Headboard including a lighting system and matching bed
The headboard integrates optical fibers into a woven fabric surface with strategic edge segments, addressing safety and aesthetic concerns while maintaining comfort by preventing damage and ensuring adequate lighting.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ANDRE RENAULT
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing headboards with integrated lighting systems pose safety risks due to protruding rigid LED strips and compromise comfort by being unsightly and prone to damage.
A headboard design featuring a rigid plate with integrated optical fibers woven into a fabric surface, where straight and rounded edge segments manage the added thickness and prevent damage, allowing for aesthetic and safe lighting integration without compromising comfort.
The design provides discreet lighting when off and sufficient ambiance when on, maintaining comfort and safety by preventing breakage of optical fibers through strategic edge management.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Headboard comprising a lighting system and corresponding bed FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to headboards and corresponding beds.
[0002] It relates in particular to a headboard comprising: - a main body with a front part and a rear part - at least one illuminated panel positioned on the front side of the main body, - a light-emitting device and - a control unit for the light-emitting device, the or at least one of the light panels comprising, from its so-called rear face facing the main body towards its opposite front face, a rigid plate with a front, a back and a connecting edge from the front to the back, a woven surface comprising at least one area of luminous fabric and one area of non-luminous fabric and a flexible lining, located between the rigid plate and the woven surface, said woven surface overlapping the front of the rigid plate, a part of the woven surface extending beyond the flexible lining being folded over the back of the rigid plate and fixed to said back, the or each area of luminous fabric comprising optical fibers which form at least a part of the weft and / or warp threads of the fabric of said area of luminous fabric, these optical fibers being connected to the light-emitting device controllable by the control unit. EARLIER ART
[0003] The state of the art of bedheads equipped with lighting systems is known.
[0004] Frequently, the lighting system for these headboards is implemented in the form of Rigid LED strips protrude from the headboard, posing a potential injury to the user and compromising comfort. Headboards are often padded to allow for comfortable use as a backrest. However, integrating lighting into such a headboard is currently considered unsightly and carries a high risk of damage.
[0005] The present invention aims to provide a new headboard and a corresponding bed whose designs allow for the integration, in an aesthetic and safe manner, of lighting into a headboard without compromising the comfort of the headboard. Summary of the invention
[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a headboard comprising: - a main body with a front part and a rear part - at least one illuminated panel positioned on the front side of the main body, - a light-emitting device and - a control unit for the light emission device, the or at least one of the light panels comprising, from its so-called rear face facing the main body towards its opposite front face, a rigid plate with a front, a back and a connecting edge from the front to the back, a flexible lining and a woven surface comprising at least one area of luminous fabric and one area of non-luminous fabric, said woven surface overlapping the flexible lining and the front of the rigid plate, a portion of the woven surface extending beyond the flexible lining being folded over the back of the rigid plate and fixed to said back, the or each area of luminous fabric comprising optical fibers which form at least a portion of the weft and / or warp threads of the fabric of said area of luminous fabric, these optical fibers being connected to the light-emitting device controllable by the control unit, characterized in that the rigid plate being delimited by edges, at least two of the opposite edges each have at least one straight edge segment and one rounded edge segment arranged in the extension of each other, the edge and the back of the rigid plate being connected by a transition zone formed, at the level of the straight edge segment, by a simple edge, and at the level of the rounded edge segment, by a rounding, i.e. a convex section in the form of an arc of a circle, this convex section in the form of an arc of a circle forming a recess of said edge, the or each straight edge segment being covered by an area of non-luminous fabric, the or each rounded edge segment being covered at least by an area of luminous fabric.
[0007] The optical fibers woven into the front of the headboard form a lighting system that remains discreet when switched off (the optical fibers being embedded, i.e., integrated into the fabric of the headboard front), and which maintains the comfort of the woven headboard front, while providing sufficient light output when switched on to create an ambiance. The specific design of the rigid panel allows for the aesthetic integration of the optical fibers without risk of damage. Indeed, the presence of at least one straight edge segment and one rounded edge segment allows for the aesthetic management of the added thickness generated by the optical fibers and prevents breakage. The presence of at least one rounded edge segment, in particular, allows the optical fiber to be shaped without affecting the light flux carried by the optical fiber.
