WO1993004614A1

WO1993004614A1 - Pull-out bed

Info

Publication number: WO1993004614A1
Application number: PCT/FI1992/000195
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kalevi Melanen
Original assignee: Modumet Oy Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-03
Filing date: 1992-06-22
Publication date: 1993-03-18
Also published as: FI914153A0; AU1895692A; FI914153A; FI86793B; FI86793C

Abstract

A pull-out bed which comprises a bed unit (10) provided with casters (17), which can be pushed under a raised platform (11) covered with a floor material (13) such as vinyl or parquet. The raised platform is formed either in the same room space into which the bed unit is pulled out, or on the opposite side of a wall (20). A step (19) can be incorporated in the edge of the bed unit for stepping up onto the raised platform.

Description

PULL-OUT BED

The object of the invention is a pull-out bed comprising a bed unit provided with casters or corresponding elements.

In small apartments and rooms it is often necessary to make more floor space by removing the beds for the day, that is, when they are not in use. Moving the beds away is inconvenient as often there is no such space to which the beds could be moved. One solution to this problem is, for example, to use collapsible beds. Folded into a smaller size, a bed like this may fit into a cupboard or the like. Space can be saved also in such a way that the bed consists of two parts, in which case one half of the bed can be pushed under the other.

According to a known solution the bed may also be hinged at one end, to enable it to be lifted up against the wall, or even turned up completely inside the wall. Of the known solutions, the bed which can be turned up is the only one which really does save space. In practice, a bed like this is, however, inconvenient.

The object of the present invention is to achieve a pull- out bed arrangement in a new way. It is characteristic of the invention that a level is formed in connection with the bed unit under which the bed unit can be pushed and from where the bed can be pulled out when required, and that the level is made into a raised platform or other space utilized in the same way as the floor level.

The present invention thus provides an essential . improvement to the space problem in small apartments. The room area can be used more efficiently by placing the bed under the raised platform. The additional space thus obtained can be fitted up, for example, as a television viewing, dining, or other living space. This solution gives the apartment advantageously more space. The combination of a raised platform and a bed relating to the invention can be constructed, for example, so that a steel frame is made in one corner of a room as a storage space for the bed unit, and on top of it is mounted a robust platform. Under the platform is installed a bed unit, which can be pulled out either from the side or from the end. If a split-level arrangement has been used in the apartmen _r the bed is preferably situated under the raised section. The bed can, however, also be embedded in the wall so that the raised platform which is constructed on top of the bed, is on the opposite side of the wall than the bed when pulled out.

The bed can be made easy to move by equipping the bed unit with rubber casters mounted on bearings, and on its side walls are mounted guide rollers, which are supported on the side walls of the space built as a raised platform, or on rails fixed to them. The bed unit can also be provided with a locking device, which locks the unit into any position.

An electric motor can also be connected to the bed, preferably a magnetic motor, which moves the bed unit by means of a cogwheel and a cogged rail controlled, for example, by a remote control device. The transmission ratio of the motor must obviously be made such that the movement of the bed unit is sufficiently slow. The motor can also be easily disconnected so that the bed unit can be moved freely by hand.

The frames of the raised platform and of the bed unit are preferably made as steel tube frames, which are powder coated or stoved. The base of the bed unit is preferably an airy wooden slat bottom, the inner dimensions of which are 160 x 200 cm for a double bed, in accordance with the

commonly used mattress size. In this case the height of the bed unit is 20 cm, the space requirement when pulled out 185 cm, and the weight, for example, 150 kg. The space requirement of the raised platform is in this case 165 cm x 208 cm x 40 cm. The platform is dimensioned to withstand a load of 600 kg. The surface material of the platform is determined according to the other floor or wall material used in the apartment and it may be, for example, vinyl or parquet.

The bed unit relating to the invention and its frame can be installed as an extra or spare bed in a variety of different premises such as one-room apartments, alcoves, leisure-time dwellings, hotels, holiday camp accommodation, or ship cabins. It is quick to install and fireproof. The bed unit and frame can be delivered packed and ready to install straight from the manufacturer, but without the surface material as this depends on the installation environment. The bed arrangement relating to the invention can obviously be made in any size, as required. It should, however, preferably be ensured that it fits through the door in one piece.

The invention is described in the following with examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the pull-out bed relating to the invention when situated under the raised platform. Figure 2 shows the bed of figure 1 when pulled out and as a partial cross-section.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of figure 1 taken along line

III-III. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of figure 3 taken along line

IV-IV. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the space arrangement of a room in which the bed unit relating to the invention is pulled out.

