Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE: FOLDING BED AND FILING CABINET
INVENTOR: Farhang HONARVAR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[1] The present invention relates in general to folding beds and in specific
to folding
beds which are stored in a cabinet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[2] People who work in an office all day long, usually need to take a short
rest (nap)
during the daytime. Studies have shown that a short nap of 20-30 minutes can
help
to improve mood, alertness and performance. Shift work may cause fatigue and
performance impairments, especially for night shift workers.
[3] Nowadays more and more companies are encouraging employees to take an on-
site
nap. Data shows that 29% of workers report falling asleep or becoming very
sleepy
at work, and a lack of sleep costs the United States $63 billion each year in
lost
productivity. However a short nap can boost alertness and improve performance.
[4] Many companies have set up a quiet room for their employees, where they
can nap
or even meditate during the day. Some other companies have introduced "nap
pods,"
which are futuristic-looking lounge chairs that play soothing sounds so
workers can
catch a quick snooze when they need one. One of the main issues with such nap
spaces is that they are usually full and booked and may not be available at
all times.
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[5] To benefit from a short nap in a work place, and considering the limited
space, a
foldable and convertible bed that can fit in a filing cabinet would be very
desirable.
Filing cabinets exist in most work spaces, and a filing cabinet with a bed
inside it
would not change the look of the office space. The current cabinet-type
folding beds
are not suitable for an office and they are usually made for use in a house.
There are
also folding beds that can be stored under a desk, but they are generally too
large
and bulky to be used in an office space.
[6] There is also other convertible furniture disclosed in the prior art that
provides a way
to conserve living space while providing temporary sleeping accommodations.
Most
of them have complicated mechanism for unfolding, which adds unnecessary
weight
to the cabinet.
[7] In summary, the currently available folding beds are not suitable for use
in an office
and they need extra space for storage. Also, the current cabinet beds are not
suitable for use in an office environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[8] The present invention provides a solution to the above problems by
enabling a
simply designed folding cabinet bed with a folding bed frame assembly that
opens
into a full-length bed. The folding bed is embedded into the lower part of a
four-
drawer filing cabinet. The filing cabinet looks like a regular filing cabinet
except that
the lower two drawers are combined into one single compartment in which a
folding
bed is embedded. When the door, which looks like a combination of two drawer
doors, opens, the folded bed easily slides out of the cabinet and unfolds into
a single
bed. This design keeps two drawers of the filing cabinet available for office
usage
while having a folding bed in the lower part of the cabinet.
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[9] The cabinet compartment may have any size. The bed frame is folded
longitudinally
and is sized to have a length equal to the length and width of the lower part
of the
cabinet compartment. By folding the bed longitudinally in three sections, the
package
can be fitted in the lower part of the cabinet compartment.
[10] A drawer assembly comprising of a scissor shaped pull-push system is
provided to
slide the folded bed into and out of the cabinet compartment. The drawer
assembly
comprises of a rotatable attachment that have a socket embedded in a vertical
railing. The vertical railing can slide in a horizontal railing attached to
the rear wall of
the cabinet to allow for both rotational, vertical and horizontal movements.
The
rotatable assembly is rotatable and slidable in two directions and is attached
to the
railing of the rear wall of the cabinet, so the bed can rotate by 360 degrees
and slide
both upward and downward and also both to the right and left sides.
[11] The folding bed sections have a pivoting structure to fold different
sections of the bed
frame and the mattress. Two pivoted legs are configured on the rear side of
each
bed frame section to support the bed assembly on the floor on both sides and
the
middle of the bed. The support legs pivot inwardly to conceal under the bed
frames.
[12] It is therefore, an object of the present invention to enable a folding
bed with a folding
frame and mattress that closes into a compact configuration within the filing
cabinet
and extends to the desired length.
[13] It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding bed
comprising of a
drawer and rotation system to embed the folded bed in the filing cabinet.
[14] It is another object of the present invention to enable a folding cabinet
bed having a
simple design for an easy operation.
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[15] It is another object of the present invention to provide an office bed
that can be
stored in a filing cabinet and be a part of the office furniture and be
invisible when
stored in the filing cabinet.
[16] It is another object of the present invention that the bed could be used
when the
cabinet is away or next to a wall on its right or left side.
