GB2600937A

GB2600937A - Adjustable bed

Info

Publication number: GB2600937A
Application number: GB2017787.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregory Hilliard John
Original assignee: Furmanac Ltd
Current assignee: Furmanac Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-11
Filing date: 2020-11-11
Publication date: 2022-05-18
Also published as: GB202017787D0

Abstract

An adjustable bed 10 including a divan base 12 with drawers 16, a platform 14 for supporting a mattress 13, wherein the platform is configured as a single span which is greater than 1200mm, and an adjustment apparatus (20, Figure 5) which is operable to adjust the position of the platform. The divan base may include two drawers adjacent one another on each side of the base. Each of the drawers may be at least 700mm long in a longitudinal direction. The platform may include a first, head part 14a and a second, foot part 14b. The adjustment apparatus may include a first drive bar (26a, Figure 5) to adjust the position of the first, head part and a second drive bar (26b, Figure 5) to adjust the position of the second, foot part. The base may have an upper part 12a which houses at least a part of the adjustment apparatus and a lower part 12b which houses the drawers. The base may include a surface which separates the upper part of the base from the lower part of the base. An adjustment apparatus for use in an adjustable bed is also disclosed.

Description

Title ADJUSTABLE BED

Description of Invention

The invention relates to an adjustable bed and an adjustment apparatus for an adjustable bed.

It is known in the art of bed manufacturing, to provide adjustable beds, in which a platform of the bed, upon which a mattress is supportable may be moved by means of an adjustment apparatus. It is known in the art to provide an adjustable bed in which one or both of the head end and the foot end of the platform may be raised and lowered. It is known to provide single (typically 3' or 90cm) adjustable beds, having an adjustment apparatus which is capable of lifting and lowering the head end and/or foot end of a single bed. The adjustment apparatus must be capable of lifting and lowering the head end and/or the foot end of the platform with a mattress, bed linen and a human being supported on the platform. Electronically controlled and remote controlled adjustment apparatus are known. Adjustable beds have been popular, for example with people having mobility issues and elderly people for many years. Where a larger bed is required or desirable, for example for a couple, it is known to provide two separate adjustment apparatus and two platforms, separated "longitudinally", i.e. effectively two "single" width platforms adjacent one another, and each adjustment apparatus being independently operable to raise and lower the head end and/or foot end of each platform, such that each side of the bed may be adjustable. This can be advantageous, for example for couples who wish to be able to adjust the position of one side of the bed without disturbing the person on the other side of the bed, or where each person requires a different position of the head end and/or the foot end of the bed. Where two separate platforms are provided (split longitudinally), two separate drive devices are required, such that each side of the bed may be adjusted separately.

The adjustment apparatus for adjustable beds is typically located beneath the platform of the bed, and takes up a significant proportion of the space beneath the platform. It is known to surround the adjustment apparatus of an adjustable bed within an aesthetically pleasing bed frame, which typically includes a headboard, sides and a footboard.

Larger beds are becoming increasingly popular for people who sleep alone, and adjustable beds are becoming a more popular lifestyle choice for people who do not necessarily have a medical or physical need. People are spending increasing amounts of time in bed -it is common for a bedroom to have a television, and with ever increasing numbers of personal technology devices in use, for example laptops, tablets and smart phones, it is increasingly common for people to spend time relaxing or even working in their bed. An adjustable bed enables the user to position themselves most comfortably for the activity being undertaken. For example, it may be desirable for the platform to be substantially flat for sleeping, whereas the user may wish to raise their head and/or feet to watch television, to read or to use a laptop, for example.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed, and an adjustment apparatus for an adjustable bed.

There is provided an adjustable bed including a divan base with at least two drawers, a platform for supporting a mattress, wherein the platform is configured as a single span which is greater than 1200mm, and an adjustment apparatus which is operable to adjust the position of the platform.

The divan base may include at least two drawers adjacent one another on a side of the base.

The divan base may include two drawers adjacent one another on each side of the base 12.

At least one of the drawers on the or each side of the base may be at least 700mm long in a longitudinal direction.

The drawers on the or each side of the base may be at least 700mm long in a longitudinal direction.

The platform may include a first, head part and a second, foot part.

The adjustment apparatus may include a first drive bar to adjust the position of the first, head part of the platform and a second drive bar to adjust the position of the second, foot part of the platform The base may have an upper part which houses at least a part of the adjustment apparatus and a lower part which houses the drawers.

The base may include a surface which separates the upper part of the base 20 from the lower part of the base.

There is provided an adjustment apparatus for use in an adjustable bed.

Aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURE 1 is an illustrative perspective view of an adjustable bed; FIGURE 2 is an illustrative plan view of a base and a platform of the adjustable bed of Figure 1, showing drawers in their open positions; FIGURE 3 is an illustrative plan view of a base and platform of figure 2, showing the drawers in dotted lines, in their closed positions; FIGURE 4 is an illustrative perspective view of an adjustable bed in an adjusted position; and FIGURE 5 shows an adjustment apparatus for an adjustable bed Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a bed 10. The bed 10 is a divan bed. The bed 10 may be a double, king size or superking size bed. The width of the bed 10 may be greater than approximately 1200mm. The width of the bed 10 in a lateral direction may be between approximately 1200mm and approximately 7 feet or 2150mm. The divan bed 10 includes a base 12. The base 12 includes a platform 14 upon which a mattress 13 is supportable. The platform 14 may have a first, head part 14a and a second, foot part 14b. The first part 14a of the platform 14 may extend substantially from one side of the bed 10 to the other, in other words, the first part 14a of the platform may be substantially as wide as the bed 10, and provided in a single span. The platform 14 is provided as a single span. The first part 14a of the platform 14 may be between approximately 1200mm and 2150mm. The second part 14b of the platform 14 may extend from one side of the bed to the other, i.e. the second part 14b of the platform may be as wide as the bed 10, and provided in a single span. The second part 14b of the platform may be between approximately 1200mm and 2150mm. The platform 14 does not include a split in a longitudinal direction (i.e. there is no split in the head to foot direction) i.e. there is only one head part 14a and one foot part 14b of the platform 14. It will be understood that the base may include an upstanding edge portion which surrounds all or part of the platform 14, and which is not adjustable. In this case, the platform 14 may not be as wide at the base 12, but the platform 14 (or each part 14a, 14b of the platform 14 is still provided as a single span. The upstanding edge portion of the base 12 and/or a part of the platform 14, for example a lower edge of the platform 14, may be padded and/or sprung to provide a soft edge. This is beneficial for protection against entrapment injury.

The base 12 may include a first, upper part 12a and a second, lower part 12b. 30 The first part 12a and the second part 12b may be separated by a surface. The first part 12a, the second part 12b and the surface may not be visible from outside the base 12. The base 12 may also be provided as a single span, i.e. with no split in the longitudinal (head to foot) direction.

The base 12 may include a one or more supports 18. The or each support 18 may be a leg, a foot, a castor, for example, or a combination of different types of support 18 may be provided. The or each support 18 or combination of supports is configured to support the bed 10 stably on a floor surface. It will be understood. The or each support may be the only part of the bed 10 which is intended and/or configured to touch a floor surface.

The base 12 includes a drawer 16. The base 12 includes a plurality of drawers 16. The base 12 may include two drawers adjacent one another on a side of the base12. The base 12may include four drawers 16. The base 12 may include drawers 16 on one side or both sides. The base 12 may include two drawers adjacent one another on each side of the base 12. Each drawer 16 may have a length L, a width W and a height H. The length L is measured in the longitudinal (i.e. head to foot) direction, and the width W is measured in the lateral, i.e. side to side direction. Each side of the base 12 may include at least one "full size" or standard drawer 16. One or both sides of the base 12 may include one "full size" or standard drawer, and one drawer 16 which is smaller than full size in at least one dimension, for example the length L of a smaller drawer may be less than than 700mm, whilst the width W and height H of the smaller drawer may be the same as for a full size or "standard" drawer. The base 12 may include four full or "standard" size drawers 16. For example the length L may be between approximately 700mm and 850mm, for example approximately 804mm. The width W may be between approximately 400mm and 600mm, for example approximately 547mm. The height H may be between approximately 150 and 170mm, for example 165mm. It will be understood that a fascia (i.e. "drawer front") of the or each drawer 16 may have a different length L and/or height H from the actual drawer 16. The front face of the or each drawer may have different dimensions than the so-called "wrap" of the drawer 16, as it may have an aesthetic function such that the or each drawer 16 appears to fill a corresponding opening in the side of the base 12. Each drawer 16 may be moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to the base 12. The base 12 may include runners or the like which are engageable with each drawer 16 to enable movement of each drawer between its open and closed position.

The or each drawer 16 may be positioned in the second part 12b of the base 12. Where a surface is provided to separate the first part 12a of the base 12 from the second part 12b of the base 12, the surface may define an upper surface or "ceiling" over the drawers 16. It will be appreciated that a surface is not an essential feature of the base 12.

The base 12 houses an adjustment apparatus 20. The adjustment apparatus 20 is operable to lift the platform 14 or a part of the platform 14, for example the first part 14a and/or the second part 14b.

The adjustment apparatus 20 may include a first part 20a and a second part 20b. The first part 20a of the adjustment apparatus 20 may be operable to adjust the position of the first part 14a of the platform 14. The second part 20b of the adjustment apparatus 20 may be operable to adjust the position of the second part 14b of the platform 14.

The adjustment apparatus 20 may include supports 22. The supports 22 may be connectable to the base 12. The adjustment apparatus 20 may include twelve supports 22. The adjustment apparatus 20 may include four supports 22 on each side of the bed 10 and two supports 22 at each of the first (head) end of the bed 10 and the second (foot) end of the bed 10. The supports 22 may be connectable to walls of the base 12. The supports 22 may be connectable to the surface which extends between the first part 12a and the second part 12b of the base 12.

