Abstract:
The technology of the present application provides an adjustable bed having a stationary base and a shroud. The shroud may be provided in multiple pieces or a solitary strip of material. The shroud has a height sufficient to inhibit the view of the bottom of the adjustable bed. The shroud has either a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of receptacles. The stationary base conversely has a corresponding plurality of receptacles or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are sized to slidingly fit into the receptacles in a telescoping fashion. In one aspect, the shroud and stationary base have both protrusions and receptacles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/864,149, filed Aug. 9, 2013, and 61/921,671, filed Dec. 30, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set out in full. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Adjustable beds have existed for decades. Early beds were rudimentary, but provided therapeutic value. The modern adjustable bed originated with Dr. Willis Gatch in the early 20th century. The early adjustable bed provided for people to angulate a head or leg portion of the mattress with respect to the buttocks to provide a more customary and comfortable position for activities. 
     Unfortunately, despite being therapeutic and available, adjustable beds remain unsightly. Generally, an adjustable bed has a solid metal base on which the adjustable mattress moves. At best, the adjustable bed may have a singular outer metal finish or an exposed base. 
     Thus, against this background, it would be desirable to provide an adjustable bed with a shroud that could be changed. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary, and the foregoing Background, is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The technology of the present application provides an adjustable bed having a stationary base and a shroud. The shroud may be provided in multiple pieces or a solitary strip of material. The shroud has a height sufficient to inhibit the view of the bottom of the adjustable bed. The shroud has either a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of receptacles. The stationary base conversely has a corresponding plurality of receptacles or a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are sized to slidingly fit into the receptacles in a telescoping fashion. In one aspect, the shroud and stationary base have both protrusions and receptacles. 
     In one aspect of the technology described herein, the protrusions and the receptacles have corresponding tapers. The protrusions frictionally engage the receptacles such that the shroud is removably coupled to the stationary base. 
     In certain aspects, the shroud may be mated to the frame using a fastener. The fastener may be a bore in the shroud that receives a threaded screw and a threaded bore in the frame. The threaded screw may be a thumb screw of the like. 
     In another aspect of the technology described herein, the protrusions may include a spring loaded detent and the receptacles may include a bore to receive the detent. The spring loaded detent and bore engage such that the shroud is removably coupled to the stationary base. 
     In still another aspect of the technology, at least one of the protrusions or receptacles may have a flexible tab with a shoulder and the other of the receptacle or protrusion may have a corresponding lip such that the flexible tab expands when the protrusion and receptacle are telescopically moved in relation to each other and snaps into a locked position when the shoulder aligns with the lip (or channel). 
     In yet another aspect of the technology, the shroud is modular or split along one or more areas such that multiple panels are attached. The multiple panels may be of various textures, fabrics, colors, and materials. The multiple panels may be designed with overlapping end portions to allow relative movement of the panels. 
     The technology of the present application also includes a mattress support surface cover. The mattress support surface cover may be of various textures, fabrics, colors, and materials and may be designed to match the shroud. The mattress support surface cover may be removably fitted to the mattress support surface. The mattress support surface cover should be stretchable or somewhat elastic, such as polymer fibers and the like, to move with the mattress support surface. The mattress support surface cover may include both woven and non-woven materials. 
     These and other aspects of the present system and method will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figures herein. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a partially exploded view of an adjustable bed consistent with the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an elevation view of a connection consistent with the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary method of using the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side elevation view of an adjustable bed consistent with the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 5  depicts another side elevation view of an adjustable bed consistent with the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of an adjustable bed consistent with the technology of the present application. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of the adjustable bed of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a view of a deck of the mattress support surface and a deck shroud consistent with the technology of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The technology of the present application will now be explained with reference to the figures and drawings briefly outlined above. While the technology of the present application will be explained with particular reference to an adjustable bed, a person of ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure will now understand that the technology may be used in other devices, such as, for example, a conventional bed, furniture, or the like. Moreover, certain embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. Moreover, the technology of the present application will be described with relation to exemplary embodiments. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Additionally, unless specifically identified otherwise, all embodiments described herein should be considered exemplary. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , an adjustable bed  100  is provided. The adjustable bed  100  operation is generally well understood in the art and will be described herein only to the extent necessary for an understanding of the technology described herein. The adjustable bed  100  has a head stand  102  and a foot stand  104 . The head stand  102  includes a head beam  106  having a foot facing side  108  and a head side  110  opposite the foot facing side  108 . The head stand  102  traverses the long axis A of the adjustable bed  100 . Similarly, the foot stand  104  comprises a foot beam  112  having a head facing side  114  opposed to foot facing side  108  and a foot side  116  opposite the head facing side  114 . 
