Bed Reader Blanket

Abstract

A Bed Reader Blanket comprises a conventional blanket with an integrated pliable solid filled equilateral tetrahedral support shape incorporated into the corners that also has a hemispherical channel/edge connectively attached to the interface between the tetrahedral resting shape and the blanket for resting reading materials against while reading. The Bed Reader Blanket has particular utility for readers who read in bed at night or otherwise in darkness while positioned generally supine, prostrate, or recumbent on one's left or right side because it automatically provides an appropriate connectively attached resting surface for a book/screen at each corner of a blanket because the tetrahedral shape is self-leveling when integrated into the corner of a blanket. Finding the tablet rest is as simple as moving your hand to the corner of the blanket and having both top corners with the tetrahedral rest facilitates easy repositioning for reading while turning over.

Claims

1. A bed reader blanket for supporting a reading book, magazine or tablet, comprising: a modified blanket wherein at least a first corner has a first reading rest comprising a support shape in a form of a one-piece solid tetrahedron thinnest along a first edge which crosses the first corner and increasingly thickens the first corner towards a perimeter extremity of the first corner.

2. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the perimeter extremity comprises a corner point of the bed reader blanket.

3. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the first reading rest is thinnest across the first corner between edges of the bed reader blanket which meet at the perimeter extremity.

4. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the first reading rest is thickest at the perimeter extremity of the first corner.

5. (canceled)

6. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the tetrahedron is a second edge of the tetrahedron which coincides with the perimeter extremity where the bed reader blanket is thickest.

7. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the bed reader blanket has a thickness at the perimeter extremity of the first corner that is at least five centimeters and at most forty centimeters.

8. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein a second corner has a second reading rest which increasingly thickens the second corner towards the perimeter extremity of the second corner.

9. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the first reading rest comprises a first ledge proximate and adjacent and parallel to a thinnest section of the first reading rest.

10. The bed reader blanket according to claim 9 wherein the first ledge is a ridge which runs across the first corner between edges of the bed reader blanket which meet at the perimeter extremity.

11. The bed reader blanket according to claim 9 wherein the first ledge is formed of a channel.

12. (canceled)

13. The bed reader blanket according to claim 9 having a second ledge of the same form as the first ledge and extending from the opposite surface of the blanket as the first ledge.

14. The bed reader blanket according to claim 9 wherein the support shape comprises the first ledge.

15. The bed reader blanket according to claim 9 wherein the ledge has a thickness and/or radius of at least half a centimeter and at most three centimeters.

16. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the support shape fills the first corner between a first free corner portion and a second free corner portion of the modified blanket.

17. The bed reader blanket according to claim 16 wherein any one of the six edges of the tetrahedron is matched to a respective edge of the first or second free corner portions.

18. The bed reader blanket according to claim 16 wherein two of the six edges of the tetrahedron are matched to two respective edges of the first free corner portion and two other of the six edges of the tetrahedron are matched to two respective edges of the second free corner portion.

19. (canceled)

20. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the first reading rest further comprises a night reading light means connectively attached to the exterior of said modified blanket arranged along at least one edge of the support shape.

21. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the first reading rest further comprises a wireless electronic device charger means connectively attached to the interior of the 3D support shape and arranged to provide wireless charging of an electronic device when rested upon the reading rest.

22. The bed reader blanket according to claim 1 wherein the modified blanket further comprises a haptics control surface means connectively attached to the exterior of the modified blanket and arranged to provide use of a tablet personal computer with the surface of the modified blanket.

23. A method of making a bed reader blanket for supporting a reading book, magazine or tablet in bed by incorporating a one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape in a first corner of the blanket, including: creating first and second free corner pieces by parting open the first corner to a length equal to the length of any side of the one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape; separating the free corner pieces apart and inserting the one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape between them orienting the one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape thinnest along an edge which crosses the first corner and increasingly thickens the first corner towards the perimeter extremity of the first corner; and matching one of the edges of the one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape to an edge of the first or second free corner piece; and closing the free corner pieces onto faces of the one-piece solid tetrahedron support shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention may be described by way of example by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a side of a bed reader blanket;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a view of an upper or lower surface of a bed reader blanket; and

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a bed reader blanket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Methods, systems, and apparatuses for reading while positioned generally supine, prostrate, or recumbent on one's left or right side are herein described. The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is further defined by the claims appended hereto.

