Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A bed structure assemblable from a plurality of sectional interlockable elements which, when assembled in mattress supporting form, include at least one perpendicularly extending end wall, the remaining end and longitudinally extending side walls converging inwardly, all of said walls terminating in a plurality of horizontal inwardly extending shelf portions, a mattress-supporting platform pivotally secured to one of said longitudianlly extending walls adjacent to said shelf portions with said mattress-supporting platform foldable on a first line extending longitudinally of the interlocked elements and on a second line medially of its longitudinal extent.
2. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mattress-supporting platform is foldable on a second line which intersects the line on which the said platform is first foldable.
3. A bed structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said foldable mattress-supporting platform is assemblable into a unitary structure from a plurality of panels.
4. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the marginal edge portion of said mattress-supporting platform is provided with control means to prevent relative longitudinal and relative lateral movement of a mattress positioned thereon.
5. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes means to support removable bottom panel portions.
6. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bridging member extends between the front and back walls.
7. A bed structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bridging member is pivotally associated with one of said walls and cooperates with means carried by a pedestal positioned adjacent to the other of said walls.
8. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and upstanding side, front and back walls are seperable into at least complemental U-shaped assemblies.
9. A bed structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the U-shaped assemblies are disassemblable into individual sections.
10. A bed structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bridging member and cooperative pedestal are offset longitudinally of the base and beyond a line extending medially thereof.
11. A bed structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of horizontal shelf portions comprise at least two pairs of mattress-supporting platform elements which are in abutting arrangement when the frame is assembled.
Description:
This invention relates to improvements in foldable bed structures incorporating storage space therewithin and assembled of prefabricated elements and intended particularly for use in mobile homes.
It is a well-known fact that mobile homes are receiving more and more acceptance by the old as well as the young who like to travel extensively by highway and with the generally higher standard of living being attained by many more people, the demand has become even greater for more luxurious furnishings for these homes which still should also be practical and functional.
One of the most important aspects that must be given careful consideration by the designers of mobile homes is how to lay out the interior thereof so that all of the available space will be utilized in the best possible way.
In my earlier application for patent I disclosed a new concept in a laminated mattress with sealed foundation units. The entire assembly disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,628, issued FEB. 23, 1971, is constructed of foam material. This new mattress construction utilizes captive air as a pressure receiver and carrier in lieu of spring elements, my design being such that it will eliminate the occurrence of jelly-like vibrations normally associated with air and water mattresses and further which will automatically form-fit and equalize the pressure to the contour of the human body.
A careful study of my earlier patent is referred to also for the utilitarian aspects of the mattress thereof which, when incorporated with the frame structure disclosed in this application, provides the ultimate in functionalism for mobile vehicles.
The usual type of bed structure includes spaced legs which support the side rails that extend between the head and foot boards and together with lateral pieces support the box spring which, in turn, forms the foundation for the mattress.
Every housewife knows that the area beneath the average bedstead is more or less a place for dust to accumulate; however, if one should extend the side rails of the bed-supporting structure down to the floor on each side thereof, then they would find that their toes would strike the vertical side walls and very possibly be injured.
Also, normal bedsteads of the type described hereinbefore have further disadvantages that no provision whatsoever can be made for storage of any kind. Of course, this area does provide a place where articles can become lost, but no realistic organizable storage area is available.
Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a bed structure, all of the sectional elements of which are completely assemblable within a mobile home subsequent to its construction in order to provide either a king or queen size bed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a frame structure which is suitably and completely enclosed on the side and end walls, as well as the top in order to provide a storage receptacle for the family occupying the home with the top wall adapted to support a mattress.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a frame structure adaptable for assembly into either a king or queen size bed by merely substituting different length end wall elements into the base structure.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a foldable mattress-supporting platform that is pivotally attached adjacent to the upstanding back wall of the base of the bed structure.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an encircling strip for the perimeter of the mattress-supporting platform which is adapted to control the movement of the mattress relative to the supporting platform therefor.
Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mattress-supporting receptacle with the top wall folded back to show the interior storage area;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the bed structure with the top wall folded down into a mattress-supporting position; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
Turning now to the perspective view in FIG. 1, the bed structure is denoted generally at 10 with the interior framing exposed to view. The end walls 12 and 14, respectively, are provided at the opposite ends or corners thereof with strengthening plate elements 16 (only one shown), each of the plate elements being arranged to abut and be hingedly associated with the upstanding strut members 18.
It is to be understood that either of the end walls 12 or 14 may be perpendicular so that the bed can be placed flush against a wall, while that end wall which is removed from the wall is canted at an angle (as indicated at 14 in the drawing of FIG. 1) so that a person may walk up to the edge of the bed while facing the bed without their toes striking the bottom portion of the canted wall.
Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, the assembled panels 34-40 that are arranged to support the mattress also overhang not only the end wall 14 but also the two side walls 32 and 32a, while the other perpendicular wall 12 is in flush alignment with the edge of the mattress-supporting platform when it is in a lowered position. This is believed to be clear from a study of FIG. 1. As a consequence because of the three sloping walls of the frame, a person can walk up to the bed and around all the sides that are not in contact with the wall without any difficulty.
