WO2002034089A1

WO2002034089A1 - A bed

Info

Publication number: WO2002034089A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Robert Stott; Robert Carl Stott
Original assignee: Philip Robert Stott; Robert Carl Stott
Priority date: 2000-10-25
Filing date: 2000-10-25
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Also published as: AU2000279378A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bed frame that is collapsible and that, in its erect configuration and in combination with a flexible sheet element secured on the frame, can form a bed of the type commonly referred to as a camp bed. In its collapsed configuration the frame forms a compact single unit that is easily transportable and that can be easily converted to its erect configuration.

Description

A BED

THIS INVENTION relates to a bed.

The invention relates particularly to a collapsible bed frame and to a bed including such a frame. Beds including a collapsible bed frame, often referred to as camp beds, are already known and are used generally for camping and like applications. However, the known collapsible bed frames in their collapsed configuration still are relatively bulky and difficult to transport and handle and, as such, it is an object of this invention to at least ameliorate the above problems associated with known collapsible bed frames.

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible bed frame, which comprises, in its erect configuration, two elongate substantially parallel, spaced side support members, between which a flexible sheet element can be held in a configuration in which it defines a bed support, and two pairs of legs located respectively at the opposite ends of the side support members for holding the support members at an elevated level above a base surface, and in which

the two side support members each comprises at least two segments that are telescopically displaceable with respect to one another between an extended configuration, which coincides with the erect configuration of the frame, and a collapsed configuration;

each pair of legs comprises two leg members that each have an end of a side support member connected thereto and that are pivotally connected at an intermediate location between their opposite ends to be displaceable between an operative configuration, which coincides with the erect configuration of the frame and in which the leg members form a cross, and a collapsed configuration, in which the leg members are folded together; and

the mode of connection of the leg members to the side support members permit the side support members in their collapsed configuration and the leg members of each pair of legs in their collapsed configuration to fold onto one another, to provide the collapsed configuration of the bed frame.

Each elongate side support member of the bed frame may comprise two pairs of telescopically displaceable segments which are displaceable between an extended configuration in which they each define approximately one half of the length of the support member, and a collapsed configuration, the pairs of segments being interconnected with one another in a configuration which permits them to fold onto one another when disposed in their collapsed configuration. In the fully collapsed configuration of the side support members, each member will define an overall length approximately equal to one quarter of the extended length of the member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the camp bed includes a third pair of legs which is disposed between the respective pairs of segments forming the support members, the connection of the third pair of legs with the respective pairs of segments of the support members being such that each pair of segments while in its collapsed configuration can fold onto the third pair of legs in its collapsed configuration and the first and the second pair of legs can fold onto the collapsed segments. Thereby a very compact camp bed frame is provided that can be easily transported and handled.

The pairs of legs and the elongate support members of the collapsible bed frame of the invention may be connected with connector formations that, in the erect configuration of the bed frame, renders the frame relatively rigid, while following displacement of the leg members forming the respective pairs of legs into their collapsed configuration, the elongate support members can be conveniently displaced with respect to the leg members to provide for the fully collapsed configuration of the bed frame.

The components and parts of the camp bed frame of the invention may be formed of various different materials including metal materials, synthetic plastics materials, and the like. The segments forming the elongate support members typically are of a tubular configuration whereas the leg members forming the pairs of legs either may be tubular members, solid rod-like members, or the like. Clearly, the overall configuration of the bed frame and the mode of connection of the components forming the bed frame are greatly variable and the invention extends also to such alternative configurations of the bed frame which still incorporate the principles of the invention as defined above.

The invention extends also to a bed which comprises a collapsible bed frame, in accordance with the invention, and a flexible sheet element that is releasably securable to the support members of the bed frame when disposed in its erect configuration. The flexible sheet element typically is of a material commonly used for the bed support of camp beds.

With the bed frame of the bed disposed in its erect configuration and with a flexible sheet element releasably secured to the support members of the bed frame, the bed may define a conventional-type camp bed configuration. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a collapsible bed frame for a camp bed, in accordance with the invention, in its erect configuration;

Figure 2 shows in end view the configuration of a pair of legs of the frame of

Figure 1 , in the operative configuration of the legs, which coincides with the erect configuration of the frame; and

Figures 3 to 8 illustrate in steps the mode of collapse of the frame of Figure 1 into a fully collapsed configuration.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a collapsible bed frame for a camp bed, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The bed frame 10 includes three pairs of legs, 1 2, 14 and 1 6, respectively, each pair of legs comprising two leg members 18 which, in their operative configuration, define a cross and can serve as a leg support for the frame in the configuration as illustrated. The leg members 8 of each pair of legs are pivotally secured together by a pivot pin 20, the pivot pin 20 permitting the leg members 8 to fold together into the configuration as is illustrated clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The collapsible bed frame 10 includes further two elongate side support members 22, each support member 22 comprising two pairs of segments 24, the segments of each pair of segments being telescopically displaceable with respect to one another between an extended condition as shown and a collapsed condition in which one segment of each pair of segments 24 is telescopically displaced into the other segment 24. The pairs of legs 1 2 and 1 6 are located at opposite ends of the support members 22, whereas the third pair of legs 14 is disposed between the two pairs of segments 24 forming the respective support members 22.