[0050] References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to include such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.

[0052] The Bed Reader Blanket 1000 comprises a modified conventional blanket 200. At least a first corner 214 has a first reading rest 100 which increasingly thickens the first corner towards the perimeter extremity 50 of the first corner 214. An integrated tetrahedral (spherical, or cubic, octagonal, decagonal, dodecahedral, etc.) three-dimensional (3D) support shape 10 is incorporated into or onto at least one of (and up to all of) the corners of the blanket.

[0053] A channel 20 provides an edge for resting (leaning, propping up, holding) reading materials (books, magazines, tablet personal computers, smartphones) and digital presentation screens (iPad, tablet, kindle, etc., & gaming screens) on while reading. Together the 3D support shape 10 and channel 20 form a reading rest 100 at the corner of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 on the upper horizontal surface 204.

[0054] A channel 22 provides an edge for resting (leaning, propping up, holding) reading materials (books, magazines, tablet personal computers, smartphones) and digital presentation screens (iPad, tablet, kindle, etc., & gaming screens) on while reading. Together the 3D support shape 10 and channel 22 form a reading rest 100 at the corner of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 on the lower horizontal surface 202.

[0055] In some embodiments, the 3D support shape 10 fills the corner 214 of the modified blanket 200. In other embodiments the 3D support shape 10 is attached to a surface 204 of the modified blanket 200.

[0056] In some embodiments, the channels 20, 22 and the 3D support shape 10 are a single piece. Whereas in other embodiments, the channels 20, 22 and the 3D support shape 10 are three separate pieces. In some embodiments, only channel 20 is used. In some embodiments, only channel 22 is used. In the preferred embodiment, both channels 20, 22 are used for each reading rest 100.

[0057] In some embodiments, the 3D support shape 10 fills the corner of the modified blanket 200 and/or is pliable. In some embodiments, the channels 20, 22 have a hemispherical cross section. The cross section has a thickness which provides a ledge on the surface 202, 204 of the modified blanket 200 that in use prevents the bottom of a book, magazine or tablet personal computer from sliding off the reading rest 100.

[0058] The modified conventional blanket 200 has a rectilinear configuration with a lower horizontal surface 202, an upper horizontal surface 204, four vertical blanket edges 206, 208, 210, 212, two upper blanket corners 214, 216, and two lower blanket corners 218, 220. All available standard and custom sized blankets may be so configured as to enable the device of the bed reader blanket. However, the conventional blanket 200 is modified at the corner(s) 214 (216, 218, 220) where the reading rest(s) 100 is (are) located.

[0059] The 3D support shape 10 is thickest along an edge 41 of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 where the two adjacent edges 210, 212 of the modified blanket 200 meet at the edge 41 between corner two points 12, 14 of the same corner 214. In some embodiments a portion 16 of the modified blanket 200 is attached to the edge 41. The 3D support shape 10 is thinnest along an edge 18 which crosses the corner 214 of the modified blanket 200 from one of the adjacent edges 210, 212 to the other of that corner 214. The thickness of the 3D support shape increases from the first edge 18 to the edge 41 between corner points 12, 14. As the thickness increases, the slope or angle of the horizontal surface of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 increases. The 3D support shape provides a raised prop for the book, magazine, or tablet. The example of the 3D support shape 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is a tetrahedron. The distal second edge 41 of the tetrahedron is perpendicular to the first edge 18 of the tetrahedron. The distal second edge 41 of the tetrahedron is aligned with the extremity 50 of the first corner 214. The first edge 18 of the tetrahedron is parallel and adjacent to the meeting edge 48 of free corner faces. The thickness of the bed reader blanket at the perimeter extremity 50 of the first corner is at least five centimeters and at most forty centimeters.