As is clearly shown in the prespective view of FIG. 1, struts 18 are equally spaced along the back wall 20 and it is to be understood that the interior of the front wall 22 is also provided with equally spaced, substantially opposed struts adapted to lend rigidity to the front of the bed structure. In addition, stringer members 21 (best shown in FIG. 3) are provided adjacent to the longitudinally extending front and rear walls of the base structure to further strengthen the entire assembly.
The intermediately disposed struts 18', which are positioned medially of each of the back wall and front wall sections, may be manufactured of lighter weight material than those struts denoted as 18 which are positioned at each end of a section of the back and front walls, since the stress or compression forces applied to those struts 18' are very minor, whereas the struts 18 must be of sturdy construction because of the fastening of hinge means 24 thereto.
It is to be noted that although only one hinge means 24 can be seen at one corner in the perspective view of FIG. 1, that all of the corners of the bed frame structure are equipped with hinges for reasons that will become apparent as the description progresses.
The top portion of each of the strut members terminates in a horizontal plane and is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 with the tops of the struts being provided with projecting ledges or shelves 26--26 which further rigidify the plural sections from which the bed is constructed.
As also best shown in FIG. 1, the heavier struts 18--18 are positioned beneath the opposite corners of each of the rear shelves 26 in order to provide support for the leaves of hinges 24 thereby enabling the rear sections to be pivoted relative to the end walls 12 and 14. Although not shown in this view, it is to be understood that the other rear bed section which lies in the same plane with that just described is also designed in the same manner, i.e. it has hinges at the opposite ends of the section, one of which is attached between the abutting medially disposed heavy struts 18--18 and the other which is attached at the intersection of said rear section with the end wall 14.
It is also to be understood that each of the coplanar front sections 27--27 of the bed structure which include inwardly canted walls 30 and 32, as shown, is pivotally secured internally thereof to the opposite end walls 12 and 14, as well as to each other.
Accordingly, it is apparent that after manufacture of the various sections comprising the six elements necessary for assembly of the entire base of the bed structure, they can be transported in disassembled form to the builder of the mobile home where they may be quickly assembled therewithin.
With further reference to the perspective view of FIG. 1, attention is directed to the manner of assembly of the plurality of panels 34-40 which comprise the unitized top or mattress-supporting platform which is shown best in the horizontal or receptacle enclosing position of FIG. 2.
The several panels which make up the unitized mattress-supporting top each comprises a top portion 42 that may be constructed of light weight material, such as plywood, the edges of which are arranged to abut as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.
Further, in FIG. 1 it is illustrated the manner of securing the mattress-supporting platform to the base of the structure, this being accomplished by suitably spaced hinge means 44-50, two of the hinges being arranged to support the panels 34 and 38 and the adjacent hinge means arranged to support panels 36 and 40.
As clearly shown in this view, the panels 34 and 38 are pivotally arranged relative to one another by hinge means 52 and 54 and adjacent panels 36 and 40 are provided with pivotal hinge means 56 and 58 with the several panel sections being pivotally arranged relative to one another by hinge means 60, 62 and 64. The grouped hinge means 54, 56, 60 and 62 are positioned relative to one another in such a manner and substantially as shown in order to provide rigidity to the abutting edges of the several portions of the unitized panel.
Further, rigidity of the entire structure is achieved by reason of the inclusion in the mattress-supporting platform of laterally extending spars or ribs 64 which reinforce the panel and extend outwardly to a surrounding framework 66 that encompasses each of the panels.
When the mattress-supporting platform is lowered into the position shown in FIG. 3, the juxtaposed frame portions of the panel which lie in parallel planes medially of the base structure, rest on the lintels 68 and 70 which, in turn, are supported by the longitudinally offset and pivotally mounted bridging or cantilever element 72, one end of which is pivotally associated with a perpendicular post 74 with the terminal end portion being locked or latched to a pedestal 76, thereby strengthening the base structure intermediate its end walls and preventing the spreading of the front and rear sections relative to one another.
The perspective view in FIG. 2 best illustrates in full lines the assembled bed structure subsequent to installation in the mobile home with the mattress shown in dotted outline position thereon. This view also shows best the means 78 by which any lateral or longitudinal movement of the mattress relative to the planar top wall 42 is prevented which will now be described.
To the top surface and adjacent to the perimeter of each of the frame portions there are secured wooden strips comprising a control means with each of the strips having an arcuate contour as shown in FIG. 3, the width portion of the arc lying slightly inwardly of the perimeter of the edge 80 of the framework. These strips are secured in any suitable manner, such as nailing, gluing, or integral forming with the surface of the panel in the event heavy plastic is used in lieu of wood, and thereafter covered with a type of cut pile fabric or cloth that will frictionally engage the entire lower perimeter of the mattress to prevent slippage thereof relative to the mattress support.
The base structure is provided with a bottom wall which may be either made of separate panel sections that are hinged together or individual panels that may be brought into abutting relation, the only prerequisite being, when desirable, that a floor is provided for supporting the articles that are to be stored under the bed.