A DESK COMBINED WITH A MOVABLE BED OPERATED BY GAS SPRINGS
Technical Field The present invention relates to a desk with a movable bed which, without separately building a desk and a bed, is built to have a simple layered structure of a desk and a bed so that a narrow indoor space can be efficiently utilized, and more particularly, to a desk combined with a movable bed operated by a gas spring, which is constructed to have a simple easy-to-use structure, in which the bed frame can pivot on the back portion of the bed frame over the top panel of the desk and a gas spring is disposed on at least one of the two sides of the top panel and the bed frame facing each others so that when a user lifts up the bed from the top panel of the desk, gas pressure operates to allow even aged people or children to easily lift up the bed, and if the bed frame is put in a predetermined position, it is automatically stopped.
Background Art
Generally speaking, a bed and a desk are recognized as separate living furniture items, and in actual life, buying and using a bed and a desk separately is the most common case.
When thus a bed and a desk are separately bought and used, the space for the bed for night sleep and short rest and the space for the desk for study or a computer should be allocated separately such that these take much space and narrow the indoor space for activity. In particular, these bed and desk that occupy much space restrict the activities of those who live in narrow one-room houses and small apartments and make the indoor atmosphere stuffy.
In order to solve this problem to some extent, wall beds and the like have been provided to use a little wider indoor space. However, installation to fix the bed into a wall is difficult and, when installed, the bed gives inevitably damage to the wall. Because of frequent use for the bed, it is high probable that the bed goes out of order, and the price is quite high.
In addition, such wall beds have no desk function and a desk should be bought additionally. Accordingly, the wall beds cause a big financial burden, while provide not so good effects in saving space. Therefore, methods for manufacturing a desk and a bed in one body, by which the bed and the desk that are essentially bought for living are manufactured in one body so that a narrow space can be efficiently used and the expense can be reduced, have been suggested.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the prior art desk with a bed. As shown, in the desk with a bed, the bed 20 is placed high up from the ground with being supported by four angle support legs 10 standing upright, while the desk is disposed in the internal space formed by the four legs 10. Here, the top panel 32 of the desk and the underside of the bed 20 come to face each other and in order to place a computer or books on the desk, the distance between them should be long enough. That is, the space between the top panel 32 of the desk and the underside of the bed 20 should accommodate at least the height of a person so that the user can place a computer on the desk 30, read a book, or stand up. As a result, if it is assumed that the height of an average person is 170cm, the height of the bed 20 should be approximately 2m. Accordingly, going up to the bed 20 is difficult. As the ceiling is too close to the bed 20, it is difficult for the user to straightening the back when sitting on the bed 20. Due to these problems, the life on the bed is inconvenient, and if the user falls down from the bed 20
placed high up, it could cause a serious injury. In addition, in this furniture with a structure in which the bed 20 is placed over the desk 30, the bed 30 is immediately above the head of the user such that the user may knock the head against the front bottom portion of the bed 20 when the user stands up from the chair, and the user would have stifling feeling when watching a computer monitor or reading a book.
As a result, a desk with a bed having a structure shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b has been introduced in order to lower the height of the bed so as to efficiently use the space and erase the stifling feeling. FIG. 2a is a perspective view of another embodiment of the prior art desk with a bed and FIG. 2b is a side sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a.
In the desk with a bed shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the bed 60 is supported by four support legs 50 and the desk is disposed inside the space by the four legs 50. Here, two pairs of front and back legs 52a and 52b, one pair in the right and the other in the left, are connected to each other by horizontal bars 54a and 54b. These horizontal bars 54a and 54b are roughly L-shape frames and disposed such that the angles of the bars 54a and 45b face outside and the concave parts of the bars face each other. The bed 60 comprises a mattress (not shown) with a predetermined resiliency and a bed frame 62 supporting the mattress. The bed frame 62 is fixed at both sides of the back portion on the horizontal bars 54a and 54b by hinges 64 and the like such that the bed frame 62 can rotate above the horizontal bars 54a and 54b. Accordingly, if the user moves up the front portion of the bed frame 62, then the bed frame 62 is lifted up with pivoting on the hinge 64 at both sides of the back portion of the bed frame 62. In this state, a holding board 80 disposed between the horizontal bars 54a and 54b and the bed frame 62 is installed so that the bed frame 62 is fixed at a rotated position on the horizontal bars 54a
and 54b. For this, the top end of the holding board 80 is fixed at the underside of the bed frame as the axis of the rotation such that the holding board 80 can pivot on the axis. On the horizontal bars 54a and 54b, a plurality of holding grooves, to which the bottom end of the holding board 80 is inserted and fixed, are formed in the length direction. Accordingly, after the bed frame 62 is being lifted up, the bottom end of the holding board 80 is inserted into one of the grooves such that the bed frame 62 is held at an appropriate height and angle, and then the desk is used 70. Of course, if the bed is desired to use, the bed frame 62 which is thus standing upright is put down to a horizontal position and then is used.