[17] It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated
bed and filing
cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[18] Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the
appended
drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims,
wherein like
designations denote like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an office space with the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed
slid
out of the cabinet;
FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded
bed slid
out of the cabinet;
FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded
bed slid
out of the cabinet and rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise;
FIG. 4C shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded
bed slid
out of the cabinet and rotated 180 degrees counter-clockwise;
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed
slid
out of the cabinet and rotated 90 degrees clockwise;
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FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed
partially extended;
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed
partially extended;
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the present invention in the extended
position;
FIG. 9A shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 9B shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 9C shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 10A shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 10B shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 11B shows a perspective view of a foldable bed frame of the present
invention;
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of three foldable bed frames of the present
invention;
FIG. 13A shows a side view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed
inside of
the cabinet;
FIG. 13B shows a side view of the folding cabinet bed with the folded bed slid
out of
the cabinet;
FIG. 14A is a partial view of the rotating and traversing system according to
the
present invention;
FIG. 14B is a partial view of the rotating system according to the present
invention;
FIG. 15A shows a perspective view of the present invention in the extended
position;
and
FIG. 15B shows a perspective view of the present invention in the extended
position
which folded bed slides to the right of the folding cabinet bed.
[19] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present
invention to the
precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be
practiced
CA 2978802 2017-09-08
with modifications and alterations, and that the disclosed invention be
limited only by
the claims and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[20] The invention disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various
embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures.
The
drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict
typical or
example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided
to
facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall
not be
considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should
be noted
that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily
made to
scale.
[21] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an office space with a filing cabinet
with a
foldable bed 10. The filing cabinet with a foldable bed 10 can be placed near
a wall.
The extension of the foldable bed outside of the filing cabinet which is
located near
the wall is practical, because of the rotatable attachment means and a
slidable
attachment means of the present invention.
[22] According to FIGs. 2 and 3 the present invention is a combination cabinet
and folding
bed wherein the bed is stored in the cabinet. The system comprises of a filing
cabinet 10 having a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, a rear wall 17 and side
walls 13
and 14. These walls form a chamber or opening which is separated to two
sections
15 and 16. The upper section utilizes as filing drawers 15 and the lower
section of
the opening 16 is to accommodate a folding bed 20. The front face of the
filing
cabinet 10 looks as a usual office filing cabinet when the bed 20 is in
retracted
position.
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[23] The direction of the legs 28-29 should be in a way that when a user pulls
the bed out
of cabinet, the legs automatically open and when the user pushes the bed into
the
cabinet, the legs automatically close.
[24] By folding the bed 20 longitudinally in three sections 21, 22 and 23, the
bed
transforms into a package with a depth of 25-35 inches, and height of 28-38
inches
and width of 15-24 inches. A rotation system to slide and fit the folded bed
in the
cabinet compartment 16 is provided for a transversal rotation and slid the
folded bed
into the cabinet compartment 16.
[25] Before placing the cabinet in a room, depending on the position of the
cabinet and
whether its right or left side is next to a wall, as shown in FIGs. 4A, 4B and
4C, the
user can pull the bed out of the cabinet compartment 16 by pulling the handle
18 and
rotate the foldable bed 21-23 in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise
direction
depending on the position of the cabinet proportional to a wall or other
obstruction.
The foldable bed 21-23 can rotate clockwise or contraclockwise.
[26] As shown in FIGs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the foldable bed comprising of a first
section 21, a
second section 22, and a third section 23, each section having a first end and
a
second end, and wherein the second end 51 of the first section 21 is foldably
attached to the first end 53 of the second section 22 and the second end 54 of
the
second section 22 is foldably attached to the first end 56 of the third
section 23. By
pulling out the foldable bed 21-23 from the cabinet compartment 16 and
rotating the
foldable bed 21-23 to the horizontal position, two foldable legs 28-29 of the
third
section 23 support the foldable bed 21-23.
[27] FIGs. 6, 7 illustrate the present invention in which the bed assembly 20
is in a partial
extended position and shows bed frame sections 21, 22 and 23 supported by
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support legs 28-29, respectively. The bed frame 20 comprises of three foldable
sections 21-23, an upper section 21, a middle section 22 and a lower section
23 with
a pivoting structure for pivoting the three bed sections 21, 22 and 23 to
retract or
extend the bed frame 20.
[28] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the present invention in the extended
position.
The bed assembly is in an extended position and shows bed frame sections 21,
22
and 23 supported by support legs 24-29, respectively.
