Patent Publication Number: US-2023148759-A1

Title: Rain curtain headboard

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to sleep systems and accessories. More particularly, it relates to a rain curtain headboard for providing an improved sleep environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sleep plays an essential role in a person&#39;s health and well-being throughout life. For example, sleep deficiency has been linked to a variety of serious chronic health problems, including increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke. In addition to physical health, getting enough quality sleep is also important for one&#39;s emotional health. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep has been shown to negatively impact a person&#39;s happiness and quality of life and can also contribute to depression and other mood disorders. Sleep deprivation can also impair brain function and reaction time, which can lead to performance issues at work or school and can have more severe consequences such as causing car accidents. It is therefore important for a person to get enough quality sleep each night. 
     The sleeping area is central to a good night&#39;s rest. While poor-quality sleep can be linked to many different causes, there are several known environmental factors that can affect sleep quality. Important environmental factors may include, for example, noise levels, lighting, temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Depending on the person, too much or too little noise, light, temperature, air flow, and humidity may make it difficult to fall and remain asleep. While preferred sleeping environments can vary significantly from person to person, if one or more of the above environmental factors falls outside a person&#39;s preferred range, that person may suffer from poor sleep and the negative health consequences that come with it. 
     Accordingly, and in light of the foregoing, it would be desirable for a device that provides an enhanced sleeping environment with respect to the user&#39;s senses and relaxation levels. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded view of a rain curtain headboard  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view of a rain curtain headboard  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of a rain curtain headboard  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG.  4    is a detail view of a rain curtain headboard  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrating attachment of bed rails; and, 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded detail view of a rain curtain headboard  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the rain system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               100  rain curtain headboard 
               200  headboard 
               202  cavity 
               204  back wall 
               206  viewing aperture 
               210  leg 
               214  bed rail slot 
               220  rain system 
               222  rain effect discharge tube 
               224  nozzle 
               226  simulated raindrop 
               228  discharge tube inlet 
               230  water trough 
               232  top aperture 
               234  outlet tubing aperture 
               236  grate support 
               238  refill access 
               240  pump 
               242  pump intake 
               244  intake tubing 
               246  pump outlet 
               248  outlet tubing 
               250  controller 
               260  grate 
               262  splash target 
               270  light bar 
               272  viewing window 
               274  gap 
               276  remote control 
               278  wireless signal 
               900  water 
               910  bed rail 
               912  bed rail connecting hook 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a rain curtain headboard (herein described as the “invention”)  100 . The present invention may also be used as a footboard. The invention  100  may comprise a headboard  200 , a rain system  220 , a light bar  270 , and a viewing window  272 . The headboard  200  may be a structural element of a bed frame. The headboard  200  may comprise a cavity  202  housing the rain system  220 . The rain system  220  may create a rain curtain, viewable through the viewing window  272 , that is adapted to soothe a user using sound therapy, humidity, aromatherapy, or combinations thereof. The light bar  270  may provide illumination for viewing items located within the cavity  202  including, but not limited to, the rain curtain. 
     The headboard  200  may be a vertically-oriented panel located at the head-end of a bed. The headboard  200  may be adapted to couple to bed rails  910  in order to support, in conjunction with other elements of the bed frame, a mattress. The headboard  200  may comprise the cavity  202  for housing the rain system  220 . The headboard  200  may comprise a viewing aperture  206 . The viewing aperture  206  may be an opening in the front of the headboard  200  that provides visual access to the rain system  220  located inside of the cavity  202 . The viewing window  272  may be water-tight by covering the viewing aperture  206  to prevent water  900  from splashing out of the cavity  202 . 
     The headboard  200  may comprise a pair of legs  210  that elevate the headboard  200 . An individual leg selected from the pair of legs  210  may comprise a bed rail slot  214  located on the lower front of the individual leg. The bed rail slot  214  may provide an attachment point for bed rail connecting hooks  912 . 
     The headboard  200  may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the headboard  200  may comprise padded material. In some embodiments, the headboard  200  may comprise one (1) or more bookshelves, reading lights, drawers, and/or other features commonly found on some headboards. 