[0060] The channel 20 crosses over and is arranged on top of the upper horizontal surface 204. The channel 22 crosses over and is arranged on top of the lower horizontal surface 202. The channels 20, 22 are parallel and adjacent to the thin edge 18 of the 3D support shape 10. The channels 20, 22 cross the corner 214 between adjacent edges 210, 212 of the modified blanket 200. The channels 20, 22 are in use the base of the reading rest 100. The 3D support shape 10 has a triangular face 24 on an upper surface. The triangular face 24 has a corner 12 where the two adjacent edges 210, 212 of the modified blanket 200 meet. The other two corners of the triangular face 24 are where the channels 20, 22 meet or are proximate to the adjacent edges 210, 212. A triangular free corner piece of the upper face of the blanket 200 covers the upper triangular face 24 of the tetrahedron 3D support shape 10. A triangular free corner piece of the lower face of the blanket 200 covers the lower triangular face of the tetrahedron 3D support shape.

[0061] The Bed Reader Blanket 1000 comprises a modified blanket 200 that is modified from a conventional blanket. The modified blanket 200 is configured to include at least the 3D support shape and the channel 20 forming a reading rest 100 having an edge 18 as described herein. The modified blanket 200 may optionally be configured to include the 3D support shape and the channel 22 forming a reading rest 100 having an edge 18 as described herein.

[0062] Optionally the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 may include an elastic band, a book reading light, haptics control surface on the blanket proximal to the reader rest 100, and/or a wired or wireless charging system for portable personal electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet personal computers.

[0063] The reading rest 100 is a pliable filled (solid) equilateral tetrahedral shape incorporated into one of the corners 214 providing a self-righting semi-vertical leaned back angle resting location for resting a tablet personal computer-based reading screen against in a position ergonomically suited to reading while positioned generally supine, prostrate, or recumbent on one's left or right side. In some embodiments, corners 214, 216 at the head end of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 comprise a reading rest 100. In the preferred embodiment, both corners 214, 216 at the head end of the Bed Reader Blanket 1000 contain a reading rest 100.

[0064] The incorporation of the tetrahedral 3D support shape 10 in a corner 214 of the modified blanket 200 is accomplished by matching any one of the six edges (five of the edges 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are visible in FIG. 3) of the tetrahedron to corresponding edges created by splitting open the corner 214 of the blanket forming two free corner pieces 30, 32. The triangular upper surface 24 of the top free corner piece 30 is visible in FIG. 3. The free corner pieces 30, 32 are split apart to a length equal to the length of approximately one and one half (1.5) times the length of a side of the tetrahedron to be inserted and incorporated into the corner 214 along each side of the corner 214. Incorporation of the tetrahedral 3D support shape 10 in the corner 214 is further accomplished by separating the free corner pieces 30, 32 equally upwardly and downwardly so that the tetrahedron 3D support shape 10 can be inserted between the free corner pieces 30, 32. Then, after the tetrahedral shape 10 is inserted, two additional fabric pieces (one piece 34 is visible in FIG. 1), each equal in size to the separated corner triangular edges showing the exposed two sides of the tetrahedron are placed on the two remaining exposed sides of the tetrahedron, thereby closing the blanket with the tetrahedral shape inside the blanket. The upper free corner piece 30 and the lower free corner piece 32 meet at a meeting edge 48 across the first corner 214 of the blanket 200. The tetrahedron thin edge 18 and the channel 20 are parallel, adjacent and on opposite sides of the meeting edge 48

[0065] A first portion of the channel 20 is installed along the edge 18 of the inserted support 3D support shape 10 (i.e., the equilateral tetrahedral shape as in the preferred embodiment) on the upper horizontal surface 204 of the modified blanket 200. A second portion of the channel 22 is located on the lower horizontal surface 202 opposing the first portion 20. The hemispherical channels 20, 22 provide a connectively attached ledge 36 for resting (leaning, propping up, holding) reading materials (books, magazines, tablet personal computers, smartphones) and digital presentation screens (iPad, tablet, kindle, etc., & gaming screens) against thereby preventing the rested device from slipping down off of the reading rest 100 provided by the corner of the blanket with the tetrahedral 3D support shape 10. The height of the ledge 36 above the upper surface 204 of the blanket is half a centimeter to three and a half centimeters.

[0066] Other channels may be installed along, up to, both sides of all six of the edges of the 3D support shape 10 (equilateral tetrahedron) to provide the enhanced utility of additional support edges in ready position for resting the reading material upon when said reading material is leaned against the reading rest 100. An embodiment of the Bed Reader Blanket has a channel installed along both sides of all six edges around the installed tetrahedral 3D support shape 10.

