Bedding cover and associated methods
A bed covering has a translucent top layer that has a pattern thereon with a plurality of decorative elements that are positioned in a plurality of sectors. An array of light-emitting elements is positioned beneath the top layer. The array is segregated into sectors corresponding to at least some of the top-layer sectors. A control element is programmable to activate at least some of the light-emitting elements within at least some of the sectors in a predetermined pattern. Such an activation backlights at least some of the decorative elements in the top-layer sectors in the predetermined pattern. Additional elements of the bed covering may include an audio emitter for providing sound commensurate with the predetermined pattern and a light-diffusing element positioned between the top layer and the light-emitting-element array for providing a more diffuse illumination of the top layer sectors.
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This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/519,839, filed Nov. 13, 2004, entitled “Programmable Audio/visual Tapestry Display and Method.”
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to bedding and, in particular, to decorative and interactive bedding and methods for using and making same.
BACKGROUNDDecorative bedding is known wherein scenes are imprinted thereon. For example, for children, cartoon characters or action figures may be represented. It is also known to incorporate light and sound elements into bedding, the light elements positioned atop the bedding to represent features such as eyes of a creature. It is further known to affix a light-emitting phosphorescent material to bedding to display a pattern in the dark for a period of time following illumination.
It would be desirable to provide bedding that is decorative, amusing, and comforting, and includes entertainment elements, the bedding being activatable and stimulating to the imagination of the user. It would also be desirable to provide such bedding portions of which are exchangeable with other bedding portions for introducing different entertainment elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a bed covering that comprises a translucent top layer that has a pattern thereon. The pattern comprises a plurality of decorative elements that are positioned in a plurality of sectors. An array of light-emitting elements is positioned beneath the top layer. The array is segregated into sectors corresponding to at least some of the top-layer sectors.
A control element is in signal communication with the light-emitting elements, and is programmable to activate at least some of the light-emitting elements within at least some of the sectors in a predetermined pattern. Such an activation backlights at least some of the decorative elements in the top-layer sectors in the predetermined pattern.
Additional elements of the bed covering may include an audio emitter for providing sound commensurate with the predetermined pattern and a light-diffusing element positioned between the top layer and the light-emitting-element array for providing a more diffuse illumination of the top layer sectors.
The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to
The present invention in a particular embodiment is directed to a bed covering; however, one of skill in the art will recognize that the structure and method of operation of the invention could be applied to other embodiments as well, and no limitation is intended by the use of the descriptor “bed covering.”
In this embodiment, the bed covering 10 comprises a plurality of layers, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, an upper 15 and a lower 16 protective sheet are positioned in surrounding relation to the light-emitting-element array. The upper protective sheet 15 preferably has an aperture 17 therethrough above each of the light-emitting elements. Also preferably, the upper 15 and the lower 16 protective sheets are translucent and substantially water-impervious, and may comprise, for example, nylon, particularly rip stop nylon, although this is not intended as a limitation. The upper 15 and lower 16 protective sheets are preferably cleanable by wiping down, for example. In the embodiment shown in
A plurality of embodiments of the holder 14 may be envisioned, as illustrated in
In the embodiments of
In all embodiments, the LEDs 12 are segregated into sectors 33a-33d (
The control element 34 is under control of an on/off switch 35 (
The bed covering 10 further comprises, in signal communication with the control element 34, an audio emitter 38. The control element 34 is further programmable to activate the audio emitter 38 to emit sounds in a predetermined pattern, as will be described in the following. Preferably the audio emitter 38 is positioned adjacent the switch 35.
The bed covering 10 further comprises a light-diffusing layer 39 that is positioned above the light-emitting layer 19 (
An alternate embodiment of the light-diffusing layer 46 is illustrated in
Power for the LEDs 12 and control element 34 is provided by batteries, such as D batteries 48, housed in a battery receptacle 49 (
The battery receptacle 49 (
The battery receptacle 49 is shielded by a pouch 55 (
Surrounding the illumination unit 45 is a pocket 56 formed by a translucent top layer 57 and a preferably translucent bottom layer 58, stitched together along three sides, the unstitched edge 59 providing an opening for admitting the illumination unit 45 (
The top layer 57 has a pattern thereon that comprises a plurality of decorative elements 60a-60d that are positioned in a plurality of sectors 61a-61d (
Another benefit of the bed covering 10 of the present invention is that the pocket 56 is removable for washing, and can also be interchanged with other pockets having substantially the same physical distribution of sectors 61a-61d, but with different decorative elements.
