[0001] The present invention relates to a control apparatus of the type that, for example, controls a translational aspect of an item of furniture.

[0002] In the field of furniture, it is known to provide a bed comprising a partially hollow footboard within which a television is housed, for example as described in UK patent no. 2 406 506. A lift mechanism is disposed within the footboard of the bed and the lift mechanism serves to raise and lower the television out of the footboard of the bed in response to activation by a "relevant control".

[0003] However, activation is disadvantageously available to any person having physical access to the relevant control. Likewise, activation, once initiated, cannot be halted until the television has been fully raised or fully lowered. Accordingly, in the event of a difficulty being encountered during elevation or lowering of the television, for example an entanglement associated with the lift mechanism or entrapment, interruption of the lift mechanism is not possible other than by depriving the mechanism of power by disconnecting a main power connection to the bed. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, rapid disconnection in this way, for example, by disconnecting a plug from an electric socket can result in damage to the bed.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control apparatus for an item of furniture comprising an electric-powered media apparatus, the control apparatus comprising: a switching device for controlling toggling between first and second states associated with the media apparatus; a processing resource coupled to the switching device and capable of generating an actuate signal for translating the media apparatus in response to actuation of the switching device to control toggling between first and second states; wherein the processing resource is arranged to recognise a predetermined input gesture provided, when in use, via manual interaction with the switching device and in response thereto to inhibit response by the processing resource to subsequent actuation of the switching device to toggle between the first and second states.

[0005] Translation of the media apparatus may be translation of the media apparatus so as to deploy the media apparatus or to stow the media apparatus. Deployment of the media apparatus may reveal the media apparatus. Stowing of the media apparatus may conceal the media apparatus.

[0006] The predetermined input gesture may be actuation of the switching device for a predetermined period of time.

[0007] The predetermined period of time may be between about 2.5 seconds and about 5 seconds, for example between about 3 seconds and 4 seconds, such as about 3 seconds.

[0008] The gesture may be actuation of the switching device in accordance with a predetermined actuation pattern, for example a predetermined number of actuations of the switching device within a predetermined period of time, such as two depressions of the switching device within 1 second.

[0009] The switching device may comprise a switch and the actuation of the switching device is depression of the switch for the predetermined period of time.

[0010] The apparatus may further comprise: a control unit arranged to receive, when in use, the actuate signal and in response thereto to control transition of the media apparatus between the first and second states. The control unit may be arranged to provide power to the media apparatus.

[0011] The control unit may be arranged to deprive the media apparatus of power when the media apparatus is in a stowed state. [0012] The first state may be a deployed state and the second state is a stowed state.

[0013] Actuation of the switching device during deployment of the media apparatus may suspend deployment of the media apparatus.

[0014] Actuation of the switching device during stowing of the media apparatus may suspend stowing of the media apparatus.

[0015] A further actuation of the switching device following actuation to cause suspension may deactivate the suspension.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided furniture comprising a media apparatus, the furniture further comprising: a control unit as set forth above in relation to the first aspect of the invention; the control unit may be coupled to the media apparatus.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bed comprising a television translatable between the stowed state and the deployed state, the bed further comprising a control unit as set forth above in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

[0018] The television may be housed, when not deployed, in a footboard of the bed.

[0019] The television may be operably coupled to the control unit.

[0020] The bed may further comprise: a translation apparatus for translating the television between the stowed and deployed states; the translation apparatus may comprise the control unit. [0021] It is thus possible to provide a control apparatus that is capable of preventing unauthorised access to an item of furniture, for example by a child, which can result in damage to the bed and/or the unauthorised person. It is also possible to provide a control apparatus that facilitates interruption of deployment or stowing of the media apparatus, thereby supplementing existing safety provisions and avoiding damage to the furniture, the media apparatus, a third party or third- party item.

[0022] At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bed comprising a control apparatus constituting an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a footboard of the bed of Figure 1 in a stowed state;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the control apparatus of Figure 1 coupled to a translation mechanism used in the bed of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram of operation of the bed of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the footboard of Figure 1 in a deployed state.

[0023] Referring to Figure 1 , an item of furniture, for example a bed 100, comprises a headboard 102, a footboard 104 and a base 106. In this example, a mattress 108 is disposed on the base 106 between the headboard 102 and the footboard 104. At a footboard end 110 of the bed 100, the footboard 104 is partially hollow in order to house a media apparatus, for example a television 112. Although not shown, the television 112 is operably coupled to a translation mechanism, for example a lift mechanism, the translation mechanism being coupled to a switching device, for example a push-button switch 114, via a wiring loom (not shown) and a control apparatus (not shown in Figure 1 ). However, the translation mechanism can be any suitable mechanism available for deploying and stowing the media apparatus 112 in a particular manner desired. Similarly, although a push-button switch 114 is described herein as the switching device, any suitable switching device can be employed.

[0024] Turning to Figure 2, the footboard 104 comprises a pivotally mounted lid 200. In this example, and although not shown, the translation mechanism is coupled to an interior surface of the lid 200 in order to facilitate controlled opening and closing of the lid 200.

[0025] Referring to Figure 3, a control apparatus 300 is coupled to the translation mechanism 308. The control apparatus 300 comprises the push-button switch 114 coupled to a processing resource, for example a microprocessor 304 or other suitable processing circuit. The microprocessor 304 is operably coupled to a control unit 306 provided for controlling the translation mechanism 306 and, optionally, power to the television 112. Consequently, the control unit 306 is operably coupled to the translation mechanism 308.

