Interactive headboard

Abstract

An interactive headboard system includes an interactive headboard configured to be attached to a bedframe. The interactive headboard comprises a video screen, and optionally one or more additional sensory output devices such as for example, one or more speakers, fans, scent ports, and/or motion actuators. The system may aid in the immersion of a viewer within the images presented on the video screen, helping them to relax. The system may also comprise a bed frame and/or an interactive footboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic sensory output system for a bed, the system comprising at least one video display output device associated with a portion of the bed. 
     
     
         2 . The electronic sensory output system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the bed is selected from a headboard and/or a footboard. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic sensory output system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interactive user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic sensory output system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for storing and delivering video output data to the at least one video display output device. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic sensory output system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional sensory output features selected from one or more speakers, one or more fans, one or more olfactory output devices, and/or one or more motion actuators, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A bed comprising the electronic sensory output system of  claim 1  in combination with a mattress. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic sensory output system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mister rod. 
     
     
         8 . An interactive headboard for a bed, the interactive headboard comprising at least one video display output device mounted to a headboard and at least one user-interactive electronic processing means for allowing a user to select and display a visual scene on the at least one video display output device. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive headboard of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more additional sensory output devices. 
     
     
         10 . The interactive headboard of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the additional sensory output devices is selected from a speaker, a fan, and olfactory output device, a motion actuator, a light, a mister, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive headboard of  claim 8 , wherein the headboard is connected to a bedframe extending perpendicularly away from the headboard. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive headboard of  claim 11 , wherein the bedframe is further connected to a footboard at an end of the bedframe opposite that of the headboard. 
     
     
         13 . The interactive headboard of  claim 11 , further comprising a mattress set atop the bedframe. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive headboard of  claim 11 , further comprising a box spring set atop the bedframe and a mattress set atop the box spring. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive headboard of  claim 8 , wherein the output of the video screen is determined by an input to the electronic processing means. 
     
     
         16 . An interactive headboard system for a bed, the interactive headboard system comprising:
 a headboard;   a bedframe attached to the headboard and extending generally perpendicularly away from the headboard;   a mattress that lies on the bedframe or on an optional box spring set atop the bed frame;   one or more sensory output features attached to the headboard and/or bedframe; and   one or more user interface controls.   
     
     
         17 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 16 , further comprising an optional footboard attached to the bedframe at an end of the bedframe opposite that of the headboard. 
     
     
         18 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 17 , wherein one of the one or more sensory output features is a video display screen mounted to the headboard, the bedframe, and/or an optional footboard. 
     
     
         19 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 18 , wherein the outputs of a plurality of the sensory output features combine to present an immersive experience of the images presented on the video screen. 
     
     
         20 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the sensory output features are in electronic communication with each other and/or the user interface controls. 
     
     
         21 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 20 , wherein an output of one or more sensory output features is related to at least one input from the user interface controls. 
     
     
         22 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 20 , wherein an output of one or more sensory output features is related to at least one output from one or more other sensory output features. 
     
     
         23 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 20 , further comprising one or more onboard digital signal processors in electronic communication with one or more of the sensory output features and/or the user input controls. 
     
     
         24 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 20 , further comprising onboard electronic memory in electronic communication with one or more of the one or more sensory output features and/or the user input controls. 
     
     
         25 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 24 , wherein an output of one or more of the sensory output features is determined by the electronic memory. 
     
     
         26 . The interactive headboard system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensory output features are selected from a speaker, a fan, an olfactory output device, a motion actuator, a light, a mister, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A method of using an interactive headboard system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a headboard;   providing a bedframe attached to the headboard and extending generally perpendicularly away from the headboard;   providing a mattress that lies on the bedframe and/or on an optional box spring set atop the bedframe;   providing one or more sensory output features mounted to the headboard and/or bedframe;   providing one or more user interface controls;   providing an input to one or more of the user interface controls; and   changing the output of one or more of the sensory output features.