Collapsible heated canopy

Abstract

The collapsible, heated canopy provides an electrically heated, retractable canopy atop a base that can be placed at the head of a bed. The retractable canopy, when extended, surrounds either side of a head, above the head and the rear of the head when a person rests his/her head inside the canopy. A thermostatic control and power cord are provided. An automatic cutoff of the heated canopy is provided by a sensor that measures ambient temperature and cuts off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy. A plush blanket with snaps is provided to fold around and envelop the base with a sleepworthy, comfortable material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/924,341, filed May 10, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to thermoelectric warming devices, and more specifically to a collapsible, heated canopy that may be used for keeping a person's head warmed while sleeping, or that may be used to keep an infant warm.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, electric blankets have been made using a sheet-sized, generally rectangular swatch of fabric that encloses a set of electric heating elements. The heating elements may be connected to a power cord having a thermostat for heat control of the electric blanket. Although electric blankets have long been in use, placing some portion of the electric blanket over one's head for head protection from cold temperatures and drafts may cause one to feel smothered, or to actually be smothered, or may initiate a claustrophobic attack. People who experience head chills while sleeping would benefit from a product that could serve as a thermoelectric head warmer without causing discomfort or anxiety to the person using the product.

It is well known that loss of body heat is rapid through the unprotected scalp. Persons who enjoy certain recreational activities, such as outdoor camping, recreational vehicle users, and boat owners experience cold heads because, traditionally, the head of the beds in a recreational vehicle or a boat are usually on an outside wall and exposed to cold and drafts. Additionally, patients of medical treatments who suffer from hair fall-out, resulting in full or partial baldness, may also experience a cold head. Similarly, those with normal hair loss, baldness, or those merely trying to enjoy today's modern short hairstyles may suffer from the same discomfort. Therefore, there is a need for a thermoelectric device that provides warmth to the entire head and also to the ears, shoulders and neck to prevent heat loss during sleep.

Thus, a collapsible and heated canopy solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The collapsible, heated canopy provides an electrically heated, retractable canopy atop a base that can be placed at the head of a bed. The retractable canopy, when extended, surrounds either side of a head, above the head and the rear of the head when a person rests his/her head inside the canopy. A thermostatic control and power cord are provided. An automatic cutoff of the heated canopy is provided by a sensor that measures ambient temperature and cuts off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy. A plush blanket with snaps is provided to fold around, snap into, and envelop the base with a sleepworthy, comfortable material.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the collapsible, heated canopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collapsible, heated canopy according to the present invention, partially broken away and in section to show details thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base and frame of a collapsible heated canopy according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a collapsible, heated canopy, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, that provides an electrically heated, retractable canopy 55 atop a base 30 that can be placed at the head of a bed B. Preferably, the base 30 is substantially rectangular and has a tapered front end or edge. An optional vertical ledge may be disposed at the rear of the base 30 to provide an attachment point to the head of bed B. The retractable canopy 55, when extended, surrounds either side of a head, above the head, and the rear of the head when a user U rests his/her head inside the canopy 55. The canopy is preferably made of a durable fabric material. A thermoelectric heating grid 60, e.g., resistance wires, is disposed within the canopy 55. A thermostatic control 15 and power cord 20 are provided and electrically connected to the heating grid 60. An automatic cutoff of the heated canopy is provided by a sensor 25 that measures ambient temperature and cuts off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy 55.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, a plush blanket 35 with snaps 45 is provided to fold around and snap into the base 30 at recessed slots 40 so that the blanket 35 can envelop the base 30 with a sleepworthy, comfortable material. As shown in FIG. 3, the retraction-extension capability of the canopy 55 is provided by a pivoting frame over which the canopy material 55 may be flexibly attached, the pivoting frame having a plurality of U-shaped frame members 50 having pivot attachment points 12 proximate opposing front sides of the base 30.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible, heated canopy, comprising:

a base adapted for placement at a head of a user's bed, the base having a front end and a rear end;

a frame pivotally attached to the front of the base, the frame being extendible to form an arch above the base in an open position and retractable to a collapsed position against the rear of the base;

a fabric cover defining a canopy attached to the frame, the frame defining an opening at the front end of the base adapted for receiving an adult's head through the opening when in the open position, the fabric cover extending from the front opening to the rear end of the base; and

at least one heating element disposed in the fabric cover, the canopy defining a heated area for resting one's head while sleeping.

2. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising a power cord and thermostatic control electrically connected to the heating element, the power cord and thermostatic control supplying electrical power to the heating element and regulating thermal output of the heating element.

3. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor, the sensor measuring ambient temperature and cutting off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy.

4. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, wherein the base is substantially rectangular, having a tapered front edge.

5. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical ledge disposed at the rear of the base, the vertical ledge providing an attachment point to a head of the bed.

6. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising:

recessed slots disposed along the periphery of the base;

a blanket having snap connectors disposed along its periphery, the blanket folding around the base and being snap fitted together through the recessed slots of the base.

7. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, wherein the pivotally attached frame comprises a plurality of U-shaped frame members.