Abstract:
The invention relates to a headboard for use with a bed. The headboard is provided with one or more characters, images, text, symbols and/or pictures on an outer surface thereof. The outer shape of the headboard relates to the characters, images, text, symbols and/or pictures depicted on the outer surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0316297.1, filed Jul. 14, 2003, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a headboard, and particularly although not necessarily exclusively to a headboard for use with a bed.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     It is well known to provide headboards for connection with a bed to increase the comfort of a user when sitting up in the bed and to prevent the user&#39;s head or pillow from falling off the top of the bed during sleep. Conventional headboards typically include a substantially rigid board with fabric material fixedly connected thereto by adhesive, staples or some other form of permanent fixing means. Cushioning material is typically provided between the fabric material and the rigid board to provide a cushioned surface for a user to lean against. In addition, the headboard is typically fixedly connected to the bed. Thus, once the fabric material becomes soiled or worn, the headboard is useless and needs to be replaced in its entirety. In addition, the headboard is not easily changed if the user&#39;s bed is changed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a headboard which overcomes the abovementioned problems.  
         [0005]     It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a headboard which increases the aesthetic appeal of the same to a user, such as a child.  
         [0006]     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a headboard for attachment to a bed, said headboard provided with one or more characters, images, text, symbols and/or pictures on an outer surface thereof, and wherein the outer shape of the headboard relates to said characters, images, text, symbols and/or pictures.  
         [0007]     The outer shape of the headboard is typically directly associated with the characters, images, text, symbols, pictures and/or the like shown on the headboard. For example, the outer edge of the headboard can be in the shape of the outer profile of a particular character, image and/or the like.  
         [0008]     The characters, images, text, symbols, pictures and/or the like typically protrude outwardly from a surface of the headboard, such as from a front face of the headboard and/or from one or more edges or sides of the headboard.  
         [0009]     Preferably the outer surface of the headboard is formed from a first material layer and the one or more characters, images, text, symbols, pictures and/or the like are formed, at least in part from a further material layer, which can be the same or different material to the first material layer.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment the headboard is inflatable and can be provided with an air inflation device for inflating the same. An air inlet device is typically provided on the headboard to allow inflation of the same. A closure device, such as a valve arrangement, can be provided in association with the air inlet device to close and/or open said air inlet device as required.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment the headboard includes an outer portion and at least one inner portion, the outer portion being removably located with said inner portion.  
         [0012]     Preferably an outer portion is provided which forms the outer surface of the headboard and an inner portion is located at least partly within said outer portion.  
         [0013]     Preferably said outer portion is in the form of a cover which is located with or over a whole or substantial part of said inner portion.  
         [0014]     Preferably the inner portion is, includes or houses at least one inflatable member.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment said cover is provided with an attachment device for location with said inner portion.  
         [0016]     In an alternative embodiment said cover has an opening with a closure device, provided therewith, the inner portion being located through said opening in a cavity defined by the walls of said cover.  
         [0017]     Preferably the closure device is in the form or any or any combination of one or more zips, Velcro, buttons, clips, press studs, ties and/or the like.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment the outer portion is a different shape and/or size to the inner portion. Thus, portions of the outer portion protrude beyond the outer edge of the inner portion.  
         [0019]     Preferably the outer portion is formed from substantially flexible material.  
         [0020]     Preferably the inner portion includes at least one layer of substantially resilient or soft material.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment the inner portion includes a housing in which resilient and/or soft material is located. The housing in one example is in the form of a bag made from a textile material.  
         [0022]     Preferably the substantially resilient and/or soft material contained in the housing includes any or any combination of fabric, foam, feathers and/or the like.  
         [0023]     The inner portion housing can include at least one opening which is provided with a closure device, thereby allowing user access to the contents of said housing for replacement and/or to add to the same.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment the inner portion housing constitutes at least a first resilient layer and at least one further resilient layer provided therein.  
         [0025]     Preferably the at least one further resilient layer is formed from foam material.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment the inner portion includes a substantially rigid material layer to provide support for the headboard structure.  
         [0027]     In one embodiment the headboard is provided with an attachment device for attachment of the headboard to an existing headboard or wall surface. In this embodiment the attachment device includes any or any combination of adhesive, strap and buckle, ties, nuts and bolts, one or more clips and/or the like.  
         [0028]     The advantage of the present invention is that the headboard can be provided in association with any type of bed and can be removably located therewith, thereby allowing the headboard to be transported easily between locations. The headboard has particular appeal to children due to the variety of different characters, toys and/or scenes that can be depicted thereon. In addition, the cover of the headboard can easily be removed for cleaning, repair and/or replacement.  
         [0029]     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bed having a headboard located therewith.  
