EP0316645A1

EP0316645A1 - Multifunctional sun bed or the like with end rest surfaces rotatable through variable angles by stable-positioning articulated joints

Info

Publication number: EP0316645A1
Application number: EP88118128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Ravasio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-17
Filing date: 1988-10-31
Publication date: 1989-05-24
Also published as: IT1218494B; IT8702949A0

Abstract

This multifunctional sun bed or the like is characterised by end rest surfaces (7, 8) rotatable through variable angles by stable-positioning articulated joints (11, 11B).

Said articulated joints (11, 11B) can be different according to whether they are to be operated not only directly, but also indirectly by cable.

Said directly operated joints are characterised by two wheels (35, 37; 36, 38) with conjugate flat toothing engaged with each other by the action of a cam (41; 45, 46) which overcomes the separating action of an opposition spring (39, 40) acting between them.

Said indirectly operated joints are characterised by a toothed sector (12) bored (19) at its centre (16) to support a frame for a rotatable rest surface (7,8) having its end (7E, 8E) provided with a pair of teeth (20A, 20B) defining a cavity (21) coinciding with the cavities (15) of the toothed sector (12) during its angular travel, so that said cavity (15, 21) can receive a locking pin (22) for the two parts (7E, 12) which is mounted on a U-section (23) pivoted on said rest surface frame (7, 8) to enable required angular disengagement between the parts to be obtained with the aid of a cable (31).

Description

This invention relates to the field of beds the rest surfaces of which can be rotated through variable angles but are not subjected to excessive loads, for example sun beds.
Beds are known formed from a basic support structure which supports the weight of the body and an auxiliary support structure which supports the weight of the head and/or legs.
These auxiliary structures are generally rotatable to obtain various inclinations.
The structure usually used for sun beds consist of a rigid frame for supporting the extended legs and the body, and carry at one end a rotatable surface or head rest for supporting the shoulders and/or head.
This rotatable surface is hinged to the fixed structure in the manner of a 1st order lever and the extent of its inclination is determined by interposing a spacing strut pivoted on the end of the fixed frame and elastically removable when not required for the purpose.
This usual type of articulation results in a series of drawbacks connected with the bed, the most important of which are that it allows only one inclination of the head rest and does not enable the parts to be folded to minimum overall size.
In this respect, the obtainable inclination is only that consequent on the length of the strut and its distance from the pivot.
When in the folded state the end of the head rest frame projects beyond the fixed structure by a length equal to the arm length required when in the operating position to enable the removable strut to engage against the fixed frame.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sun bed having its end rest surfaces rotatable in such a manner as to obtain a multiplicity of inclinations.
A further object is to provide a sun bed which can be folded to minimum overall dimensions such as to enable it to be easily contained in an automobile boot.
A further object is to provide a sun bed which can perform a multiplicity of supplementary functions.
A further object is to provide a sun bed having its end rest surfaces inclinable either directly or indirectly.
These and further objects are attained by a multifunctional sun bed or the like, characterised by end rest surfaces rotatable through variable angles by stable-positioning articulated joints as specified in the claims subsequent to the first.
The invention is illustrated by way of non-limiting example on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a sun bed according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of an articulated joint of the type used for rotating the end rest surfaces indirectly by means of a cable;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the elements forming the joint of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a directly operated articulated joint;
Figure 5 is an example of a control device for direct operation.

