Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RETRACTABLB POLr~I21G BED
1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to folding beds of the
type wherein one end thereof retracts from a horizontal
position to a vertical position.
Background of the Invention
Folding beds are known which in a horizontal
position extend into a room and have relatively
complicated balancing mechanisms to allow rotatable
movement of the bed to a vertical position. It is highly
desirable that folding beds be readily and sa~ely
rotatable from a vertical position to a horizontal
position and vice versa and wherein as little as possible
of the bed balancing mechanism, mattress, feet and the
like are visible when the bed unit is in its vertical,
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folded away position.
Decorative disguises are known, such as the bed
having a wardrobe appearance, shelving and the like. Such
suitable disguises have been described but, generally,
only where the bed has been o~ substantial bulk or appears
as a closed, panelled unit. In such units, appendages
such as legs are generally hidden away within the bulk of
the unit when the bed is folded, or removed, or non-
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1 existant in the first instance. In modern furniture, slim
and lightweight designs are more to the fore and there is
a need, accordingly, to reduce the visible presence of
legs and the like in so far as is possible.
Summary of the Invention
It is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a folding bed which requires minimal space in
its vertical hide-away position while appearing as an
attractive piece of furniture.
It is a further object of the present invention
to provide a retractable folding bed that requires little
physical strength when the bed is manually rotated from a
vertical position to a horizontal position and vice-versa.
It is yet a further object of the invention to
provide a folding bed unit having a retractable leg
support.
Other and further objects and advantages of this`
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
Accordingly, the invention provides in its
broadest aspect a retractable folding bed for use in
combination with a mattress, said bed comprising a box
frame for retaining said mattress and having a first end
and a second end remote therefrom, a first side and a
1 second side remote therefrom, an inner base upon which
said mattress rests, and an outer base having a decorative
outer surface; a first support stand upon which said box
frame adjacent said first end is rotatably mounted; a
second support stand to which said box frame adjacent said
second end is rotatably connected; and biasing means
connected to said first support stand and said box frame
adjacent said first end.
In a further aspect the invention provides a
retractable folding bed as hereinabove defined in
combination with a mattress.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be better
understood a preferred embodiment will now be described by
way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein;
Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred bed
according to the invention in an upright fold-away
position;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bed according
to the invention in a laid~open position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective and simplified
diagramatic view of a bed according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a swivel balance
support of use in the bed according to the invention; and
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1 Fig. 5 is a diagramatic end view of one end of
the bed according to the invention. In the figures common
numerals denote like parts.
Description of a Preferred Embodiment
With particular reference to Figures 1~ 2 and 3,
a bed unit shown generally as 10 comprises a box frame 12,
lower stand 14, an upper stand 16 and a mattress 18.
Box frame 12 has a first end 20 and a second end
22, which represent the head and foot of the bed,
respectively, in the embodiment shown. Further, first end
20 also represents the top of the bed unit 10 when the
latter is in the vertical closed or folded away position;
whereas second end 22 represents the bottom or lower end
of bed 10 when it is in the vertical position.
- 15 Box frame 12 has longitudinal sides 24, 26 and
an outer or lower base 28 having a decorative outer
surface. Figure 1 shows the outer decorative surfacè as
having lower cupboards, a middle drawer and upper
cupboards having glass or transparent plastic panes.
Within box frame 12 is an inner base 30 upon which
mattress 18 rests when bed unit 10 is laid-open/ or
adjacent which inner base mattress is retained by means of
straps 32 when bed 10 is in the vertical position. Outer
base 28 and inner base 30 are supported in box frame 12 by
support members (not shown).
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1 Affixed to the head of bed 10 is a pair of
headboard eetaining sockets 34 which retain headboard
36. Headboard 36 may be removed from sockets 34, if
desired, in view of space considerations when bed 10 is in
its upright position.
Box frame 12, in the embodiment shown, is formed
of wood, but suitable alternative materials, such as steel
may be used. Fittings 34 may be formed of suitable
materials such as aluminum, steel, or, preferably for
decorative purposes, brass.
Upper stand 16 is, essentially, elongated U-
shaped in having an elongated member 38 having a pair of
perpendicular upstanding members 40, one at each end
thereof, to which at an upper part thereof sides 24 and 26
are rotatably mounted by means of brass fittings 42.
Elongated member 38 is of suficient length to enable
perpendicular members 40 to embrace end 20 of bed 10 and --
be rotatable relative thereto, wherein elongated member 38
moves from a position adjacent mattress 18 wh~n bed 10 is
in the vertical position to a position adjacent decorative
surface 28 when bed is in the horizontal bed position.
