GB2474630A

GB2474630A - Storage bed

Info

Publication number: GB2474630A
Application number: GB0917738A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Harley
Original assignee: IND DEVICES
Current assignee: IND DEVICES
Priority date: 2009-10-09
Filing date: 2009-10-09
Publication date: 2011-04-27
Also published as: GB0917738D0

Abstract

A storage bed 10 comprising a bed frame 14 for supporting a mattress; a bed base 12 enclosing a storage space; and at least one electric linear actuator 16, the bed frame being hinged to the bed base, the actuator 16 being connected at one end to the bed base and at the opposite end to the bed frame, such that the bed frame can be raised and lowered to gain access to the storage space. The actuator may be an acme lead screw, with a stroke length of from 150mm to 350mm. The bed preferably has a self contained power supply such as a battery, and a controller. The bed may also comprise a gas strut or spring. Also claimed is a method of manufacturing such a storage bed.

Description

I

Storage Bed The present invention relates to a storage bed.

Beds are known in which the space below the mattress is utilised for storage. For example, beds are available in which drawers are fitted in the base of the bed. This type of bed requires there to be sufficient space around the bed to allow the drawers to be pulled out so they are not suitable for use in confined spaces such as in caravans, narrow boats etc. An alternative storage bed employs a hinged bed frame so that the bed frame and mattress can be raised to allow access to the storage space underneath. This type of bed is useful in confined spaces because the bed can occupy most of the available floor space in a room whilst maximising the storage space.

The hinged bed frame may be fitted with gas struts to aid lifting of the bed frame and mattress and supporting the bed frame and mattress when it in the raised position.

Gas struts employ pressurised gas to exert a force which lifts the bed frame and holds it in the raised position. The user must then overcome this force to return the bed frame and mattress to its original position. The gas strut exerts a fixed force, the magnitude of which cannot be easily modified after installation. The force is selected to lift a specified weight which will be based on the weight of the bed frame and mattress.

This may not be sufficient in some cases, for example, if the mattress is exchanged for a heavier one or if heavy bed linen is used. In such cases, the user is forced to hold the bed frame up or prop it up with whatever is available. If the user's grip slips or the prop breaks, the bed frame will fall down, leading to a risk of injury e.g. the user's hand * 25 could become trapped. In some cases, the user will not be aware that the gas strut is not strong enough so that the bed frame falls down without warning. This is especially a...

dangerous if children are in the vicinity.

S..... * .

One option would be to increase the force exerted by the gas strut. Whilst this might ensure that the bed frame remains in the raised position even with heavy mattresses, it would make it very difficult for the user to return the frame to the lowered position.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a storage bed comprising a bed frame for supporting a mattress; a bed base enclosing a storage space; and at least one electric linear actuator, the bed frame being hinged to the bed base, wherein one end of the electric linear actuator is fixed to the bed base and the opposite end of the linear actuator is fixed to the bed frame, such that the bed frame can be raised and lowered to gain access to the storage space.

The use of an electric linear actuator allows the bed frame to be raised, supported and lowered without physical effort from the user; the user simply activates the actuator to raise and lower the bed frame. Once the bed frame is in the raised position, no further power is required to hold the bed frame in that position. In this way, the user can be confident that the bed frame will remain raised so that the storage space can be accessed without the risk of the bed frame falling down and causing an injury.

The electric linear actuator (electrically operated linear actuator) translates a rotary action into a linear motion i.e. push and pull. The actuator comprises a direct current (DC) motor. When supplied with an electric current the motor shaft rotates and drives a set of gears to the lead screw. The lead screw is fitted with a nut which moves up and down and this nut is connected to a tube such that linear motion results.

Commonly the actuator will be fitted with microswitches which stop the motor when the actuator reaches either end of the movement.

In one embodiment the electric linear actuator comprises an Acme lead screw. A conventional screw thread is approximately triangular in cross-section whereas an Acme screw has a flattened apex. An Acme lead screw is advantageous because it helps to prevent the nut back driving (i.e. reversing its direction of movement).

The actuator comprises a tube which extends/retracts when power is supplied. The maximum length of the extension is known as the stroke length. In one series of embodiments, the actuator has a stroke length of from 150 to 350mm, from 200 to 300mm or around 250mm.

*..S..

* In one embodiment, the bed further comprises a gas strut, one end of which is fixed to the bed base and the other end of which is fixed to the bed frame. In a particular embodiment, the bed comprises exactly one electric linear actuator and one gas strut.

For example, a conventional storage bed having two gas struts could be modified by replacing one of the gas struts with an electric linear actuator.

In another embodiment, the storage bed comprises exactly two electric linear actuators. This is particularly useful for double beds where the bed frame and mattress will be heavier than in a single bed.

It will be understood that the electric linear actuator will require a power supply in order to raise and lower the bed frame. In one embodiment, a I 2V DC or 24V DC supply is employed. In one embodiment, the actuator draws a current of from 0 to 3 A. Conveniently, the storage bed will further comprise a self contained power source such as a battery. Alternatively, a central power source could be employed, for example, a generator, alternator or mains' supply.

