Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to household bedding accessory furniture and more particularly it relates to an ergonomic compact basic Bed Lounge™ that can be readily folded out into flat form for convenience in transporting and storing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   For those who spend periods of time sitting in a bed, seating, furniture, sofa or even on a floor and/or against a wall, it is important to provide proper support to particular regions of the body to avoid discomfort, fatigue and/or body deformation and musculo-skeleton strains. Ordinary cushions and pillows fail to provide necessary support and structural integrity, which requires a chair-like bed lounge typically with at least a back portion with two attached arm-rests, one at each side, and preferably a neck support/head-rest. To accommodate the needs of different individuals with regard to size, weight, age, activity, etc., the Bed Lounge is preferably provided with several user adjustment capabilities, e.g. relating to tilt-back, arm-rest and seat-back spacing, lower back support, neck-rest height and inclination. 
   KNOWN ART 
   Bedding furniture in the field of this invention has been known under such names as “bed bolster”, “husband” and “study rest”. Typically such items have been made entirely from foam material so that characteristically they lack support and structural consistency, being overly soft and flexible, and/or they are inconveniently heavy, bulky and costly to ship to stores, to warehouse and to display in stores and inconvenient to store in the home and to transport in an automobile and while traveling. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,098 to the present inventors disclosed an ergonomic BED LOUNGE made with a fabric cover enclosing foam padding and fiber composited over a main structure formed from plastic sheet material to provide the required strength and stability in an assembly that is lighter in weight and more individually adjustable than all-foam construction. The Bed Lounge™ featured back inclination adjustment, a built-in adjustable lower back pillow, a doubly adjustable neck pillow and side arm-rests whose forward portions can be adjusted for end separation and for angle of recline. 
   Pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,538 was filed Sep. 30, 2005 by the present inventors for a full-featured DUAL-MODAL-SHAPE BED LOUNGE that can be folded to a compact size and shape for storage purposes. 
   U.S. design Pat. 427,823 to Robinson shows a BED PILLOW WITH ARM RESTS AND COVER. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,830 to Maloney discloses a removable SUPPORT INSERT FOR A HIGH CHAIR directed to positioning and supporting the upper torso of an infant seated in the high chair. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,298 to Scott discloses a TILTABLE HEADBOARD for supporting the head and upper body portion of a person who is in a reclining-seated position on the bed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,492 to Sebest discloses a motorized PILLOW BED MECHANISM that provides varying degrees of elevation to separately movable head-rest and back-support sections. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a relatively small, lightweight basic version of the Bed Lounge that has the ability to be made flat so that it can be easily carried in one hand, slung over the shoulder for transporting to the beach or events, or hung like a suit bag on a hanger in a closet or on a hook on the back of a door. 
   It is a further object that the Bed Lounge be based on a flat body/frame that is economical to manufacture, ship and warehouse. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above and further objects and advantages have been realized in the present invention of a basic version of the trademarked Bed Lounge that includes a fabric slip cover that is removable, inter-changeable, and washable. The slip cover encloses a foam, fiber, filled-pillow, layered padding over an inner body/frame structure cut from a flat panel of plastic molded with an air core for light weight. The combination of foam, fiber, filled-pillow inserts and structural flat body/frame creates a layered composition or laminate that is extremely durable and yet highly comfortable and supportive to the upper body of the user. This version of the Bed Lounge™ is smaller, exceptionally lightweight (2-3 lbs.), and has the ability to flatten so it can be easily carried in one hand, slung over the shoulder, hung like a suite bag on a hanger in the closet and stored under furniture or bed owing to its very low profile, and further compressibility given its construction elements, when in flattened mode 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the main body/frame flat structure of a basic bed lounge of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the basic bed lounge of the present invention formed by the main body/frame of  FIG. 1  enclosed in a slip cover and padding system and shown extended into the flat storage mode. 
       FIG. 3  is a frontal perspective view of the basic bed lounge of  FIG. 2 , formed into the deployment mode as a seat including a headrest. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a plan view of the main body  10  forming the body/frame structure of a basic bed lounge of the present invention. Body  10  is cut as a single piece from a flat plastic panel that is formed to have smooth firm surfaces on both sides spaced to a uniform thickness of about ¼ inch by internal spacer walls between hollow air chambers. Typically the plastic panel is formed by extrusion to provide uniform hollow elongated parallel chambers that are approximately square in cross-section, and body  10  is cut to orient the chambers horizontally. Two fold lines  12 A and  12 B, are embossed and slotted as shown to form “living hinges” that divide the body  10  into three hinge-attached portions: back portion  10 A and the two flanking arm rest portions  10 B and  10 C. 
     FIG. 2  is a plan view of the basic bed lounge  14  of the present invention formed by the body  10  of  FIG. 1  enclosed in a fabric slip cover  16 . Bed lounge  14  is shown extended in the flat storage mode. The region containing main body  10 , shown in broken lines including back portion  16 A and arm rest portions  16 B and  16 C, is padded with internal foam and fiber enclosed by the slip cover  16 , to form a thickness of typically 3 to 4 inches but made thicker in the lower back region. Fabric flaps  16 D and  16 E, extending from the rear side of the lower edge of arm rest portions  16 B and  16 C, are fitted in marginal regions  16 F and  16 G (indicated by dashed lines) with mating fastening materials such as Velcro hook-and-loop that provide adjustable attachment. 