However, in order to use this compound furniture, the bed with a roughly 30kg weight should be lifted up and then held by installing the holding board only by the net power of the user such that it is difficult for aged people or children to use it by themselves. Accordingly, they need other's help to use it and even a healthy adult suffers difficulties in manipulation of the furniture. Thus, lifting up the heavy bed only by the net power of a person puts difficulty in manipulation. Since the holding boards at both sides should be raised and installed with the bed being lifted up, it is difficult for one person to use it. In addition, the furniture needs multiple steps of manipulation causing inconvenience in use.
Disclosure of the Invention
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide desk combined with a movable bed operated by a gas spring, which is constructed to have a simple easy-to-use structure capable of efficiently using a narrow space, in which the bed frame can pivot on the back portion of the bed frame over the top panel of the desk and a gas spring is disposed on at least one of the two sides of the top panel and the bed frame facing each
others so that when a user lifts up the bed from the top panel of the desk, gas pressure operates to allow even aged people or children to easily lift up the bed, and if the bed frame is put in a predetermined position, it is automatically stopped. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a desk with a movable bed operated by a gas spring, having a structure in which a desk is placed at a predetermined height and a bed is placed above the desk with a predetermined interval and coupled to a support frame such that the bed rotates to a predetermined angle from the support frame, wherein at least one or more gas springs are disposed on the bottom of the bed so that if a user slightly lifts up the bed, the bed rotates upward by the operation of the gas springs and is held at a rotated state at a predetermined position.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the prior art desk with a bed;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are a perspective view and a side sectional view, respectively, of another embodiment of the prior art desk with a bed;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the desk with a bed of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a back view of the desk with a bed of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a left side view showing the usage method of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 through 5; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention, showing a state in which the bed of the embodiment is being used;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the desk of the embodiment of FIG. 7 being used;
FIGS. 9a and 9b are diagrams of embodiments of a close-coupling unit to prevent the bed frame from being separated from the top panel of the desk in the present invention;
FIGS. 10a and 10b are diagrams of embodiments of fixing members which are disposed at both ends of a gas spring to fix the gas spring onto the top panel of the desk and the bed frame; and
FIG. 11 is a left side view of another preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention.
Best mode for carrying out the Invention
The gist of the present invention is a technology structure in which a bed rotates over the top panel of a desk and is fixed at a predetermined position.
In the structure, when the desk is used, the bed is lifted up by a gas spring capable of easily lifting up the weight of the bed and then is held at a predetermined position. Of course, both ends of this gas spring are fixed to the top panel and the bed, respectively. The gas spring comprises a cylinder filled with gas and a piston rod which extends or retracts by this gas pressure. The desk with a movable bed of the present invention to which this gas spring is employed such that the furniture has a small size and easy to use, will now be explained.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the desk with a bed, and FIG. 5 is a back view of the desk with a bed.
In the present invention, a bed 100 for a good sleep and rest and a desk 110 for study are not separately constructed, but are built in a layered
structure such that the indoor activity space can be efficiently used. By disposing the bed 100 above the desk 110, occupied is only half the space needed when a bed and a desk are separately disposed. Accordingly, the installation space can be greatly reduced and the saved indoor space can be efficiently used for other purposes.
More specifically, in the present invention, a support frame 120 is constructed by connecting rectangular-shape frames 120a and 120b, one in the right and the other in the left, which play the role of legs, with a crossbar 122. Horizontal support bars 124 are fixed at about the center of respective frames 120a and 120b so that the top panel 112 of the desk can be fixed. The bed 100 is fixed on top of the frames 120a and 120b with a predetermined interval from the top panel 112 such that the bed 100 can rotate. At this time, it is preferable that the support bars 124 are disposed a little higher than the centers of the frames 120a and 120b. Considering the height of the user of the desk 110 when the user sits, it is preferable that the height of the support bars is in a range between 70cm and 100cm.
In this structure, the top panel 112 of the desk and the underside of the bed frame 102 face each other with an interval enough to place a computer. As described above, since the top panel 112 of the desk is solidly fixed by a pair of support bars 124, one in the left and the other in the right, of the support frame 120, a computer (desktop PC applied) and peripherals, or a bookshelf can be easily placed on the top panel 112 of the desk as in an ordinary desk.
