US2683883A - Concealed bed construction - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18. 1950 {iwemaw 631922 52- Edward July 20, 1954 HIRST 2,683,883

CONCEALED BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1954 E. G. HlRST CONCEALED BED CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 18. 1950 Patented July 2, 1954 TED STAT' rsm' OFFICE 11 Claims.

Introduction The present invention relates to improvements in a concealed bed construction. This application. is a continuationin-pa1't of application Serial No. 673,556, filed May 31, 1946, which is now abandoned.

Concealed beds of the type to which the inven tion relates consist essentially of a collapsible bed which, when not in use, may be folded and concealed within a receptacle. The present invention aims to provide an improved construction of a bed. of this nature wherein the bed and receptacle form a single unit which is easily transported and may be easily moved from one location to another. The present combined bed and receptacle unit is simple both in design and operation and eliminates the use of counterweights counterbala-ncing springs making the unit compact and especially adaptable for use in apartments, hotels, cottages or other places where floor space is a problem. The compact folding of the bed into the receptacle also allows the unit to become an attractive piece of furniture as well as an article of utility making it adaptable for use as an occasional bed in offices, plants, or other places where an ordinary bed or couch would be impractical. The construction of the unit is such that it may be placed against the wall of room or in a recess so as to occupy the minimum of door space.

Accordingly, the present invention is embodied concealed bed construction comprising in nation with a receptacle, a bed frame te the ends on the free ends of links pivoted hin opposite ends of th receptacle. The of the side of the bed frame adiacent whereby the bed frame can be links to avertical position within or to a horizontal extended posie bed in osition for use *tside of eceptacle. The linka e bet een the bed .rne receptacle is such that the swin in'r Increment can be readily accomplished without the use of counterbalancing weights or the like.

One of the features of the present unit is that the bed frame is provided with collapsible head and footboards that are operated by linkage through the movement of the bed frame about the central pivot.

A further feature consists in providing collapsible legs pivoted to the side of the bed frame remote from the receptacle that are operated by linkage associated with the links supporting the bed frame so as to collapse and extend with the 4 closing and opening movement of the bed respectively.

A still further feature is embodied in the pre-.

ferred construction of the receptacle which includes a pair of substantially centrally divided doors that ar mounted in the receptacle so as to fold down vertically beneath the bed frame when the bed is opened and fold up vertically to close ed the front of the receptacle when the bed is in concealed folded position within the receptacle. Linkage is provided between the doors and the bed supporting linkage so that the doors are held up in a partially open position until the bed frame has been unfolded and also raises th doors to a partially closed position when the bed is swung into the receptacle. This ensures that the doors can not fall or fold over the feet of anyone unfolding or folding the bed as well as eliminating the necessity of having to stoop and pull the door up from the floor when the receptacle is being closed.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention particular reference will be made to ferred construction of a concealed bed unit construoted in accordance with the present invenion. and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view in perspective elevation of a concealed bed unit constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 the line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a front view in perspective elevat onv of the construction shown in Figure 1 with. the frame in open position.

Figure 4 is a front View of a portion of the onstruction shown in Figure 3, with the bed frame in the closed position and the doors of the receptacle open.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5.

Figure 6 is an end view of the construction along shown in Figure 1 with the end of the receptacle.

6 along theline 1-'! to illustrate the constructionin more detail.

' Figure 81s an end view corresponding to Figure 6 with the end of the receptacle removed to' in plan of Figure 4' illustrate the relative positions of bed frame, linkage and receptacle doors when the bed is opened.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 8 along the line 99 illustrating the head and foot rail locking arrangement in more detail.

Figur 10 is an enlarged detail view of the head and foot rail catch to illustrate the preferred construction more clearly.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of Figure 8 along the line ll-l l to illustrate the folding arrangement and operating linkage for th collapsible head and footboards.

