GB2604378A

GB2604378A - Roller Bed

Info

Publication number: GB2604378A
Application number: GB2103042.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pinkney Geoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-03-04
Filing date: 2021-03-04
Publication date: 2022-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-04
Also published as: GB2604378B; GB202103042D0

Abstract

There is provided a retractable roll up bed 100 comprising a housing 110 with an aperture 111 and a rotatable spool held within the housing. A bed platform 120 is connected at one end to the rotatable spool, the opposing end comprising a first attachment means 121. The platform is moveable between a first stored position, wherein the platform is wrapped around the spool within the housing, and a deployed position, configured similarly to a hammock, wherein the platform is unspooled and extends out of the housing aperture. In use, the housing is attached to a first anchor point and a second attachment means 130 is attached to a second anchor point opposing the first, the bed platform is unspooled, and the first attachment means is connected to the second attachment means. The spool may comprise a sprung ratchet mechanism to apply tension to the platform. The mechanism may be operated by a detachable handle or a motor. The platform may be made of seatbelt webbing or chainmail. The platform may comprise an integrated mattress. There is further provided a tent (300, Fig. 5) or caravan with the bed installed within.

Description

Roller Bed [1] The present invention relates to a roll up bed. Particularly the present invention relates to roll up bed held within a housing, the bed movable between a stored position where it is held within the housing and a deployed position. More particularly the present invention relates to a roll up bed moveable between a stored and deployed position where the bed is held between two anchor points, the first anchor point being the roller bed housing, the second anchor point being secured at a point distal from the housing. Even more particularly the present invention relates to a roller bed movable between a stored and deployed position, the bed being substantially made from seat belt type material.

Background of the Invention

[2] In modern day society with soaring housing prices and rents, floor space is continuing to grow in value as available domestic space reduces.

[3] Everybody sleeps. But beds typically take up a lot of floor space and are of little use during waking hours. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bed which can be deployed when needed but during waking hours can be stored and free up valuable floor space.

[4] Another potential use for the present invention is in in camping either in tents, caravans, boats, field hospitals, emergency shelters etc. In these situations, floor space is even more spa.rce and the advantages of being able to have an elevated bed which can be stowed away when not needed is self-evident.

Summary of the Invention

[0051 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a retractable roll up bed comprising a housing, having an aperture, a rotatable spool held within the housing. A bed platform connected at one end to the rotatable spool, the opposing end comprising a first attachment means. the platform being moveable between a first stored position wherein the platform is wrapped around the spool within the housing, and a deployed position wherein the platform is unspooled and extends out of the housing aperture. A second attachment means, complimentary with the first, wherein, in use, the housing is attached to a first anchor point and the second attachment means is attached to a second anchor point opposing the first, the bed platform is unspooled and the first attachment means is connected to the second attachment means.

[006] An embodiment of the first aspect further comprising a sprung ratchet mechanism for controlling the spooling and unspooling of the bed platform. the ratchet mechanism can further be used to apply tension to the bed platform after connection of the first and second connection means. The sprung ratchet mechanism may be manually actuated via a detachable handle connected to the outside of the housing, or it may be actuated by a motor held within the housing and controlled by the user.

[007] An embodiment of the first aspect wherein the bed platform is substantially made from seat belt webbing. The bed platform may be completely made from seat belt webbing. Alternatively the bed platform may be substantially made from a non-stretch material (such as nylon webbing) reinforced with seatbelt webbing material.

[8] An embodiment of the first aspect wherein the bed platform is substantially made from chainmail.

[9] An embodiment of the first aspect wherein the bed platform has a mattress integrally formed on a top surface thereof. The mattress may be a 15mm thick memory foam mattress.

[10] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tent comprising: a roll up bed of the first aspect of the invention, and a reinforced frame section defining the first and second anchor points.

[11] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a caravan comprising a roll up bed of the first aspect; wherein the housing and second attachment means are integrally formed with the caravan.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [013] Figure 1 Depicts an embodiment of the invention between the stored and deployed positions; [14] Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of the invention in the deployed position between two anchor points; [15] Figure 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention in the stored position; [016] Figure 4 depicts an embodiment of the invention fully deployed with additional bedding; [17] Figure 5 depicts a schematic of a different embodiment of the invention incorporated with a tent.

Detailed Description

[18] The Roller bed 100 is a compact full sized retractable bed, it comprises a retractable bed platform 120, one end thereof attached to a rotatable spool, the opposing end comprising connection means 121. when the platform 120 is fully wound around the rotatable spool, both the spool and platform are held within a housing 110, with only the connection means 121 visible through aperture 111 in the housing 110. In use the platform 120 is extended from and retracted back into housing 110 through aperture 111.

[19] The housing 110 is secured to a first suitable anchor point, such as a wall or any other suitable area/structure which can support the deployed bed. The housing is secured to an anchor point via bolts, welding, or any other suitable fixing means strong enough to securely hold the housing when in use. Opposing the first anchor point there is a second suitable anchor point to which connection means 130 is attached in the same way as the housing 110 is attached to the first anchor point. Connection means 130 is compatible with connection means 121. The specific form of the compatible connection means 121,130 can be any suitable form, but preferred embodiments will be discussed below.

[020] the rotatable spool attached to platform 120 and held within housing 110 is controlled by a sprung ratchet mechanism which can be actuated via a handle connected to ratchet mechanism at 115.