Thus, when bed 10 is laid open upper stand 16 acts as
support or feet for the front end of bed 10. As a safety
feature, fittings 42 have a locking pin 44 which engages
recesses 46 of bed fitting plate 4~ to rigidly retain
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upper stand 16 to bed 10 when bed 10 is in either the
vertical or lowered positions.
With particular reference to Figure 5,
perpendicular members 40 are provided with brass tray
holders 50 which, optionally, retain trays 52, preferably
when bed 10 is in the horizontal position. However, it is
within the scope of the present invention that trays 52
may remain affixed in holders 50 when bed unit 10 is
vertically aligned. In such a position, trays 52 could
conveniently abut an adjacent wall.
Fitting 42 and fitting plate ~8 are part o a
four-bolt flange swivel support system comprising four-
bolt flanges bolted to sides 24, 26 of box frame 12 and
steel shafts 54, by means of which stand 16 swivels.
With particular reference to Figure 4, lower
stand 14 has a substantially elongated U-shaped base
formed of tubular steel comprising member 56 integrally-
formed with arms 58, 6Q. A pair of upstanding support
~ members 62, 64 are integrally formed essentially midway of
arms 58, ~0, respectively. At the top of each of arms 62,
64 is a four-bolt flange fitting shown generally as 66,
having a steel shaft 68. Stand 14 is rotatably connected
by means of fittings 66 to sides 20, 22 of box frame 12
adjacent the foot of bed 10. Arms 62, 64 are of
sufficient height and so mounted to bed 10 as to provide
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1 sufficient clearance for the foot of the bed to rotate
from the vertical to horizontal positions.
Each of arms 62, 64 has a hydraulic shock 70
securely bolted thereto. The retractable end oE shocks 70
are securely bolted to sides 24, 25 of box frame 12.
Lower stand 14 ~urther comprising integrally formed
diagonal members 72 and cross member 74 to provide rigid
support and balance to stand 14, particularly, when bed 10
is in its vertical position and, more particularly, when
bed 10 is being rotated to its alternative positions.
The swivel balance hydraulic steel stand system
as herein described provides a convenient/ secure and
attractive means of retaining box frame 12 thereon. When
box frame 12 is in its vertical position with hydraulic
shocks 70 in a retracted out position, unit 10 is balanced
and, optionally, in a locked state position by means of
providing lower bolt fitting 6~ with a simil~r locking
pins and recesses system as described, hereinabove, for
upper stand 16, such that the box bed cannot fall forward
or backwards. Removal of any locking pin enables the bed
10 to be easily lowered with little physical strength and
with minimal noise, by holding the bed from the top and
pulling it gently forward. The weight of box ~rame 1
will provide motion which is readily controllable and
regulated by hydraulic shocks 70. As box frame 12 is
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1 lowered hydraulic shocks 70 will retract inwards to
support the weight of box frame 12.
A typical bed 10 according to the invention has
dimensions of 77" H x 41" W x 8" D with a wooden box frame
thickness of 1 1/2".
In addition that the panel doors and drawers be
provided for decorative purposes, such drawers and
cupboards may also be used to store appropriate articles
such as sheets, blankets, pillows and the like where the
depth of the fold~away bed is so designed as to allow
sufficient storage space between the inner and outer
bases. Inner frame supports for use both as mattress
supports and outer base supports are appropriately hidden
from view.
An important feature of the bed of the invention
is that upper support stand 16 constitutes a lightweight,
readily handleable member, which ir~the bea upright
position, is conveniently, substantially disposed behind
the bed to allow full view of the decorative features of
the bed and attractive brass fittings. Member 16 is
conveniently converted to a bed support stand or feet by
the ready rotation around the end of the bed to adjacent
the decorative face. After its 180 rotation, member 16
is rigidly fixed in its bed support position.
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l The swivel support system as hereinabove
described constitutes an extremely simple counterbalancing
bed-stand unit, which is conveniently, easily and safely
handled by a person and not requiring significant physical
strength.
Thus, the bed according to the invention
fulfills a need for a convertible wall-unit and studio bed
in a single retractable collapsible unit. An appealing
feature of the bed, for instance, is that by day it is an
attractive fashionable piece of furniture designed to
provide ~he individual with maximum space within a room
Although this disclosure has described and
illustrated certain preferred embodiment of the invention,
it is to be understood that the invention is not
restricted to these particular embodiments. Rather, the
invention includes all embodiments which are unctional or
mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiment and
features that have been described and illustrated herein~
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