US3224015A

US3224015A - Cabinet bed arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3224015A
Application number: US220704A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schneider Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-31
Filing date: 1962-08-31
Publication date: 1965-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-21

Description

Dec. 21, 1965 c, SCHNEIDER 3,224,015

CABINE' I BED ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES .SCHNE/DER INVENTOR A 770/2NEY Dec. 21, 1965 c. SCHNEIDER CABINET BED ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 31., 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ow m NW E lulllql||lllllul|'\ 9 w m \g 10V vm @W INVENTOR CHAPL5 SCHNEIDER BY A7TORNE) United States Patent 3,224,015 CABINET BED ARRANGEMENT Charles Schneider, 585 N. lRossrnore, Apt. 5, Hollywood, Calif. Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,704 6 Claims. (Cl. -2)

This invention relates to the folding bed art and more particularly to an improved arrangement providing a folding bed in a cabinet or room divider.

It has long been desirable to provide, as an article of furniture, a cabinet or room divider that incorporates a folding bed concealed inside the cabinet when in a first or closed position and extends from the cabinet when in a second or open position. Further, to be commercially successful, the cabinet unit must be capable of being manufactured in an aesthetically pleasing design, both when the foldable bed is in its first position and when it is in its second position. However, when a foldable bed is incorporated in a cabinet, as opposed to, for example, a sofa, the design of the unit must be such that the cabinet does not tip or sway during the opening and closing of the bed from the cabinet since items, such as glassware, which might be stored in the cabinet would be damaged or destroyed. In addition, since women often are required to operate the folding bed arrangement, the forces that must be supplied to open and close the bed must be kept low.

To the best of applicants knowledge, cabinet beds manufactured in the past have not always achieved these desiderata. Often the bed unit was only pivotally coupled to the cabinet unit which not only resulted in tipping of the cabinet unit when opening or closing but also required substantial strength to operate. Other arrangements have provided either an extremely heavy cabinet unit, means for attaching the cabinet to a wall or floor, or a very wide cabinet unit, in an attempt to avoid tipping, which conditions hampered design of an aesthetically pleasing cabinet bed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet bed arrangement.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet bed arrangement that requires only moderate external forces to operate.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cabinet bed arrangement that may be manufactured in an aesthetically pleasing configuration.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet bed arrangement in which the cabinet unit is substantially free of tipping or swaying characteristics during opening and closing of the bed unit.

The above and other objects are achieved, according to one embodiment of applicants invention, by providing a cabinet member having walls defining a bed tray receiving cavity. A bed tray, in which a foldable bed is contained, is adapted to fit in the bed tray receiving cavity in a first, closed position and to be extended into a second, open position from which the foldable bed may be unfolded. Movement of the bed tray relative to the cabinet member during transition from the first position to the second position is carefully controlled to reduce the outward movement of the center of gravity of the bed tray to thereby minimize the tendency of the cabinet member to tip. This is achieved by providing both a rotational and a translational mode of movement of the bed tray relative to the cabinet member. According to applicants invention herein, the center of gravity of the rotationally and translationally moving bed tray only moves a comparatively small distance outside the base of the cabinet member during transitions between the open and the closed positions. Therefore, the tipping moment about the base edge of the cabinet member is minimized and the normal weight of an aesthetically pleasing cabinet member is sufiicient to prevent tipping, thereby eliminating the need for either excessively wide cabinet bases or excessively heavy cabinets. Counterbalancing spring arrangements are also provided to control the amount of force that must be exerted to move the bed tray between the first and the second positions.

The above and other embodiments of this invention are more fully disclosed in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partially in section, of one embodiment of applicants invention shown in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1 in a partially open position;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1 in a fully open position;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention.