     The rain system  220  may comprise a rain effect discharge tube  222 , a water trough  230 , a pump  240 , a controller  250 , and a grate  260 . The rain system  220  may create the rain curtain by pumping the water  900  from the water trough  230  to the rain effect discharge tube  222  and allowing the water  900  to fall from the rain effect discharge tube  222  back into the water trough  230  as simulated raindrops  226 . The simulated raindrops  226  may strike a plurality of splash targets  262  resting on the grate  260  at the top of the water trough  230 . The simulated raindrops  226  may create a sound as the simulated raindrops  226  strike the plurality of splash targets  262 . The sound may be adapted to be soothing. 
     The rain effect discharge tube  222  may comprise a plurality of nozzles  224  and a discharge tube inlet  228 . The rain effect discharge tube  222  may be a horizontally-oriented conduit that is located at the top center of the cavity  202 . As non-limiting example, the rain effect discharge tube  222  may be made from PVC, Stainless, Aluminum, or copper pipe. The water  900  may be pumped into the rain effect discharge tube  222  via the discharge tube inlet  228  and may flow out of the rain effect discharge tube  222  via the plurality of nozzles  224 . 
     The plurality of nozzles  224  may be a plurality of apertures that promote creation of the simulated raindrops  226 . The plurality of nozzles  224  may be linearly aligned and evenly spaced along the bottom of the rain effect discharge tube  222 . As non-limiting examples, the plurality of nozzles  224  may be as simple as holes drilled into the bottom of the rain effect discharge tube  222  or the plurality of nozzles  224  may comprise replaceable fixtures that screw into the bottom of the rain effect discharge tube  222 . In some embodiments, the plurality of nozzles  224  may be of uniform diameter such that the simulated raindrops  226  form at a uniform rate and/or size. In some embodiments, the diameter of the plurality of nozzles  224  may intentionally be varied such that the simulated raindrops  226  form at a non-uniform rate and/or size, thus imitating a random rainfall pattern. As the simulated raindrops  226  form at the plurality of nozzles  224 , the simulated raindrops  226  may fall from the rain effect discharge tube  222  towards the water trough  230 . 
     The water trough  230  may be a container for holding the water  900 . The top of the water trough  230  may be open to form a top aperture  232  where the water  900  may reenter the water trough  230  after falling as the simulated raindrops  226 . An outlet tubing aperture  234  located at the bottom of the water trough  230  may allow the water  900  to exit the water trough  230 . The outlet tubing aperture  234  may be located in the bottom wall of the water trough  230  if the pump  240  is located below the water trough  230 . In some embodiments, the pump  240  may be submersed in the water  900  in the water trough  230  and the outlet tubing aperture  234  may be located in a side wall of the water trough  230 . 
     In some embodiments, the headboard  200  may comprise a refill access  238  to provide access for refilling the water trough  230 . The refill access  238  may be operable to accept refill water and channel the refill water into the water trough  230 . The refill access  238  may be accessible on the left side of the headboard  200 , on the right side of the headboard  200 , on the front of the headboard  200 , on the rear of the headboard  200 , or combinations thereof. As a non-limiting example, the refill access  238  may be hidden behind a decorative emblem or door. 
     The water  900  may arrive at a pump intake  242  via an intake tubing  244  if the pump intake  242  is located below the water trough  230  or the water  900  may flow directly into the pump  240  if the pump  240  is a submersible pump located in the water trough  230 . The pump  240  may move the water  900  from the pump intake  242  to a pump outlet  246 . The pump  240  may be electromechanical and may comprise an internal motor that may be energized by the application of an electrical potential to the pump  240 . As non-limiting examples, the pump  240  may move the water  900  by applying rotary motion, reciprocating motion, linear motion, or a combination thereof to one or more gears, screws, pistons, shuttle blocks, vanes, diaphragms, plungers, chains, ropes, impellers, or combinations thereof. Because the pump  240  is applied with the bed, the pump  240  may be selected to meet specific acoustic noise requirements. An outlet tubing  248  may carry the water  900  from the pump outlet  246  to the rain effect discharge tube  222 . In some embodiments, the pump  240  may be submersible and may be placed in the water  900  at the bottom of the water trough  230 . In such embodiments, the outlet tubing  248  may pass through a wall or the bottom of the water trough  230  to reach the rain effect discharge tube  222 . The pump intake  242  may comprise the intake tubing  244 . The pump outlet  246  may comprise the outlet tubing  248 . 