     A plurality of legs  118  extend from a bottom of the head and foot stands  102 ,  104 . Fixedly coupled to the top of the head and foot stands  102 ,  104  is a tubular raceway  120 . The tubular raceway  120  is stationary with respect to the head and foot stands  102 ,  104  and the head and foot stands  102 ,  104  together with the tubular raceway  120  may be considered a stationary base for the adjustable bed. The tubular raceway  120  may be replaced with alternative shapes. In this exemplary embodiment, the tubular raceway  120  generally outlines an outer edge of a mattress support surface  122  (which may sometimes be referred to as a deck, an adjustable bed deck, a mattress deck, or the like). The tubular raceway  120 , however, may be discontinuous, modular, or the like. The mattress support surface  122  comprises a plurality of boards  124  that are moveable with respect to each other. The plurality of boards  124  may fold or unfold with respect to each other from a flat surface to support a supine individual, which is conventional for sleep surfaces, to the angled arrangement shown to support a seated individual with both head and legs raised with respect to the buttocks. 
     The mattress support surface  122  is movably coupled to the tubular raceway  120  through a moveable rail support  126 . The moveable rail support  126  includes at least two rails  128  extending parallel to the long axis A of the bed. The rails  128  are on opposite sides of the long axis A of the adjustable bed  100  and generally aligned with a side of the adjustable bed  100 . The rails  128  have legs  130  extending downward to a plurality of tubular sleeve members  132 . The tubular sleeve members  132  are slidingly coupled to the tubular raceway  120 . The tubular sleeve members  132  slide longitudinally along the tubular raceway  120 . While shown as circular, tubular members, the shape of the raceway  120  and the sleeve members  132  may be alternative shapes as long as the shapes allow the sleeve members to slide longitudinally along the raceway  120 . The rails  128  may be supported by cross support beams  134 . Also, alternatively to the above sleeve movement system, the moveable rail support  126  may be provided with rollers or wheels that movably mate with a channel or groove in the tubular raceway  120  to allow the moveable rail support  126  to move with respect to the tubular raceway  120 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the head and foot stands  102 ,  104  have extensions  200 . The extensions  200 , in this exemplary embodiment, are rectangular tubes typically made from a metal such as steel. The tubes may be hollow or they may have blind holes  202 , which blind holes or hollow space may be referred to as receptacles as will be explained further below. The extensions  200  may have outer ends  204  about holes  202  that may be slightly larger (e.g., have a greater cross-sectional surface area) than the remainder of the extension  200 . The larger outer ends  204  may facilitate receiving protrusions, which will be described below. 
     A plurality of removable shroud panels  300  are shown exploded from the adjustable bed  100  for convenience. The shroud panels  300  may be formed of fabric, foam, wood, metal, composites, a combination thereof, or the like. The shroud panels  300  have an outer face  302  and an inner face  304 . Extending from the inner face  304  are a plurality of protrusions  306 . The protrusions  306  are shaped to operatively connect into the holes  202 , or receptacles. As shown, each of the plurality of removable shroud panels includes at least two protrusions  306 , however, more or less protrusions are possible. Also, while four removable shroud panels  300  are shown, more or less shroud panels  300  are possible. For example, two “L-shaped” panels are possible. Alternatively, the shroud panels  300  may be segmented along the long sides to match the boards  124 , the segmentations  307  are shown in phantom. In still another embodiment, the shroud panels  300  may be a single flexible panel that wraps around the adjustable bed  100 . While designated as protrusions  306  and holes  202  in the present exemplary embodiment, the protrusions  306  may be considered in some embodiments a first extension  306  having a first socket part and the holes  202  may be considered in some embodiments a second extension  202  having a second socket part wherein the first socket part in this example is a male socket part and the second socket part in this example is a female socket part operatively sized to engage the male socket part. The protrusions may be chamfered to facilitate insertion of the male protrusions into the female sockets. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , a detail of an exemplary connection between hole  202  and protrusion  306  is shown. The outer end  204  of the hole  202  is slightly enlarged to facilitate sliding protrusion  306  into hole  202 . The protrusion  306  has an overlap portion  310  that fits into the hole  202  and a bracket arm  312  that extends to the panel  300 . The overlap portion  310  is sufficiently long to resist the torque of the cantilever formed by the bracket arm and panel  300 . The overlap portion also comprises a spring loaded ball  314 . The spring loaded ball  314  is biased by a spring (not specifically shown) to extend out of the overlap portion  310  of the protrusion  306 . The hole  202  has a detent  206  sized to operationally engage the spring loaded ball  314 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary method of using the technology of the present application is provided. The steps outlined for the present application provide for installing and removing a removable panel; however, the technology of the present application applies to installing, removing, replacing, or any combination thereof of the removable panels. First, a removable panel is selected for attachment to the adjustable bed. Next, the protrusion, especially the overlap portion, is aligned with a hole or receptacle. The protrusion is slidingly fitted into the outer end and the spring loaded ball is either depressed or forced to depress, by for example, a chamfered end, such that spring loaded ball travels within the hole. Alternatively, a locking mechanism is manipulated to allow the protrusion to fit with the receptacle. When the overlap portion is sufficiently inserted, the spring loaded ball springs to its original position into the detent of the hole locking the protrusion and panel in place. To remove the panel, the spring loaded ball is depressed, and the overlap portion is unlocked such that the protrusion may be slidingly removed from the hole and the panel removed or replaced. 