Also provided are means for retaining the illumination unit 45 in substantial registry with the top layer 57, for retaining the top layer sectors 61a-61d in substantial alignment with the light-emitting-element array sectors 33a-33d. For example, a plurality of detachable fixation elements such as Velcro fasteners 63 may be affixed to the illumination unit 45 and the top layer 57.
The bed covering 10 may also include, or be dimensioned for holding, a comforter 62, positionable within the pocket 56 beneath the illumination unit 45 (
In use, the bed covering 10 can provide entertainment and a decorative experience akin to a light and sound show to the user. As illustrated in
The show sequence illustrated in
In another sequence, which may be initiated following the show sequence, comprises a more muted “sleep sequence” (
The timing of the sequences is obviously a matter of design choice, and the programmable nature of the control unit 34 permits virtually limitless options in the sequences provided. That outlined above is believed to represent a preferred embodiment for a child prior to falling asleep.
Another benefit of the bed covering 10 is that it can provide security to a fearful child, since the switch 35 can be activated during the night if the child awakens and is afraid.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.
Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A bed covering comprising:
- a translucent top layer having a pattern thereon comprising a plurality of decorative elements positioned in a plurality of sectors;
- an array of light-emitting elements positioned beneath the top layer, the array segregated into sectors corresponding to at least some of the top-layer sectors; and
- a control element in signal communication with the light-emitting elements, the control element programmable to activate at least some of the light-emitting elements within at least some of the sectors in a predetermined pattern, thereby backlighting at least some of the decorative elements in the top-layer sectors in the predetermined pattern.
2. The bed covering recited in claim 1, wherein the top layer comprises a first and a second top layer having different patterns comprising a plurality of different decorative elements thereon, the decorative elements for each of the first and the second top layer positioned in a same plurality of sectors, the first and the second top layer thereby interchangeable for use with the light-emitting-element array.
3. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising a light-diffusing layer positioned between the top layer and the light-emitting-element array.
4. The bed covering recited in claim 3, wherein the light-diffusing layer comprises a batting material.
5. The bed covering recited in claim 4, wherein the light-diffusing layer further comprises a mesh material positioned between the batting material and the top layer.
6. The bed covering recited in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting-element array comprises an array of light-emitting diodes and circuitry connecting each diode with the control element.
7. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper and a lower protective sheet positioned in surrounding relation to the light-emitting-element array, the upper protective sheet having an aperture therethrough above each of the light-emitting elements.
8. The bed covering recited in claim 7, further comprising a protective holder positioned in lateral surrounding relation to each of the light-emitting elements.
9. The bed covering recited in claim 8, wherein the upper and the lower protective sheet are substantially water-impervious and are joined together with an adhesive to form a unitary light-emitting layer.
10. The bed covering recited in claim 9, further comprising means for retaining the light-emitting layer in substantial registry with the top layer, for retaining the top layer sectors in substantial alignment with the light-emitting-element array sectors.
11. The bed covering recited in claim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises a plurality of detachable fixation elements affixed to the light-emitting layer and the top layer.
12. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising a bottom layer having four outer edges, and wherein the top layer has four outer edges, three of the bottom layer outer edges affixed to a corresponding three of the top layer outer edges to form a pocket positionable in encompassing relation to the light-emitting-element array.
13. The bed covering recited in claim 12, wherein the pocket is dimensioned to further encompass a comforter.
14. The bed covering recited in claim 12, further comprising a comforter positioned within the pocket beneath the light-emitting-element array.
15. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising a translucent bottom layer positioned beneath the light-emitting-element array, the light-emitting elements adapted to illuminate upwardly and downwardly.
16. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio emitter in signal communication with the control element, the control element further programmable to activate the audio emitter to emit sounds commensurate with the predetermined pattern.
17. The bed covering recited in claim 1, wherein the control element is further programmable to, following an execution of the predetermined pattern, gradually decrease a number of light-emitting elements that are illuminated until none is illuminated.
18. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery receptacle positioned along a bottom edge of the bed covering, the battery receptacle in signal communication with the control element.
19. The bed covering recited in claim 1, further comprising a switch in signal communication with and for activating and deactivating the control element, the switch positioned adjacent a top edge of the bed covering.
