GB2105981A - Beds - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible bed comprises front and rear upright frame plates (B and C) joined on each side by a plurality of support legs (a) formed by pairs of support links (1 and 2) pivotally connected to each other so as to be X-shaped when in the open position and closable so as to permit the length of the bed to be contracted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bed This invention relates to a bed which may be collapsed or folded up when not in use to facilitate storage. The frame of a conventional bed constructed so as to be collapsible to reduce its length usually consists of a plurality of small bed frame sections hinged together so as to be piled up one above another. Thus, the length of the bed frame in its collapsed state is not less than the length of one of the frame sections. If the frame sections are made shorter, the reduction in the length of the collapsed bed as achieved only at the expense of increased height of the piled up frame sections and the bed is less stable and more difficult to collapse and erect.

The present invention consists in a collapsible bed comprising front and rear upright frame plates joined on each side by a plurality of support legs formed by pairs of support links pivotably connected to each other so as to be X-shaped when in the open position and closable so as to permit the length of the bed to be contracted.

The drawings show embodiments of the invention, in which: Figure 1 -3showafirstembodiment, Figure 1 being a plan view, Figure 2 a side view and Figure 3 a partially enlarge side view of the embodiment, Figure 4-6 show a second embodiment, Figure 4 being a side view, Figure 5 a plan of the embodiment showing a stopper and Figure 6 a side view of the stopper, Figure 7 - 10 show a third embodiment, Figure 7 being a plan, Figure 8 a side view, Figure 9 a partially enlarged side view of the embodiment and Figure 10 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used, Figure 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment, Figure 11 being a side view and Figure 12 a partially enlarged side view of the embodiment.

Figure 13-15 show a fifth embodiment, Figure 13 being a plan, Figure 14 a side view of the embodiment and Figure 15 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used, Figure 16-18 show a sixth embodiment, Figure 16 being a partially cutaway plan view, Figure 17 a side view of the embodiment and Figure 18 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used.

Figure 19 - 22 show a seventh embodiment, Figure 19 being a plan view, Figure 20 a side view of the embodiment, Figure 21 a longitudinal sectional side view of the embodiment when it is not used and Figure 22 a transverse sectional plan view of same embodiment.

Figure 23 - 26 show a eighth embodiment, Figure 23 being a partially cutaway plan view, Figure 24 a side view of the embodiment, Figure 25 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used and Figure 26 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

Figure 27 - 29 show a nineth embodiment, Figure 27 being a plan view, Figure 28 a side view of the embodiment and Figure 29 a side view of the embodiment when the front half is inclined.

Figure 30 - 32 show a tenth embodiment, Figure 30 being a plan view, Figure 31 a side view of the embodiment and Figure 32 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used, Figure 33 - 37 show a eleventh embodiment, Figure 33 being a plan view, Figure 34 a side view, Figure 35 an exploded perspective view of the embodiment, Figure 36 a longitudinal sectional front view taken along the line X-X of Figure 36 and Figure 37 a side view of the portion in Figure 36.

Figure 38-41 show a twelveth embodiment, Figure 38 being a plan view, Figure 39 a side view of the embodiment, Figure 40 a drawing for describing the operation of the embodiment when it is not used and Figure 41 a side view of the embodiment when it is not used.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode by way of example, Figures 1 to 3 show a bed in its opened state ready for use. In the drawings, pairs of supports links are designated by (1) and (2). These support links (1), (2) are made of hard material such as metal, hard synthetic resin, plywood, etc. A plurality of support legs (a) are constituted from the pairs of support links superposed and pivotably secured to each other in the middle with a pin (11)so as to be X-shaped when in the open position. Each support link (1) of one support leg (a) is pivotably secured to each support link (2) of another support leg successively with pins (12), (12') to constitute left and right side legs (A), (A').Accordingly the side legs (A), (A') as a whole can be adustably expanded and contracted with respect to the whole length, since each support leg (a) is capable of being opened or closed. Also, on the pin (12) for interconnecting each upper portion of said support legs (a) is provided an arm (3) for pivotting and an another arm (3) latched to it which will be described later. Said left and right side legs (A), (A') are provided at both ends with front and rear, upright frame plates (B), (C). The front and rear frame plates (B), (C) are provided on the upper portion of the side surface with a vertical guide slot (13) which engages a pin (16) provided on the upper end of the support links (2), (1) on the upper portion of both ends of side legs (A), (A').The upper end of the support links (2), (1) on the ends of side legs (A), (A') moves up and down in the guide slot (13) to contract and expand the side legs (A), (A'). Also, the left and right pins (12'), (12') which interconnect the lower portions of the respective support legs (a) constituting the side legs (A), (A') are connected with each other by a connecting rod to prevent the left and right side legs (A), (A') from diverging or converging.Also, rollers (17), (17') facilitate the expansion and contraction of the side legs (A), (A'), and the roller (17') provided in each of the front and rear upright frame plates (B), (C) may be provided with a brake (14) to prevent the roller (17') from rotation (Figure 4-6). Thus the whole length of the side legs (A), (A') can be conveniently set to a desired length by applying the brake (14) to the roller (17').