While the embodiments of applicants invention described herein are shown in a cabinet bed arrangement, it will be appreciated that applicants invention may also be utilized in many diverse applications wherever relative motion of one member to another is to be provided without substantial tipping or swaying of the first member.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown the structure associated with a cabinet bed arrangement according to applicants invention. A cabinet member 10 has walls defining a bed tray receiving cavity 12 in which a bed tray 14 containing a folded bed assembly 16, shown on FIG- URE 1 in dotted lines, is contained in a first or closed position. The cabinet member 10 is provided with, in this embodiment, sliding doors 20 and side walls 22. A backboard 24 and plurality of shelves 26 provide storage space in the cabinet member 10. Many other arrangements of hinged doors, sliding doors, shelving, and the like could be provided in the front section of cabinet member 10 as may be desired for a particular item of furniture. The folding bed 16 may be of any desired and Well-known construction, such as that illustrated in applicants United States Patent No. 2,878,490, and may incorporate, as a feature of construction, the arrangement shown in applicants United States Patent No. 2,713,690. However, any other folding bed construction could be utilized in the cabinet bed arrangement of the present invention. The hinging and pivotal relationships between various sections of the bed may also be in accordance with applicants United States Patent No. 2,878,490 or any other wellknown arrangement for folding beds. Any of the particular types of bed folding arrangements selected from those well known in the art are compatible with applicants invention herein which is directed toward the relationship between a bed unit, foldable or not, and a cabinet unit. Thus, for example, a non-foldable bed unit could also be utilized in this invention which is not limited by the particular type of bed unit selected. It will be appreciated that the particular bed arrangement selected for utilization as the folding bed 16 is merely set into the bed tray 14 and afiixed therein by suitable mounting means. As the arrangements for mounting the folding bed 16 may vary from bed to bed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art exactly to which portions of the bed tray 14 the selected folding bed 16 is to be aflixed.

A rigid arm means 28 is pivotally coupled to side walls 22 by a first pivot pin means 30 at a preselected location thereon spaced a first preselected distance from a base portion 32 of cabinet member 10. The arm means 28 is also pivotally coupled to the bed tray 14 by a second pivot pin means 34 at a preselected location thereon spaced a second preselected distance from base member 32. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, as shown on FIGURE 1, the first preselected distance is greater than the second preselected distance so that rearward movement of the center of gravity of the bed tray 14 and folding bed 16 is minimized. However, other spatial relationship between the first and the second pivot pin means 30 and 34, respectively, and the base portion 32 could also be utilized, depending upon the desired geometry and operational characteristics.

Since arm member 28 is rigid, second pivot pin means 34 is constrained to move, with respect to the cabinet member 10, in the arc of a circle, illustrated by arrow 36, having a radius equivalent to the separation between first pivot pin means 30 and second pivot pin means 34.

A first bracket means 38 is also pivotally coupled to the bed tray 14 by second pivot pin means 34 and a striker means 40 is coupled to the first bracket means 38 and is positioned to engage the arm means 28 during at least preselected portions of the transition of the bed tray 14 between the open and closed positions thereof as described below in detail. FIGURE 2 illustrates a section through the arm means 28 and first bracket means 38 taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1. The striker means 40 may be positioned, when the bed tray 14 is in the first or closed position, to be engaging the arm means 28 or, as shown on FIGURES 1 and 2, separated therefrom when in this position. The exact location may be selected from considerations of the relative weight of the bed tray 14 and cabinet member and the forces desired for operation. However, applicant has found it advantageous to have the striker means 40 not engaging the arm means 28 when the bed tray 14 is in the first or closed position. In this position, the striker means 40 is separated from the arm means 28 by a preselected distance and engages the arm means 28, as the bed tray 14 is opened, when the gravity forces acting on the bed tray 14 create an opening moment. This is more fully explained below in the description of the operation of this embodiment.

A second bracket means 42 is coupled to bed tray means 14 and is spaced from first bracket means 38. A first spring tab 44 is pivotally coupled to first bracket means 38 and a second spring tab 46 is pivotally coupled to second bracket means 42 and a plurality of resilient means, such as tension springs 48, are connected between first spring tab means 44 and second spring tab means 46. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, as shown on FIGURE 1, the first and second spring tab means 44 and 46, respectively, are pivotally coupled to their respective brackets to avoid side loading on the spring means 48 and possible interference therebetween during opening and closing of bed tray 14. However, if only one spring is utilized instead of the plurality of springs 48 shown, the

tabs

44 and 46 may be rigidly coupled to first bracket 38 and second bracket 42, respectively, though in such an arrangement it is desirable that the single spring be rotatably mounted on the tabs, as illustrated, for example, on FIGURE 6 for the attachments of spring members 90 and 88 and as discussed below in greater detail in connection with the description of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6.