[29] As shown in FIGs. 9A, 9B, and 9C, a pair of foldable legs 24, 25 attached
to said
foldable bed frame 21 to support the bed 21 on a floor. The pair of foldable
legs 24,
25 are pivotally attached to the bed frame 21. In one embodiment of the
present
invention, a pair of gaps 61-62 are sized and designed under the bed frame 21
to
receive the pair of foldable legs 24, 25. The pair of foldable legs 24, 25 can
conceal
under the bed frame 21.
[30] As shown in FIGs. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B, the bed frame 21 comprises of
two
pivoting legs 24 and 25 on each bed section to support the bed assembly on the
floor. Legs 24 and 25 are coupled pivotally by 71-74 on the rear side of the
upper
section of the bed frame 21. Legs 24, 25 are pivotally connected to the bed
frame 21,
and pivotally collapse and rest on the bottom part of the bed frame 21.
[31] Again as shown in FIGs. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B, the bed frame 21 further
has a
compartment 63 which receives a mattress 35. The bed frame 21 comprises of a
rectangular board 80, a rectangular supporting frame 76 and for pivotal legs
71-74.
The pivotal legs 71-74 can be attached to the board 80.
[32] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of three foldable bed frames of the
present
invention with six foldable legs 24-29.
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[33] FIG. 13A and 13B show the folding cabinet 10 in retracted and extended
position.
The cabinet folding bed 10 comprises of a drawer assembly. The drawer assembly
has a gripping handle 18 mounted on the exterior part of the upper section 21
to pull-
push and slide the folding bed into and out of the cabinet 10 and to the right
and left
sides. The drawer assembly further comprises of a scissor shape section 34 to
retract and release movement of the foldable beds 21-23. The drawer assembly
is
affixed to the back side of the lower section of the bed frame 23 from one end
36 and
is rotatable embedded in a railing through a rotatable element 40. The railing
is
mounted to the inner side of the rear wall 17 of the lower compartment of the
cabinet
16. The bed can be folded and retracted by pulling or pushing the beds 21-23
and
can be rotated and slid to the right and left sides. The drawer assembly is
attached to
the foldable beds 21-23 from a distal end 36. Again as shown in FIG. 13A, the
handle 18 can be built into the foldable bed to save the space.
[34] Again as shown in FIGs. 13A and 13B, the foldable bed further has a
plurality of
wheels 81-84 which are designed in the foldable bed to enhance the movement of
the foldable bed inside the cabinet.
[35] FIGs. 14A and 14B show that the rotating bearing 41 allows a clockwise or
a
counter-clockwise movement of the bed in 360 degrees. According to the present
invention, it is essential to rotate the folded bed 20 in order to fit it
inside the cabinet
10. The rotating bearing 41 is located inside of the rotatable element 40
which is
connected to rear wall of the lower compartment of the cabinet 17. The
rotatable
element 40 allows the rotating bearing 41 not only to rotate but to move both
in a
horizontal 44 and in a vertical 45 directions. The horizontal movement allows
the bed
to move to the left or to the right as needed. For example, if the cabinet is
close to a
wall on the right, the bed has to be moved to the left and then opened. In
addition,
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the vertical movement allows for the bed to move downward to have its legs
engage
with the floor.
[36] Rotating bearing 42 can be supported by any known means, including
couplings.
Other means for rotation of the bed, similar to the rotatable element 40, can
also
include to connect to the pull assembly. The combination of the rotating
element and
the drawer assembly provides a pull and rotate movement of the bed.
[37] As shown in FIGs. 15A and 15B, the foldable beds 21-23 can be placed in
the middle
portion or either a left or a right direction depending on the position of the
cabinet
proportional to a wall or other obstruction of the filing cabinet 10.
[38] Each of the three sections of the bed frame 21, 22 and 23 are in equal
depth (25-35
inches), height (28-38 inches), and width (5-8 inches).
[39] According to the present invention, the three pieces of mattress may be
separate
pieces. They may also be joined at a seam which is designed to permit mattress
portions to be folded up and over each other. Seam can be made of hinged
fabric,
preferably having double plies for reinforcement. The mattress can be made of
foam,
laminated foam or other suitable materials.
[40] In another embodiment of the present invention foam shape cushions are
embedded
in the frame boxes and the support legs can be bent and pushed into the foams
and
bury in them when the bed is folded.
[41] In another embodiment of the present invention, the whole folding and
unfolding
process can be mechanized so that the bed would unfold or fold back into the
cabinet by pushing a button or by a remote control.
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[42] 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 invention.
[43] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the
optimum
relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form,
materials,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent
and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to
those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to
be
encompassed by the present invention.
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