         [0030]     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a headboard for attachment to a bed, said headboard including an inflatable device.  
         [0031]     Preferably the headboard includes at least one inflatable member. The inflatable member typically includes an air inlet device and a closure device associated therewith for allowing said air inlet device to be moved between open and closed conditions.  
         [0032]     Preferably the headboard is removably located with respect to said bed. The bed can include any type of mattress which a user would typically sleep on. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures wherein:  
         [0034]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrate front and rear views of a head board according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the head board in one embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Referring to the figures, there is illustrated a three dimensional headboard  2  for use with a bed (not shown). The headboard  2  includes a front face  4 , rear face  6 , side walls  8 , top  10  and base  12 .  
         [0037]     At least the front face  4  of headboard  2  is provided with an aesthetic design thereon, which in this example is in the form of a baseball glove and ball. The peripheral edge  14  of the front and rear faces  4 ,  6  are shaped according to the outer shape of a baseball glove. The design within the peripheral edge  14  of front face  4  includes additional three dimensional shaped items, such as base ball  16  and finger portions  18 . These additional items are typically in the form of one or more compartments provided on front face  4 , the outer edges of the compartments being defined by stitching  20 . Padding in the form of foam can be contained in the compartments. Alternatively, padding can be provided on the opposite surface of said front face (i.e. located internally of the headboard). In either embodiment, the additional items, such as the base ball  6  typically protrude to a small degree from the front face  4 , thereby providing increased realism of the items they are depicting. Printed matter or further additional fabric portions can be provided on front face  4  to add realism to the design. Thus, for example, stitching of the base ball glove can be depicted using fabric strips  22  which are stitched or adhered onto front face  4 .  
         [0038]     Piping or trimming can be provided around the peripheral edges of the front or rear faces and/or the additional items if required.  
         [0039]     The rear face  6  of the headboard  2  is provided with an attachment device in the form of two ties  24 ,  24 ′ connected via a buckle  26 . The ties can be located around an existing headboard or part of an existing headboard structure to attach headboard  2  thereto. The buckle can be adjusted with respect to the two ties  24 ,  24 ′ to secure headboard  2  to the existing headboard/structure.  
         [0040]     In addition, adhesive pads  28  can be provided on rear face  6  with release paper attached thereto. A user can remove the release paper when required and adhere the headboard  2  to a required surface. The adhesive pads can be attached to the rear face  6  by adhesive or via some other form of attachment device, such as VELCRO, thereby allowing the adhesive pads to be detachably attached to rear face  6 . Thus, the user can then choose whether they wish to secure the headboard in a required position using the adhesive pads or using the ties/straps  24 ,  24 ′ and buckle  26 .  
         [0041]     The headboard  2  typically includes an outer portion in the form of a cover  30 , the external surfaces of which are shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  and the cross section of which is shown in  FIG. 2 . The walls of the cover form front face  4 , rear face  6 , side walls  8 , top  10  and base  12  and typically define an interior cavity. A closure device in the form of a zip can be provided along one wall of the cover, thereby allowing access to the interior cavity for repair and/or replacement of the contents therein and to allow the cover to be removed for washing purposes or repair.  
         [0042]     The cushioning of headboard  2  is typically provided by an inner portion including a first cushioning layer  32  and a second cushioning layer  34 . The thickness of these layers can vary as required but is typically of sufficient flexibility and softness/cushioning to allow a user to rest their head against headboard  2  without discomfort.  
         [0043]     In the embodiment described, first cushioning layer  32  comprises a foam material of a required thickness. This layer can be provided in association with the interior surface of the front face  4 , such as for example, to provide cushioning and/or shape to base ball  20  and/or other additional items depicted on front face  4 . Alternatively, the foam material can be freely located in the cover to allow the cover to be easily removed from the inner portion.  
         [0044]     Second cushioning layer  34  includes a bag type of housing in which cushioning material is provided, such as foam or lengths of fabric. Layer  34  can also be provided with a closure device if required to allow a user to gain access thereto. Further layers can be provided as required.  
         [0045]     It will be appreciated that a range of different designs can be provided by changing the two dimensional or three dimensional articles/ designs defined on the outer surfaces of the headboard and/or by changing the shape of one or more outer edges of the headboard. The size of the headboard can also be changed to allow the same to fit to a camp bed, single bed, double bed, king size bed and/or the like.  
         [0046]     The headboard can be formed from at least one inflatable member or one or more inflatable members can be provided within an outer cover of the headboard if required.  
         [0047]     Although the above description refers almost exclusively to a headboard for location at the head of a bed, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the headboard could be located in any required position, such as the foot of a bed, and can be used independently of a bed (i.e., attached to a wall surface for a user to lean on).