US2563399A - Doane - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1951 P. DOANE 2,563,399

COLLAPSIBLE TOP ENCLOSURE FOR BEDS Filed March 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet i ENTOR aaZ 0am&

BY J z zi g g v ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1951 P. DOANE 2,563,399

COLLAPSIBLE TOP ENCLOSURE FOR BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1946 F/zgifl E54. 4

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,563,399 COLLAPSIBLE TOP ENCLOSURE FOR BEDS Paul Doane, Windsor, N. Y.

Application March 15, 1946, Serial No. 654,658

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to beds and more particularly to a bed having an elevated structure serving or supplanting the conventional bed covers.

As far as I am aware, bed canopies constructed according to prior methods have been bulky, space-consuming and generally clumsy as regards their operation and use. In solid or rigid type bed canopies, the problem of providing a structure permitting convenient entry or leaving has been troublesome. In some cases, the canopy has been constructed so as to swing on a laterally disposedhlnge. This practice amplified the space requirements of the canopy and was therefore objectionable. Furthermore, a pronounced defeet in many of these rigid canopy structures was the limitation on access they imposed. For example, if a patient requiring medical treatment was occupying the bed, the canopy would provide a physical barrier against examination of the patient by a doctor or the application of therapeutic heat treatments such as from ultraviolet lamps disposed adjacent the bed. It may also be pointed out that apart from such medical uses, it is often desirable that such access to the bed be convenient, such as for sun-bathing or other like purposes.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bed-canopy combination wherein the canopy construction is simple, easily operated and has minimum space requirements.

Another object of this invention is to produce such a bed-canopy combination in which the canopy interferes as little as possible with access to the bed so as to facilitate making up the bed, airing it, or permitting convenient entry or leaving.

A further object of this invention is to produce a canopy for a bed which can be adapted for use with standard or presently existing beds. Thus, the canopy can be pre-fabricated and may be installed by a user on a bed which was not specifically intended for that purpose.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the above general statements of the objects of my invention are intended to describe and not to limit it in any manner.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section taken along the line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the neck drape removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the slide limiting system of the canopy sections.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the roller track arrangement of the canopy sections.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the rolling action of one of the canopy sections in its track.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the air vent for the bed canopy.

The bed l0 generally follows the conventional forms thereof and comprises a head board H, a foot board l2, and a mattress supporting area in which is disposed the mattress support I3. The support [3 may include springs or any similar means of resiliently supporting the mattress if desired. The mattress supporting area includes both head rest and body rest portions as is conventional.

The bed structure per se includes the side rails l4 and I5 which in the ordinary use of the bed are usually intended to support a bed spring. In the present instance, however, they support the track members "3 and I1 upon which roll the movable canopy sections, as will be hereinafter described. The connection of side rails l4 and '5 to the head and foot boards respectively is conventional. A mattress I8 which rests upon the support I3 is provided, as are the usual pillows l9. As illustrated, mattress support l3 may be integral with members I6 and I! if desired, although if springs are provided therein, the support 13 can be adapted for this purpose.

The elevated, enclosing canopy structure includes three discrete telescoping sections 20, 2| and 22. The canopy sections are dome-shaped and may be made of aluminum, wood or like material. Canopy section 22 is enclosed by wall 28 at its rearward end and remains in a fixed position across the bed, its edges or sides resting on the members l6 and I1. Canopy sections 20 and 2| are slidable in respect to each other and to canopy section 22. Pursuant to this purpose, rollers 23 are provided on each side of the movable canopy sections and tracks are formed in members It and I! which are adapted to receive the rollers 23. Thus, track 24 serves the rollers 23 of front canopy section 20 on one side thereof, while track 25 serves its rollers on the other side. Center canopy section 2| rolls on one side thereof in track 26 and on the other side thereof in track 21. It will be apparent, therefore, that the movable canopy sections can be retracted longitudinally into a nested relationship wherein the three canopy sections are completely telescoped and reltracted position they cover only the section wherein is disposed the fixed canopy section 22 since the movable sections are telescoped thereover. In this position, more than one-half, and

actually only one quarter or the bed is covered. It is apparent, moreover, that should more movable sections be provided, the permanently cov cred area can be decreased.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the foot board l2 serves as a limit for inward telescoping of the canopy sections, while outward telescoping movement is limited by the enlarged ends ll and 43 formed around the contacting edges of the canopy sections.

When the canopy structure is in its operative or extended condition, it supplants the usual bed covers and eliminates disadvantages thereof. For example, the pressure of bed clothes upon an occupant of the bed is avoided, as is the disturbance of one occupant of a double bed when the other occupant shifts the bed covers. In addition, a saving in bed linen and blankets is also effected.