     The controller  250  may determine when the electrical potential is to be applied to the pump  240 . The controller  250  may base decisions to energize the pump  240  on commands from wireless signals  278  received from a remote control  276 , on internal timers, or both. In some embodiments, the controller  250  may determine not only the on/off cycles of the pump  240  but also the volume of water moved by the pump  240 . As a non-limiting example, the controller  250  may control a voltage level of the electrical potential, a current level, a frequency of the electrical potential, a phase of the electrical potential, or combinations thereof to affect the volume of water pumped. 
     The grate  260  may be removably coupled to the top of the water trough  230 . The grate  260  may rest upon a plurality of grate supports  236  located within the water trough  230 . The plurality of splash targets  262  may be placed on the grate  260  such that the simulated raindrops  226  may strike the plurality of splash targets  262  as the simulated raindrops  226  fall. 
     The plurality of splash targets  262  may be selected for acoustic properties, appearance, or both. As non-limiting examples, the plurality of splash targets  262  may be stones, vase filler glass, landscape glass, bells, or metal plates. The plurality of splash targets  262  may be selected such that the plurality of splash targets  262  may make a distinct acoustic tone when struck by the simulated raindrop  226  or because they have a pleasing appearance. 
     The light bar  270  may illuminate the interior of the cavity  202 . The light bar  270  may be energized and controlled by the controller  250 . The controller  250  may determine the brightness and hue of the light bar  270 . 
     The viewing window  272  may be a transparent barrier between the rain curtain and the user to prevent the water  900  from splashing into the bed. As non-limiting examples, the viewing window  272  may be made from glass or clear acrylic plastic. In some embodiments, the viewing window  272  may comprise a gap  274  at the top of the viewing aperture  206  such that sound and moist air may pass from within the cavity  202 . In some embodiments, the viewing window  272  may be translucent. 
     The remote control  276  may be adapted to permit the user to control any or all of these operational parameters of the invention  100 : pump on/off state, pump water volume, light bar on/off state, light bar brightness, light bar hue (color). The remote control  276  may be adapted to communicate user selections of the operational parameters to the controller  250  via the wireless signal  278 . In some embodiments, a smartphone may be used to control the controller  250  in place of or in addition to the remote control  276 . As a non-limiting example, the smartphone may communicate with the controller  250  via Bluetooth® protocols. 
     In some embodiments, the headboard  200  may comprise a decorative effect located on a back wall  204  of the cavity  202 . As non-limiting examples, the decorative effect may be an image such as soothing photograph or drawing or the decorative effect may comprise a texture such as a stone veneer. 
     In some embodiments, the invention  100  may comprise the use of water additives to prevent mildew, to add a scent to the water  900 , or both. As a non-limiting example, the water additives may comprise antifungal additives and/or antibacterial additives to prevent mildew and other biological contaminants. As a non-limiting example, the water additives may comprise scented oils to promote aromatherapy. 
     Although the headboard  200  has been described as coupling to the bed rails  910  using the bed rail connecting hooks  912 , it should be noted that the headboard  200  may be coupled to bolt-style bed rails by using an adapter between the bed rails  910  and the bed rail slots  214  on the headboard  200 . As a non-limiting example, the adapter may be a #711 Bolt-On to Hook-On Conversion Bed Frame Bracket. 
     In use, the bed rails  910  and the rest of the bed frames may be coupled to the headboard  200  and the mattress, bed sheets, comforters, and pillows may be placed on the bed frame. Water  900  may be added to the water trough  230 . The user may energize the pump  240  using the remote control  276  or the smartphone. The water  900  may be pumped into the rain effect discharge tube  222  and may fall from the plurality of nozzles  224  as the simulated raindrops  226 . The simulated raindrops  226  may create pleasing sounds as the simulated raindrops  226  fall onto the plurality of splash targets  262  creating a sound of falling rain as the simulated raindrops return to the trough. The user may control the speed of the pump  240  to increase or decrease the rate of production of the simulated raindrops  226 . The user may establish a desired lighting effect by using the remote control  276  or the smartphone to adjust the on/off state, intensity, and hue of the light bar  270 . 
     The steps involved in creating the sound of falling rain from a bed headboard includes fabricating a cavity in the headboard, mounting a rain discharge tube in the cavity, placing a plurality of splash targets under the rain discharge tube, covering the cavity with a transparent or translucent cover, circulating water from a trough through the rain discharge tube, and onto at least some of the splash targets, and illuminating the cavity with a light bar. 
     The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the invention  100  may vary upon manufacturing. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.