In particular, in the present invention, when the user desires to use the desk 110 for study or a computer, the front portion of the bed 100 can be held and lifted up to rotate the bed 100 pivoting on the back portion and the bed 100 can be held at a predetermined position so that a maximum front view of the user is secured and the bed 100, which would be close to the head of the user and prevent the activity of the user, is removed. At this time, in order to
achieve a maximum operation power with a minimum power of the user, the gas spring is employed in the present invention. This rotation of the bed and the boosting structure will now be explained in detail.
The bed frame 102 is fixed by at least one hinge 130, desirably by two hinges, disposed on the back portion of the support frame 120 supporting the bed frame 102 so that the bed frame 102 can rotate. Accordingly, if the bed frame 102 is lifted up from the front side, the bed frame 102 pivots on the axis of the hinges at the back portion to stand upright. In order to hold the bed frame 102 at a rotated position after thus rotating the bed frame 102 on the support frame 120, and to move up the bed frame 102 by boosting the power of the user in lifting up the bed frame, gas springs 140 are disposed both sides of the support frame 120. The gas spring 140 comprises a cylinder 142 filled with operation gas and a rod which moves with respect to the pressure of the operation gas in this cylinder 142. When the bed frame 102 is placed horizontally on the support frame 120, the rod 144 is retracted into the cylinder 142, and if the bed frame 102 is a little lifted up separated from the support frame 120, the rod extends by a strong pressure to lift the bed frame 102 to a predetermined angle from the support frame 120. At this time, the predetermined angle is set by adjusting the lengths of the cylinder 142 and the rod 144 of the gas spring 140. Of course, the gas spring 140 held at a predetermined angle holds the weight of the bed by the gas pressure such that the bed 100 is held at a predetermined position.
For the support frame 120 and the bed frame 102 described above, metal, wood, or plastic material can be used. One gas springs 140 is disposed at each of both sides of the bed frame 102 and the support frame 120. One end of the gas spring 140 is fixed on the bed frame 102 and the other end, on the support frame 120. At this time, both ends of the gas spring 140 fixed on the bed frame 102 and the support frame 120 are fastened by
fixing members 150 and 150a such that the ends can rotate on the fixing members 150 and 150a. In the present embodiment, U-shape brackets are used as these fixing members 150 and 150a. That is, each end of the gas spring 140 is fixed to the U-shape brackets by a pin. This will be explained later.
Of course, in the bed 100 disposed above the bed 110, a bed mattress 104 is solidly fixed into the bed frame 102 and a fence 106 is disposed at the edge of the bed frame 102 for safety of the user.
FIG. 6 is a left side view showing the usage method of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 through 5. Referring to FIG. 6, the usage method of the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 will now be explained in detail.
When the present invention is used as a desk, a child with a small body can sit on a chair (not shown) and use a computer and books and stationery put on the top panel 112 of the desk without any difficulty. However, if an adult is the user and uses it for reading or a computer, the front portion of the bed 100 can restrict the front view of the user and prevent normal activities. That is, the height of the bed is lowered and the space between the top panel 112 of the desk and the underside of the bed 100 is narrow such that if the user is a tall adult the user can knock the head against the front underside of the bed 100. Accordingly, if the front portion of the bed is held by hand and slightly lifted up, the rod 144 extends by the pressure of the gas which is compressed in the gas spring 144, to lift up the bed 100. By doing so, the bed moves up easily, pivoting on the axis of the hinges 130 at both sides of the back portion, and at the same time the rod 144 of the gas spring 140 solidly holds the underside of the bed 100 at the end of the rotation. Accordingly, the user can use the space of the top panel 112 of the desk to the maximum as well as broaden the front view.
When the present invention is thus used as a desk and then is desired to be used as a bed, the front portion of the bed is held by hand and put down slightly. Then, the gas spring 140 retracts such that the bed 100 returns of itself to the original state. If the bed 100 returns to the original position and is solidly folded down onto the support frame 120, the bed 100 is fixed by close- coupling units disposed on the sides so that the bed 100 is not separated from the support frame 120.
Of course, when the bed of the present invention is used, the user can easily go up to or come down from the bed 100 with a normal ladder (not shown). If the bed 100 part is disposed closer to the top plate 112 of the desk than is shown in the present embodiment, the height of the bed 100 can be lowered such that convenience and safety when sleeping can be much improved.
