ES2963586T3 - Wallbed - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding bed (1) comprising a cabinet (3), a bed frame (2) that is articulated to the cabinet (3) to rotate between a first vertical position and a second horizontal position, a pair of legs (11), each articulated in the bed frame (2) to be able to rotate between an operating position, in which the leg (11) is standing, and a rest position, in which the leg (11) is approximately coplanar with the bed frame (2), a movement mechanism (13) comprising a control rod (15) structured to rotate a leg (11) between the rest position and the operating position and in response to the rotation of the bed frame (2) between the first and second positions. The movement mechanism (13) further comprises a safety member (15) that is structured to cooperate with the control rod (15) so that the rotation imparted by the control rod (15) to the leg (11) from the operating position to the The rest position, in response to the rotation of the bed frame (2) from the second position to the first position, stops when the leg (11) is hindered in its rotational movement. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Wallbed

Cross reference to related applications

This patent application claims priority with respect to Italian patent application No. 102020000005059 filed on 03/10/2020.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a folding bed. In particular, the present invention relates to a folding bed comprising a reclining bed frame, legs for resting on the floor and a movement mechanism that is designed to rotate the legs in response to the rotational movement of the bed frame.

Background of the technique

As is known, folding beds, also commonly known as Murphy beds, are pieces of furniture that comprise a cabinet that contains a reclining support frame designed to support a mattress.

The bed frame of the folding bed is generally hinged with respect to the side cabinet, to rotate between a closed position in which the bed frame is arranged vertically and completely recessed within the cabinet, thereby freeing up space otherwise occupied. for other possible uses, and an open position in which the bed frame is arranged horizontally at a predetermined height from the floor, for use as a bed.

Usually, the bed frame is also provided with a pair of legs to rest on the floor, which are hinged on the bed frame, and in their open position support the weight of the bed.

The folding bed is also provided with a movement mechanism that rotates the legs depending on the rotation of the bed frame, to arrange them resting on the floor when the bed frame is in the open position and to arrange them coplanar with the bed frame when the latter is in the closed position.

Some movement mechanisms synchronize the rotation of the bed frame with the rotation of the legs. In this way, the movement of each leg accompanies the movement of the bed frame during opening and closing operations, and vice versa.

In greater detail, the movement mechanism comprises a monolithic rigid bar, which is interposed between the cabinet and the leg, thereby creating a hinged parallelogram structure that rigidly restrains the rotation of the legs with respect to the rotation of the bed frame. .

In particular, during the operation to close the bed frame, the leg rotates relative to the bed frame from the open position to the closed position. This movement can be dangerous when a condition occurs where an extremity, for example a hand, is placed along the path of rotation of the leg during the closing operation. In this case, in fact, the leg behaves like a shear, closing with a scissor-like movement to a coplanar position with the bed frame, laterally, with the consequent risk of cutting or pinching the user's hand that is between the leg and the bed frame. In other words, the moving mechanism can be dangerous to a distracted user who accidentally places a limb between the support frame and the leg, especially when the bed frame is closed with the help of an electric motor.

A movement mechanism is also disclosed in US 3,805,307 A.

Invention Disclosure

The object of the present invention is to find a simple and economical solution that can overcome the drawbacks described above.

According to this object according to the present invention, there is provided a folding bed as defined in claim 1 and preferably, but not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding bed made according to the teachings of the present invention, in the open position;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, in the closed position;

- Figure 3 is a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, in the open position;

- Figure 4 is a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, in the closed position;

- Figure 5 shows, on an enlarged scale for greater clarity, a leg and a part of a mechanism for moving the leg of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, according to a first embodiment;

- Figure 6 shows, on an enlarged scale for greater clarity, a leg and a part of a mechanism for moving the leg of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, according to a second embodiment;

- Figure 7 is a side view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of the folding bed shown in Figure 1, in the closed position and with an obstacle that prevents the closing of one leg.

Best way to carry out the invention

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable a skilled person to implement and use it. Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the general principles described may be applied to other embodiments and applications without, however, departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

With reference to Figure 1, the number 1 indicates, as a whole, a folding bed comprising a cabinet 3, and a bed frame 2 which is connected to the cabinet 3 to rotate about a horizontal axis A between a closed position and an open position.

