GB2147500A

GB2147500A - Improvements relating to folding beds

Info

Publication number: GB2147500A
Application number: GB08423786A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Gerald Halling
Original assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Current assignee: AUTO SLEEPERS Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-05
Filing date: 1984-09-20
Publication date: 1985-05-15
Also published as: GB2147500B; GB8326643D0; GB8423786D0

Abstract

A bed is designed to fold up into the roof (1) of a caravan or motor-caravan (although it is equally applicable to other places such as boats or attics). It is in two parts (2, 3) connected by a transverse hinge (4), with the free end of one part (2) anchored to a base (6) by a parallel hinge (5). This part has pneumatic or spring damping (9) which cushions its lowering movement from an upwardly inclined position. A linkage (11) connects the other part (3) to lateral supports (7) and ensures that it adopts a generally horizontal attitude when the first part is either raised or lowered. A catch (8) holds the other part in the raised position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to folding beds This invention relates to folding beds and is primarily concerned with their installation in caravans or motor caravans. However, it is equally applicable to other places, such as boats or attics.

Most non-portable folding beds hinge about the longitudinal edge, and when stowed the opposite edge is lifted-lowering it would spill the mattress and bedclothes. However, this requires an unfettered wall spaced about six feet long and at least two feet high, which is not always available in the cramped conditions of a caravan. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the mattress and bedclothes, when folded between the frame and the wall, the hinge must be set out from the wall, thus making the bed, in use, encroach further into the living space than a fixed one. Also, folding a bed up against a side wall throws weight further away from the centre line and can affect the balance of a caravan.

An alternative is to stow the bed up in the roof, but a problem here is that sloping ends often mean that a full six foot stretch is not available.

According to the present invention there is provided a folding bed having two parts transversely hinged together, a first part having its free end pivotally mounted on a base and being movable between a generally horizontal or lowered position and an upwardly inclined or raised position, and the second part having a linkage to the base arranged to make it adopt a generally horizontal attitude in both said positions of first part, there being damping means for restraining downward movement and means for retaining the second part in position when the first part is raised.

Thus in the stowed position, the bed assumes a shallow inverted V-shape which can fold into an angled roof, with the second part level and subtending an obtuse angle with the first part. To make the bed ready for use, the holding means is released and the parts are lowered, flattening out the obtuse angle until both parts rest on the fixed base.

Preferabiy, the damping means will act between said first part and the base. For example, there may be a telescopic strut at each side providing pneumatic damping, although springs could be used. The linkage between the second part and the base will conveniently be single struts, one at each side, which extend generally parallel to the first part of the bed. The holding means can be a positive catch or hook which engages the free end of the second part.

The base will generally provide lateral support for both parts in the lowered position, for example in the form of shelves or brackets along each side. When the bed is raised, there will be unfettered space between such supports.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a folding bed, and Figure 2 is a side view of the bed.

The bed is to be installed in a motor caravan whose roofline is indicated by 1. The bed is in two parts, the first part 2 being about half the length of the second part 3 and being connected to it by a transverse hinge 4.

The opposite end of the part 2 is pivoted at 5 to a transverse rear shelf 6 fixed inside the sloping rear end of the roof 1. Further fixed shelves 7 extend horizontally forwards of this along each side of the motor caravan, and the lateral span of the bed is sufficient to overlap them. In the lowered in-use position (dotted lines in Fig. 2) the sides of the bed rest on these shelves, but the bed can be raised to a stowed position following the roofline 1, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. It is held there by a catch 8 mounted on the underside of the roof and engaging the free end of the part 3.

There is then free space between the shelves 7 and head-room up to the underside of the bed.

To control and assist the movement between the two positions there is a telescopic strut 9 at each side of the first part 2, having one end pivoted to a mid-length point of the part 2 and the other end to a fitting 10 on the shelf 7. This incorporates a pneumatic damper which allows easy and rapid raising of the part 2 from the horizontal to the inclined position, but which resists movement in the opposite direction, thus easing the bed down gently. As mentioned above, it could incorporate a spring. The second part 3 also has a pivoted strut 11 to a shelf fitting 1 2 at each side, but these are of fixed length and incline in the opposite direction, generally parallel to the first part 2. When the catch 8 is released, the struts 11 will thrust the second part 3 forwards as the struts 9 slowly compress, thus straightening out the bed from its inverted Vshape until it settles in the levelled-out position supported by the shelves 7.

