-
The present invention relates to an improved liftable/loweable bed and to a method for ironing.
-
Many multifunctional furniture items, as taken here as an example, comprise a platform or a bed spring that is hidden in vertical position inside the furniture item and can be flipped in horizontal position for sleeping thereon if needed.
-
-
As practical as these beds are, it is worth enriching the state of the art with a new liftable/lowerable bed that has new functions, and this is the main object of the invention.
-
Another object is to make more efficient use of the limited spaces in a home.
-
Another object is to avoid the inconvenient habit of having to move the ironing board around the house for those who have to iron.
-
A liftable bed installed in a compartment is then proposed, the bed comprising:
- a platform, on which one can lie down, which is
- rotatable about a first horizontal axis,
- integral with the compartment, and
- configured to vary its inclination from vertical, in which the platform is inside the compartment, to horizontal, in which the platform is extracted from the compartment and acts as a bed, or vice versa;
- an ironing board which is
- pivoted to the platform about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and
- configured to vary its inclination and be able to position itself either parallel or substantially orthogonal to the platform.
-
The structure of the bed allows the ironing board to be arranged
- substantially parallel to the platform when the platform is vertical (to remain flattened against the platform and be stored together vertically inside the compartment), or
- substantially orthogonal to the platform when the platform is vertical (to be ready for use and to act as an ironing surface), or
- parallel to the platform when the platform is horizontal (to stay hidden under the platform while the platform serves as a bed).
-
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of ironing, wherein
- a first platform
- is mounted inside a compartment,
- preferably supports a mattress, and
- can remain vertical inside the compartment or arrange itself horizontally to sleep on it, and
- wherein a second platform is hinged to the first platform,
with the steps of
- rotating the second platform about a horizontal axis to bring it
from vertical and adherent to the first platform set vertically to horizontal and orthogonal to the first platform, and - ironing a garment on the second platform after the second platform has been placed horizontally.
-
Advantageously, the bed is useful if placed in a laundry room: not only does it carry the ironing board but it also contains a guest bed.
-
Preferably the (second) platform is an ironing board.
-
The ironing board preferably has an ogival shape (with the tip pointing away from the first axis), but not necessarily.
-
Preferably the (first) platform is a spring or slatted base.
-
Preferred materials for the ironing board are metal or wood.
-
More preferably, if the ironing board is made of metal, it comprises a perimeter frame and a grid fixed to the perimeter frame that extends at the center of the perimeter frame.
-
More preferably, if the ironing board is made of wood, it comprises a board with pass-through holes that pass through its thickness.
-
The grid and the pass-through holes ensure the dissipation of heat and steam from the ironing board.
-
Preferably, the ironing board is coated with a heat-resistant and/or smooth covering to prevent burning and/or to facilitate ironing. More preferably, the covering is a flexible hood, e.g. made of fabric.
-
Preferably, the bed is contained in a cabinet or parallelepiped-shaped furniture item which, for example, comprises two side walls, a bottom, a top, and a back that together define a compartment. The base or (first) platform is mounted inside the compartment.
-
In a different variant, the bed is contained in a niche in a wall.
-
Preferably, the compartment can be closed by two hinged doors, for example hinged to said walls, which can be closed like a book in front of the compartment to conceal the vertical platform.
-
Preferably, at one end of the (first) platform, the one opposite the first axis, is pivoted a leg, e.g. U- or C-shaped, which is rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the first axis so that the leg can vary its inclination: from parallel to the platform to orthogonal to the (first) platform, or vice versa.
-
Preferably the ironing board comprises a ground-support leg which
- is hinged on one side to the ironing board (or to the second platform) and on the opposite side it has a free end that can rest on the ground;
- is rotatable about a horizontal axis parallel to the first axis, and
- is rotatable to vary its inclination from parallel and substantially adherent to the ironing board (or the second platform) to orthogonal or inclined with respect to the ironing board (or the second platform), or vice versa.
-
In particular, the support leg has such a length as to position the ironing board (or the second platform) substantially horizontal when its free end touches the ground (and the (first) platform is vertical).
-
Preferably the (first) platform or the ironing board comprises a blocking means for blocking the ironing board in the position wherein it is parallel to the (first) platform.