Figure 1 shows the bed unit 10 relating to the invention, when pushed under the raised platform 11. The front of the bed unit 10 is made into a step 19, which makes it easy to step on and off the raised platform 11. The top and side surfaces of the raised platform which remain visible, and step 19, are covered with a surface material 13, which corresponds to the floor material used in the room and is, for example, vinyl or parquet. The size of the raised platform 11 is, for example, 165 cm x 208 cm, if the size of the mattress for the bed is 160 cm x 200 cm. The height of the platform 11 is preferably 40 cm and the height of the step 19 is 20 cm.

Figure 2 shows the bed unit 10 of figure 1, when pulled out from under the raised platform 11. Figure 2 shows a partial cross-section of both the bed unit 10 and of the raised platform 11, so that the steel tube structure of both is shown clearly.

In the strong, steel-constructed and stoved frame 14 of the bed unit 10 pulled out from the end is mounted an airy wooden slat bottom 18. The bed unit 10 moves lightly on the six rubber casters 17 mounted on bearings on the frame 14. The bed unit can either be pulled out completely or locked into a desired position. Guide rollers 16 are fixed on the sides of the frame 14, guiding the movement of the bed unit 10 under the raised platform 11.

On the inner sides of frame 12 are fixed slide rails 15, on which the guide rollers 16 on the sides of the bed unit 10 are supported. The actual raised platform 11 and the side are covered with a surface material 13 corresponding to the floor material.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of figure 1. The figure shows the steel-constructed frame 12 of the raised platform 11, on the opposite inner sides of which are the slide rails 15. The frame 12 is covered with a surface material 13, such as parquet. Guide rollers are fixed on the sides of the bed unit 10, by means of which the bed unit 10 is supported on the slide rails 15 of the raised platform 11. Rubber casters 17 mounted on bearings are installed under the bed unit 10. In this embodiment the raised platform 11 is situated next to a wall 20, but it can also be situated in other ways.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of figure 3. The figure shows the bed unit 10 which comprises a steel-constructed frame 14. The bed unit 10 is placed under the raised platform 11, inside its steel-constructed frame 12. The frame 12 of the raised platform 11 is covered with a surface material 13, such as parquet. In this embodiment the bed unit 10 does not incorporate a step, because in the day position the bed unit 10 is pushed inside the wall 20. In other words, in figure 4, the bed unit 10 is completely under the raised platform 11 on the right-hand side of the wall 20. When the bed unit 10 is pulled out, in figure 4 it comes out on the opposite, that is, left-hand side of the wall 20.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the space arrangement of a room, in which the bed unit 10 relating to the invention is pulled out. The figure shows that a group of a sofa and armchairs and a bookshelf have been placed on top of the raised platform 11. In this way additional space is easily obtained in a small room.

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims

1_ A pull-out bed which comprises a bed unit (10) provided with casters (17) or corresponding elements, characterized in that a level (11) is formed in connection with the bed unit (10) under which the bed unit can be pushed, and from where the bed can be pulled out when required, and that the level is made into a raised platform, or other space utilized in the same way as the floor level.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the raised platform (11) is made in the same room space into which the bed unit (10) is pulled out.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the raised platform (11) and the space into which the bed unit (10) is pulled out are situated on opposite sides of a wall (20).

4. A bed as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge of the bed unit (10) incorporates a step (19) for stepping up onto the raised platform (11).

5. A bed as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the raised platform (11) is made into a space enclosed on both sides, the space being covered with a floor material (13), such as vinyl or parquet.

6. A bed as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the raised platform (11) comprises a steel-constructed frame (12), on the inner sides of which are situated guide rails (15) to guide the bed unit (10).

7. A bed as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the bed unit (10) comprises a steel-constructed frame (14) on the outer sides of which are situated guide rollers (16). AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 18 January 1993 (18.01.93); original claims 1-7 replaced by amended claims 1-5 (1 page)]

1. A pull-out bed which comprises a bed unit (10) provided with a level (11) formed in connection with the bed unit (10) under which the bed unit can be pushed, and from where the bed can be pulled out when required, and that the level is made into a raised platform, or other space utilized in the same way as the floor level, characterized in

- that the bed unit is provided with casters (17) or corresponding elements,

- that the raised platform (11) comprises a steel- constructed frame (12), on the inner sides of which are situated guide rails (15) to guide the bed unit (10),

- that the bed unit (10) comprises a steel-constructed frame (14) on the outer sides of which are situated guide rollers (16), by means of which the bed unit (10) is sup- ported on the slide rails (15) of the raised platform (11).

3. A bed as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the raised platform (11) and the space into which the bed unit

(10) is pulled out are situated on opposite sides of a wall (20).

. A bed as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge of the bed unit (10) incorporates a step (19) for stepping up onto the raised platform (11).