In order to cover the front opening of movable canopy section 23, a neck drape 35 is connected around the outer edge thereof and permitted to hang downwardly so that it may drape itself around the neck of the occupants. The drape or curtain 3i thus servesas a form of flexible seal for thebed canopy.

I have found that an arrangement such as described above is effective in maintaining the occupant of the bedwarrn, even without auxiliary heat. However, it may be desirable to provide such heat for persons having particular requirements-or in the event that itis desired to preheat the bed prior to its occupancy. Accordingly, there is provided an electric heater coil 35 which may be housed in asuitable enclosure 36. Operating current therefor is provided through wires 3,! in conjunction with a bimetallic or similar type of thermostat 33 which. is arranged to provide a regulated degree of heat from the heater coil 35. The thermostat arrangement is conventional and need not be discussed herein, it being understood that the temperature within the enclosure will control its operation. A pair of elec= tricallead wires 39 is provided with the usual plug 4i! so that current may be fed to the heater coil 35. If desired, a simple electric light bulb, infra red, or any similar appliance, may be utilized instead of the heater coil described.

Openings All formed in a block 42 provided in canopy section 213 serve to assist in the circulation of air in the canopy. Referring to Fig. 7, a slidable shutter 43 having an operating handle 44, is arranged to slide in tracks 45 and t6, arranged longitudinally on the canopy section 29. When Q operating handle id is withdrawn to the position shownin Fig. 7, the openings s: are free to admit air into the canopy structure. When the operating handle ts is pushed back to cover the openingsll by the shutter 43, as illustrated .in Fig. l, the air therethrough will be cut oil 4 larged ends are disposed pads of felt or similar heat insulating members 58.

It will be seen from the'foregoing that a collapsible although rigid bed canopy has been provided which permits access to the major portion of the bed by merely rolling the canopysections toward the foot thereof so that they occupy the position shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 1. Thus, the unwieldy and bulky mechanisms of prior do vices have been eliminated and a structure has been provided which can be collapsed in situ whenever the occasion requires and can be re stored to operation by a very simple movement. The advantages of such construction are partic-- ularly marked in connection with making up or airing the bed without the considerable difficulties encountered with prior bulky devices which often required removal or displacement of the entire structure. :The advantages of access for therapeutic applications to an applicant are obvious. In addition, the enclosure is capable. of maintaining the desired temperature and air con ditions when in the extended condition. W l

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that. numerous changes and ommissions may be made therefrom without departing from its spirit. For example,

it is feasible to slide the canopy sections back on gravitational action and it can beremoved en-.- tirely, if desired, without unfastening hinges,

screws, etc. Similarly, it can be replaced with equal facility. If desired, the canopy material may be formed of plastic or heat insulating mate rials.

1. A bed including a mattress supporting area and an elevated enclosing structure maintained over said mattress supporting area, said enclosure comprising a plurality of discrete relatively movable sections, said sections having a normal position wherein the greater part of said mattress supporting area is covered thereby, rollers on some of said sections, means on said bed for supporting said rollers, said sections provided'with rollers being movable on said rollers towards one end of said mattress supporting area so as to reduce the part of. said mattress supporting area covered thereby, one of said sections being disposedadjacent to and over said one end of said mattress supporting area, an end wall on said one section, all the remaining sections having open ends whereby an occupant of the bed mayenterthe structure through the foremost of said remaining sections, and a flexible drape over the front open end of said foremost remaining section whereby the structure is enclosed at one end bysai-d one section end wall and at the otherpend by said flexible drape.

2. A bed including a head board, a foot "board and side rails maintained between said boards, a mattress supporting area between said side rails, a pair of tracked members respectively supported by each of said side rails, an elevated.:dorne-v shaped enclosure supported by said tracked mem-- bers so as to. be maintained over said mattress supporting area, said enclosure comprising a p111=- rality of relatively movable sections, said sections having a normal longitudinal relationship wherein the greater part of said mattresssupporting area is covered thereby, rollers on atleasttwo of said sections and disposed in tracks of said tracked members whereby said two sections mail 5 be rolled towards one end of said mattress supporting area so as to modify said normal longitudinal relationship of said sections, said modification being effective in uncovering the greater portion of said mattress supporting area, one of said sections normally remaining adjacent the rear of the bed, and an end wall on said one sectionand immediately adjacent said rear, all of said sections communicating with each other and the front section being open at its end whereby an occupant may enter said enclosure through said front section.

PAUL DOANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s'm'rss PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date Holder Feb. 23, 1892 Robinson Mar. 11, 1902 Shepard Feb. 4, 1913 Gail Mar. 10, 1935 Rowe et a1 Apr. 22,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 16, 1928

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