-
Preferably the (first) platform or the leg of the (first) platform comprises a blocking means for blocking the leg of the (first) platform in an angular position of cantilevered projection (e.g. orthogonal or inclined) from the (first) platform when the (first) platform is vertical.
-
Preferably the (first) platform or the leg of the ironing board or the ironing board comprises a blocking means for blocking the leg of the ironing board in a position adherent against the (first) platform.
-
Preferably the ironing board or the leg of the ironing board comprises a support movable between two configurations:
- 1) a first configuration in which the support is parallel, flattened and substantially adherent against the ironing board, and
- 2) a second configuration in which the support is far from the ironing board and forms a support plane parallel to, and spaced from, the ironing board.
-
Preferably the support is pivoted to the ironing board about a horizontal axis, parallel to the first axis.
-
Preferably the (first) platform or the ironing board or the support comprises a blocking means for blocking the support in the first configuration.
-
Preferably, the bed comprises a support member mounted on the furniture item in a movable manner, e.g. mounted slidable in the direction of the depth of the compartment (perpendicular to a plane containing the first and second axes) and/or rotatable about a vertical axis (parallel to the plane containing the first and second axes). The support member is adapted to be extracted from the compartment, through translation and/or rotation, and positioned so that it protrudes cantilevered from the compartment. Thus, while a person is ironing, they can hang objects from the support member.
-
Preferably the support member is elongated in shape, e.g. a rod.
-
Preferably, the support member has a telescopic structure, so as to have variable length.
-
Preferably, the support member is connected to the top of the furniture item, in particular to the surface of said top facing the outside of the furniture item or facing the inside of the compartment.
-
Preferably, the bed comprises a clothes-drying structure mounted on the furniture item in tiltable manner like the ironing board. Preferably, the clothes-drying structure has an edge hinged about a horizontal axis parallel to the second axis, especially the second axis itself.
-
Preferably the clothes-drying structure comprises a series of rectilinear members that are parallel, spaced apart (and more preferably thread-like) and arranged to form a grating.
-
Like the ironing board, the clothes-drying structure is rotatable by at least 90 degrees relative to the (first) platform to position itself perpendicular to the (first) platform. This allows the clothes-drying structure to be adjusted into two positions:
- 1) a first position in which it is parallel and adherent to the (first) platform when the latter is horizontal, or
- 2) a second position where it is substantially orthogonal to the (first) platform when the latter is vertical.
-
When the clothes-drying structure is in the second position, a user can hang something on said set of members, such as linens or clothes.
-
Preferably, the leg of the (first) platform is equipped with a support, such as a net or a shelf, which can be as rigid as a board or a limp layer of material. Said support extends horizontally along the leg. In particular, the leg is U-shaped, and the ends of the U are hinged to the furniture item about an axis parallel to the first axis; and the support extends between the ends of the U externally and in a complementary manner to the leg.
-
Said support is integral with the leg, and is adapted to be moved together with the leg and assume two positions:
- 1) parallel and adherent to the (first) platform when the (first) platform is horizontal, or
- 2) substantially orthogonal to the (first) platform when the (first) platform is vertical.
-
When the support is in the second position a user can place objects on the support.
-
An assembly is also proposed comprising:
- a compartment, in one or each of the variants defined herein, and
- said bed, in one or each of the variants defined herein.
-
The advantages of the invention will be made even more evident by the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the bed, illustrated in the attached drawing where:
- fig. 1 shows a side view of a liftable bed placed upright;
- fig. 2 shows a side view of the bed in fig. 1 placed horizontally;
- fig. 3 shows a side view of the bed in fig. 1 placed upright with an ironing board pulled out;
- fig. 4 shows a front view of the bed in fig. 1;
- fig. 5 shows an axonometric view of a variant of the bed;
- fig. 6 shows a front view of a variant of the bed.
-
In the drawings, equal numbers indicate equal parts. To avoid crowding the drawings, some repeated parts are not always numbered.
-
The number 10 indicates a liftable bed, which in the example illustrated is contained in a cabinet or parallelepiped furniture item 12 which lies on a support plane T. The furniture item 12 comprises, for example, two side walls 12L, a bottom 12B, a top 12T and a back 12R which together delimit a compartment 14.
-
Inside the compartment 14, which could also be, for example, a niche in a wall, a base or platform 70 is mounted.