[0067] In a first preferred embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket for supporting a reading book, magazine or tablet, comprising: a modified blanket wherein at least a first corner has a first reading rest comprising a support shape in the form of a tetrahedron thinnest along a first edge which crosses the first corner and increasingly thickens the first corner towards the perimeter extremity of the first corner.

[0068] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment wherein the perimeter extremity comprises a corner point of the bed reader blanket.

[0069] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment, wherein the first reading rest is thinnest across the first corner between edges of the bed reader blanket which meet at the perimeter extremity.

[0070] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment wherein the first reading rest is thickest at the perimeter extremity of the first corner.

[0071] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment wherein the support shape is solid and pliable.

[0072] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment wherein substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the tetrahedron is a second edge of the tetrahedron which coincides with the perimeter extremity where the bed reader blanket is thickest.

[0073] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment, wherein the thickness of the bed reader blanket at the perimeter extremity of the first corner is at least five centimeters and at most forty centimeters.

[0074] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the first preferred embodiment wherein a second corner has a second reading rest which increasingly thickens the second corner towards the perimeter extremity of the second corner.

[0075] In a second preferred embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket for supporting a reading book, magazine or tablet, comprising: a modified blanket wherein at least a first corner has a first reading rest comprising a support shape in the form of a tetrahedron thinnest along a first edge which crosses the first corner and increasingly thickens the first corner towards the perimeter extremity of the first corner wherein the reading rest comprises a ledge proximate and adjacent and parallel to a thinnest section of the reading rest.

[0076] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the ledge is a ridge which runs across the first corner between edges of the bed reader blanket which meet at the perimeter extremity.

[0077] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the ledge is formed of a channel.

[0078] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the ledge has a hemispherical cross section curving over the blanket.

[0079] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment having a second ledge of the same form as the first ledge and extending from the opposite surface of the blanket as the first ledge.

[0080] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the support shape comprises the first ledge.

[0081] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the ledge has a thickness and/or radius of at least half a centimeter and at most three centimeters.

[0082] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to the second preferred embodiment wherein the support shape fills the first corner between a first free corner portion and a second free corner portion of the modified blanket.

[0083] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein any one of the six edges of the tetrahedron is matched to a respective edge of the first or second free corner portions.

[0084] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein two of the six edges of the tetrahedron are matched to two respective edges of the first free corner portion and two other of the six edges of the tetrahedron are matched to two respective edges of the second free corner portion.

[0085] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein the reading rest further comprises an elastic retaining strap connectively attached to the exterior of said modified blanket in at least two places arranged on the exterior of the reading rest to hold a reading book, magazine or tablet in place against the first corner while being read. The book, magazine, or tablet may be held against the tetrahedron triangular face.

[0086] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein the reading rest further comprises a night reading light means connectively attached to the exterior of said modified blanket arranged along at least one edge of the support shape.

[0087] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein the reading rest further comprises a wireless electronic device charger means connectively attached to the interior of the 3D support shape and arranged to provide wireless charging of an electronic device when rested upon the reading rest.

[0088] In an alternate embodiment, there is a bed reader blanket according to either preferred embodiment wherein the modified blanket further comprises a haptics control surface means connectively attached to the exterior of the modified blanket and arranged to provide use of a tablet personal computer with the surface of the modified blanket.

[0089] In an embodiment, there is a method of making a bed reader blanket for supporting a reading book, magazine or tablet in bed by incorporating a tetrahedron support shape in a first corner of the blanket, including: creating first and second free corner pieces by parting open the first corner to a length equal to the length of any side of the tetrahedron support shape; separating the free corner pieces apart and inserting the tetrahedron support shape between them orienting the tetrahedron thinnest along an edge which crosses the first corner and increasingly thickens the first corner towards the perimeter extremity of the first corner; and matching one of the edges of the tetrahedron to an edge of the first or second free corner piece; and closing the free corner pieces onto faces of the tetrahedron.

[0090] The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

[0091] Although the invention has been explained in relation to various embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.