S

[021] Tn use the bed platform 120 is first extracted from the housing and connection means 121 and is then connected to the second anchor point 130. Tension is then applied to the platform 120 via the sprung ratchet mechanism. This tension stabilises the platform 120, but allows it to retain "springiness" for comfort of a user when sleeping on the roller bed 100. When the bed platform is to be retracted, tension is released using the ratchet mechanism and connections 121 and 130 are disconnected. The bed platform is then wound back into housing 110 using the ratchet mechanism.

[022] Bed platform 120 comprises seat belt webbing material (any particular type of seatbelt webbing material can be used) to provide both strength and springiness. The platform can be completely made from the seat belt webbing material or the seatbelt webbing can form the base structural lattice of the bed platform 120 and the remaining area filled with other materials (such as nylon mesh) stitched to the seatbelt webbing material.

[023] Attachment means 121 and 130 can be of any suitable known kind. In the embodiment depicted in figures 1 to 4 attachment means 121 is in the form of a strip of metal nuanin along the edge of the bed platform. The strip of metal having a 90 degree bend half way along its width such that (when in the deployed position) there is a ledge substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by bed platform 120 extending downwards. Connection means 130 is in the form of a metal plate with a protruding, upward extending ledge complementary in shape to the downward pointing ledge of 121. In use the downward ledge of connection means 121 slots between the upward extending ledge of 130 and the second anchor point Once tension is then applied to the bed platform 121 and 130 pull against each other and secure the bed platform 120 in place.

[24] In an alternate embodiment connection means 121 can be in thc form of a plurality of seatbelt style plug connection means and 130 in the form of a complimentary number of seatbelt style locking mechanisms attached to the second anchor point. In this embodiment when in use the plurality of seatbelt style plugs of 121 arc connected to their corresponding locking mechanisms of 130, and then tension is applied to the bed platform 120 via the ratchet mechanism.

[25] In a further alternate embodiment, the second anchor point could be in the form of a mounting mechanism, mounted to the floor (bolted, riveted etc) comprising a vertical bar and two arms pivotally mounted to opposing sides of the top of the bar. The arms movable form a "stored" position wherein they are parallel to and resting, either side of the bar, and an in use position wherein the arms are pivoted 90 degrees to foim a "T-shape" forming alternate connection means 130.

[26] In the discussed embodiments the ratchet mechanism described is a manually operated ratchet mechanism with a detachable handle. However the invention is not limited to this and the manually operated ratchet mechanism could be actuated via an incorporated motor and corresponding control system. There could be a user interface located on the housing of the mechanism and/or it could be remote controlled.

[27] The bed platform 120 may further comprise a mattress topper incorporated on top of the seat belt webbing, and/or a mattress can be placed on top of the bed platform 120 as shown in figure 4 along with other bedding items. Such as duct and pillow.

[28] As shown in figure 5 the roller bed 100 may also be incorporated into a tent structure 300. The tent frame will have reinforced supports 310 built into the tent frame for holding the roller bed 100, the supports 310 will include the anchor points for the roller bed 100. Alternatively, roller bed housing 110, and connection means 130 may be fully incorporated into the tent supports 300 and form an integral part of the roller bed.

[29] The roller bed has many uses and can be incorporated into a number of items, it can be used in or integrally formed with caravans or suitable furniture to provide, quick, easy, and comfortable sleeping facilities.

[30] The seatbelt webbing is strong and breathable which makes it ideal for use as a bed platform as it allows the user to easily regulate their temperature and has a natural springiness for comfort. Other materials may be used however, such as lightweight chainmail variant with a thin detachable mattress, this would allow for easy steam cleaning and disinfection of the roller bed which would be valuable in places such as hospitals etc. [31] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The description is intended to enable a skilled person to make the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1 A retractable roll up bed comprising: a housing, having an aperture; a rotatable spool held within the housing; a bed platform connected at one end to the rotatable spool the opposing end comprising a first attachment means, moveable between a first stored position wherein the platform is wrapped around the spool within the housing and a deployed position wherein the platform is unspooled and extends out of the housing aperture; and, a second attachment means, complimentary with the first; wherein, in use, the housing is attached to a first anchor point and the second attachment means is attached to a second anchor point opposing the first, the bed platform is unspooled and the first attachment means is connected to the second attachment means.
2 A retractable roll up bed according to claim 1 further comprising a sprung ratchet mechanism for controlling the spooling and unspooling of the bed platform.
3 A retractable roll up bed according to claim 2 wherein the ratchet mechanism can further be used to apply tension to the bed platform after connection of the first and second connection means.
4. A retractable roll up bed according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the sprung ratchet mechanism is manually actuated via a detachable handle connected to the outside of the housing A retractable roll up bed according to any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the sprung ratchet mechanism is actuated by a motor held within the housing and controlled by the user.6. A retractable roll up bed according to any preceding claim wherein the bed platform is substantially made from seat belt webbing.7. A retractable roll up bed according to claim 6 wherein the bed platform is completely made from seat belt webbing.8. A retractable roll up bed according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bed platform is substantially made from chainmail.9. A retractable roll up bed according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bed platform is substantially made from a non-stretch material reinforced with seatbelt webbing material.10. A retractable roll up bed according to any preceding claim wherein the bed platform has a mattress integrally formed on a top surface thereof 11. A retractable roll up bed according to claim 10 wherein the mattress is a 15mm thick memory foam mattress.12. A tent comprising: the roll up bed defined in any one of claims 1 to 11; and a reinforced frame section defining the first and second anchor points.13. A caravan comprising a roll up bed according to any one of claims 1-11; wherein the housing and second attachment means are integrally formed with the caravan.