Figure 12 is a sectional View corresponding to Figure 11 showing the collapsible headboard in the folded position.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view of the slid ing pivotal connection between the headboard operating arm and the main supporting link.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the bed frame supporting linkage, receptacle door supporting and opening arm, and the associated safety closure cam arm as it appears in the folded position within the receptacle.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to Figure 14 with the receptacle doors partially opened.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to Figure 15 with the receptacle doors completely open and the bed frame completely opened.

Figure 1'7 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to Figure 16 with the bed frame partially closed within the receptacle to illustrate the initial door opening action of the door supporting lever arm.

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail view of one of the door supporting and opening lever arms.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a preferred construction of a concealed bed unit in accordance with the present invention is illustrated as comprising a substantially rectangular receptacle or cabinet .10 containing the collapsible bed and associated mechanism.

The receptacle I!) is made up of a steel inner frame [2 over which is mounted the cabinet structure proper consisting of a top panel I l, side panels 16, and a back panel l8 which are joined and supported at the corners by rear posts 26 and front posts 22. The panels and posts can be made of any suitable material, forexample, wood, or plywood and are preferably assembled so that the receptacle may be easily taken down, if necessary, in moving or to facilitate the entry of the unit through a small doorway or window.

The front wall of the receptacle is made up of a two-piece door divided into hinged panels 24. 28 which open outwardly at the central hinging point indicated at 28 and fold vertically downwards. The top door panel 24 includes rollers 30 at each side adjacent the upper edge which are engaged with and ride in slotted grooves 32 provided in each of the front receptacle posts 22. The top panel 24 is hingedly mounted on the top of the lower panel 26 by means of suitable spring hinges 21, see Figure 2, and the lower panel 26 is mounted on a lower frame member I3 of the inner frame 12 by means of hinges 34. As is shown in Figure 14, a filler block I is secured to the inner face of the frame member [3 and the hinges 3d are secured to the filler block. With this arrangement the door panels 24, 26, when pulled outwardly by the handle 35 attached to the panel 24, fold outwardly and descend vertically with the travel of the upper edge of the panel 24 guided by the engagement of the rollers 30 in the grooves 32 of the posts 22. The particular hinging arrangement of the bottom panel 26 to the frame member 13 provides a clearance space for the toes of anyone opening the doors. Means associated with the linkage of the bed supporting mechanism is adapted to support the partially folded doors clear of the floor before the bed is opened, as is shown in Figure 17, and will be described in more detail later.

Bed frame and linkage The bed frame of the unit consists essentially of longitudinal side members 40, 4| and end members 42, 43 forming a rectangular bed frame on which there are supported springs 44.

The longitudinal side member 41 adjacent the receptacle when the bed is opened is connected to the end frame members 42, 43 by means of castings 45 at each end of the frame. The castings 65 also serve as supports and bearin s for the axles of a pair of roller guide wheels 41 which are thus rotatably mounted on the end frame members 42, 53 (see Figure 7).

The bed frame is mounted for swinging pivotal movement into and out of the receptacle ID by means of a pair of main supporting links 58. One end of each of the links 50 is pivotally connected by means of suitable brackets 5| to a lower frame member of the inner frame [2 at each side of the receptacle. The links 50 are also pivotally connected adjacent the other ends to the end bed frame members 42, 43 intermediate the ends of these members so that the bed frame is adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis. A pair of flanged members 5?, 59 are secured to the frame members I I and ll of the inner frame l2 at each end of the receptacle with their flanges opposed to form a guide track 6! The guide wheels 41 mounted on the bed frame are adapted to travel on the flanges of the members 51, 59 in the guide track 60 so that the inner edge of the bed frame relative to the receptacle is guided in a vertical and partially arcuate path when the frame is pivoted about the supporting links 5!].

A side mattress board 10 is mounted on the longitudinal side member 48 and a headboard having a lower portion 12 and an upper portion H, and a footboard having a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 13 are secured to the mattress board H3 and the end frame members, 43 at opposite ends of the frame so as to form the easement of the bed adapted to retain the mattress in position. The upper portions H, 13 of the headboard and the footboard are hinged to the lower portions 12, I4 so that they may be folded inwardly when the bed is folded so as to automatically lock the mattress and bed clothing in position as the bed is swung into the closed or concealed position.