[0008] The headboard may also include one or more of the following features taken in any technically permissible combination.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the convex circular arc section of the rounded edge segment has a radius of curvature centered on the front of the rigid plate, this radius of curvature being at least 10 mm. This radius of curvature allows for optimal transport of the light flux by the optical fiber and a reduced risk of breakage of the optical fiber.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rigid plate is a wood particle board and the flexible lining is a foam board, preferably high resilience.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the woven surface is attached to the rigid plate at least by staples. The design allows for traditional fastening despite the presence of optical fibers.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the optical fibers of the luminous fabric zone or at least one of the luminous fabric zones that form the weft yarns, or respectively, the warp yarns of the fabric of said luminous fabric zone, are woven with textile yarns separate from the optical fibers. Each luminous fabric zone forms a strip. This strip can be separated from another strip formed by another luminous fabric zone by a non-luminous fabric zone.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the off state, the luminous fabric area(s) of the woven surface are visually different from the non-luminous fabric area(s) of the woven surface.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the light emission device (9) is a light-emitting diode generator.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rear part of the main body of the headboard is provided, preferably in the upper part of said rear part, with a rear lighting device, the lighting device preferably being in the form of an aluminum profile provided with one or more LED strips to create a luminous halo above the headboard.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the headboard comprises a manual control device, connected to the control unit, which includes control elements including: - a button to control the light intensity of the light emitting device; - a button to select a color to be emitted by the light-emitting device; and - preferably, a button to execute a pre-programmed cycle of color and intensity, for example for a given duration.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit of the light emission device is configured to control the light intensity and / or the color emitted by all or part of the light emission device.
[0018] The invention also relates to a bed comprising: - a bed base comprising a frame with legs, the upper surface of the bed base being suitable for receiving a mattress; and - a headboard according to any of the preceding embodiments.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the underside of the bed base is provided under the bed base, and preferably on each lateral side of the bed base, with a lighting device controllable by the control unit, the lighting device preferably being in the form of an aluminum profile equipped with one or more LED strips to create a lighting effect under the bed base. Brief description of the drawings
[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, on which:
[0021] [Fig.1] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a bed comprising a headboard according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an exploded and schematic view of a light panel taken from the rear side of said panel;
[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an exploded and schematic view of a light panel taken from the front side of said panel;
[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a rigid plate of a light panel of a headboard;
[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view along AA of [Fig.4]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The concept of the invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the concept of the invention is shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of the elements may be exaggerated for clarity. Similar numbers refer to similar elements in all the drawings. However, this concept of the invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are offered so as to make this description complete and to communicate the scope of the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0027] A reference throughout the specification to "an embodiment" means that a particular functionality, structure, or feature described in relation to An embodiment is included in at least one other embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the appearance of the phrase "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, functionalities, structures, or particular features may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
[0028] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the invention relates to a headboard 2, also called a backrest, which provides integrated lighting in the active part of the backrest against which a user's back can lean. This headboard comprises a main body 10 forming the frame of the headboard. This main body 10 can have a wide variety of shapes. Regardless of its shape, this main body 10 includes a front portion 100 along the side of which a bed base 23 extends when this bed base is combined with the headboard to form a bed 1, as illustrated in [Fig. 1]. This main body 10 has an opposing rear portion 101. The main body 10 includes a rigid frame (or structure). The frame can be made of wood. The frame can define a box or structure that can be hollow or solid.
[0029] The front part 100 and the rear part 101 of the main body 10 can be connected to each other by a peripheral face. The peripheral face can include a top face and an opposite bottom face, and two lateral faces that connect the top and bottom faces.
[0030] As in the example illustrated in [Fig.1], the side faces can be substantially vertical and the top face substantially horizontal, in the position of use of the head of the bed, i.e. in the upright state of the head of the bed.
[0031] The main body 10 can form a box with a height and width preferably greater than its depth.
[0032] The rear part 101 of the main body 10 may have an access opening to allow access to a control unit 8 and / or a light-emitting device 9 inside the main body 10, which are shown below.
[0033] The headboard 2 includes at least one illuminated panel 3 positioned on the front side 100 of the main body 10 to form a backrest area for the user. In [Fig. 1], two illuminated panels 3 are arranged side by side, each forming a backrest for the bed, which is a double bed. The integration and attachment of the illuminated panel(s) 3 to the main body 20 are of little importance. At least one, preferably each, illuminated panel 3 is formed of a plurality of layers. Thus, each illuminated panel 3 comprises, from its rear face 31 facing the main body 10 towards its opposite front face 32, a rigid plate 4, a flexible lining 5, and a woven surface 6. The flexible lining 5 is located between the rigid plate 4 and the woven surface 6. The rigid plate 4 is a particleboard panel The rigid plate 4 comprises a back 42 facing the main body 10, a front 41 facing the soft lining 5 and the woven surface 6, and an edge 43 connecting the front to the back. Generally, the rigid plate 4 is quadrangular and therefore has four peripheral edges 12. An example of a rigid plate 4 is shown in [Fig. 4].
