EP4046539A1 - Support structure for bunk beds - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support structure (1) for bunk beds, comprising a lower sleeping platform (2) and an upper sleeping platform (3), housed respectively in a first compartment (4) and a second compartment (5), and access openings (10, 11) to the lower sleeping platform (2) and to the upper sleeping platform (3), extending in the same plane. It is characterized in that the bottoms (6, 7) of the first compartment (4) and of the second compartment (5) extend in the same plane and in that the access opening (10) to the platform lower sleeping form (2) and the access opening (11) to the upper sleeping platform (3) extend respectively from the bottom (6) of the first compartment (4) and from the bottom (7 ) of the second compartment (5), symmetrically with respect to a median vertical plane of the support structure (1).

Description

The invention relates to a support structure for bunk beds, having a lower sleeping platform and an upper sleeping platform, respectively accommodated in a first compartment and a second compartment, each delimited by a bottom surmounted by a peripheral wall closed by a vault, said peripheral wall being provided with access openings to the lower sleeping platform and to the upper sleeping platform, extending in the same plane.

Conventionally, this type of structure is commonly used to allow two people to sleep together in the same volume, while minimizing the required space. Thus, one already finds on the market a multiplicity of products differing essentially from one another by their structure, their design and their constituent materials, as well as by their dimensions.

The most basic models generally have a simple frame acting as a base and supporting a lower bed base and an upper bed base, usually bordered by a frame to prevent any possible fall to its occupant. Although such models may optionally be equipped with draperies to somewhat isolate the upper and lower beds from each other and from the surrounding environment, they do not, however, offer any privacy to their occupants. Moreover, the spartan nature of their comfort is frequently decried. In addition, access to the upper bed requires acrobatics, likely to jeopardize the solidity of the frame acting as a support element, or more seriously to result in falls and possibly more or less severe injuries. . The implementation of a ladder, which turns out to be cumbersome, often rickety, and annoying insofar as it is generally arranged against the frame, in the passage to the lower bed, does not give more satisfaction.

More recently, other models of more sophisticated bunk bed support structures have been developed, mainly with a view to improving the privacy of their occupants. Among the proposed solutions, the one having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble and consisting in providing a lower compartment surmounted an upper compartment, each delimited by a partition provided with a bottom and a vault, and adapted to receive each of the bedding elements, is currently enjoying some success on the market. However, it has been found that in practice it does not manage to provide an optimal result in relation to the intended purpose, insofar as access to the upper compartment is always carried out by means of a ladder which always generates the problems mentioned above.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an alternative solution to those existing, making it possible to dispense with the use of a ladder or the use of climbing to access the upper bed, and consequently to to improve comfort and safety for both upper and lower bunk occupants, while maintaining the integrity of the proposed bunk bed support structure. Another object of the invention is to achieve this result through a compact architecture, and an all-purpose form allowing the installation of the proposed support structure in many environments, while offering more comfort to its occupants than state-of-the-art models.

To this end, the present invention proposes a bunk bed support structure of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that the bottoms of the first compartment and of the second compartment extend in the same plane and in that the opening of access to the lower sleeping platform and the access opening to the upper sleeping platform respectively extend from the bottom of the first compartment and from the bottom of the second compartment.

• elle comporte une cloison de séparation, s'étendant entre le premier et le second compartiment depuis le plan contenant leurs fonds jusqu'à la voûte, et présentant deux portions verticales reliées par une portion horizontale définissant la plate-forme de couchage supérieure,
• la paroi périphérique comporte des puits de lumière s'étendant dans le plan des ouvertures d'accès, de part et d'autre d'un plan médian horizontal de la structure-support,
• la cloison de séparation comporte une couche d'un isolant acoustique insérée entre deux panneaux en bois ou en particules de bois,
• la plate-forme inférieure est définie par une portion du fond du premier compartiment,
• la paroi périphérique comporte une face interne munie d'évidements adaptés pour accueillir des moyens d'éclairage électrique du premier et du second compartiment,
• la voûte comporte une face interne munie d'évidements adaptés pour accueillir des moyens d'éclairage électrique du premier et du second compartiment,
• les premier et second compartiments délimitent des volumes de formes et de dimensions identiques,
• les premiers et seconds compartiments sont disposés de manière « tête-bêche » l'un par rapport à l'autre,
• les ouvertures d'accès sont munies chacune d'une porte.