-
Preferably, the compartment 14 can be closed by two hinged doors 90 which are hinged to the walls 12L and can be closed like a book in front of the compartment 14 to conceal the platform 70 positioned vertically.
-
The platform 70 serves to support a person while lying down, and may comprise a perimeter frame 16, e.g. rectangular, with a bedspring or slats 18 in the centre to support an (optional) mattress 20.
-
The platform 70 is pivoted to the walls 12L to be rotatable about a horizontal axis X1 and vary its inclination from vertical (fig. 1, non-use position) to horizontal (fig. 2, when someone can sleep on the bedspring or platform 70), or vice versa.
-
At one end of the platform 70, the one opposite the axis X1, a leg 22 is pivoted, e.g. U- or C-shaped, which is rotatable about a horizontal axis X2, parallel to the axis X1. The leg 22 is pivoted to the platform 70 to be rotatable about the axis X2 and vary its inclination: from parallel to the platform 70 (fig. 1) to orthogonal to the platform 70 (fig. 2), or vice versa. When the leg 22 is placed orthogonal to the platform 70 it acts as a support for the platform 70 on the plane T.
-
On the platform 70 is pivoted an ironing board 40, which is rotatable about a horizontal axis X3, parallel to the axis X1.
-
Preferably the X3, X1 axes are not coincident.
-
For example, the X3 axis corresponds to a rigid horizontal shaft 48 pivoted to the frame 16.
-
The ironing board 40 is pivoted to the platform 70 about the axis X3 and can vary its inclination by moving from a first position to a second position, and vice versa. In the first position, the ironing board 40 is parallel, integral with, and substantially adherent to the platform 70 (fig. 1 and 2, non-use position), so that it can move together with the platform 70 while remaining adherent to the platform 70. For example, when the platform 70 is horizontal, the ironing board 40 remains attached to the platform 70 and suspended above the plane T. In the second position, the ironing board 40 is substantially orthogonal to the platform 70 (fig. 3, use position) when the platform 70 is vertical. Thus, the ironing board 40 is horizontal and a user can iron on it.
-
To improve the stability of the ironing board 40, it preferably comprises a leg 42 for resting on the ground. The leg 42 is pivoted on one side to the ironing board 40 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis X4, parallel to the axis X1. On the opposite side, the leg 42 has a free end 43 that can rest on the plane T.
-
The leg 42 is rotatable to vary its inclination from parallel and substantially adherent to the ironing board 40 (fig. 4, non-use position) to orthogonal or inclined to the ironing board 40 (fig. 3), or vice versa. When the leg 42 is rotated to protrude cantilevered from the ironing board 40 and the platform 70 is vertical, as in Fig. 3, the leg 42 acts as a support for the ironing board 40 on the plane T. For this purpose, the leg 42 has such a length as to position the ironing board 40 substantially horizontal when the free end 43 touches the plane T.
-
Preferably, a blocking means 50 is mounted on the platform 70 or on the ironing board 40 to block the ironing board 40 in the first position. This allows the platform 70 to be moved together with the ironing board 40 with a single movement and more conveniently. For example, the means 50 is a lever pivoted orthogonally on the platform 70 to rotate within a plane parallel and offset with respect to the platform 70 (see arrow F1). Thus the lever may or may not overlap the ironing board 40, and in the case of overlap, the lever by interference opposes the movement of the ironing board 40.
-
Preferably, a blocking means 60 is mounted on the platform 70 or on the leg 22 to block the leg 22 in an angular position of cantilevered projection (e.g. orthogonal or inclined) from the platform 70 when the platform 70 is vertical. Thus, the leg 22 extracted and protruding from the platform 70 can serve as a bar or hanger member.
-
Preferably, a blocking means 68 is mounted on the platform 70 or on the leg 42 or on the ironing board 40 to block the leg 42 in a position adherent to the platform 70. Thus, the leg 42 can be moved together with the platform 70.
-
Preferably, a movable support 80 is mounted on the ironing board 40 or on the leg 42 between two configurations:
- a first configuration in which the support 80 is parallel, flattened and substantially adherent to the ironing board 40 (fig. 1, 2, and 4), and
- a second configuration wherein the support 80 is far from the ironing board 40 and forms a support plane 82 parallel to, and spaced from, the ironing board 40.
-
The plane 82 is convenient for those who iron, for example, to place clothes or the iron boiler on it.
