Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDAWAY BUNK BED
The present invention relates to a fold-away bunk bed.
As is known, traditional bunk beds include two beds arranged one above the
other at a certain distance, advantageously aligned, utilizing space in a
vertical direction
and limiting horizontal space occupation, which is comparable to that of a
single bed.
These bunk beds are constituted by a supporting structure, which is
constituted
by four vertical posts mutually joined by a series of horizontal longitudinal
members,
which form two supporting surfaces for the bedsprings and the mattresses.
On one side of the bed, the structure includes a ladder for access to the
upper
bed and a safety side rail.
To reduce space occupation further, at least when the bed is not in use, so-
called
fold-away bunk-beds are used in which the two bedsprings rotate about a long
side and
are closed inside a fixed framework.
The structural supporting members, including the ladder and the side rail,
also
are closed generally inside the fixed framework.
The panels that support the beds are coupled to the fixed framework, which
also
acts as a support; the presence of this coupling conditions the thickness of
the
framework, which must not only contain the bed when it is folded away but must
also
allow mutual engagement.
EP-0431851, US-7051384 and FR-2732567 disclose fold-away bunk beds of the
type described above, wherein two bedsprings are connected by an articulated
framework which allows the two bedsprings to move, together, from a folded
position to
an horizontal position, and back.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a fold-away bunk bed that is
improved with respect to the bunk beds of the cited prior art.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a fold-
away
bunk bed that has an extremely limited space occupation in both working
positions, the
open one and the closed one.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bunk bed with a system for the
articulation of the movable bedsprings that is structurally compact and
reliable.
CONFIRMATION COPY
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Another object is to provide a bunk bed that is advantageous both from a
functional standpoint and from an esthetic standpoint.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bunk bed which
allows to
open and close each bedspring independently.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent
hereinafter are achieved by a fold-away bunk bed comprising a supporting
framework
having at least two shoulders to which two bedsprings, an upper bedspring and
a lower
bedspring, are hinged; each of said bedsprings having at least two working
positions: an
open position, in which said bedsprings are in a horizontal position, and a
closed
position, in which said bedsprings are in a vertical position and are
substantially
comprised within said framework; said bed being characterized in that each of
said
bedsprings is hinged to said framework by means of an independent articulated
structure that is contained in said lateral shoulders of said framework.
Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the
description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention,
illustrated by
way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of the fold-away bunk bed
according to
the present invention, shown in the open position;
Figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the bed in the closed
position;
Figure 3 is a front view of the bed in the open position in the condition for
use;
Figure 4 is a view, similar to the preceding one, showing the bed in the
closed
position;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional side view of the bed in a step of the
movement of
the upper bedspring;
Figure 6 is a partially sectional side view, from the opposite side with
respect to
the preceding figure, showing the bed in the open position in the condition
for use;
Figure 7 is a view, similar to the preceding one, showing the bed in the
partially
open position, with the upper bedspring inclined at 45 ;
Figure 8 is a broken plan view, showing the bed in the open position;
Figure 9 is a sectional broken plan view showing the bed in the open position;
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Figure 10 is a sectional side view of the upper coupling region of the ladder;
Figure 11 is another side view of the upper coupling region of the ladder;
Figure 12 is a side view of the lower coupling region of the ladder.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the adjustable foot.
With reference to the cited figures, the bunk bed according to the invention,
generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting
framework 2,
to which two bedsprings, an upper bedspring 3 and a lower bedspring 4, are
hinged.
The two bedsprings have at least two working positions: an open position, in
which the bedsprings are in a horizontal position, and a closed position, in
which the
bedsprings are in a vertical position and are substantially included within
the framework
2.
Each bedspring 3 and 4 is hinged to the framework 2 by means of an articulated
structure, designated by the reference numerals 5 and 6 respectively, which is
contained
within the lateral shoulder of the framework 2.
The upper bedspring 3 is constituted by a tubular frame 7 that is hinged to
the
articulated structure 5 by means of a rotation pivot 9, which engages a seat
provided in a
plate 11 that is integral with the shoulder of the framework 2.
A lever 13 has an end that is hinged at the pivot 9 and a free end that is
hinged to
the stem of a gas cylinder actuator 15.
The cylinder of the gas cylinder actuator 15 is hinged to the plate 11 of the
articulated structure 5.
The frame 7 has a rear bar 17, in which two locking pins 19 are arranged, one
on
each side.
On one side, a locking pin 18 is actuated, in contrast with a contrast spring,
by
means of an actuation lever 21 that is substantially inserted within the
tubular frame 7
and has a grip member 23 that can be accessed by virtue of a lateral opening
of the
tubular frame 7.
By pulling the grip member 23, the actuation lever 21 extracts the pin 19 from
the
locking seat of the plate 11 and, by means of a transmission assembly,
constituted by a
cable 25 and pulleys 27, extracts the other pin 19 as well, leaving the frame
7 free to
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rotate about the rotation pivot 9.