[0034] At least two of the opposite edges 12 of the delimitation of the rigid plate 4 each comprise at least one straight edge segment 13 and one rounded edge segment 14 arranged in the extension of each other.
[0035] In the example of [Fig. 4], two straight-edged segments 13 are separated by at least three rounded-edged segments 14. At these two edges 12 of the rigid plate 4, the edge 43 and the back 42 of the rigid plate 4 are connected by a transition zone. The design of this transition zone differs between a straight-edged segment and a rounded-edged segment.
[0036] When the edge segment is a straight edge segment 13, the edge 43 and the back 42 of the rigid plate 4 extend at right angles to this straight edge segment, so that the transition zone between the edge 43 and the back 42 of the rigid plate 4 is formed by a line that constitutes a sharp edge 15. This sharp edge forms the vertex of the right angle formed by the edge 43 and the back 42 of the rigid plate 4.
[0037] When the edge segment is a rounded edge segment 14, the transition zone between the edge 43 and the back 42 of the rigid plate is formed by a rounding, i.e. a convex section 16 in the shape of an arc of a circle, this arc of a circle section forming a recess of said edge 12. The transition zone thus produced allows a smooth transition avoiding breakage or damage to the optical fibers of the woven surface 6 which will be described below.
[0038] Ideally, the convex section 16 in arc of the rounded edge segment 14 has a radius R of curvature centered on the face 41 of the rigid plate 4, this radius R of curvature being at least equal to 10 mm.
[0039] In the example shown, the rigid plate has a thickness of 15 mm and the radius of curvature is equal to 15 mm.
[0040] The woven surface 6 comprises at least one luminous fabric area 71 and one non-luminous fabric area 72. The luminous fabric area 71 includes optical fibers used as warp yarn and / or weft yarn, these optical fibers 11 preferably being woven with textile yarns distinct from the optical fibers.
[0041] Preferably the woven surface 6 comprises several luminous fabric zones 71, preferably spaced apart from each other.
[0042] The remainder of the woven surface 6 is formed of one or more woven areas called non-luminous fabric area 72 and made with textile yarns distinct from optical fibers.
[0043] The woven surface 6 overlaps the flexible lining 5 and the front 41 of the rigid plate 4. A portion of the woven surface 6 extending beyond the flexible lining 5 is folded over the back 42 of the rigid plate 4 and attached to the back 42 as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Ideally, the woven surface 6 is attached to the rigid plate 4 at least by staples 17.
[0044] At the level of the rigid plate 4 of the luminous panel(s) 3, two opposite edges of this rigid plate 4, each having at least one straight edge segment 13 and one rounded edge segment 14, are covered, at the level of the straight edge segment(s) 13, by a non-luminous fabric area 72 and, at the level of the rounded edge segment(s) 14, by a luminous fabric area 71. The presence of rounded edge segments at the level of the luminous fabric area 71 prevents, on the one hand, the formation of an excess thickness resulting from the presence of the optical fibers 11 in the luminous fabric, and on the other hand, damage to the optical fibers that could result from bending the optical fibers. The optical fibers 11, which, in the example shown, form the weft threads of the luminous fabric in the luminous fabric area, extend substantially parallel to each other to form a luminous fabric area in the form of a band.These optical fibers are, at each of their ends, grouped together and held in place by means of a ferrule (sheath or ring) 26, visible in [Fig.2]. The end of each bundle of optical fibers therefore extends on the back side of the rigid plate 4.
[0045] One of these ends is connected to a light-emitting device 9. Indeed, the headboard 2 includes a light-emitting device 9 and a control unit 8 for the light-emitting device 9. The body of each optical fiber 11 is translucent to allow diffusion through the thickness of the body (radial diffusion) of at least a part of the light that is emitted in the optical fiber by the light-emitting device 9.
[0046] An example of an optical fiber embodiment adapted to the diffusion of the light that travels through it is proposed in patent FR3037123 or FR3037124.
[0047] According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the optical fibers used have undergone a surface treatment by abrasion to obtain a translucent wall and / or to increase the amount of light scattered by the walls of the optical fibers.
[0048] According to a particular aspect, the translucent wall of each optical fiber is devoid of any additional opaque coating, such as an additional sheath that would be opaque, so that the other textile fibers with which the optical fibers are woven are in direct contact with the translucent body of the optical fibers. However It can be expected that the translucent wall of the optical fiber will be protected by a similarly translucent sheath.