A wheel means 50 is coupled to bed tray 14 and is positioned to roll on a preselected surface 52 of base portion 32. The wheel means 50 is preferably positioned close to the rear portion 54 of bed tray 14 so that there is in the closed position a moment about both the wheel means 50 and the second pivot pin means 34 in the clockwise direction, illustrated on FIGURE 1 by arrow 56,

tending to keep the bed tray 14 in the closed position shown. This is achieved by virtue of the center of gravity of the combined bed tray 14 and foldable bed 16, figuratively illustrated at 58, being further forward than the second pivot pin means 34. Rotation of bed tray 14 in the clockwise direction is stopped when the front portion 55 thereof engages stop means 51 coupled to cabinet member 10 to provide, at the rear face 57, a substantially smooth appearance therewith.

When it is desired to open the bed, a force illustrated by arrow 59 is applied to knob means coupled to rear face 57 of bed tray 14. The bed tray 14 starts a pivotal motion with respect to cabinet member 10 about second pivot pin means 34 which simultaneously second pivot pin means 34 is constrained to move along the path shown by arrow 36. This provides both a rotational and a translational movement of the bed tray 14 with respect to the cabinet member 10. As long as the center of gravity of the bed tray 14 and foldable bed 16 is forward of the lower rear edge 62 of bottom portion 32 there is no tipping of the cabinet if the force applied at the knobs 60 does not induce a net counterclockwise moment about rear edge 62. When the center of gravity of the bed tray 14 and foldable bed 16 is vertically disposed above the wheel means 50, the force required on the knobs 60 to move the center of gravity decreases to zero but, as discussed above, at this point the striker means 40 engages arm means 28, putting springs 48 into tension, and the force resulting therefrom is overcome by the force 59 and gravity forces acting on bed tray 14. Thereafter, the weight of the bed tray 14 and foldable bed 16 aids in opening the bed tray 14 when the center of gravity is to the rear of wheel means 50.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the arrangement of FIGURE 1 at the position where the center of gravity at 58 is vertically disposed above the wheel means 50. A plicant has found it advantageous to have striker means 40 engage arm means 28 just before the position illustrated on FIGURE 3 is obtained so that spring means 48 is put into tension. This results in a force on bed tray 14 tending to resist further motion induced by the force 59 and gravity forces. Thus, there is a continual force on the bed tray 14 resisting the force 59 and sudden jerking or pulling, which might tend to tip the cabinet, is avoided.

This combined rotational and translational movement of the bed tray 14 with respect to the cabinet member 10 continues, the second pivot pin means 34 moves along the path illustrated by arrow 36, and the bed tray 14 simultaneously pivots about the second pivot pin means 34 until the bed tray 14 is in an open or second position as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

For a portion of the transition between the position shown in FIGURE 3 and the position shown in FIGURE 4, the center of gravity 58 moves to a position outside the base of cabinet member 10, that is, to the rear of the lower edge 62 thereof. This induces a tipping moment above the lower edge 62 in the counter-clockwise direction that is counter-balanced and prevented by the weight of the cabinet member 10 itself. However, according to applicants invention herein, the translational and rotational movement of the bed tray 14 with respect to cabinet 10 limits the distance that the center of gravity 58 extends to the rear of the lower edge 62 and thus tends to minimize the tipping moment thereof so that the normal weight of the cabinet 10 is suflicient to counteract the tipping moment. Therefore, utilization of specially added weights or bolting the cabinet member 10 to the floor, or providing an excessively wide cabinet base is eliminated and the cabinet 10 may be fabricated in an aesthetically attractive appearance. When the wheel 50 is positioned further towards the rear of bed tray 14 than the second pivot pin 34, there is, during the first portion of travel of bed tray 14, an upward movement of second pivot pin 34. This is caused by greater separation between the wheel 50 and the second pivot pin 34 than between the Second pivot pin 34 and the base 32. This upward movement of second pivot pin 34 continues until the wheel 50 is vertically disposed under second pivot pin 34 and from this point on, further counterclockwise rotation of bed tray 14 results in a downward and forward movement of second pivot pin 34 along arrow 36 to provide a translational movement of bed tray 14 with respect to cabinet that restricts outward movement of the center of gravity 58. Therefore, in some embodiments of applicants invention, it may be desirable to position the wheel 50 vertically under second pivot pin 34 when the bed tray 14 is in the first or closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, if the wheel 50 were to be positioned forward on bed tray 14, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that clearance for the lower rear portion of bed tray 14 during operation must be provided. Since second pivot pin means 34 moves along the path of arrow 36, with respect to lower rear edge 62, the rearward movement of the center of gravity 58 of the bed tray 14 and foldable bed 16 is limited. The location of both the first pivot pin means 30 and the second pivot pin means 34 may be selected for a given foldable cabinet to insure that the counterclockwise moment about lower edge 62 caused by the force 59 and the center of gravity at 58 is less than the clockwise moment induced by the weight of cabinet member 10. This prevents tipping of the cabinet member 10. The spring constant of spring means 48 may be selected so that the force 59 required is both minimal in the direction shown to allow easy operation and yet not so large as to effect a tipping of cabinet member 10. FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing the relationship of arm means 28, bracket 38, striker 40, and springs 48 when the bed tray 14 is in the full open position.