Furthermore, depending on the case, the support structure according to the invention may also have one or more of the following characteristics:

• it comprises a partition, extending between the first and the second compartment from the plane containing their bottoms to the vault, and having two vertical portions connected by a horizontal portion defining the upper sleeping platform,
• the peripheral wall comprises skylights extending in the plane of the access openings, on either side of a horizontal median plane of the support structure,
• the partition wall has a layer of acoustic insulation inserted between two panels of wood or wood particles,
• the lower platform is defined by a portion of the bottom of the first compartment,
• the peripheral wall has an internal face provided with recesses adapted to accommodate means of electric lighting of the first and of the second compartment,
• the vault has an internal face provided with recesses adapted to accommodate means of electric lighting of the first and of the second compartment,
• the first and second compartments delimit volumes of identical shapes and dimensions,
• the first and second compartments are arranged "head-to-tail" with respect to each other,
• the access openings are each provided with a door.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, which relates to a particular embodiment of a support structure for a bunk bed according to the invention, which should not however be considered as limitation of the invention.

• [Fig.1] est une vue de face d'une structure-support de lits superposés selon l'invention,
• [Fig.2] représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de la structure-support de lits superposés de la figure 1, complétée par quelques éléments de mobilier,
• [Fig.3] est une vue agrandie du détail D de la figure 2,
• Fig.4] est une vue de dessus du compartiment comportant la plate-forme de couchage inférieure que présente la structure-support de la figure 1, et
• [Fig. 5] est une vue de dessus du compartiment comportant la plate-forme de couchage supérieure que présente la structure-support de la figure 1.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the following figures:

• [ Fig.1 ] is a front view of a support structure for bunk beds according to the invention,
• [ Fig.2 ] shows a longitudinal sectional view of the bunk bed support structure of the figure 1 , supplemented by a few pieces of furniture,
• [ Fig.3 ] is an enlarged view of detail D of the picture 2 ,
• Fig.4 ] is a top view of the compartment comprising the lower sleeping platform presented by the support structure of the figure 1 , and
• [ Fig. 5 ] is a top view of the compartment comprising the upper sleeping platform presented by the support structure of the figure 1 .

With reference to the figures, the subject of the present invention is a support structure 1 for bunk beds, conventionally having a lower sleeping platform 2 and an upper sleeping platform 3, respectively housed in a first individual compartment 4 and a second individual compartment 5, each delimited by a bottom 6, 7, a peripheral wall 8, as well as a vault 9.

In the variant embodiment illustrated, the peripheral wall 8 consists of two opposite lateral faces 80, 81 and two opposite longitudinal faces 82, 83 shaped in such a way that the support structure 1 has the compact shape of a block, the length L is of the order of 3700 mm, the width I of approximately 1000 mm and the height h of the order of 2200 mm. Such dimensions are suitable for occupation of the compartments 4, 5, where appropriate, both by adults and by children. Of course, other shapes and dimensions, adapted according to the context and the size of the users envisaged can also be provided.

Furthermore, the support structure 1 also has two openings 10, 11, formed in the same longitudinal face 82 of the peripheral wall 8. They give access respectively to the first compartment 4 and to the second compartment 5 and consequently to the platform lower sleeping platform 2 and upper sleeping platform 3.

In accordance with the invention, and as clearly appears from the figure 2 , the bottoms 6, 7 of the first compartment 4 and of the second compartment 5 advantageously extend in the same plane and together define the base 60 of the support structure 1. This base 60 can be placed directly on the ground or rest there on the through feet 29 of appropriate height as in the example shown.

Furthermore, the opening 10 for access to the lower sleeping platform 2 and the opening 11 for access to the upper sleeping platform 3 extend respectively from the bottom 6 of the first compartment 4 and from the bottom 7 of the second compartment 5, symmetrically with respect to a median vertical plane of the support structure 1, perpendicular to the plane containing the openings.

Such a conformation advantageously offers the possibility for the user of the upper platform 3 to access the latter on the same level, like the user of the lower platform 2, and consequently independently of any recourse to a possible ladder or the need to climb it by resting on a constituent element of the support structure, as required by the solutions of the prior art. In addition, each access opening 10, 11 preferably has a height such that an adult person of average height manages to cross it by holding perfectly straight, which represents an additional advantage of the present invention.

It should also be noted that in accordance with an additional feature of the support structure 1 according to the invention, each access opening 10, 11 is equipped with a door 27 provided with ventilation grilles 28 making it possible to isolate each compartment 4, 5 from the surrounding environment while maintaining sufficient air circulation.

On the other hand, with reference to the figure 2 , the support structure 1 comprises a partition 12, extending between the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, from the plane containing their bottoms 6, 7 to the vault 9. It has two vertical portions 13, 14 connected by a horizontal portion 15 defining the upper sleeping platform 3. The lower sleeping platform 3 is, for its part, defined by a portion of the bottom 6 of the first compartment 4.

Conventionally, in practice, the lower 2 and upper 3 sleeping platforms are each able to accommodate a bed base 16 and a mattress 17 placed to rest against one of the vertical portions 13, 14. The latter are thus suitable for define headboards and can be lined with a layer 18 of more or less thick foam to improve user comfort. It should also be noted that the partition 12 preferably consists of two panels 23 made of wood or wood particles between which a layer 24 of acoustic insulation is inserted, which also contributes to improving the privacy of each occupants of the support structure 1.