With reference to the folding of the upper head and footboard portions H, 13, the following description deals specifically with the headboard portions 12, H but it will be understood that the footboard portions l4; l3 operate in a similar manner. Referring particularly to Figures 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings, the upper headboard portion I! is hingedly mounted on the lower portion '12 as indicated at 15 so that it can be folded inwardly only.

A sliding link is pivotally connected at one end to the main supporting link 50, see Figure 13, so that the movement of the link 50 is transmitted to the link 80 when the bed frame is swung into or out of concealed positioned. A spring 8| is provided to take up any slack in the movement. The link 86' is supported for slidable movement on the lower headboard portion 12 by means of a bracket 84, and is pivotally connected to a hinged link 85 mounted on the upper headboard portion H. A slide plate 88 is provided on the headboard portion 72 beneath the pivotal connection between the links 3E, 85. With this arrangement the outward swingi of the bed frame moves the link 5Q so as to push the link 83 upwards so as to unfold the headboard portion ll (see Figure 11). The inward movement of the bed frame moves the link 59 in the opposite direction so as to pull the link 88 downwards folding the headboard portion ll inwards (see Figure 12).

In order to safeguard against the possibility of the headboard portions "H i2 and foot-board portions i3, is being folded accidentally when the bed is opened, say for example, by someone leaning or sitting on the bed, safety catches iii! are provided that automatically retain the headboard portions in the erected position and release them when the bed is closed. The safety catches 98 are positioned at each end of the receptacle Iii and are pivotally mounted on the vertical innerfrarne members I! as is shown in Figure 9. Each of the catches so are preferably formed so as to have a concave shape in general cross-section, see ure 10, so as to minimize the actual bearing surface coming into contact with the bearing plates 94 mounted on the headboard portions ii, and footboard portions E3.

The catches are each actuated through rods 95 which arc pivotally connected to and extend between each catch iii] and one end of lever arms 98 which are pivotally mounted on diagonal sup porting members 19 of the inner frame 52 at each end of the receptacle. A spring it? is provided between each of the catches 9t and end of each of the rods as so as to give the locking movement resiliency. The other end of each of the lever arms 98 are adapted to be contacted by the roller guide wheels at the end of their upward and outward travel when the bed is opened so that the connecting rods 5F, are pulled downwards bringing the catches as into engagement with the upper edges of the head and footbcards. A spring 5263 is provided on each of the catches so so that release of the connecting rods Qt by the closing of the bed cause the catches 5G to swing upwards and away from the head and foot-boards and allows them to fold as previously described.

A pair of supporting legs :82 are pivotally mounted, one on each of the end bed frame inenn bers '22, t3 adjacent the longitudinal side frame member ii. These legs .22 are automatically swung down and refolded by connecting links 522 that are pivotally connected to the legs and the main supporting links 5%]. The pivotal connections between the legs Hi2 and the side frame members 42, ii are off centre relative to the centre line of the legs the pivotal con nections between the legs i632, and the links i2? are also on center so as to eliminate any possi-- bility of the linkage sticking when the legs are folded parallel to the si-..e frame members when the bed is closed.

The upper and lower door panels 2 1, are prevented from folding completely down p- -r to the unfolding of the bed frame by means of a pair of spaced apart door supporting lever arms I33. Each of the lever arms 5 are pivotally mounted at one end to the bed frame end bers 22 and t3 and are prevented from tel no loosely by means of lengths of chain it? secured to the lever arms 53d and the respective end members 42, ea. As is shown in detailrin Figures 14, l5, l6, l7 and 18 the supporting lever arms ltd iii) tion 2 and into the receptacle i=3, as is show operate in the following .manner. When the doors, 24, 26 are opened, the lever arms fall against the lower door portion 28, between the portion 26 and the upper portion E l. As the doors are lowered, the lever arms 13% descend to the limit of the chains l32 and thus the folded door portions are supported in a sufliciently low position to allow the bed to be opened but also sufiiciently high relative to the floor so as to provide clearance for the feet of the person opening the bed. When the bed frame is swung about the supporting links 50 to open the bed the upward movement of the inner end of the bed frame members 52, 43, lowers and withdraws the supporting arms 138 so that the doors 2t, 25, fold flatly against the floor as is shown in Figure 16. Conversely, when the bed is again swung about the links 50 to close the bed into the receptacle the lever arms I30 again raise the folded doors 2 26, into the intermediate position so they may be easily raised into their full extended closed position. It has been found, that due to the resilient hinging between the door portions 2t, 26, and the present lever arm arrangement that very little effort is required to raise or lower the doors 24, 26, and that no locking mechanism is necessary to secure the doors in the closed position.