     In certain embodiments, the shroud panel  300  and the bracket arm  312  may be a monolithic unit. In other embodiments, the shroud panel  300  is removable from the shroud bracket arm  312 . When removable, the shroud panel  300  rests on the horizontal shelf  316  of the bracket arm  312  and is releasably coupled to the vertical wall  318 , the horizontal shelf  316 , or both of the bracket arm  312 . The shroud panel  300  may be releasably coupled to the bracket arm  312  by hook and loop fasteners, set screws, thumb screws, or the like. Similarly, the shroud panel  300  may have a fabric layer monolithic with or removably attached to at least the outer face  302  of the shroud panel  300 . If the fabric layer is removably attached to at least the outer face  302 , the shroud panel  300  may have fasteners (not specifically shown) on the outer face  302  (or possibly on the bottom and top sides of the shroud panel  300  to hide the edges of the shroud panel  300 ). In this case, fabric layer would have a corresponding fastener to allow the fabric layer to be removably coupled to the outer face  302  of the shroud panel. Such corresponding fasteners may include hoop material at one location and corresponding loop material at a corresponding location. Alternatively such corresponding fasteners may include button snaps with a male member at one location and a female member at a corresponding location. While the removable fabric layer is described with a removable shroud panel  300 , one of ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure would now recognize that the removable fabric layer could be used in conjunction with an adjustable bed frame having a non-removable panel surrounding the stationary frame base. In certain aspects, the fabric layer will be a single wrap of fabric that attaches to multiple panels and may wrap completely around the adjustable bed frame. Rather than fasteners to the outer face  302  of the shroud panel  300 , the adjustable fabric may have elastics coupled to a seam or channel in the top and bottom edges of the fabric layer to envelope the shroud panel  300 . In this case, fabric layer may include a leading and trailing portion that has one or more fasteners to either couple the fabric layer to the shroud panel  300  or couple the leading portion of a subsequent fabric layer to the trailing portion of a proceeding fabric layer 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an adjustable bed  600  may include a base frame  602  to which a removable shroud panel  604  is coupled. The adjustable bed  600  includes a mattress support surface  606  above the base frame  602  and shroud panel  604 . The mattress support surface  606  may be covered by a mattress support surface cover  608 . The mattress support surface cover  608  should be stretchable or elastic fabric. One exemplary fabric includes spandex, which is sometimes referred to as LYCRA®. However, any stretchable or elastic fabric, whether woven or non-woven, is acceptable. Providing a stretchable or elastic fabric for the mattress support surface cover  608  allows for the articulation of the support surface panels from a supine position ( FIG. 7 ) to the articulated position ( FIG. 6 ) while maintaining a reasonably tight fit between the mattress support surface  606  and the mattress support surface cover  608 . The mattress support surface cover  608  may be a single piece of fabric or a multi-piece fabric as shown. As shown, the mattress support cover  608  includes an edge fabric  610  and a center fabric  612 . The edge fabric  610  may be selected to match the shroud panel  604  while the center fabric  612  may be a rubberized fabric or the like to form a higher friction surface to inhibit the mattress (not shown) from moving. Notice, instead of having a single cover as shown, each panel of the mattress support surface  606  may instead have its own individual panel cover similar to the mattress support surface cover  608 . 
     An alternative shroud panel  700  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The shroud panel  700  may include a deck shroud  702 . The deck shroud  702 , similar to the shroud above, may be a plurality of panels, a single panel, or the like. A single panel  704  of the deck shroud  702  is shown. In particular, the single panel  704  is formed to wrap around the ends (head or foot) of the mattress support surface. A deck  706  of the mattress support surface is shown as well, for example, the foot deck. The deck  706  is shown bottom side  708  up and the top side  710 , on which the mattress rests, is opposite the bottom side  708 . The deck shroud  702  may be releasably coupled to the deck  706  using one or more fasteners. For example, the bottom side  708  of the deck  706  may have a strip of hook material  712  and the deck shroud  702 , on a top edge  714 , may have corresponding loop material  716  such that the deck shroud  702  is releasably coupled to the bottom side  708  of the deck  706  by the hook and loop material. Other fasteners are possible such as, for example, snaps, zippers, adhesives, glues, or the like. The deck  706  will have a margin  716  that extends beyond the base frame (shown above). The strip of hook material  712  is aligned with the margin  716  such that the deck shroud  702  hangs down outside of the base frame. In operation, the deck shroud may cover gaps  718  that occur between the base frame and the deck or mattress support surface. In some embodiments, the shroud panels described above and the deck shroud  702  are used in conjunction. 
     While the above describes the connection between the removable panel and the head and foot stands to comprise a hole or receptacle in the stands and a protrusion from the panel, the reverse or a combination also is possible. Further, the above describes using a spring loaded ball (or pin) and detent locking arrangement between the protrusion and receptacle, but alternative connections are possible including, for example, a taper lock, a friction fitting, a spring tab or a tongue and groove connection. 
     Although the technology has been described in language that is specific to certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology will be defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Because many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology disclosed herein, the application technology resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers, orientations, or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).