US1950784A - Roll-about foldable bed - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1934. F, CANE ROLL- ABOUT FOLDABLE BED Original Filed Feb. 1930 IN VEN TOR. GORDON LC'CANE BY a cwwl A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 rArEs ROLL-ABOUT FOLDABLE BED Gordon F. Cane, San Francisco, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Thorn Thompson, San

Francisco, Calif.

Application February 10, 1930, Serial No. 427,162 Renewed July 24, 1933 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in foldable beds of the type which are mounted to swing from horizontal position of use into upright inoperative position and vice versa, and the present embodiment thereof deals with a roll-about bed wherein th bed frame is foldably mounted as aforementioned upon a freely movable carriage or truck providing for variously disposing the bed as desired about a roomor floor space.

More particularly the invention relates to an improved means for foldably connecting a bed frame with a freely movable carriage or truck, or other support, and therefore an object of the invention is to provide such a means in which links are arranged and constructed to provide for exceptional ease of operation, strength and stability of the bed, as Well as to insure a safe operation in which all danger of accidental or u nintentional collapsing, tipping, or other derangement of the bed is effectively reduced, if not prevented.

Another object is to provide a foldable bed of the character described in which the mounting or connecting means for foldably connecting the bed with its support as aforesaid, provides an advantageous counter-balancing and compensating action which aids in the operation of the bed and prevents such rapid movement as would tend to tip or to too forcibly collapse or extend the bed structure during movement thereof into extended or folded positions.

A further object is to provide a bed connecting means of the character described which is so arranged and permits of such an attachment of the bed to the truck or carriage, that thew eight of the bed is evenly and effectively distributed and tends to stabilize the structure and to reduce the tendency to collapsing of the bed incident to the application of weight to the head end thereof and at all times.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a bed constructed in accordance with the invention and as when in extended or operative position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bed shown in raised, folded or inoperative position Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bed as when in partly extended or folded position, the bed being approximately midway of its tWo positions.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation partially in section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The embodiment of this invention shown in detail in the accompanying drawing forms a part of a bed of the roll-about type wherein the upendable bed frame 4 having the usual front legs 5 is mounted on a freely movable wheeled truck or carriage 6 and is arranged to be swung from extended or operative position as shown in Figure 1 into the folded or inoperative position shown in Figure 2, and also may be readily moved from place to place as desired about a room or other bed supporting surface while in either position.

In accordance with this invention, the means of connection between the bed frame 4 and truck 6 consists of a plurality of links arranged so that certain thereof serve as levers and act through the forces set up during the swinging movement of the bed frame to provide a counterbalancing and compensating and leverage compounding action which aids in .the movement of the bed in either direction, yet checks such swift or sudden movement as might cause the structure to tip, collapse or otherwise become deranged. Further, said arrangement is such that the weight of the bed is evenly distributed with relation to the truck, and the structure is effectively stabilized at all times. These advantages result from the construction and arrangement of the said links and the peculiar relationship of the points of pivotal connections of said links with the bed frame and truck respectively, and also the pivotal relationship of links which are pivoted to one another. As here shown a front link 7 is pivoted at its upper end as at 8 to each side rail 9 of the bed frame. Rearwardly of the link 7 on each side rail 9 is a rear link 10 pivoted thereto as at 11. Each rear link 1c is pivoted at 12 to the truck at a point close'to the rear end of the truck and by this arrangement and the fact that the bed pivots of the links 10 are close to the rear end of the bed frame the weight is distributed to the truck in such manner asto effectively hold it against tipping and accidental movement relative to the bed frame. Also, it will be noted that the pivots 11 are over a point near the substantially midway point between the ends of the truck in both positions of the bed and this makes fora well balanced and stable mounting of the bed.