[0049] The optical fibers are integrated into the fabric. Advantageously, in the off state of the light-emitting device 9, the luminous fabric area(s) are visually different from the rest of the fabric, by their color and / or shape.
[0050] The wall of each optical fiber is capable of diffusing outwards the light which travels through said optical fiber and which comes from the light emission device 9 controlled by the control unit 8.
[0051] The wall or body of each optical fiber is thus configured to allow diffusion through the thickness of the body (radial diffusion) of at least a part of the light that is emitted in the optical fiber by the light-emitting device 9.
[0052] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the headboard can be associated with a bed base 23 comprising a frame with legs, the upper face of the bed base being suitable for receiving a mattress 24 to form a bed 1.
[0053] Preferably, the optical fibers 11 are arranged so as to be located at a height greater than that of the mattress in the positioned state of the mattress 24 on the bed base 23, so that the head of a person lying down is at the height of, or below, each luminous fabric area.
[0054] The presence of a light-emitting device 9 to which the optical fibers 11 of a luminous fabric area 71 are connected allows the light supplied by the light-emitting device 9 to be diffused through the walls of the optical fibers.
[0055] The control unit 8 of the light-emitting device 9 allows the light intensity and / or color of the light emitted by (all or part) of the light-emitting device 9 to be controlled. The control unit 8 can control the light-emitting device 9 by means of a local or remote control device 19, as explained below.
[0056] When the light-emitting device 9 is switched on, the optical fibers 11 which receive light from the light-emitting device 9 form luminous elements because the wall of the optical fibers 11 is translucent and therefore allows the light to diffuse outwards from the front of the headboard, through the wall of the corresponding optical fiber.
[0057] The light-emitting device 9 may be an LED generator, comprising for example one or more LEDs, controllable by the control unit 8. The LED(s) may be of the RGB type, i.e., a module of one or more RGB LEDs whose intensity and color can be controlled by the control unit 8.
[0058] As in the example illustrated in [Fig.2], it can be foreseen that the light emission device 9 comprises several lighting modules, for example one lighting module per group of optical fibers (therefore per luminous fabric area), to be able to independently control the light emitted in each area of luminous fabric 71 shown below. Each lighting module includes, for example, one or more LEDs, preferably of the RGB type (or RGB for Red Green Blue), controllable independently of those of the other modules.
[0059] It can also be provided that the control of the lighting of a light panel is synchronized in color and / or intensity with the other light panel.
[0060] The control unit 8 is presented for example in the form of a processor and a data memory in which computer instructions executable by said processor are stored, or in the form of a microcontroller.
[0061] In other words, the functions and steps described can be implemented in the form of a computer program or via hardware components (e.g., programmable gate arrays). In particular, the functions and steps performed by the control unit 8, especially for controlling the light-emitting device 9 and possibly the lighting devices 18 and 25, can be carried out by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller, or by dedicated electronic components or components of the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) type, or of the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) type.It is also possible to combine computer and electronic components.
[0062] The control unit 8 is thus an electronic and / or computer unit. When it is specified that said unit is configured to perform a given operation, this means that the unit includes computer instructions and the corresponding execution means that enable said operation to be carried out and / or that the unit includes corresponding electronic components.
[0063] The structure is equipped with a manual control device 19, connected to the control unit 8, which includes control elements 20, 21, 22.
[0064]
[0065] In the example of [Fig. 1], the control elements comprise: - a button 20 to control the light intensity of the light emitting device 9; - a button 21 to select a color to be emitted by the light emission device 9; - a button 22 to run a pre-programmed cycle of colour and intensity to help with falling asleep or waking up.
[0066] The preprogrammed cycle may include variations in colours, for example variations in warm colours, such as yellow to deep red, and in intensity over time, such as decreasing intensity, to promote sleep, or variations in orange tone, such as deep orange to cool white, and in intensity, such as increasing intensity, over time to promote wakefulness.
[0067] The control unit 8 can be configured to control the light-emitting device 9 so as to obtain a low light level to allow visibility in the room during the night without waking the spouse.
[0068] According to one embodiment, the control unit 8 can be controlled by - a computer application accessible via the internet (web application) and / or a mobile application, for example to control functions such as: - a light alarm clock - a programming of free sequences, customizable in intensity / colour / duration. It is possible to specify that the duration can be divided into several regular time intervals, each configurable.
[0069] The application can allow immediate or delayed start, or replay of a given program (replay).
[0070] The control unit 8 can allow free sequence programming which can be saved: with a configuration in intensity, colour, duration, and / or with immediate or delayed start.