The arms (3), (3) have such a total length as can span the upper portions of the left and right support links (1), (2) when said support legs (a) are opened to the X-shaped position. The width of the side face of the arm (3) facing the inside of the support link (2) is equal to or less than that of the support link (2).

Each of these arms (3) is provided on the lower edge of one end with 3 latching notch (3a) and is pivotally secured at the other end to said interconnecting pin (12) upon which the next notch (3a) may be latched. Thus, the support legs (a) opened to the X-shaped position are held in position by the arms (3) latching the pins (12) respectively. Aiso, when a plurality of notches (3a) are provided along the lower edge of each arm (3) at predetermined intervals as shown in Figure 11 and 12, the height and the total length of the X-shaped opened support legs (a) can be conveniently changed at will.In addition, the provision of such notches (3a) can prevent the X-shaped opened support legs (a) from expansion and contraction, so that a predetermined length of the side legs (A), (A') can be maintained without the brake (14).

Also, side arm (3) may be pivotably secured to an intermediate point on the support link (2) with a pin (15) to be latched on a latching pin (15') provided at an intermediate point of the support link (1) of the next pair (Figure 4 and Figure 11 - 17). The location of the arm (3) at an intermediate point on the support leg (a) permits the support links (1), (2) between the upper portion of the support leg (a) and the arm (3) mounting portion to prevent mats (5) and other items from dropping out, since, as will be later described, the left and right arms (3) are spanned by a plate (4) in which the mat (5) and other items are mounted so that the mat (5) is fitted between the upper ends of support links (1), (2) constituting the left and right side legs (A), (A').

The respective arms (3), (3) mounted on said left and right side legs (A), (A') are spanned by flat mounting plates (4), (4) on which a mat (5) is mounted to form a bed. The mounting plates (4') shown in Figure 7 - 9 and made of plywood or steel plate are formed to bulge upwards in the middle in the longitudinal direction to produce vertical elasticity. Such a formation of the mounting plates provides a bed with satisfactory cushioning. As will be later described, an elastic member (18) may be interposed between the mounting plates (4') and arms (3) to improve the cushioning effect (Figure 30 - 34).

Figure 10 shows the state of the bed when not in use in which the side legs (A), (A') are contracted so as to be easily storable in a suitable indoor place or brought into a vehicle such as an automobile. To achieve this condition, each arm (3) is unlatched at one end so that the front and rear vertical frame plates (B), (C) can be urged towards each other to fold up each X-shaped opened support leg (a) making up the side legs (A) to the closed I-shaped position to the bed to be transported with the aid of handles (19).

Figure 13-15 show mounting plates (4) which are connected to each other by interwoven strings (21) along both sides of the length of the bed. Thus, the mounting plates (4) can be mounted on the arms (3) without being fixed thereto, and folded separately by themselves. Further, the bed frames can be separated from the mounting plates (4) so that they can be easily transported in the closed state (Figures 14 and 15j.

Figure 16-18 show a spongy mat (5') provided throughout the whole surface with spaces and fixedly attached to the mounting plates (4). This is a simple construction occupying a small space and facilities handling of the bed before and after its use.

Figure 19 - 20 show a bed which can be formed so as to be shorter when closed. The pins (12), (12') interconnect the support legs (a) constituting the side legs (A), (A') such that the support legs (a) are located inside one after another toward the rear upright frame plate (C). Thus, as shown in Figure 22, the connecting pins (12), (12') have an elongated length such that the pin (12) projecting from the support link (1) interconnects another support (2) and arm (3), leaving the space for the thickness of the support links (1), (2), while being provided on the end with a portion engaging the arm (3). When the side legs (A), (A') are closed, the respective support legs (1) constituting the side legs (A), (A') are combined with each other inside one another so that the total length of the support legs when closed can be made shorter.

Figure 23 - 26 show the arrangement of mats (5) to be housed when the bed is not in used. As shown in Figure 23 and 24, a plurality of separate mats (5) mounted on the respective mounting plates (4) are housed in a cabinet (20) mounted on the closed bed frame when the mats are not in use, (Figures 25 and 26). Further said cabinet (20) may be integrally fixed to the rear frame plate (C). Such a construction permits the mats to be housed tidily without marring the appearance in the room when they are not used.