In order to ensure that the door portions 26, 25, do descend when the bed is opened, a pair of safety cam arms I 16 are provide: follow the upper edge of the door portion as it descends but do not contact the door unless the door sticks. These cams l lil are pivot-ally mounted at each end of the bed frame to main supporting links 55 are shaped so that his inner free ends of the travel between the axles mounting the guide wheels 3! protruding studs Hi2 one of which is secured to each of the end bed frames 52, 43. The outer ends of the cams 40 adjacent the doors provided with a rubber roller i 44. With this arrangement, the swinging movement of the frame about the links 5! as well as the I01 A and downward movement of the links actuates the cam rollers 4 into an arcuate path. The arcuate path extends outwardly over the t p edge of the door portion 2% and then downward following the travel of the door it lowered by the action of the lever arms 53%. When bed is closed the reverse movement of the bed frame and the supporting links actuate the safety cam arms Mt upwardly in an arcuate so as to move them away from the top door per- Figure 14.

In use, when the bed i to be opened, the handle 35 is pulled outwardly causing the door portions Ed, 25, to fold out the top edge of the door 25 slots in the front posts When doors are lowered sufficiently to allow for the opening of the bed the lever arms see are supporting their weight and will continue to do so until the bed is opened. To open the bed is adj the upper edge and pulled outwardly. This action cause the bed frame to swing about its pivotal connection with the supporting links 55 and simultaneously causes the to pivot outwardly from the connection with the receptacle frame l2. Since the inner edge of the bed is restrained and guided by the engagement of the guide .wheels 67 with the track-iii the inner edge of the frame :moves upwardly and outwardly as the-bed. pivots gand swings bodily to .thelhorizontal position. Simultaneously with this swinging motion of the bed frame, the head It and footboard portions '53 are unfolded by the linkage 80, 86, and the legs I02 are unfolded into their supporting position by the links I22. The doors 24, 25, are completely lowered tin'ough the actions of the lever arms [36 and the headboard portion H and the footboard portion is locked in erected position by the retaining catches 9B.

To close the bed, the lifting of the outer edge of the bed frame pivots the frame about the links 50 and the associated linkage folds up the legs and head and footboards so that the bed is folded compactly within the recept cle 18. As the doors 24, 26, have already been lifted by the lever arms I30 to the partially closed position, an upward pull on the handle 35 raises them to the point where the resilient hinges act to bring the door portions into vertical alignment and complete the receptacle closure.

I claim:

1. In a foldaway bed construction, a receptacle having an open front, a supporting frame within said receptacle, a rectangular bed frame having longitudinal side frame members connected by transverse end frame members, a guideway mounted on said supporting frame adjacent each end of said receptacle, a guide member carried by one end of each said bed frame end member slidably engaging said guideways, said bed frame being pivotally connected to said supporting frame by means of a pair of spaced apart elongated supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to said supporting frame adjacent said guideways and being pivotally connected adjacent their upper ends to said transverse bed frame end members beyond the centres of said members with respect to said guide members so as to constitute a pivotal axis extending longitudinally of said bed frame, whereby said bed frame is adapted to be swung about said longitudinal pivotal axis from a position within said receptacle wherein the bed frame is in parallel vertical alignment with said receptacle to a horizontal position exteriorly of said receptacle, the travel of the inner bed frame members adjacent said receptacle being guided by said guideways in a vertical upward and arcuate outward path when said bed frame is swung about said pivotal axis so as to extend said bed frame from said receptacle and in an arcuate inward and vertical downward path when said bed frame is swung into said receptacle.