As shown on FIGURE 4, the wheel 50 is adjacent the front portion of the cabinet member 10 when the bed tray 14 is fully open. This results, of course, from the particular dimensions chosen for the unit. The wheel 50 may, if desired, be located above any selected point on base portion 32 that is forward of second pivot 34.

The folding bed 16, shown in dotted lines, may be unfolded to provide a full length bed when bed tray 14 is fully open. However, if, for example, the width of the cabinet 10 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is great enough, the bed 16 need not be a folding bed but may, as discussed above, be of a standard bed construction. In either case, the bed 16 merely is carried by the bed tray 14.

The first bracket means 38 may be pivotally coupled to the bed tray 14 at any desired location as long as striker means 40 is positioned to engage arm means 28 during at least preselected portions of the transition of the bed tray 14 between the open position and the closed position as described above. However, it is more economical to provide only the one pivot point as the number of components required is thus reduced.

There are other arrangements of the structure of applioants invention that may be provided to result in a nontipping cabinet bed arrangement. FIGURE 6 illustrates such structural arrangement in another embodiment of applicants invention.

A cabinet 70, which may be similar to the cabinet 10 of FIGURE 1, has walls defining a bed tray receiving cavity 72. A bed tray 74 containing a foldable bed 76 is contained within the cavity 72. in a first or closed position. An arm means 78 is pivotally coupled to the bed tray 74 by first pivot pin means 80 and pivotally coupled to cabinet member '70 by second pivot pin means 82. A bracket means 84 is also pivotally coupled to cabinet member 70 by pivot pin means 82. A bracket 86 is coupled to cabinet member 78 in spaced relationship to bracket 84. A first resilient member such as a first tension spring 88 is coupled between brackets 84 and 86. In this embodiment the spring means 88 is no-tatably mounted in both brackets 84 and 86 and is free to assume a non-side-loading position therebetween. A second resilient member, such as second tension spring 90, is rotatably coupled to both the bed tray 74 at a location above the center of gravity )1 thereof and to the cabinet member 70.

In a manner analogous to that described in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 1, pivot pin means 80 is constrained to move in the arcuate path illustrated by arrow 92 to provide a translational movement of the bed tray 74 with respect to the cabinet member while simultaneously there is a pivotal motion of the bed tray 74 about pivot pin means 80.

A striker means 93 is coupled to bracket 84 and is adapted to engage arm means 78 during preselected portions of the opening and closing cycles of the cabinet bed.

A roller means 94 is coupled to a base portion 96 of cabinet member 70 and slidingly engages track means 98 coupled to bed tray 74. The track means 88 has an arcuate portion 100 for engagement of the roller means 94 during rotation of bed tray 74 about pivot pin means and a linear portion 102 for engagement with the roller during translational movement.

Opening and closing of this embodiment is similar to that described above with both the spring means and spring means 88 yieldingly resisting the opening of bed tray 74 and aiding the closing thereof.

From the above it can be seen that applicants invention provides an arrangement for controlling later-a1 excursion of the center of gravity of the bed tray with respect to the cabinet member to thereby substantially reduce the tendency of the cabinet member in a cabinet bed to tip during opening and closing of the bed tray. The structural features of each of the arrangements illustrated herein may be combined in any desired combination to provide a tip-free cabinet bed arrangement.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of a new and improved cabinet bed arrangement. Those skilled in the art may find many adaptations and variations of applicants invention. All modifications falling Within the true scope and spirit of applicants invention are intended to be limited only by the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved cabinet bed comprising, in combination:

a cabinet member having walls defining a bed tray receiving cavity;

a bed tray positionable within said cavity in a first position and extendable therefrom in a second position;

wheel means coupled to said bed tray for rolling engagement with preselected portions of said walls of said cabinet;

a rigid arm means having a first end pivotally connected to said bed tray at a first pivot point and a second end pivotally connected to said cabinet member at a second pivot point;

bracket means pivotally connected to said bed tray at said first pivot point and spaced from said arm means;

striker means coupled to said bracket and positioned to engage said arm means; and

spring means coupled between said bracket means and said bed tray for yieldingly maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during preselected portions of the transition of said bed tray between said first position and said second position whereby said bed tray is rnovable in both a rotational mode and a translational mode with respect to said cabinet member.