The articulated structure 5 of the upper bedspring 3 has three locking
positions of
the pin 19, which correspond to the open position (Figure 1), to the closed
position
(Figure 2) and to a partially open position, shown in Figure 7, in which the
bedspring 3 is
inclined downward by approximately 45 to make it easier to make the bed.
The lower bedspring 4 has a tubular frame 8 hinged to the articulated
structure 6,
by means of a rotation pivot 10. The pivot 10 engages a seat provided in a
plate 12 that
is integral with the shoulder of the framework 2, in a manner similar to the
upper
bedspring.
A lever 14 has an end hinged at the pivot 10 and a free end hinged to the stem
of
a gas cylinder actuator 16.
The cylinder of the gas cylinder actuator 16 is hinged to the plate 12 of the
articulated structure 6, in a manner similar to the upper bedspring, with the
only
difference that the gas cylinder actuator 16 of the lower bedspring 4 can have
smaller
dimensions than the upper bedspring, because the 45 position is not provided
for the
lower bedspring.
Like the upper bedspring 3, the frame 8 of the lower bedspring 4 has a rear
bar in
which two locking pins are arranged, one for each side.
On one side, a locking pin is actuated, in contrast with a contrast spring, by
means of an actuation lever that is inserted substantially within the tubular
frame 8 and
has a grip member that can be accessed by means of a lateral opening of the
tubular
frame.
By pulling the grip member, the actuation lever extracts the pin from the
locking
seat of the plate and, by means of a cable and pulley system, extracts also
the other pin,
leaving the frame 8 free to rotate about the rotation pivot 10.
The articulated structure 6 of the lower bedspring 4 has two pin locking
positions,
which correspond to the open position (Figure 1) and to the closed position
(Figure 2).
The fold-away bunk bed 1 also includes a ladder 30 which, in the open position
of
the bed, is engaged first with the frame 8 of the lower bedspring 4 and then
with the
upper frame 7.
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The ladder is locked in an operating position by means of two knobs 31, which
arm themselves during the engagement step and must be pulled in order to
release the
ladder and remove it.
The bunk bed 1 also includes protective barriers for each bedspring: an upper
protective barrier and a lower protective barrier, both designated by the
reference
numeral 40.
Each barrier 40 is constituted by two parts: a first part 41, which is fixed
to the
frame of the respective bedspring, and a second part 42, which is articulated
with
respect to the first part by virtue of gears 43.
The two parts of the barrier are folded, when the bed is in the closed
position,
and arm themselves, during opening, locking themselves in a substantially
vertical
position, with a slight inclination, in the open position of the bed.
During closure, the barrier is released by acting on a release button, that is
arranged laterally and, in the closed position, the second part 42 rests on
the mattress
50, as can be seen in Figure 2.
The barrier 40 is provided with a padding, not visible in the figures.
The fold-away bunk bed according to the present invention may also comprise
adjustable feet 60, arranged at the outer corners of the lower bedspring 4.
Each adjustable foot 60 comprises a foot body 61 hinged to the bedspring 4 by
means of a ball bearing, not visible in the figures.
The foot body 61 has a spring locking means adapted to lock the foot 60 in the
vertical position.
The foot body 61 has longitudinal seats for a slider 62 which is movable with
respect to the foot body 61.
An adjustable member 63 may be adjustably fastened to the slider 62 by means
of bolt 64 which clamps the adjustable member 63 against dented regions 65 of
the
slider 62.
While opening the lower bedspring 4, the foot 60 rotates about its ball
bearing
and keeps a vertical position by gravity.
When the lower bedspring 4 is in the horizontal position, the foot 60 is
vertical
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and perpendicular to the floor.
The weight of the lower bedspring 4 makes the slider 62 slide into the foot
body
61 and lock therein.
The adjustable member 63 allows to adjust the height of the adjustable foot
60.
The fold-away bunk bed according to the present invention is characterized by
the articulation system of the fold-away bedsprings, in the shoulder of the
supporting
framework, which contains the rotation pivot and the gas cylinder actuator.
Advantageously, the bed is enclosed in a housing.
Contrary to the prior art fold-away bunk beds, the bunk bed according to the
present invention has a fully independent actuation mechanism and each
bedspring may
be deployed independently from each other.
The system for locking the bedsprings, by means of the lever inserted in the
tubular frame thereof, ensures the horizontal position of the bedspring and,
in the case
of the upper bedspring, the 45 inclined position, in order to make it easier
to make the
bed, ensuring the stability of the bedsprings, in the horizontal position,
without the aid of
feet resting on the ground.
The supporting frame 2 is fixed to a wall in an upward region.
The ladder 30 has the purpose of increasing the stability of the bedsprings,
discharging part of the weight to the ground. The ladder is not part of the
articulation
system and may be used only if necessary, when the upper bedspring is
deployed.
Another advantage of the bunk bed according to the present invention is due to
the articulated padded barrier, which includes a mechanism for automatic
locking and
articulation.
This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No.
MI2012A000624, filed on April 17, 2012, the subject matter of which is
incorporated
herein by reference.