With reference to the aforesaid figures in which identical parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, the sun bed according to the invention is formed from a fixed structure 1 for supporting the body and provided with traditional pairs of hinged feet 2 and 3 fixable to it by normal pins 4 and articulated tie bars 5.
Advantageously, said pairs of legs 2 are provided with wheels 6 of fixed or caster type. As the bed can have two end rest surfaces 7 and 8 able to be rotated as far as vertical positions, it is also suitable for use as a trolley for transporting bulky nautical equipment 9 and other beach accessories 10 from the automobile to the beach.
Positioning the end rest surfaces vertically (7, 8′) enables the transported nautical equipment (9) to make contact only with the edges 7A and 8A of the rest surfaces 7 and 8, and not with the fabric-covered surface on which parts of the body lie. This advantageously allows transportation of rigid objects (9) which are not totally clean. The inclinability of the two surfaces 7 and 8 also allows a variable distance D to be obtained between the supports or edges 7A, 8A which makes it adaptable to the type of equipment or object transported.
In Figure 1, the positions 7′, 7˝, 8′, 8˝ are inclined with dashed lines to show the considerable possible angular rotation of the rest surfaces of the bed described herein. The advantage of these positions is further enhanced by the fact that said end rest surfaces have stable positioning, ie their positions cannot be changed by thrusts F and F′ perpendicular to them (7, 8), as is instead the case with conventional sun beds.
Because of this, a bed with its end rest surfaces positioned along 7′ and 8˝ can be lifted by directly gripping these ends, either to use it as a stretcher, or more simply to take it up or down steps.
The articulated joints which provide these properties are indicated diagrammatically by the reference numerals 11 and 11b, but are more clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. The joint 11 can be operated indirectly by a cable, whereas the joint 11b is suitable for direct operation and thus particularly for adjusting the surface which is to support the legs.
The joint 11 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is composed of a toothed sector 12 fixed to a tubular structure 13 by usual means (insertion, rivets, pins), and comprising a series of teeth 14 forming cavities 15 disposed circumferentially about an axis 16. The axis 16 is common to a pin 17 and to working holes 18 and 19 pertaining to the articulated parts 7 (or 8) and 1 respectively.
The ends 8E (or 7E) of the frame for the surfaces 8 (or 7) are each secured by their own joint 11 and are therefore provided with a pair of teeth 20A and 20B forming a cavity 21 arranged to coincide with the cavities 15 of the sector 12 during its rotation about the axis 16.
This alignment between the cavities 15 and 21 results in a seat into which a locking pin 22 fixed between the free sides of a U-section 23 can penetrate.
The U-section 23, containing in its interior the ends 8E (or 7E) and the toothed sector 12, is pivoted by a pin 24 about holes 25 and 25′.
This pivoting is provided in a region intermediate between that in which a spring 26 urging the edge of the end 8E (or 7E) acts and that containing the pin 22, so that said U-section 23 behaves as a 1st order lever. For this reason, the locking pin 22 is always urged into the interior of the aligned cavities 15 and 21, to prevent any angular movement between the frame 1 and the rest surfaces 8 (or 7). The locking pin 22 is extracted from the cavities 15 and 21 by a lever movement consequent on compressing the spring 26. This can be done either directly by pressing the end of the U-section 23 (for example at the dished seat 23C for housing the spring 26), or indirectly by using auxiliary means. One example of these means is shown on the drawing, and consists of a lever-cam 27 pivoted on a pin 28 about holes 29 in the U-section 23 and projecting therefrom through an aperture 30. The end 27A of this lever-cam can thus be operated by a traction cable 31, the operating end of which can be located, with the cooperation of usual deviation pulleys, in the most comfortable and accessible position.
The operating end of the cable 31 is connected to the operating end of an identical cable pertaining symmetrically to another joint 11 associated with the end (7E, 8E) on the other side of the support frame for the surfaces 7, 8. The lever-cam 27 is associated with a return spring 32 which prevents it projecting from the U-section 23 but at the same time allows it to move through a distance e before engaging the edge 7Z in order to make available a larger operating arm on pulling the cable 31.
The operation of the directly operated articulated joint indicated in Figure 1 by 11b is shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 in a double version with single control. In can however be provided in single versions with their own control.
Although for direct operation (Figure 4), its logical position would be one attainable by the hands, the directly operated joint could in fact be applied in less accessible positions to replace the function of inclination regulator for the head rest (surface 8), these positions being those already illustrated as more congenial for indirect operation by means of a joint of the type 11 shown in Figures 2 and 3. It should further be noted that said joint 11 could be designed as a direct-operation joint without the lever-cam 27 and cable 31, which would also make it suitable for adjusting the inclination of the leg rest surface 7. In any event the versatility of the joint 11b is apparent from an examination of Figure 4.
Two rest surfaces 8b and 1b are hinged to each other on an axis 31. Projections 32A, 32B, 32C on the frame for the surface 1b are traversed by a shaft 33 rigid with the surface 8b and with the projections 34A and 34B on the frame for this latter surface.
The projections 34A and 34B are fitted with insertion-coupling wheels having flat toothing of rounded profile 35 and 36 conjugate with other similar insertion- coupling wheels 37 and 38 rigid with the projections 32A and 32C respectively.
The purpose of these pairs of toothed insertion- coupling wheels 35, 37 and 36, 38 is to mutually engage by insertion in order to rigidly connect the surfaces 1b and 8b together.
These wheel pairs are kept in their disengaged position by the separating action of springs 39 and 40 wound about the shaft 33. They are made to approach each other and thus mutually engage by the action of a cam 41 pivoted on the end of the shaft 33 on an axis 43 and operated by a lever arm 42.
When the cam 41 is positioned in the manner shown in Figure 4, the flat-toothed wheels are mutually free and enable the two surfaces 1b and 8b to assume any relative inclination because of their separation by the springs 39 and 40.
In contrast, when the lever- cam 42, 41 is positioned as shown by dashed lines, the two toothings of each pair are mutually engaged to create an angular lock between the two surfaces 1b and 8b, which are rigid with them by way of the projections 32A, 32B, 34A, 34B or ends of their support frames.
Operating the cam 41 in the direction indicated by the arrow F compresses the springs 39 and 40. As the final position 41S of the summit of the cam is beyond the axis 43, the axial components created on the rounded portions or inclinations of the teeth of the insertion- coupling wheels 35, 37 and 36, 38 by the torsional forces (applied between the surfaces 1b and 8b) resulting in a moment which is supported by the end of the lever 42 resting on the region 44 of the reaction structure of the projection 32.
The axial engagement and disengagement movement of the pairs of insertion- coupling wheels 35, 37 and 36, 38 can be obtained not only by a cam of the type 41 but also by cams having teeth in the form of opposing inclined planes such as those indicated in Figure 5. Assuming that of the two engaged cams 45 and 46 this latter is fixed (for example rigid with the frame 1) and the cam 45 is mobile and operable in the direction of the arrow 47 to cause its torsionally free pin 48 to move axially towards the left, it is apparent that this operation (arrow 47) results in engagement and disengagement of the insertion wheels 35, 37 and 36, 38 shown in Figure 4, this being again obtained with the cooperation of return springs 48 urging in the appropriate direction.

