GB2361176A

GB2361176A - Visitor bed with collapsible legs secondary bed storable under primary bed

Info

Publication number: GB2361176A
Application number: GB0008749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wilkinson
Original assignee: ABF Ltd
Current assignee: ABF Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-11
Filing date: 2000-04-11
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-11
Also published as: GB2361176B; GB0008749D0

Abstract

A bed 20, which may be a secondary bed storable under a primary bed 10 of a visitor bed 1, comprises collapsible legs 30a, 30b moveable between folded and erect positions, at least one of which is connected to the bed 20 by a connector mechanism comprising a pivot member 40 received in a slotted aperture 38 and a guide member 39 received in an arcuate guide slot 36. The guide slot 36 features a furrow 37 at one end such that the erect leg position extremity of the pivotal movement of the legs 30a, 30b, the guide member 39 is moveable into the furrow 37 to latch the legs 30a, 30b into the erect position. The furrow 37 may extend approximately vertically and the guide member 39 may be biased into the furrow 37 by the weight of the bed 20.

Description

2361176 1 A BED The present invention relates to a bed and more

particularly, but not especially, to a visitor bed which is a bed unit in which a secondary bed for occasional use is stored under a main bed when not in use.

A conventional visitor bed comprises a floor-standing main bed with a storage space therebelow for the secondary bed. In order that it can be accommodated below the main bed the secondary bed has collapsible support legs which in a collapsed configuration permit the secondary bed to be stored under the main bed. When the secondary bed is to be used it is moved out from under the main bed and the legs are erected so that the bed mattress is at a suitable distance from the floor.

Figures 1 to 3 show a known design of visitor bed generally indicated by reference numeral 1 and comprising a main bed 10 under which there is normally disposed a secondary bed 20. In figure 1 the secondary bed 20 is shown in a position where it has been moved out from under the main bed 10. At each end of the secondary bed there is provided a pair of collapsible legs 21 (hidden in figure 1) pivotally connected to a frame member 22 fixed to the underside of the bed. The legs 21 are biased by springs to the erect configuration shown in figure 2 but unless the legs 21 are locked in that position the weight of the bed forces them to the collapsed configuration shown in figure 3. A locking catch 23 is pivotally connected at one end to one of the frame members 22 and has an elongate linear slot 24 that receives a pin 25 on one of the legs. The slot 24 has a detent 26 at one end. During movement of the legs 21 between the collapsed and erect positions or vice versa the pin 25 rides in the slot 24. When the legs 21 are erect the catch 23 is manually depressed so that the pin 25 enters the detent 26 thereby preventing collapse of the legs. Reverse movement of the catch 23 releases the pin 25 and allows the legs 21 to collapse under the weight of the bed 20.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bed having collapsible legs that are moveable between folded and erect positions, at least one of the legs is connected to the bed by means connector mechanism comprising a pivot member that is pivotally received in a slotted aperture and a guide member 2 received in an arcuate guide slot disposed radially outboard of the pivot aperture and pivot member, the guide slot having a furrow at or near one end, such that pivotal movement of the leg about a pivot axis of the pivot member is guided by relative movement of the guide member in the guide slot, wherein when the guide member is aligned with said furrow the leg is erect and the guide member is moveable into the furrow so as to latch the leg in the erect position.

In the erect position the furrow preferably extends approximately vertically and the guide member is preferably biased into the furrow by virtue of the weight of the bed. The arrangement provides for simple and rapid erection of the leg without the need to operate a separate locking or latching mechanism.

The slotted aperture is ideally elongate so as to permit movement of the pivot member radially of the pivot axis when the leg is erect.

The connector mechanism may comprise a first connector element directly or indirectly fixed relative to the leg and in which is formed the guide slot. The connector element may be integral with the leg and may be in the form of a plate disposed at the end of the leg nearest the bed.

In one preferred embodiment the pivot aperture is formed in said first connector element.

The connector mechanism preferably comprises or further comprises a second connector element fixed indirectly or directly to the bed and on which is formed the pivot member and/or the guide member.

The pivot and guide members may be in the form of pins.

The second connector element may be a bracket on which the bed is supported and the bracket is preferably fixed to interior portion of a frame of the bed.

The pivot and guide members may have grooves and may be retained in the respective pivot aperture and guide slot by retaining plates that locate in said grooves.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a visitor bed unit comprising a main bed and a secondary bed for storage under the main bed, the secondary bed being a bed as defined above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.

3 A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known visitor bed showing a secondary bed moved out from under a main bed; Figure 2 is a side schematic view of the secondary bed on figure 1 only with erected legs; Figure 3) shows part of the secondary bed of figures 1 and 2 depicted with the legs folded; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pair of legs for a bed according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective close-up view of a connector mechanism of the present invention; Figure 6 is a an end view of the legs of figure 4 shown attached to a bed (represented in dotted line); Figure 7 is a view of one leg of the pair shown in figure 6 in the direction of arrow A; bed; and Figure 8 shows side and plan view of a support bracket between the leg and Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a connecting plate of the leg of figure 7; Figure 1 i 0 is a side view of one of the legs shown locked in an erect position; Figure 11 is a side view of the leg of figure 10 shown unlocked and moving towards a folded position.