The storage bed may further comprise a switch to activate the electric linear actuator.

The switch may comprise three settings: raise', lower' and off'.

The storage bed may further comprise a controller. The controller would be useful in a number of ways. A controller can be programmed with safety features, for example to provide overload protection or automatically cut the power to the motor if the actuator is hindered e.g. if something were to become trapped between the bed frame and the bed base. Furthermore the controller could also be programmed such that the user can vary the power supplied to the actuator in response to the load to be raised.

Commonly, the controller will have two signal inputs, one for each direction of the motor. Suitable controllers include a 12V DC and a 24V DC controller and/or a controller which draws a current of no more than 8A or from 0 to 3 A. * ** * , . a. * *...

s 25 In one embodiment the bed further comprises a mattress.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the manufacture of the storage bed of the first aspect comprising providing a bed frame for supporting a mattress; a bed base enclosing a storage space; and I..... . * at least one electric linear actuator, the bed frame being hinged to the bed base, and fixing one end of the electric linear actuator to the bed base and the opposite end of the electric linear actuator to the bed frame such that the bed frame can be raised and lowered to gain access to the storage space.

It will be understood that the storage bed of the invention may be obtained by modifying a conventional storage bed. In one embodiment, the method additionally comprises removing a gas strut that is fixed to the bed base and the bed frame.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of an electric linear actuator in the manufacture of a storage bed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following figures.

Figure la: a side view of a storage bed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention wherein the bed frame is in the lowered position.

Figure lb: a side view of the storage bed of figure la wherein the bed frame is in the raised position.

Figures Ia and lb are side views of a storage bed 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The storage bed 10 comprises a bed base 12 and hinged thereto, a bed frame 14. When in use as a bed, a mattress (not shown) is placed on the bed frame 14. An electric linear actuator 16 is connected at one end to the bed base 12 and at the other end to the bed frame 14. The bed base 12 is formed from a scaffold of slats 18 for strength together with panels 20 which define the walls of the bed base 12 and therefore the available storage space below the bed frame 14.

The electric linear actuator 16 is located in the storage space on the inside of the bed base 12. The actuator 16 is fixed to a vertical slat 18 of the bed base 12 by means of a :. 25 bracket 22a and to the bed frame 14 by means of a bracket 22b. The side views are *. taken from the inside of the bed base 12 to better shown the working of the actuator 16. S... * S S...

* : * The electric linear actuator 16 comprises a DC motor 24 which drives a set of gears to a lead Acme screw (not shown). The lead screw is fitted with a nut which moves up :.:. and down and microswitches which stop the motor when the movement is complete.

The nut is connected to a tube 26 which extends/retracts to raise/lower the bed frame 14.

In figure la the bed frame 14 is directly above and fully in contact with the bed base 12.

The electric linear actuator 16 is in a contracted position such that very little of the tube 24 is visible.

In order to raise the bed frame 14, a power supply (12V DC battery, not shown) is switched on which causes the actuator to extend as described previously. The actuator extends to its maximum extension (250mm in this example) and then switches off automatically. The storage bed in then in the configuration shown in figure lb and the storage space can be easily accessed without the risk that the bed frame 14 will fall down. To lower the bed frame 14, the electric linear actuator 16 is switched on, the tube 26 retracts, and the bed frame 14 is pulled back to its original position. In this example, a controller (not shown) is located near the bed so that adjustments can be made to the speed of the motor etc. can be made. * . * *. * S... * S S... * S

*S.... * S * .* * . S *.. .

S

*S.S.S *

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A storage bed comprising a bed frame for supporting a mattress; a bed base enclosing a storage space; and at least one electric linear actuator, the bed frame being hinged to the bed base, wherein one end of the electric linear actuator is fixed to the bed base and the opposite end of the linear actuator is fixed to the bed frame, such that the bed frame can be raised and lowered to gain access to the storage space.
2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the electric linear actuator comprises an Acme lead screw.
3. The bed of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the actuator has a stroke length of from to 350mm.
4. The bed of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a gas strut.
5. The bed of claim 4, comprising exactly one electric linear actuator and exactly one gas strut.
6. The bed of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a self-contained power supply such as a battery. *.S. * S **::..,
7. The bed of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a switch to
S...activate the electric linear actuator. S... * .* : * 8. The bed of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a controller.

: *
9. The bed of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a mattress.

S.....

S S
10. A method for the manufacture of the storage bed of any one of the preceding claims comprising providing a bed frame for supporting a mattress; a bed base enclosing a storage space; and at least one electric linear actuator, the bed frame being hinged' to the bed base, and fixing one end of the electric linear actuator to the bed base and the opposite end of the electric linear actuator to the bed frame such that the bed frame can be raised and lowered to gain access to the storage space.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a gas strut that is fixed to the bed base and the bed frame.
12. A storage bed as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures. * S * ** * *** S * S *5*S * S *SS* **S S. S* * . * .. * . S * S**.S.* S *