1. A folding bed having two parts tranversely hinged together, a first part having its free end pivotally mounted on a base and being movable between a generally horizontal or lowered position and an upwardly inclined or raised position, and the second part having a linkage to the base arranged to make it adopt a generally horizontal attitude in both said positions of first part, there being damping means for restraining downward movement and means for retaining the second part in position when the first part is raised.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to folding beds This invention relates to folding beds and is primarily concerned with their installation in caravans or motor caravans. However, it is equally applicable to other places, such as boats or attics. Most non-portable folding beds hinge about the longitudinal edge, and when stowed the opposite edge is lifted-lowering it would spill the mattress and bedclothes. However, this requires an unfettered wall spaced about six feet long and at least two feet high, which is not always available in the cramped conditions of a caravan. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the mattress and bedclothes, when folded between the frame and the wall, the hinge must be set out from the wall, thus making the bed, in use, encroach further into the living space than a fixed one. Also, folding a bed up against a side wall throws weight further away from the centre line and can affect the balance of a caravan. An alternative is to stow the bed up in the roof, but a problem here is that sloping ends often mean that a full six foot stretch is not available. According to the present invention there is provided a folding bed having two parts transversely hinged together, a first part having its free end pivotally mounted on a base and being movable between a generally horizontal or lowered position and an upwardly inclined or raised position, and the second part having a linkage to the base arranged to make it adopt a generally horizontal attitude in both said positions of first part, there being damping means for restraining downward movement and means for retaining the second part in position when the first part is raised. Thus in the stowed position, the bed assumes a shallow inverted V-shape which can fold into an angled roof, with the second part level and subtending an obtuse angle with the first part. To make the bed ready for use, the holding means is released and the parts are lowered, flattening out the obtuse angle until both parts rest on the fixed base. Preferabiy, the damping means will act between said first part and the base. For example, there may be a telescopic strut at each side providing pneumatic damping, although springs could be used. The linkage between the second part and the base will conveniently be single struts, one at each side, which extend generally parallel to the first part of the bed. The holding means can be a positive catch or hook which engages the free end of the second part. The base will generally provide lateral support for both parts in the lowered position, for example in the form of shelves or brackets along each side. When the bed is raised, there will be unfettered space between such supports. For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a folding bed, and Figure 2 is a side view of the bed. The bed is to be installed in a motor caravan whose roofline is indicated by 1. The bed is in two parts, the first part 2 being about half the length of the second part 3 and being connected to it by a transverse hinge 4. The opposite end of the part 2 is pivoted at 5 to a transverse rear shelf 6 fixed inside the sloping rear end of the roof 1. Further fixed shelves 7 extend horizontally forwards of this along each side of the motor caravan, and the lateral span of the bed is sufficient to overlap them. In the lowered in-use position (dotted lines in Fig. 2) the sides of the bed rest on these shelves, but the bed can be raised to a stowed position following the roofline 1, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. It is held there by a catch 8 mounted on the underside of the roof and engaging the free end of the part 3. There is then free space between the shelves 7 and head-room up to the underside of the bed. To control and assist the movement between the two positions there is a telescopic strut 9 at each side of the first part 2, having one end pivoted to a mid-length point of the part 2 and the other end to a fitting 10 on the shelf 7. This incorporates a pneumatic damper which allows easy and rapid raising of the part 2 from the horizontal to the inclined position, but which resists movement in the opposite direction, thus easing the bed down gently. As mentioned above, it could incorporate a spring. The second part 3 also has a pivoted strut 11 to a shelf fitting 1 2 at each side, but these are of fixed length and incline in the opposite direction, generally parallel to the first part 2.When the catch 8 is released, the struts 11 will thrust the second part 3 forwards as the struts 9 slowly compress, thus straightening out the bed from its inverted Vshape until it settles in the levelled-out position supported by the shelves 7. CLAIMS

2. A folding bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damping means act between said first part and the base

3. A folding bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damping means comprise a telescopic strut at each side providing pneumatic damping.

4. A folding bed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damping means comprise spring means at each side.

5. A folding bed as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the linkage between the second part and the base comprises single struts at each side which extend generally parallel to the first part of the bed.

6. A folding bed as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holding means is a catch or hook engagable with the free end of the second part.

7. A folding bed as claimed in any preced g l9 claim, wherein the base provides lateral 9! Fs r rt for both parts in the lowered position.

8. A folding bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A caravan or motor caravan equipped with a folding bed as claimed in any preceding claim.