2. In a foldaway bed construction, a receptacle having an open front, a bed frame having longitudinal side members connected by transverse end frame members, guideways arranged adjacent each end of said receptacle, guide members carried by one end of said bed frame end members slidably engaging in said guideways, said bed frame being pivotally connected thereto by means of a pair of spaced apart supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to said receptacle and being pivotally connected adjacent their upper ends to said transverse bed frame end members beyond the center of said members relative to said guide members so as to constitute a pivotal axis extending longitudinally of said bed frame, supporting legs pivoted at their upper ends to the ends of said transverse bed frame end members remote from said guide members, connecting links having one end pivotally connected to each of said legs and the other end to each of said supporting links whereby said bed frame is 8 adapted to be swung about said longitudinal pivotal axis from a vertical position within said casing to a horizontal extended position, the travel of the longitudinal bed frame member adjacent said guide members being guided by said connection with said guideways, said linkage between said pivotal legs and said supporting links effecting the movement of said legs between the collapsed and extended position as said frame is swung from a vertical to a horizontal position.

3. In a foldaway bed construction, a receptacle having an open front, a bed frame having longitudinal side frame members connected by transverse end members, said bed frame being pivotally connected to said receptacle by means of a pair of spaced apart supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the base thereof and being pivotally connected adjacent their upper ends to said transverse frame end members so as to constitute a pivotal axis extending longitudinally of said bed frame, guideways arranged in said receptacle adjacent each end thereof, guide members carried by one end of each of said bed frame end members engaging in and supported by said guideways adapted to guide the movement of the inner edges of said bed frame when swung on said supporting links about said pivotal axis between a vertical position within said receptacle to a horizontal extended position, supporting legs pivoted at their upper ends to the ends of the transverse end members of said bed frame remote from said guide members, a pair of connecting links each having one end pivotally connected to each of said first named supporting links with the other end pivotally connected to one of said legs, head and footboard members mounted on the transverse ends of said bed frame, foldable members hingedly secured to said head and footboard members, and connecting links pivotally connecting said head and footboard foldable members and the upper ends of said first named supporting links, whereby relative movement of said supporting links and said bed frame eifects the movement of said head and footboard foldable members and said pivotally mounted legs from a collapsed to an extended position when said bed frame is swung from a vertical to a horizontal position.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said receptacle is provided with a closure for said open front to conceal said bed frame when swung within said receptacle, said closure comprising a lower door panel section extending longitudinally across said receptacle and hingedly con nected adjacent to the bottom of said receptacle, an upper door panel section extending longitudinally across said receptacle and being hingedly connected to said lower panel section, guide means on said receptacle and means on the upper edge of said upper door panel section engageable in said guide means, said hinged connection between said upper and lower panels being resiliently biased whereby said panels are self-supporting in the extended vertical position forming a closure for the front of said receptacle.

5. In a foldaway bed construction as claimed in claim 3, retaining means adapted to retain said head and footboard foldable members in extended position, said retaining means comprising, a pair of catch members pivotally mounted on said receptacle one adjacent each end thereof, resilient means between each of said catches and said receptacle adapted to normally maintain said catches in inoperative position, a lever arm pivotally mounted adjacent each end of said receptacle and having one end disposed in the path of said bed frame guideways, and connecting links between the other ends of said lever arms and said catches, whereby the final move ment of said bed frame from vertical to horizontal position is adapted to move said bed frame guide means into contact with said lever arms and said movement is transmitted through the last mentioned connecting links to move said catches into retaining contact with said head and footboard foldable members.

6. A foldaway bed construction as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said retaining catches is formed so as to be of concave shape in general cross-section, the lower arcuate portion of said concave shape constituting the bearing surface of said catch adapted to engage with said foldable head and. footboard members.