Each front link 7 is pivoted at its inner end as at 14 to one end of a lever link 15 which is pivoted approximately centrally of its ends as at 16 to the upper end of a link 17 which latter at its lower end is pivoted as at 18 to the truck near a point approximately midway between the ends of the truck. The other end of the lever link 15 is pivoted as at 19 to a point substantially midway of the ends of the adjacent rear link 1o. There are of course two of the lever links 15 and two links 17, one of each being on each side of the bed as are the front and rear links although the drawing in showing side elevations of the bed discloses the several links on but one side of the bed. a

t will be noted that while the rear links 10 are pivoted directly to the truck, the truck connecting means for the front links 7 comprises the lever links 15 and the links J. This places the weight of the bed frame on the truck in such a manner as to stabilize the structure and prevent movement of the truck relative to the bed or, in other words, the collapsing of the structure.

The lever links 15 operate, owing to the arrangement thereof, to connect the front and rear links with one another and to also connect said front and rear links through the lin s 17 with the truck near a point midway between the ends of the truck, to effectively counterbalance the bed frame. The forces set up when raising the bed operate through lever links to aid in the raising movement and likewise in the lowering of the bed the forces set up operate through said lever links to aid in such movement. Also, it will be seen that said levers operate to prevent such a rapid or forceful movement of the bed as would tend to collapse, derange or damage the structure. Furthermore the lever links, together with the links 17, provide an extra connection of the rear links 10 with the truck and thereby increase the strength and stability of the bed structure. It is important to note in this connection that when the bed is in operative position the upper parts of the rear links 10, the lever links if: and the links 17 are substantially aligned and that the pivot points 11, l9, l6 and 18 also the'pivots 14 are also substantially in line. Owing to this arrangement the jack-knifing or collapsing of the bed incident to placing weight on the head end of the bed, is effectively prevented.

Preferably the rear links .10 are 'L shaped whereby when the bed is folded the rear links lie parallel with the bed rails and truck sides respectively and therefore provide for a more compact folding. Further, the L shape provides for the disposition of the truck pivots of said link at the rear end of the truck while making possible the connection of the links with the front links with the short lever links 15 and also making possible the location of the bed pivots of the rear link close to the rear or head end of the bed. Such a disposition of the pivots 11 makes it unnecessary for the bed frame to project to any great extent rearwardly beyond the truck, and therefore the truck is better held down and*col lapsing of the bed structure is prevented.

The relative location of the various pivot points is important and contributes to the efficiency of the bed of this invention. The connecting points of the front links with the bed frame are in front of the connecting points of the links 17 with the truck when the bed is down yet are disposed rearward of said truck connecting points when the bed is in up or folded position. This makes for stability, prevents tilting or accidental movement of the bed out of upright position and yet permits of an easy starting of the bed movement from either position. The connecting point of the front link with the lever links 15 is at all times in front of the connecting point of said lever link with the truck and said front link moved bodily upward and rearward and bodily downward and rearward in an are on the folding and extension movements of the bed. The lower ends of the front links in thus moving downward and rearward and towards the center of the truck when the bed is lowered, are disposed close to and will engage the truck to act as a safety stop to prevent downward movement of the bed below a horizontal position as might take place if the front legs 5 are deranged.

It should be further noted that by having the bed pivots of the front and rear links near the rear end of the bed, the leverage is increased and an easier swing of the bed into and out of operative position is provided for. Also this disposes the bed and truck in such relative position that collapsing or jack-knifing is prevented. The tilting tendency which might be provided bythe increased leverage aforementioned is compensated for by the counterbalancing action of the lever links 15. The use of these levers 15 provides for connection of the front links through the links 17, with the truck near a point midway of the front and rear ends of the truck and this provides for a better balance and checking of the jack-knifing tendency, than when the front links are connected with points near the front end of the truck. Further, it should be noted that the points of connection of the front and'rear link and bed frame, when the bed is raised, lie over and substantially in line with the pivot points 19 which are near the center of the truck and that but a slight variation of this disposition of the front link pivots on the bed frame occurs when the bed is extended for use. When the bed is in extended position the front links '2' extend almost vertically, there being a slight rearward disposition of the lower end of the bed whereby the weight is thrust towards the center of the truck. Thus, through the links '7 and rear links 10, lever links 15 and links 17, the weight thrusts are directed to a common point on the truck near the pivots 18, there being at this time a V formation of said links and an inverted V formation including the lower parts of the rear links.