[0071] According to one embodiment and as illustrated in [Fig.1], the rear face of the main body 20 of the panel is preferably provided in the upper part of said rear face with a rear lighting device 18 controllable by the control unit 8. The lighting device is preferably in the form of an aluminium profile provided with one or more LED strips - preferably of the RGB type - to create a luminous halo above the head of the bed.
[0072] It can also be provided that the underside of the bed base 23 is provided, preferably on each lateral side of the bed base, with a lighting device 25 controllable by the control unit 8. The lighting device 25 is preferably in the form of an aluminium profile equipped with one or more LED strips - preferably of the RGB type - to create a lighting effect under the bed base.
[0073] Thanks to the design of the headboard 2, as described above, the light panels are perfectly integrated.
Claims
1. Demands Headboard (2) including: - a main body (10) with a front part (100) and a rear part (101) - at least one illuminated panel (3) positioned on the front part (100) of the main body (10), - a light-emitting device (9) and - a control unit (8) for the light-emitting device (9), the light panel(s) comprising, from its rear face (31) facing the main body (10) towards its opposite front face (32), a rigid plate (4) with a front (41), a back (42) and an edge (43) connecting the front (41) to the back (42), a flexible lining (5) and a woven surface (6) comprising at least one luminous fabric area (71) and one non-luminous fabric area (72), said woven surface (6) overlapping the flexible lining (5) and the front (41) of the rigid plate (4), a portion of the woven surface (6) extending beyond the flexible lining (5) being folded over the back (42) of the rigid plate (4) and fixed to said back (42), the luminous fabric area(s) (71) comprising optical fibers (11) which form at least one part of the weft and / or warp yarns of the fabric in said luminous fabric area (71),these optical fibers (11) being connected to the light-emitting device (9) which can be controlled by the control unit (8), characterized in that the rigid plate (4) being delimited by edges (12), at least two of the opposite edges (12) each have at least one straight edge segment (13) and one rounded edge segment (14) arranged in the extension of each other, the edge (43) and the back (42) of the rigid plate (4) being connected by a transition zone formed, at the level of the straight edge segment (13), by a simple edge (15), and at the level of the rounded edge segment (14), by a rounding, that is to say a convex section (16) in the form of an arc of a circle, this convex section (16) in the form of an arc of a circle forming a recess of said edge (12), the or each straight edge segment (13) being covered by an area of non-luminous fabric (72), the or each rounded edge segment (14) being covered at least by an area of luminous fabric (71).
2. Headboard (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the convex arc-shaped section (16) of the rounded edge segment (14) has a radius (R) of curvature centered on the front (41) of the rigid plate (4), this radius (R) of curvature being at least equal to 10 mm.
3. Headboard (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid plate (4) is a wood particle board and the soft padding (5) is a foam board, preferably high resilience.
4. Headboard (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the woven surface (6) is fixed to the rigid plate (4) at least by staples (17).
5. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical fibers (11) of the or at least one of the luminous fabric zones (71) which form weft yarns, or respectively, warp yarns of the fabric of said luminous fabric zone (71) are woven with textile yarns distinct from the optical fibers (11).
6. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the off state, the luminous fabric area(s) (71) of the woven surface (6) are visually different from the non-luminous fabric area(s) (72) of the woven surface (6).
7. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-emitting device (9) is a light-emitting diode generator.
8. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear part (101) of the main body (10) of the headboard (2) is provided, preferably in the upper part of said rear part (101), with a rear lighting device (18), the lighting device (18) preferably being in the form of an aluminium profile provided with one or more LED strips to create a luminous halo above the headboard (2).
9. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the headboard (2) includes a manual control device (19), connected to the control unit (8), which includes control elements (20, 21, 22) including: - a button (20) for controlling the light intensity of the light-emitting device (9); - a button (21) to select a color to be emitted by the light-emitting device (9); and - preferably, a button (22) to execute a pre-programmed cycle of color and intensity, for example for a given duration.
10. Headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (8) of the light-emitting device (9) is configured to control the light intensity and / or color emitted by all or part of the light-emitting device (9).
11. Bed (1) comprising: - a bed base (23) comprising a frame with legs, the upper face of the bed base (23) being suitable for receiving a mattress (24); and - a headboard (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.
12. Bed according to claim 11, characterized in that the underside face of the bed base (23) is provided under the bed base (23), and preferably on each lateral side of the bed base (23), with a lighting device (25) controllable by the control unit (8), the lighting device (25) preferably being in the form of an aluminium profile provided with one or more LED strips to create a lighting effect under the bed base (23).