   The thin, flat form allows the basic bed lounge  14  to be placed against the bed&#39;s headboard and hidden with conventional decorative pillows, or stored tucked behind the headboard. Again, owing to its thin and compressible profile, it can be economically shipped to stores and warehoused, as the flat shape enables stacking and pallet handling in much greater quantities. 
     FIG. 3  is a frontal perspective view of the bed lounge  14  of  FIG. 2 , formed into the deployment mode, and fitted with a headrest  18 . Armrests  16 B and  16 C are folded forward and the two panels are fastened together in the overlapping region  16 F. The amount of overlap can be adjusted to provide any desired spacing between the armrests  16 B and  16 C. 
   Headrest  18  is constructed from a T-shaped piece of plastic with a long stem that slips into a opening or sewn long “pocket” in slip cover  16 . This allows the stem to maintain a frictional tension and keep headrest  18  in place after the user shifts it up and down as desired for head, neck, and shoulder support. Headrest  18  is also adjustable with regard to the angle or tilt attitude. At the cross point of the T-shape where the stem perpendicularly meets the cross member, an embossed line or score has been made into the plastic: this line creates a hinge point, or “living hinge” that is laminated with the composite of foam, fiber, (and optionally the filled pillow) to create a spring-like tension at the cross point. As the user tilts or rotates the headrest  18  to a suitable position of support for the head, neck, and/or shoulders, the combination of composites and the hinge exert a gentle upward force. This gentle force lets the headrest  18  comfortably nestle the user&#39;s head and neck. Importantly, it tracks or follows the user&#39;s head as the user looks up or down. Hence, the headrest  18  is able to track with the user&#39;s head through an arc of different positions without the user needing to re-adjust the headrest  18 . The user can go from looking down reading a book or working on a laptop computer to looking straight ahead to looking upward to watch television. Other loungers and bed rests have armrests that attach to the back in an abrupt transition, step-like, from the armrests to the body or seat back of the lounger. 
   The headrest pocket can be made with an additional opening at the bottom so that the headrest can be inserted and not protrude at the top; this makes it more compact and easy to carry and/or store. 
   The armrests  16 B and  16 C are shaped as a scoop that continuously slopes from the shoulders into the arms. The gentle arc is designed so that it provides continuous, consistent support to the user&#39;s upper body as they rock back, incline, or position the lounger in a reclining elevation that suits them for the desired task (i.e. reading, nursing baby, gaming, watching TV, etc.). The arc of the armrests  16 B and  16 C also allow the user a continuous point of support, again equalizing and distributing weight, being a perch for the arms and elbows when holding a book, magazine, craft-work, baby, and the like. 
   The internal body  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and composite elements work together and play a key role in the lounger&#39;s ability to support the user&#39;s full weight at these inclined angles. The lounger  14  provides optimal utility in inclined elevations when used against a solid surface such as a wall or headboard. The framework composite and the arc of the armrests  16 B and  16 C not only support the user but equalize the user&#39;s upper body weight and distribute for a pleasing lounging experience without noticeable pressure points to distract from the relaxing, near-floating sensation. 
   As an alternative to forming the body  10  from a single sheet of plastic by employing “living hinges” between the three portions as described above, actual hinges could be utilized in conjunction with three separate body portions, but this would impose increased labor and cost. 
   The slip cover  16  functions as an integral part of the lounger&#39;s structure. As an alternative to the Velcro-type hook-and-loop closure material, the panel fastenings  16 F and  16 G could be implemented in other ways, e.g. zippered, domed or buttoned. The interconnection of the panels  16 D and  16 E hold the lounger in the its seating mode and create a seat bottom that the user sits upon. Making the fastening adjustable allows the width of the armrests to be widened or narrowed to accommodate the user&#39;s body shape or the activity the user is doing. 
   The flaps  16 D and  16 E extend from the rear region of base of the armrests. This is necessary so that they wrap beneath the broad or “resting” portion of the armrests and hold the unit together when each flap is connected to one another. The flaps can be cushioned for enhance comfort and/or they can be configured to accept other seat cushions. 
   Side pockets can be added to the slip cover  16  to allow the user to store items such as books, I-pod, baby bottles, eyeglasses, etc. 
   The slip covers are envisioned as being made in a variety of colors and fabrics for users to choose from. 
   To support the low back, a filled (either feather, down, or synthetic fill) lumbar pillow is incorporated into the design. It has been found that a crescent-shaped filled pillow is most pleasing to users in comfort and support. To this can be added memory foam for a still greater degree of comfort. 
   Other possible variations include heat, massage, a reading lamp, and a special armrest configuration specifically designed for nursing mothers. 
   As an alternative to extruding, the plastic panel for the body could be injection-molded, which would allow/require the internal air-chamber regions to be non-uniform in width. 
   As an alternative to cutting the body from a panel in the required outline shape, the body shape could be formed originally in a molding process. 
   The invention may be embodied and practiced in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all variations, substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Category: 1