As described above, the gas spring 140 in the present invention can be applied to all desks with a movable bed having a structure in which the bed 100 can rotate above the top panel 112 of the desk. For a desk with a bed in a layered structure, it is more desirable to use the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 than that shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 having a longer distance between the top panel and the bed. The furniture, which is more convenient to use because of a closer distance between the top panel of the desk and the bed, will now be explained in detail referring to FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention, showing a state in which the bed of the embodiment is being used, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the desk of the embodiment of FIG. 7 being used.
As shown in FIG. 7, if the bed 100' is constructed to have a small interval from the top panel 112' of the desk, the height of the bed 100' from the
ground can be reduced further. Preferably, the distance (d) between the top panel 112' of the desk and the underside of the bed frame 102' is 15-20cm. When it is designed thus, the height of the top panel 112' of the desk from the ground is about 60-80cm and in turn the height of the bed 100' from the ground is about 80-100cm, not exceeding 1m. Accordingly, the height of the bed 100' becomes slightly higher than that of a normal bed without a combined function. Of course, also in this structure having a lowered height of the bed 100', the structure described above referring to FIGS. 3 through 6 is employed as is, but the height of the frames 120a' and 120b' is designed to be higher than that of the support bars 124' holding the top panel 112' of the desk by about 15-20cm. Then, assuming that the height of the top panel is the same as in the previous embodiment, the height of the frames 120a' and 120b' is higher than the support bars 124' by just 15-20cm, and therefore the height of the frames 120a' and 120b' also become very low. Thus, making the bed 100' and the top panel 112' not closely contact with each other but kept with an interval of 15~20cm when the bed 100' is put down is to provide convenience. That is, the interval enables the user to use the bed without rearranging books open and the like on the desk, when the bed is put down and used.
For example, if the user lifts up the bed 100' with a slight power, the gas spring 140' operates and the rod 144' extends to rotate the bed 100' to a predetermined angle. The user studies at the desk 110' with the bed 100' thus lifted up and then, if tired, can put down the bed 100' to the top panel 112' without rearranging books, pens and the like, and use the bed 100'.
Furthermore, another characteristic of the present embodiment is that the gas springs 140' are disposed inside. If the gas springs 140' are thus disposed inside both sides of the support frame 120' and the bed 100', the appearance improves and snagging parts can be removed from the outer surface. In addition, by placing the rotation axis 132' of the hinges 130', which
couple the bed frame 102' with the support frame 120' so that the bed frame 102' rotates from the support frame 120', higher up to the bed frame 102' side, the bed does not go much toward the wall. Accordingly, the installation space for the embodiment can be reduced and when the bed rotates, snagging can be minimized.
Thus, if the height of the bed 100' is lowered, the user can go up to or come down from the bed 100' without a ladder. Since the distance between the bed and the ceiling is longer, a wider bed space is available and the space can be more efficiently used. In addition, even when the user fells out of the bed when sleeping, it is safer because the bed is not high.
FIGS. 9a and 9b show a state in which the bed of FIG. 8 is put down and used. In the state, FIGS. 9a and 9b show a hook-type close-coupling unit and a magnet-type close-coupling unit, respectively, which are to prevent the bed frame from being separated from the top panel of the desk with an interval because of the resilient power of the gas spring 140'.
Thus, with the rod being retracted to the minimum, that is, with the bed being solidly placed horizontally on the support frame 120', the gas spring 140' pushes upward the bed 100' by the extending power of the rod. The pushing power is usually cancelled by the weight of the bed itself, but in some cases, the bed frame 102' may be separated from the support frame 120' with an interval. According to the present invention, to prevent this separation, a hook-type close-coupling unit 160 may be disposed on a location at the support frame 120' and a location at the bed frame 102', in which the two locations are close to each other enough for the unit 160, or a magnet-type close-coupling unit 160a may be disposed by attaching magnets on corresponding locations facing each other.
First, in the hook-type close-coupling unit 160 as shown in FIG. 9a, a hanging hook 162 is fixed on the bottom of a side surface of the bed frame 102
such that the hanging hook can rotate and a hanging protrusion 164 which the hanging hook 162 hooks is disposed on the top of a side surface of the support frame 120'. By engaging the hanging hook 162 with the hanging protrusion 164, boosting the bed 100' by the potential extension power of the gas spring 140 can be prevented. Of course, in the opposite way, the hanging hook 162 and the hanging protrusion 164 can be disposed on the support frame 120' and the bed frame 102', respectively, and can be disposed on both sides, or on either side of the support frame 120' and the bed frame 102'.