[0026] In operation (Figure 4), the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) manual interaction with the push-button switch 114. The manner in which the push-button switch is operated will dictate the response by the processor 304. If the manner in which the push-button switch 114 is operated is not recognised by the processor 304, the processor 114 simply ignores the operation of the push-button switch 114 until a manner of operation is recognised. In this respect, if a user depresses the push-button switch 114 once, the processor 304 then determines (Step 401 ) the status of a child-lock flag (not shown), the child-lock flag being either in an inhibited state or an uninhibited state. In the event that the child-lock flag is in the inhibited state, the processor 304 ignores the actuation of the push-button switch 114 and awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114. Alternatively, in the event that the child-lock flag is in the uninhibited state, the processor 304 determines (Step 402) the state of the translation mechanism 308. Where the translation mechanism 308 is in a stowed state, as in Figure 2, a single press (and immediate release) of the push-button switch 114 results in the processor 304 generating an actuation signal that is received by the control unit 306. In response thereto, the control unit 306 activates the translation mechanism 308 and powers the television 112. Activation of the translation mechanism 308 causes the translation mechanism 308 to deploy (Step 404) the television 112 by raising the television 112 so as to reveal the television 112. Additionally, in this example, the translation mechanism 308 causes the lid 200 to open in order to provide an exit through which the television can pass (Figure 5). Thereafter, the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114.

[0027] Once fully deployed, the television 112 can be stowed to conceal the television 112 in the footboard 104 by depressing and immediately releasing the push-button switch 114 again. As described above, the processor 304 determines

(Step 402) the status of the translation mechanism 308 and in response to determining that the translation mechanism 308 is in the deployed state, generating another actuate signal that is received by the control unit 306. In response thereto, the control unit 306 activates the translation mechanism 308 and cuts power to the television 112. Activation of the translation mechanism 308 causes the translation mechanism 308 to stow (Step 406) the television 112 by lowering the television 112 into the footboard 104 so as to conceal the television

112 as shown in Figure 2, the lid 200 closing as the television 112 is lowered into the footboard 104. Thereafter, the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114.

[0028] Hence, the push-button switch 114 can be used to toggle between the deployed state and the stowed state, the deployed state and the stowed state constituting first and second states associated with the television 112.

[0029] If during deployment or stowing of the television 112, there is a need to temporarily halt or interrupt deployment or stowing of the television 112, the processor 304 is arranged to respond to manual interaction by a user with the push-button switch 114, for example a single press and immediate release of the push-button switch 114 by the user whilst the translation mechanism 308 is deploying or stowing the television 112. In response to the determination (Step 402) by the processor 304 that the push-button switch 114 has been pressed, the processor 304 generates a suspend signal, which is received by the control unit 306. In response thereto, the control unit 302 controls the translation mechanism 308 so as to halt translation (Step 408) of the television 112 and, optionally, deprives the television of power in the event that power is being supplied to the television. During suspension of translation of the television 112, the processor 304 awaits receipt (Step 410) of a further depression and release of the pushbutton switch 114 by the user. In response to the user pressing the push-button switch 114 again, the processor 304 generates a resume signal. In another example, the processor 304 simply cancels the suspend signal. In any event, in response thereto, the control unit 302 controls the translation mechanism 308 so as to resume (Step 412) translation of the television 112 either to the stowed state or the deployed state, depending upon initial direction of travel. Thereafter, the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114.

[0030] While in the deployed state or stowed state, the processor 304 is configured to recognise manual interaction with the push-button switch 114 by the user in the form of a recognisable gesture or pattern. In this example, continued depression of the push-button switch 114 for at least 3 seconds is recognised as a gesture indicative of a desire to implement a child-lock mode, whereby deployment or stowing of the television is inhibited. Although 3 seconds is mentioned above as a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time may be between about 2.5 seconds and about 5 seconds, for example between about 3 seconds and 4 seconds, such as about 3 seconds as mentioned above. Of course, in another example, the gesture can be actuation of the push-button switch 114 in accordance with a predetermined actuation pattern, for example a predetermined number of actuations of the push-button switch within a predetermined period of time, such as two depressions of the switching device within 1 second.

[0031] In the present example, in response to the user maintaining the pushbutton switch 114 for more than 3 seconds, the processor 304 determines (Step 414) the status of the child-lock flag, for example an operation inhibited state or operation uninhibited state. When the child lock function is in the uninhibited state, the processor 304 sets the status of the child-lock flag as inhibited (Step 416), thereby preventing future single depressions of the push-button switch 114 causing translation of the television 112. Thereafter, the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114.

[0032] Conversely, in the event that the child-lock flag is already in the inhibited state, operation of the push-button switch 114 in the recognised manner causes the processor 304 to set the child-lock flag to uninhibited (Step 418), thereby permitting initiation of translation of the television 112, either to the deployed state or the stowed state. Thereafter, the processor 304 awaits (Step 400) a further input via the push-button switch 114.

[0033] In another embodiment, the switching device 114 can be replaced with an infra-red input circuit, or any other suitable circuit, and the processor 304 arranged to recognise signals received via the infra-red circuit and transmitted from a remote control device, for example a remote control device of the television 112. In this respect, the processor 304 is arranged to respond to manual interaction with, for example, the power button of the remote control instead of depression of the push-button switch 114.

[0034] Although in the above examples, the item of furniture has been described in the context of the bed 100, the skilled person should appreciate that the item of furniture can be any other suitable item of furniture, for example a cabinet, desk or table housing a television or other media apparatus therein. In this respect, the skilled person should also appreciate that although, in the above examples, the media apparatus is a television, other media apparatus can be employed additionally or in the alternative. For example, the media apparatus can be an audio media player or other stored media played, such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player.