a side that joins the underside, such as the side facing towards the headboard or one of the sides extending longitudinally.

[0015] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment wherein the attachment means 1 is designed as an angle bracket, i.e. it is shaped as a right angle member attached to the bed bottom or to the section at the head end of the adjustable bed 5, and in one end it is arranged to receive and to electrically connect the lamp fitting 3 via a contact 2. This manner of applying a lamp fitting as a bedside lamp causes the lighting to follow the head end when being angled upwards. The design in the shape of an angle is intended to impart the option for the device to provide a stable mount for the fitting.

[0016] Fig. 4 shows still another embodiment wherein the attachment means 1 is arranged to receive the lamp fitting through a connecting contact 2a for attachment of the lighting fitting 3. The contact 2a both receives and steadily retains the lamp fitting and electrically connects the lamp fitting to a current source 4, e.g. a transformer or a grid connector. The lamp fitting 3 is in this embodiment provided with a contact 2b fitting in the contact of the attachment means such that the lamp fitting 3 is received and steadily retained by the contact 2a of the attachment means 1 and electrically connects the lamp fitting 3. Suitably the contact is designed with a bayonet joint or a screw coupling, which is shown in Fig. 4.

[0017] In another embodiment the cables 6 intended for supplying current to the lamp fitting 3 from the current source 4 are inserted in or attached to the attachment means and runs up to the terminal contact 2, 2a.

[0018] Since the lighting device is attached to the head end of the adjustable bed, the actual fitting part of the lamp fitting 3 can be designed to be substantially shorter than what presently is the case with traditional bedside lighting. Present technology, i.e. lighting provided on the wall or provided on the floor is static with respect to the movable head end of the bed and must thus be manually adjusted in terms of position and length when the head end of the bed is angled up or down. This will not be necessary when using the attachment of the fitting according to the invention.

[0019] The angled attachment means must be steadily attached to the bed bottom of the head end. The intention is that the attachment for the fitting be attached in such a stable manner at the bed bottom that the fitting is steadily held in place when the head end of the bed 5 is angled. The attachment means can e.g. be screwed or glued to the bed bottom, depending on the construction of the bed bottom. The attachment can also be integrated in the bed bottom during manufacture thereof.

[0020] Due to the angled attachment means being terminated against the lamp fitting by a contact at the upper end, e.g. provided in level with the upper surface of the bed bottom, a lamp fitting 3 of choice having a corresponding contact attachment can be applied there, Fig. 5. The lamp fitting, i.e. the part of the bedside lamp that is visible above the bed bottom, can thus be easily exchanged according to taste, need and desire. Thereby the invention can be used for lamp fitting having a corresponding attachment for connection. This patent also includes an example of such lighting means.

[0021] In one embodiment the lighting or lamp fitting be connected to the other electrical system of the adjustable bed, e.g. if the bed is electrified and the light of the bedside lamp can then be remotely controlled together with the other electrical control of the bed, e.g. it can be fed with current from a common current source and be controlled by means of a common remote control device. The light source of the lamp fitting can e.g. be a light emitting diode, LED, lighting or a traditional weak or power current lighting, such as strip lights or halogen lamps. If the light source is provided as a LED lighting the transformer for it should be installed together with the other electrical equipment of the bed. Cabling and contacts up to the lamp fitting should then be adapted for LED lighting. If the lighting is arranged as a traditional weak or power current lighting, the cabling and contacts should be designed according to the preconditions therefor.

[0022] Fig. 5 shows how the lighting fitting 3 or lamp fitting in certain embodiments comprises a flexible lighting arm 7. The lamp fitting is provided with a contact 2b fitting in the contact 2 of the attachment means such that the lamp fitting 3 is received and retained in a stable manner by the contact 2a of the attachment means and electrically connects the lamp fitting 3. The arm is terminated with a lighting part, e.g. an LED lighting encased in a small lamp holder 8. The light cone in the lamp holder can optionally be directed downwards with one light source or straight forward in the extension of the lighting arm with another light source. The intention with this is that when reading in bed it is desirable not to have the light directed in the direction of the extension of the arm (e.g. towards a book). When not in bed one does not wish to be blinded by the light which then would be horizontally directed since the head part normally is in a horizontal position. In such instance one would most likely instead want to have the light directed downwards for illuminating the head end of the bed. Switching between the two light directions should be possible to achieve by means of the remote control. It should also be possible to dim the light with the remote control.

[0023] The fitting should be offered in different colours for adapting to the other furnishing in the room.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising: an adjustable bed (5) comprising a movable head end, wherein the adjustable bed further comprises a bed bottom having an underside and a side joining the underside, attachment means (1) for attaching a lamp fitting (3) to the adjustable bed, and a lamp fitting (3) for the adjustable bed comprising a light source, wherein the attachment means (1) is an angled bracket which is adapted to be applied with at least one part attached to the underside of the bed bottom at the head end of the bed and with one part attached to the side of the bed bottom joining the underside, such that the attachment means (1) is steadily attached to the bed bottom of the head end, wherein the attachment means (1) is provided with a contact (2a), arranged to receive and retain the lamp fitting (3), and to electrically connect the lamp fitting (3) to a current source (4), whereby the contact (2a) is arranged at one end of the attachment means (1) facing an upper side of the bed bottom, and wherein the lamp fitting (3) is provided with a fitting contact (2b)arranged to be received and retained by the contact (2a) of the attachment means.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light sources of the lamp fitting (3) are light emitting diode, LED, light sources.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lamp fitting (3) is designed along the major part of its extension is designed as an flexible arm (7) having at its end the lamp holder (8) provided with one light source directed forwards and one light source directed downwards.

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