In the magnet-type close-coupling unit 160a as shown in FIG. 9b, by attaching a magnet on one surface and a metal to be attracted by the magnet on the other surface between two contacting surfaces of the support frame 120' and the bed frame 102', that is, between the top surface of the support frame 120' and the underside of the bed frame 102', the magnet and the metal can be coupled and therefore the bed frame 102' can be coupled with the support frame 120' without an interval. In the present embodiment, in order to obtain strong attaching power, on both surfaces of the support frame 120' and the bed frame 102', magnets are disposed. Of course, if the support frame 120' and the bed frame 102' are all metal, attaching a magnet on only one side will lead to the same result. FIGS. 10a and 10b are diagrams of embodiments of fixing members which are disposed at both ends of a gas spring to fix the gas spring onto the top panel of the desk and the bed frame.
As described above, each of the gas springs 140 and 140' comprises a cylinder 142 and 142', which is a body filled with gas, and a rod 144 and 144", which extends from or retracts into the cylinder 142 and 142' to provide power to lift the bed as the length increases, and maintains the bed at a predetermined position.
In order for the gas spring 140 and 140' to be used in rotating the bed over the support frame, both ends of the gas springs 140 and 140' should be fixed to the support frame 120 and 120' and the bed frame 102 and 102', respectively. At this time, in order to support the rotational movement of the bed, the ends that are fixed to the support frame 120 and 120' and the bed frame 102 and 102' should rotate at the fixed locations on the support frame 120 and 120' and the bed frame 102 and 102'. Accordingly, with the fixing members 150, 150a, 150', and 150'a coupled to respective ends, the gas spring 140 and 140' is fixed to the side surfaces the support frame 120 and 120' and the bed frame 102 and 102'
As shown in FIG. 10a, the fixing member 150' and 150'a includes a bolt 156' and 156'a, which has a ball casing 152' and 152'a disposed at the ends of the cylinder 142' and the rod 144', and a ball unit 154' and 154'a that is inserted into the ball casing 152' and 152'a and rotates to all angles, and a nut unit 128' and 108' is disposed on the side surface of the support frame 120' or the bed frame 102'. By coupling the bolt 156' and 156'a of the fixing member 150' and 150'a into the nut unit 128' and 108", the gas spring is easily fixed. An example in which this type is used is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
As shown in FIG. 10b, another type fixing member 150 and 150a includes a U-shape fixing unit 152 and 152a and a fixing pin 154 and 154a. At each of the ends of the cylinder 142 and the rod 144, pin hole 146 and 148 is formed. In a state where each of the ends of the cylinder 142 and the rod 144 is inserted into the fixing unit 152 and '152a, the fixing pin 154 and 154a is coupled so that the ends of the cylinder 142 and the rod 144 can rotate at the fixing unit 152 and 152a. Of course, on the fixing unit 152 and 152a, screw holes 156 and 156a are formed such that the fixing unit 152 and 152 can be fixed to the support frame 120 and the bed frame 102 by using screws 158 and 158a. Of course, the shape of the fixing unit 152 and 152a can be modified
into a variety of shapes including an L shape in addition to the U shape and then applied.
FIG. 11 is a left side view of another preferred embodiment of a desk with a bed according to the present invention. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , even when the present invention does not use the gas spring, the tilt of the bed 100" can be easily adjusted by using a simple link-type structure.
This link also operates to provide the same effect as the gas spring and reduces the cost compared to the gas spring type and probability of breakdown. However, in using the embodiment, the more power of the user is needed.
Optimum embodiments have been explained above. However, it is apparent that variations and modifications by those skilled in the art can be effected within the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims. Therefore, all variations and modifications equivalent to the appended claims are within the scope of the present invention.
Industrial Applicability
According to the present invention as described above, a desk and a bed are constructed in a single body with a layered structure and the bed is designed to rotate above the desk and be held at a predetermined position.
By doing so, when it is used as a desk, the user can use a narrow indoor space more efficiently as well as having a wide front view.
In particular, the present invention employs the layered structure of the desk and bed and a rotational structure, not a fixed structure, such that the problem of the prior art layered structure in which the bed is placed inevitably high up is solved and by placing the bed close to the top panel of the desk, the utilization of the space is improved.
Especially, as in the second embodiment of the present invention in which the bed is placed much closer to the top panel of the desk, the user can enjoy freedom of movement on the bed because the distance to the ceiling is far, and go up to and come down from the bed without a ladder. In addition, according to the present invention, if a user lifts up the bed slightly, the potential extension and restoration power of the gas spring operates to lift up the bed to a predetermined angle and holds the bed at a predetermined position such that even aged people or children can easily manipulate and use the furniture. This gas spring provides a function for easily lifting up the bed by boosting the bed and at the same time plays a role of a support bar which holds the rotated bed at a rotated end position. Accordingly, without multiple steps, a simple step by the user can lift up and hold the bed.