Referring now to the drawings, the visitor bed of the present invention is configured broadly in the same way as the prior art design described above in relation to figures 1 and 2. The present invention lies in the mechanism by which the legs are pivotally connected to the secondary bed so as to allow movement of the legs between erect and collapsed positions.

One pair of legs 30 of the secondary bed is shown separate from the bed in figure 4. The legs 30a, 30b are manufactured from box-section metal and are spaced 4 apart laterally of the bed and joined by a lateral brace 31 again of box- section. The lateral brace is fitted with two castors 32 which are used to slide the secondary bed 20 relative to the main bed 10 when the legs 30 are collapsed. At the top of each leg 30 there is a connector plate 33 of approximately circular configuration and which is pivotally connected to a bracket 34 to which, in turn, a frame 35 of the bed is connected. The bracket 34 and connector plate 331 are shown in more detail in figures 5 to 9.

The connector plate 33) has an arcuate slot 36 adjacent part of its periphery.

The slot 36 terminates with a furrow J317 ( or any suitable form of depression or indent) at one end. A second smaller central slot 38 disposed roughly at the centre of the plate 33 and extends substantially vertically when the legs 30 are in the erect position. The bracket 34 is L-shaped in section and both limbs are connected by screws to the inside and underside of the secondary bed frame 35. Upper and lower fixed pins 39, 40 are supported on the major limb of the L-shaped bracket 3 A. The longitudinal axes of the pins 39, 40 project perpendicularly to the plane of the major limb and are designed to be received in the respective slots J316, 38 in the connector plate 33 of the leg 30 where they are retained by washers 41 that locate in annular grooves 42 in the circumference of each pin 39, 40.

The leg pair 3 0 is shown locked in the erect position in figures 7 and 10 where the bed 20 is supported off the ground and is ready for use. In this position the upper one of the pins 39 is engaged in the furrow 37 of the arcuate slot 36 and the lower pin is located at the lower end of the central slot 38. In this position the pins 39, 40 are maintained in their respective positions relative to the slots 36, 38 by virtue of the weight of the bed 20 and the legs 30 are effectively latched against movement. When it is desired to fold the legs into the collapsed position the bed is lifted or pushed upwards relative to the legs so as to move the pins 3) 9, 40 vertically in the furrow 3 7 and the central slot 38. When the upper pin 39 reaches the top of the furrow 37 it is possible to pivot the leg 30 about the lower pin 40 (in the anti- clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow of figure 11) so that the arcuate slot 36 passes over the upper pin 39 and the leg 30 can be moved to the folded position represented by the horizontal dotted outline to the right in figure 11. In this position the upper pin 39 occupies the opposite end of the slot 36 to the fl=ow 37 and coincides with the centre of the circle described by the arcuate slot 36. Erection of the bed is simplified in that the action of lifting the bed causes pivotal movement of the legs relative to the bed, the movement being guided by the arcuate slots until the upper pin 39 is latched in the furrow 37.

The present invention allows the secondary bed to be erected and collapsed easily without the need to operate a locking catch. Since the upper pin is automatically guided around the arcuate slot when the bed is lifted the legs move into the erect position with little or no manual encouragement. This eliminates the need for springs components associated with the legs and therefore the connector mechanism has a limited number of components.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing ftom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the connector plate and pins may be reversed, that is, the connector plate may be fixed relative to the bed and the pins located on the leg. Moreover the elements of the connector mechanism may be fixed to the bed indirectly via other components.

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Claims

A bed having collapsible legs that are moveable between folded and erect positions, at least one of the legs being connected to the bed by a connector mechanism comprising a pivot member that is pivotally received in a slotted aperture and a guide member received in an arcuate guide slot disposed radially outboard of the pivot aperture and pivot member, the guide slot having a furrow at or near one end, such that pivotal movement of the leg about a pivot axis of the pivot member is guided by relative movement of the guide member in the guide slot, wherein when the guide member is aligned with said furrow the leg is erect and the guide member is moveable into the furrow so as to latch the leg in the erect position.
2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein in the erect position the furrow extends approximately vertically and the guide member is biased into the furrow by virtue of the weight of the bed.
A bed according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slotted aperture is elongate so as to permit movement of the pivot member radially of the pivot axis when the leg is erect.
4. A bed according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connector mechanism comprises a first connector element directly or indirectly fixed relative to the leg and in which is formed the guide slot.
5. A bed according to claim 4, wherein the first connector element is in the form of a plate disposed at the end of the leg nearest the bed.
A bed according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the pivot aperture is formed in said first connector element.
7 A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the connector mechanism comprises or further comprises a second connector element fixed indirectly or directly to the bed and in which is formed the pivot member.
8. A bed according to claim 7, wherein the pivot member is a pin.
9.

A bed according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the guide member is formed in the second connector element.
10. A bed according to claim 9 wherein the guide member is a pin.
11. A bed according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the second connector element is a bracket on which the bed is supported.
A bed according to claim 11, wherein the bracket is fixed to interior portion of a frame of the bed.
13. A bed according to any preceding claim, wherein the pivot and guide members have grooves and are retained in the respective pivot aperture and guide slot by retaining plates that locate in said grooves.
14. A visitor bed unit comprising a main bed and a secondary bed for storage under the main bed, the secondary bed being defined according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
15. A bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1,2 and 4 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.

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16. A visitor bed unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1,2 and 4 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.