20. The bed covering recited in claim 19, further comprising an audio emitter in signal communication with the control element, the control element further programmable to activate the audio emitter to emit sounds commensurate with the predetermined pattern, the audio emitter positioned adjacent the switch.
21. A method of making a bed covering, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an array of light-emitting elements beneath a translucent top layer having a pattern thereon comprising a plurality of decorative elements positioned in a plurality of sectors, the array segregated into sectors corresponding to at least some of the top-layer sectors; and
- placing a control element in signal communication with the light-emitting elements; and
- programming the control element to activate at least some of the light-emitting elements within at least some of the sectors in a predetermined pattern, thereby backlighting at least some of the decorative elements in the top-layer sectors in the predetermined pattern.
22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the top layer comprises a first top layer, and further comprising the step of interchanging a second top layer for the first top layer, the second top layer having a different pattern from the first top layer pattern comprising a plurality of different decorative elements thereon, the decorative elements for the second top layer positioned in the same plurality of sectors as those of the first top layer, the first and the second top layer thereby interchangeable for use with the light-emitting-element array.
23. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising positioning a light-diffusing layer between the top layer and the light-emitting-element array.
24. The method recited in claim 23, wherein the light-diffusing layer comprises a batting material.
25. The method recited in claim 24, further comprising positioning a mesh material between the batting material and the top layer.
26. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the light-emitting-element array comprises an array of light-emitting diodes and circuitry connecting each diode with the control element.
27. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of positioning an upper and a lower protective sheet in surrounding relation to the light-emitting-element array, the upper protective sheet having an aperture therethrough above each of the light-emitting elements.
28. The method recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of positioning a protective holder in lateral surrounding relation to each of the light-emitting elements.
29. The method recited in claim 28, further comprising the step of joining together the upper and the lower protective sheets with an adhesive to form a unitary light-emitting layer, the upper and the lower protective sheets substantially water-impervious.
30. The method recited in claim 29, further comprising retaining the light-emitting layer in substantial registry with the top layer, for retaining the top layer sectors in substantial alignment with the light-emitting-element array sectors.
31. The method recited in claim 30, wherein the retaining step comprises affixing a plurality of detachable fixation elements to the light-emitting layer and the top layer.
32. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of affixing three outer edges of a bottom layer to a corresponding three outer edges of the top layer to form a pocket, and positioning the pocket in encompassing relation to the light-emitting-element array.
33. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the pocket is dimensioned to further encompass a comforter.
34. The method recited in claim 32, further comprising the step of positioning a comforter within the pocket beneath the light-emitting-element array.
35. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of positioning a translucent bottom layer beneath the light-emitting-element array, the light-emitting elements adapted to illuminate upwardly and downwardly.
36. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of placing an audio emitter in signal communication with the control element, and programming the control element to activate the audio emitter to emit sounds commensurate with the predetermined pattern.
37. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of further programming the control element to, following an execution of the predetermined pattern, gradually decrease a number of light-emitting elements that are illuminated until none is illuminated.
38. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of positioning a battery receptacle along a bottom edge of the bed covering and placing the battery receptacle in signal communication with the control element.
39. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of placing a switch in signal communication with the control element, the switch adapted to activate and deactivate the control element, and positioning the switch adjacent a top edge of the bed covering.
40. The method recited in claim 39, further comprising the steps of placing an audio emitter in signal communication with the control element, further programming the control element to activate the audio emitter to emit sounds commensurate with the predetermined pattern, and positioning the audio emitter adjacent the switch.
41. A method of enhancing a bedtime experience comprising the steps of:
- activating a control element in a bed covering, the bed covering comprising: a translucent top layer having a pattern thereon comprising a plurality of decorative elements positioned in a plurality of sectors; and an array of light-emitting elements positioned beneath the top layer, the array segregated into sectors corresponding to at least some of the top-layer sectors; and
- viewing a predetermined pattern of an activation of at least some of the light-emitting elements in at least some of the sectors, the pattern caused by a programmed control of the control element, the illuminated light-emitting elements backlighting at least some of the decorative elements in the top-layer sectors in the predetermined pattern.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 12, 2004
Publication Date: May 19, 2005
Applicant: Bedbug Lights, Inc. (Orlando, FL)
Inventors: Jeffrey Abraham (Orlando, FL), Gregg Dobbs (Windermere, FL)
Application Number: 10/987,913