The adjustment apparatus 20 may be housed within the first part 12a of the base 12. The or each drawer 16 may be positioned beneath the adjustment apparatus 20.

The adjustment apparatus 20 is configured to enable the adjustment of the first pad 14a of the platform 14 using a single drive device and the adjustment of the second part 14b of the platform 14 using a single drive device. The adjustment device 20 has dimensions which enable the base 12 to include four full sized drawers 16 as well as the adjustment apparatus 20 which is capable of adjusting a bed 10 having a width greater than 1200mm. In other words the adjustment device 20 is capable of adjusting a bed 10 which is wider than 1200mm in a so-called "single-span".

The adjustment apparatus 20 includes a first drive bar 26a and a second drive bar 26b. The first drive bar 26a may be positioned and/or configured to adjust the position of the first part 14a of the platform 14. The second drive bar 26b may be positioned and/or configured to adjust the position of the second part 14b of the platform 14.

The length of the or each drive bar 26a, 26b may be dependent on the width W of the base 12. The or each drive bar 26a, 26b may be approximately 1150mm long for a base which is approximately 1200mm wide. The or each drive bar 26a, 26b may be longer than 1150mm long, for example where the bed 10 is wider than 1200mm. The or each drive bar 26a, 26b may include a cranked portion, and/or may include a plurality of sections. However, it will be understood that the or each drive device is operable to adjust the position of a drive bar which is configured to adjust the position of a pad 14a, 14b of the platform which extends substantially the entire width of the bed 10, the bed 10 being more than 1200mm wide.

The adjustment apparatus 20 may be electrically operated. The adjustment apparatus 20 may be moved by a motor. The drive device may be a single motor. The motor may be a linear actuator. It will be appreciated that a plurality of motors may be provided, for example a single motor to adjust the position of the first part 14a of the platform 14 and a single motor to adjust the position of the second part 14b of the platform 14. Providing a single motor for to adjust the position of the platform in a single span is advantageous since it is not necessary to synchronise a pair of motors, as it would be in the case of providing a separate motor for each side of the bed 10, to reduce the likelihood of torsion or other potentially damaging forces being exerted on the plafform 14 during operation of the adjustment apparatus 20.

The first drive bar 26a may be driven by a first drive device, for example a first motor. The second drive bar 26b may be driven by a second drive device, for example a second motor. A control 30 may be in electrical/electronic communication with the or each motor to move a part or parts of the adjustment apparatus 20. The control 30 may be provided integrally with the bed 10, for example in the base 12. Additionally or alternatively, the control may be a remote control. The control may be hardwired and/or a wireless control. A control 30 may be provided on one side of the bed, or on each side of the bed 10, such that the adjustment apparatus may be operated from either side of the bed 10.

An advantage of the present arrangement is that four full size storage drawers may be provided in a wide (i.e. larger than single), single span divan base 12.

It is not necessary for the platform 14 to have a longitudinal split, enabling one mattress 13, which corresponds with the width of the bed 10, to be used. This is advantageous since the bed 10 may be for use by one person only, rather than a couple, but a bed wider than a single bed may be required. There is a further advantage that only one set of bedding may be required, rather than having to fit and launder two separate sheets to two separate mattresses, and removes the likely need to have two separate duvets/blankets or other coverings. The need to synchronise a pair of motors is removed by the provision of a single span drive bar for the adjustment of the first (head) part of the platform 14 and a single span drive bar for the adjustment of the second (foot) part of the platform 14.

Providing a surface between the first part 12a of the base 12 and the second part 12b of the base 12 may be advantageous, since items stored in the drawers 16 cannot obstruct the adjustment apparatus 20. This inhibits damage of the items being stored and/or the adjustment apparatus 20, and means that operation of the adjustment apparatus 20 is not affected by the presence or movement or presence of the drawers 16 and/or the items stored therein.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to 30 encompass equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adjustable bed including a divan base with at least two drawers, a platform for supporting a mattress, wherein the platform is configured as a 5 single span which is greater than 1200mm, and an adjustment apparatus which is operable to adjust the position of the platform.
2. An adjustable bed according to claim 1 wherein the divan base includes at least two drawers adjacent one another on a side of the base.
3. An adjustable bed according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the divan base includes two drawers adjacent one another on each side of the base 12.
4. An adjustable bed according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one 15 of the drawers on the or each side of the base is at least 700mm long in a longitudinal direction.
5. An adjustable bed according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein each of the drawers on the or each side of the base is at least 700mm long in a longitudinal direction.
6. An adjustable bed according to claim 1 wherein the platform includes a first, head part and a second, foot part.
7. An adjustable bed according to claim 6 wherein the adjustment apparatus includes a first drive bar to adjust the position of the first, head part of the platform and a second drive bar to adjust the position of the second, foot part of the platform.
8. An adjustable bed according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base has an upper part which houses at least a part of the adjustment apparatus and a lower part which houses the drawers.
9. An adjustable bed according to claim 8 wherein the base includes a surface which separates the upper part of the base from the lower part of the base.
10. An adjustment apparatus for use in an adjustable bed according to claims 1 to 9.