In the variant embodiment illustrated, the support structure 1 is arranged in such a way that the first and second compartments 4, 5 delimit volumes of identical shapes and dimensions, and are arranged "head to tail" one by one. to each other, so as to ensure identical comfort for each of their occupants.

Still with reference to the figure 2 , the dimensions of the first and second compartments 4, 5 are further provided such that a space 19 is provided between the vertical portions 13, 14 of the partition 12 and one of the side faces 80, 81 of the peripheral wall 8. This space 19 is located opposite the access opening 10, 11 and thus advantageously constitutes an entry lock into each of the first or second compartments 4, 5. In addition, in the variant embodiment illustrated, the space 19 is dimensioned so as to be able to accommodate, if necessary, some pieces of furniture, such as for example a shelf 20 surmounted by a shelf 21, as well as a seat such as in particular an ottoman 22, possibly making it possible to deposit objects, clothes, etc., or to serve as an extra desk if necessary.

Thanks to such a configuration, the support structure 1 integrates in the same volume delimited by the peripheral wall 8, the vault 9 and the bottom 60, not only two sleeping zones completely independent of each other, but also for each sleeping area, a small additional private space 19 that each occupant can arrange according to his needs or his desires and in which he has the possibility of adopting a standing or sitting position if he does not wish to lie down.

As it appears from figure 1 , in the variant embodiment illustrated, the support structure 1 also comprises two skylights 25, 26 formed in the peripheral wall 8, in the plane of the access openings 10, 11, on either side of a horizontal median plane of the support structure 1. More specifically, the skylights 25, 26 are advantageously drilled vis-à-vis respectively the lower sleeping platform 2, and the upper sleeping platform 3 of so as both to offer their occupants a view of the outside environment and to allow them to benefit from a supply of natural light. Of course, these skylights 25, 26 can be lined with concealment means (not shown), such as blinds or curtains, making it possible to isolate the sleeping platforms 3, 4 both from light and glances according to the desires of their occupants.

On the other hand, the support structure 1 illustrated in the figures also comprises means for electrical lighting of the first 4 and of the second compartment 5 housed in recesses formed in the internal face of the peripheral wall 8 or of the vault 9 and which are defined here by strips of light-emitting diodes 30 and lights 31 preferably driven by dimmers. Electrical sockets 32, preferably equipped with "USB" connections, also arranged in recesses in the internal face of the peripheral wall 8, close to each sleeping platform 2, 3 and in each space 19, complete the equipment of compartments 4, 5.

As emerges from the foregoing, the support structure according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives described in the preamble. In particular, it has a structure that guarantees the occupants of its lower and upper platforms perfect privacy insofar as they are perfectly separated. On the other hand, its particular conformation advantageously makes it possible to secure access to the upper platform and to avoid any possible fall, of an individual or object, on the occupant of the lower platform.

Claims (10)

Support structure (1) for bunk beds, having a lower sleeping platform (2) and an upper sleeping platform (3), housed respectively in a first compartment (4) and a second compartment (5), each delimited by a bottom (6, 7) surmounted by a peripheral wall (8) closed by a vault (9), said peripheral wall (8) being provided with access openings (10, 11) to the platform lower sleeping form (2) and to the upper sleeping platform (3), the said openings (10, 11) extending in the same plane, characterized in that the bottoms (6, 7) of the first compartment ( 4) and the second compartment (5) extend in the same plane and in that the access opening (10) to the lower sleeping platform (2) and the access opening (11) to the upper sleeping platform (3) extend respectively from the bottom (6) of the first compartment (4) and from the bottom (7) of the second compartment (5). Support structure (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a partition (12) extending between the first (4) and the second (5) compartment from the plane containing their bottoms (6, 7) up to the vault (9) and having two vertical portions (13, 14) connected by a horizontal portion (15) defining the upper sleeping platform (3). Support structure (1) according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the peripheral wall (8) comprises skylights (25, 26) extending in the plane of the access openings (10 , 11), on either side of a horizontal median plane of the support structure (1). Support structure (1) according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 when appended to Claim 2, characterized in that the partition (12) comprises a layer (24) of acoustic insulation inserted between two panels (23) made of wood or wood particles. Support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform of lower bedding (2) is defined by a bottom portion (6) of the first compartment (4). Support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral wall (8) comprises an internal face provided with recesses adapted to accommodate means (30, 31) for electrical lighting of the first ( 4) and the second (5) compartment. Support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vault (9) comprises an internal face provided with recesses suitable for receiving electric lighting means (30, 31) of the first (4 ) and the second (5) compartment. Support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second compartments (4, 5) delimit volumes of identical shapes and dimensions. Support structure (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the first and second compartments (4, 5) are arranged "head-to-tail" with respect to each other. Support structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access openings (10, 11) are each provided with a door (27).

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