Figure 27 - 29 show the side legs (A), (A') near the front upright frame plate (B) side, which are capable of being inclined upwards. The interconnected lower portions of the left and right side legs (A), (A') near the frame plate (B) are formed so as to be separable, while the ends of the support links (1), (2) are mounted on the frame plate (B) so as to be vertically moved therein. Since the front portion of the bed frame can be inclined upwards when it is used, a user can lie down on the bed with the upper half of his body inclined and read books conveniently.

Figure - 32 show a bed in which the total length of each support leg (a') constituting the side legs (A), (A') is elongated gradually as it approaches one of the upright frame plates so that the height of the mounting plate (4) on which the mat is mounted is made higher and highertowardstheframe plate.

Accordingly slots (21), (21) are provided at the pivots interconnecting the support links (1), (2) constituting each support leg (1') which are made of longer total length towards the frame plate C, and fastened by a connecting bolt (22). Further the outside angular ends of the left and right arms (3), (3) for mounting the mounting plate (4) shown in the drawings are cut to prevent the mats (5), (5') mounted on the mounting plates 4 from wear.

Figure 33 - 35 show a bed in which the side legs (A), (A') and others are separably formed to be conveniently housed and transported when they are not used. The bed frame of bed in use, shown in Figure 33 and 34, is formed to permit the respective support legs (a) constituting the side legs (A), (A') to be separated independently while permitting each of these support legs (a) the mounting plates (4) and the arms (3) to be independently disassembled, as shown in Figure 35. Further, each of elastic members (18) in the drawings is provided on the upper and lower portions of the cylidrical body respectively with projections (18'), (18') to be mounted removably on the mounting plate (4') and arm (3) respec timely for improving the elasticity of the mounting plate (4'), as shown in Figure 36 and 37.

Figure 38 - 41 show a bed in which the lower portions of the connections of the left and right side legs (A), (A') are formed so as to be separable at the middle of the length of the side legs so that the front portion of the bed frame can be superposed on the rear one when they are not in use. The lateral width of the front portion of the bed frame is formed smaller than that of the rear one to permit the superposition of the front portion on the rear one.

Such a construction permits the length of bed to be halved compared with that of bed in use, and has an effect on the remarkable reduction of the area in which the bed is placed.

This bed construction does not necessitate the prior folding of the bed frame carried out by raising and lowering or pivotting but permits the bed frame to be simply pushed or pulled horizontally without any force to lift and lower the bed frame so that the bed frame can be easily, conveniently and rapidly expanded and contracted. Further, the support legs constituting respectively the left and right side legs contact the floor stably to distribute the load without deforming the side legs. Since the side legs are constituted from two sets of the X-shaped support legs, they can be installed stably and firmly on the surface of floor without any fear of deformation.

Further, since the X-shaped support legs can be closed to overlap each other up to the width of the support links, they are compactly and easily housed in a cabinet or the like. Also, since the arms are mounted on the respective support links of the support legs constituting pivotably and slidably the side legs so as to be directed freely in any direction, the mounting plates, mats, etc can be superposed tidily on each other without great bulk.Thus, the whole volume of the bed frame is not increased so that the space occupation ratio of the bed frame, when not used, is not increased.

Claims (11)

1. A collapsible bed comprising front and rear upright frame plates joined on each side by a plurality of support legs formed by pairs of support links pivotably connected to each other so as to be X-shaped when in the open position and closable so as to permit the length of the bed to be contracted.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein arms on which mounting plates are mounted and are provided on the middle or upper portions of the respective inside support links constituting the support legs.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 2, in which the arm mounted on the inside support link constituting the support leg is provided on the end with a latching notch which latches an engaging projection provided on the inside of another support link constituting the support leg.

4. A bed as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the mounting plates span the arms provided on the left and right legs and bulge upwardly in the middle in the longitudinal direction.

5. A bed as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, in which the arms mounted on the support links have a width at the support link side equal to or less that that of the support link.

6. A bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which one front portion of the support legs on each side is arranged to be inclined.

7. A bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the support links forming the support legs in length gradually towards one of the upright frame plates.

8. A bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the support legs on each side are formed to be separable.

9. A bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the lower portions of the middle of the side legs in the longitudinal direction are formed to be separable so that a front portion of the bed frame can be superposed on a rear portion ofthe bed.

10. A bed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which a mounting plate is provided over the whole surface with spaces.

11. A collapsible bed substantially as described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.