-
Preferably, the support 80 is pivoted on the ironing board 40 about a horizontal axis X5, parallel to the axis X1.
-
In a preferred variant, the support 80 is formed of two pieces 92, 94 articulated to each other. The piece 92 is on one side rotatably pivoted to the ironing board 40 about the axis X5, and on the opposite side it is rotatably pivoted to the piece 94 about an axis X6 parallel to the axis X5. The piece 94 is on one side pivoted to the piece 92, and on the opposite side it has a free end. The piece 92 is configured so as to rotate about the axis X5 in order to be able to arrange itself either parallel and substantially adherent to the platform 70, or orthogonal or inclined with respect to the platform 70 thus distancing the piece 94 from the platform 70. The piece 94 is configured so as to rotate about the axis X6 in order to be able to arrange itself
- either adhering to the ironing board 40 to flatten the support 80 on the platform 70 (in particular when the platform 70 and the board 40 are placed vertically),
- or further away from the board 40 but still substantially parallel to the ironing board 40, (in particular when the platform 70 is placed horizontally).
-
Preferably, a blocking means 86 is mounted on the platform 70 or on the ironing board 40 or on the support 80 to block the support 80 in the first configuration, so that the support 80 can be moved together with the ironing board 40.
-
One or each of the means 68, 60, 86 may be designed as the means 50.
-
The ironing board 40 preferably has an ogival shape, but not necessarily.
-
A variant of liftable bed 100 is illustrated in Fig. 5.
-
The bed 100 comprises a member 102 mounted on the item 12 in a movable manner, e.g. slidable in the direction of the depth of the compartment 14 (orthogonally to the plane containing the axes X1, X3) and/or rotatable about a vertical axis Y1 (parallel to the plane containing the axes X1, X3).
-
Preferably, the member 102 is of elongated shape, e.g. a rod.
-
Preferably, the member 102 is connected to the top 12T, in particular to the surface of the top 12T facing towards the outside of the item 12 or towards the inside of the compartment 14.
-
The member 102 is adapted to be extracted from the compartment 14 and placed protruding cantilevered from the compartment 14, with the advantage that while a person is ironing they can hang objects from the member 102.
-
Preferably, the member 102 has a telescopic structure, so that its length can be varied. This facilitates its placement inside the compartment 14 and increases its useful length for hanging objects.
-
The variant of liftable bed 100 may comprise one or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 ÷ 4. One or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 ÷ 4 may comprise a member 102 as described in Fig. 5.
-
A variant of liftable bed 200 is illustrated in Fig. 6.
-
The bed 200 comprises a clothes-drying structure 202 mounted on the furniture item 12 in a tiltable manner like the ironing board 40. Preferably the clothe-drying structure 202 has a perimeter edge hinged about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis X3, in particular the same axis X3.
-
Preferably, the clothes-drying structure 202 comprises a series of rectilinear members 204 that are parallel and spaced apart (and preferably thread-like), so as to form a grid on which it is possible to hang clothes or linen.
-
The clothes-drying structure 202 is able to be moved like the ironing board 40 and assume two positions:
- 1) parallel and adhering to the platform 70, or
- 2) substantially orthogonal to the platform 70.
-
In the second position, which can be exploited when the platform 70 is vertical, a user can hang, for example, linen or clothes on the members 204.
-
The variant of liftable bed 200 may comprise one or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 + 5. One or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 ÷ 5 may comprise a clothes-drying structure 202 as described in Fig. 6.
-
The liftable bed 200 also illustrates another variant.
-
The leg 22 is provided with a support 210, such as a net or shelf, which may be as rigid as a board or a limp layer of material. The support 210 extends horizontally along the leg 22. In particular, the leg 22 has a U-shape and the ends of the U are hinged to the item 12 about the axis X2; and the support 210 extends between the ends of the U externally and coplanarly to the leg 22.
-
The support 210 is integral with the leg 22, and is able to be moved together with the leg 22 to assume two positions:
- 1) parallel and adhering to the platform 70, or
- 2) substantially orthogonal to the platform 70.
-
To facilitate ironing, when the platform 70 is vertical a user can move the leg 22 to the second position and place objects on the shelf 210.
-
The variant of liftable bed 200 may comprise one or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 ÷ 5. One or each of the variants described in Figs. 1 + 5 may comprise a support 210 as described in Fig. 6.