Claims

1. A multifunctional sun bed or the like, characterised by end rest surfaces (7, 8) rotatable (7′, 7˝, 8′, 8˝) through variable angles by stable-positioning articulated joints (11, 11b).

2. A bed as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the articulated joints can be different (11, 11b) according to whether they are to be operated not only directly, but also indirectly by cable.

3. A bed as claimed in the preceding claims comprising directly-operated articulated joints (Figures 4 and 5), each characterised by at least one pair of insertion-coupling wheels (35, 37; 36, 38) with conjugate front toothing, their mutual engagement (41) and disengagement (45, 46) being controlled by the action of a cam (41; 45, 46) combined with a return spring (39, 48).

4. A bed as claimed in the preceding claims comprising indirectly operated articulated joints (Figures 2, 3), each characterised by a toothed sector (12) bored (19) at its centre (16) to support a frame for a rotatable (11) rest surface (7, 8) having its ends (7E, 8E) each provided with a pair of teeth (20A, 20B) defining a cavity (21) coinciding with the cavity (15) of the toothed sector (12) during its angular travel along this latter, so that said cavities (15, 21) can receive a locking pin (22) for the two parts (7E, 12) of the rest surfaces (7, 8), to enable angular disengagement between the parts (1, 7; 1, 8) to be obtained when desired.

5. A multifunctional sun bed or the like as claimed in claim 4, characterised by a U-section (23) for supporting the locking pin (22) and constituting a 1st order lever on which the action which engages the pin with the interdental cavity is provided by both an elastic means (26) and the reaction deriving from the thrust of the pin (22) against the base of the two coincident cavities (15, 21).

6. A multifunctional sun bed or the like as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that the opposing action of the elastic means (26) of claim 2 which causes angular disengagement between the parts (1, 7; 1, 8) can be overcome by the aid of one or more lever-cams (27) operated by pulling a cable (31).

7. A multifunctional sun bed or the like, characterised by folding legs (2, 3) provided with fixed or caster wheels (6) to enable it to operate as a trolley.

8. A multifunctional sun bed or the like as claimed in claim 3, characterised by lever-cams (27) for actuating the disengagement associated with return springs (32) which enable them to undergo an initial idle movement (e) and remain in a non-projecting position when they (27) are not performing their function.