7. A foldaway bed construction comprising, a receptacle having an open front, a bed frame having longitudinal side frame members connected by transverse end frame members, guideways arranged adjacent each end of said receptacle, guide members carried by each of said end bed frame members slidably engaged in said guideways, said bed frame being pivotally connected to said receptacle by a pair of supporting links having their lower ends pivotally connected to said receptacle at the lower portion thereof and being pivotally connected adjacent their upper ends to said transverse bed frame members, an upper door panel and a lower door panel extending longitudinally across said receptacle open front so as to constitute a folding closure, said upper door panel being hingedly connected to said lower door panel with said lower door panel hingedly mounted on the base of said receptacle, guiding slots in said receptacle at opposite sides of said open front and guide means on said upper door panel slidably engaged in said receptacle guiding slots, and door supporting means operatively connected with said bed frame end members adapted to engage and support said doors in an intermediate position when said doors are lowered from a vertical position to a horizontal position and to raise said doors to said intermediate position from a horizontal folded position when said bed frame is swun away from a horizontal position to a vertical position about said supporting links.

8. In a foldaway bed construction as claimed in claim 7, said door supporting means comprising a pair of supporting lever arms, one of said arms being pivotally connected to each of said transverse end frame members adjacent one of said guide members, each of said lever arms having a first substantially straight portion extending from said pivotal connection and an arcuate end portion adapted to engage with and support said closure door panels in folded position, and flexible supporting means between each of said supporting arms and one of said bed frame end members adapted to support and ac tuate said supporting lever arms upon pivotal movement of said bed frame about said supporting links.

9. A foldaway bed construction as claimed in claim 8, including means adapted to ensure the horizontal folding of said foldable door portions comprising, a pair of elongated cam shaped lever members each pivotally connected inter- 1d mediate its length to one of said bed frame supporting links, each of said lever members having a first major portion extending from said pivotal connection to a sliding engagement with one of said bed frame guide members and a second minor portion extending in the other direction from said pivotal connection with the outer end disposed adjacent one of said door portions, said lever members being adapted to operate in conjunction with said bed frame and supporting links, whereby movement of said bed frame between the vertical and horizontal position, after said foldable door portions are in the intermediate closed position, actuates said second lever portion ends into an arcuate path following the descent of said upper door panel and into engagement with said door panel if said descent is impeded.

10. A foldaway bed structure, comprising, a supporting frame, a pair of spaced apart guiding tracks extending upwards and forwards from said supporting frame adjacent each end thereof, each of said guiding tracks having an upper outer terminus and a lower inner terminus, a rectangular bed frame having longitudinal side frame members and transverse end frame members, each of said transverse end frame members carrying a guiding member adjacent one end slidably engaged with one of said guiding tracks, a pair of elongated supporting links extending between said transverse end bed frame members and said supporting frame, each of said supporting links being pivotally connected adjacent one end to one of said end bed frame members beyond the centre line of said member with respect to said guiding member with the other end pivotally connected to said supporting frame adjacent the lower end of one of said guiding tracks, whereby the entire bed frame is adapted to be swung about said supporting links between a vertical position and a horizontal position with respect to said guiding frame with the guiding members guiding the inner edges of said bed frame between said upper outer termini and said lower inner termini of said guiding tracks during said swinging movement.

11. A bed structure according to claim 10, including a leg pivotally connected to the end of each transverse bed frame member remote from said guiding member for movement between a folded position parallel to said bed end frame member and a standing position perpendicular to said bed end frame member, a second pair of elongated connecting links each having one end pivotally connected to one of said first named elongated connecting links with the other end pivotally connected to one of said legs, whereby said legs are adapted to be moved between said folded position and said standing position by said second connecting links when the bed frame is moved between said vertical and horizontal positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,100,757 Manz June 23, 1914 1,218,202 Murphy Mar. 6, 1917 1,366,521 Conhaim Jan. 25, 1921 1,622,702 Brown Mar. 29, 1927 2,547,863 Godschalk Apr. 3,1951

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