2. In combination:

a first member having walls defining a cavity;

a second member positionable within said cavity in a I first position and extendable therefrom in a second position;

arm means pivotally connected to said first member at a first end thereof and to said second member at a second end thereof;

striker means coupled to said second member and positioned to engage said arm means intermediate said first and said second ends;

means for yieldingly maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during preselected portions of the transition of said second member between said first position and said second position; and

means for yieldingly resisting the movement of said second member with respect to said first member.

3. In combination:

a cabinet member having walls defining a tray member receiving cavity;

a tray member adapted to fit within said cavity in a first position and extend from said cavity in a second position;

roller means intermediate said cabinet member and said tray member for providing rolling contact engagement of said tray member with said cabinet member during transition between said first position and said second position;

arm means having a first end pivotally coupled to said cabinet member and a second end pivotally coupled to said tray member;

striker means for engaging said :arm means at a preselected location thereon; and

spring means for resiliently maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during at least a portion of the movement of said tray member between said first position and said second position.

4. In combination:

a cabinet member having walls defining a tray member receiving cavity;

an arm means having a first end pivotally coupled to said cabinet member and a second end pivotally coupled to said tray member;

bracket means pivotally coupled to said tray member and spaced apart from said arm means;

striker means coupled to said bracket means and adapted to engage said arm means intermediate said first and said second ends thereof; and

spring means coupled to said bracket means and said tray member for resiliently maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during preselected portions of the movement of said tray member between said first position and said second position whereby said tray member is movable in both a translational mode and a rotational mode relative to said cabinet member.

5. In combination:

a first member having walls defining a cavity;

a second member positionable within said cavity in a first position and extendable therefrom in a second position;

arm means pivotally connected to said first member at a first end thereof, and to said second member at a second end thereof;

striker means coupled to said first member and positioned to engage said arm means intermediate said first and said second ends during a preselected portion of the transition between said first position and said second position;

means for yieldingly maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during said preselected portion of the transition between said first position and said second position;

and means for yieldingly resisting the movement of said second member with respect to said first member.

6. In combination:

a cabinet member having walls defining a tray receiving cavity;

roller means intermediate said cabinet member and said tray member for providing rolling contact engagement of said tray member with said cabinet member during transition of said tray member between said first position and said second position;

striker means for engaging said arm means intermediate said first end and said second end during a preselectedportion of the transition between said first position and said second position;

first spring means for resiliently maintaining said striker means in engagement with said arm means during said preselected portion of the transition between said first position and said second position;

and second spring means for resiliently resisting relative movement between said tray member and said cabinet member.

References ijited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,608 6/1885 Nelson 5141 445,629 2/1891 Osgood 5-2 X 476,923 6/1892 Hayton ct al 5141 1,087,679 2/1914 Page 514l 1,253,872 1/1918 Page 5-141 2,713,690 7/1955 Schneider 5188 2,878,490 3/1959 Schneider 5--13 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

3. IN COMBINATION: A CABINET MEMBER HAVING WALLS DEFINING A TRAY MEMBER RECEIVING CAVITY; A TRAY MEMBER ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN SAID CAVITY IN A FIRST POSITION AND EXTEND FROM SAID CAVITY IN A SECONE POSITION; ROLLER MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID CABINET MEMBER AND SAID TRAY MEMBER FOR PROVIDING ROLLING CONTACT ENGAGEMENT OF SAID TRAY MEMBER WITH SAID CABINET MEMBER DURING TRANSITION BETWEEN SAID FIRST POSITION AND SAID SECOND POSITION; ARM MEANS HAVING A FIRST END PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO SAID CABINET MEMBER AND A SECOND END PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO SAID TRAY MEMBER; STRIKER MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID ARM MEANS AT A PRESELECTED LOCATION THEREON; AND SPRING MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY MAINTAINING SAID STRIKER MEANMS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARM MEANS DURING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAY MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST POSITION AND SAID SECOND POSITION.