As is illustrated clearly in the drawings, the leg members of the pairs of legs 12 and 16 are pivotally secured to the support members 22 to permit pivotal displacement in the manner described hereafter, whereas the connection between the third pair of legs 14 and the support members 22 also is pivotal, the pivotal displacement between the pairs of legs 1 2, 14 and 1 6 and the segments 24 of the support members 22 being permitted only when the leg members of the pairs of legs are displaced into their collapsed configuration as shown in Figure 3.

As is clear from Figure 1 of the drawings, the pairs of segments 24 forming the support members 22 are tubular members which permit the required telescopic displacement with respect to one another, whereas the leg members 18 forming the pairs of legs may be tubular or solid members which have suitable strength qualities to permit the frame 10 to serve its purpose as a frame for a bed . Clearly, the relationship between the leg members 1 8 forming the pairs of legs is such that the operative and collapsed configurations are predetermined.

The connection between the individual elements forming the leg members 1 8 and segments 24 of the support members 22 may be connected with one another in any suitable configuration, it being envisaged that suitable connector formations may be utilised for the purpose. Clearly, the configuration of such connector formations is greatly variable and, as such, this is not described in further detail herein.

In order to collapse the frame 10 from its erect configuration as shown in Figure 1 , the first step is to displace the leg members 1 8 of the pairs of legs 1 2, 14 and 1 6 from their operative configuration into their collapsed configuration. The frame 10 will then define the configuration as shown in Figure 4, which permits the pairs of segments 24 forming the support members 22 to be displaced into their collapsed condition, the configuration of the frame 10 when the segments are so collapsed being illustrated in Figure 5. Once this collapse is completed, the pair of legs 12 can be pivotally displaced in the direction illustrated in Figure 6, effectively being folded onto one of the pairs of segments 24, with the combination being folded onto the pair of legs 14, following which the same operation can be effected to the pair of legs 16 and its associated pair of segments 24, providing for the complete collapse of the frame 10 into its fully collapsed configuration as shown in Figure 8.

In this fully collapsed configuration the frame is very compact, rendering it very easy to handle and transport. Also, by simply performing the reverse operation as described, the frame 10 can be easily and quickly converted into its erect configuration as illustrated in Figure 1 . In this configuration, a suitable flexible sheet element can be releasably attached to the support members 22 to define a bed support at an elevated level above the ground. In this configuration the complete bed can be used as a conventional camp bed for any desired applications.

It is apparent that the camp bed frame as described can be easily transported and handled while in its collapsed configuration, whereas its conversion into an erect configuration can be easily and quickly accomplished in the manner described.

The components and parts of the collapsible bed frame 10 can be formed of any suitable materials, it being envisaged in particular that the said components and parts will be formed of suitable metal materials, synthetic plastics materials, or combinations of such materials.

Claims

1 . A collapsible bed frame, which comprises, in its erect configuration, two elongate, substantially parallel, spaced side support members, between which a flexible sheet element can be held in a configuration in which it defines a bed support, and two pairs of legs located respectively at the opposite ends of the side support members for holding the support members at an elevated level above a base surface, and in which

2. A collapsible bed frame as claimed in Claim 1 , in which each elongate side support member comprises two pairs of telescopically displaceable segments which are displaceable between an extended configuration in which they each define approximately one half of the length of the support member, and a collapsed configuration, the pairs of segments being interconnected with one another in a configuration which permits them to fold onto one another when disposed in their collapsed configuration.

3. A collapsible bed frame as claimed in Claim 2, which includes a third pair of legs which is disposed between the respective pairs of segments forming the support members, the connection of the third pair of legs with the respective pairs of segments of the support members being such that each pair of segments while in its collapsed configuration can fold onto the third pair of legs in its collapsed configuration and the first and the second pair of legs can fold onto the collapsed segments.

4. A collapsible bed frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the pairs of legs and the elongate support members are connected with connector formations that, in the erect configuration of the bed frame, renders the frame relatively rigid, while following displacement of the leg members forming the respective pairs of legs into their collapsed configuration, the elongate support members can be conveniently displaced with respect to the leg members to provide for the fully collapsed configuration of the bed frame.

5. A collapsible bed frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the segments forming the elongate support members are tubular members.

6. A collapsible bed frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the leg members of the pairs of legs are any one of tubular members and solid rodlike members.

7. A bed which comprises a collapsible bed frame, as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, and a flexible sheet element that is releasably securable to the support members of the bed frame when disposed in its erect configuration.

8. A bed as claimed in Claim 7, in which the flexible sheet element is of a material commonly used for the bed support of camp beds.

9. A collapsible bed frame substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.