I claim:

1. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected to said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, links pivotally connected at their ends to the front and rear links, and links pivotally connected at certain ends to a point between the ends of the last named links and connected at their other ends with said truck.

2. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected to said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the connecting points of the front links and bed frame being in front of the connecting points of the front link and last named links when the bed is front of all pivotal points of the truck when the bed is in extended position.

4. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front links and angular rear links connected to said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the last named links and portions of the rear links being substantially aligned when the bed is in extended position.

5. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected to said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the points of connection of the rear links with the frame and with the last named links being substantially aligned with the points of connection of the last named links with said truck when the frame is in extended position.

6. In a roll-about foldable bed, an upendable bed frame, a truck therefor, rear links pivotally connected with the frame and with said truck, front links pivoted to the frame, links pivoted at their ends to the ends and intermediate portions of the front and rear links respectively, and means for connecting the last named links intermediate their ends with the truck.

7. In a roll-about foldable bed, an upendable bed frame, a truck therefor, rear links pivotally connected with the frame and with said truck, front links pivoted to the frame, links pivoted at their ends to the ends and intermediate portions of the front and rear links respectively, and means for connecting the last named links with the truck comprising links pivoted at their upper ends to points between the ends of the last named links and pivoted at their lower ends to said truck.

8, In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, rear links connected to said frame and truck, front links connected to said frame, and means of pivotal connection between the front and rear links and having a pivotal connection with both front and rear links and with a point forwardly of all other connecting points on said truck, said means of connection including a lever acting to counterbalance the bed frame on movement thereof relative to said truck.

9. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, rear links connected to said frame and truck, front links connected to said frame, and means of pivotal connection between the front and rear links and having a pivotal connection with both front and rear links and with a point forwardly of all other connecting points on said truck, said means of con-- nection including a bodily movable lever acting to counterbalance the bed frame on movement thereof, relative to said truck.

10. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, rear links connected to said frame and truck, front links connected to said frame, means of pivotal connection between the front and rear links and having a pivotal connection with both front and rear links and with point forwardly of all other connecting points on said truck, said means of connection including a bodily movable lever acting to counterbalance the bed frame on movement thereof relative to said truck, and a link supporting said lever and pivoted to said truck.

11. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, substantially L shaped rear links connected to said frame and truck, front links connected to said frame, means of pivotal connection between the front and rear links having a pivotal connection with both front and rear links and with a point forwardly of all other connecting points on said truck, said means of connection including a bodily movable lever acting to counterbalance the bed frame on movement of said frame relative to said truck, and a link supporting said lever and pivoted to said truck.

12. In a foldable roll-about bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected to the truck and frame, and means providing a common connecting point of said truck with the front and rear links near a point substantially midway of the ends of said truck, and other connecting points of the rear links and truck located close to the rear end of said truck.

13. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected to said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the connecting points of the front links with the frame being over and in arrears of the connecting points of the last named links and truck when the bed is in upended position.

14. In a roll-about foldable bed, a truck, an upenda-ble bed frame, rear links connected to said frame and truck, front links connected to said frame, and means providing for a pivotal connection of both front and rear links with a common point on said truck, said point being below and in front of the connecting point of the front link and bed frame when the latter is upended.

15. In a foldable roll-about bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, and front and rear links connected with said bed frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with said truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the connecting points of the front links with said frame being forward of all connecting points of said links with the truck when the frame is extended, yet being spaced rearwardly from a vertical plane passing through the front end of the truck.

16. In a foldable rollabout bed, a truck, an upendable bed frame, front and rear links connected with said frame, means pivotally connecting the rear links with the truck, and links pivotally connecting the front and rear links with one another and with said truck, the connecting points of the front links and frame being forward of the connecting points of the front links and truck when the bed is extended, the connecting points of said front link and truck being nearer a point midway of the ends of the truck than to the front end of the truck, the connecting points of the rear links and said truck being at the rear edges of the latter, the connecting points of the rear links with the frame being on vertical planes passing through the truck between the two truck connecting points of the front and rear link when the bed is in either of its position.

GORDON F. CANE.

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