In the closed position shown in Figure 2, the bed frame 2 is arranged at least partially inside the cabinet 3 and lies substantially in an approximately vertical reference plane P, while in the open position (Figure 1), the frame The bed 2 is arranged, almost completely, outside the cabinet 3 in a lowered position in which it is in a substantially horizontal plane so that it can be used as a bed.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the closet 3 may consist of a substantially box-like element, similar to a wardrobe, which is provided with a compartment 4 whose opening 5, in use, is conveniently closed by the bed frame 2 in the closed position. Preferably, the bed frame 2 may be provided with a rectangular panel 6, for example fixed thereto at the bottom, which is structured to form a door for closing the opening 5 of the compartment 4 of the wardrobe 3.

With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the bed frame 2 may preferably, but not necessarily, be made of metallic material and sized to support one or more mattresses side by side. The following description will refer to, without thereby losing generality, a bed frame 2 for supporting two coplanar side-by-side mattresses (not shown).

The bed frame 2 preferably comprises rectangular perimeter frame 7 having a longitudinal axis C and a support structure 8 that is stably coupled/connected to the perimeter frame 7 and forms the support base for the mattress (not shown). . In the example shown herein, the support structure 8 is formed by a plurality of side-by-side slats transverse to the longitudinal axis C and parallel to each other. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to a slatted support structure 8, but other types of mattress support systems may be provided alternatively or additionally, such as, for example, wire bed frames or the like.

Referring to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the bed frame 2 is hinged/pivoted on the opposite side walls or vertical shoulders of the cabinet 3. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4 , the bed frame 2 is provided with two rotation pins 9 that cantilever on opposite sides of the bed frame 2, coaxial with the axis A, and preferably rotatably engage in respective openings/seats associated with the walls cabinet sides 3.

The folding bed 1 preferably further comprises a shock absorbing assembly 10 which is structured, on the one hand, to reduce the lowering speed of the bed frame 2 during its rotation from the closed position to the open position, and, on the other hand, to exert a predetermined return force on the bed frame 2 during movement between the open position and the closed position, to facilitate its rotation and reaching its closed position. The shock absorbing assembly 10 is of a known type and, as it is not the subject of the present invention, it will not be described further herein, except to note that it may comprise one or more shock absorbing devices that connect/couple the bed frame 2 to wardrobe 3.

With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the folding bed 1 further comprises at least one leg 11, preferably two legs 11, for resting on the floor, each articulated/pivoted in the bed frame 2 to be able to rotate around a horizontal axis B, preferably parallel to axis A, between an operating position (figure 1, 3, 5 and 6) and a rest position (figure 4). Furthermore, the leg 11 is articulated at the distal end of the bed frame 2, preferably by means of a pin 12, coaxial with the axis B. In the operating position, the leg 11 is approximately transverse to the plane in which it is located. the bed frame 2 and has its distal end resting on the floor (figures 1, 3, 5 and 6), while in the resting position, the leg 11 is approximately coplanar with the plane in which the bed frame is located. bed 2.

In the example shown herein, the leg 11 preferably comprises a substantially rectangular plate optionally, but not necessarily, made of metallic material. Preferably, a PVC base/tip suitable for protecting the floor from contact with the supporting end of the leg 11 is placed at the distal end of the leg 11. It is to be understood that the present invention also relates to other embodiments of the leg , for example, comprising a structural shape with a cylindrical or rectangular section, and with a rectilinear or non-linear axis.

With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the folding bed 1 further comprises at least one movement mechanism 13 which is structured so that the rotation of the bed frame 2 between the open position and the closed position causes the rotation of leg 11 between the operating position and the rest position, respectively, and vice versa.

Preferably, the movement mechanism 13 is structured so that the movement of the leg 11 between the operating position and the rest position advantageously occurs in synchronization with the rotation of the bed frame 2 between the open position and the closed position.

With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the movement mechanism 13 is conveniently structured to stop the rotational movement of the leg 11 from the operating position to the rest position in response to the rotation of the bed frame 2 from the open position to the closed position, when the leg 11 encounters an obstacle in its rotation path around the axis B.

In fact, the applicant has discovered that this arrest prevents critical conditions from occurring, in particular when a person's limb, for example a hand, is placed along the rotation path of the leg 11 and remains disadvantageously trapped. between it and the bed frame 2, with obvious risks to the safety of the person (figure 7).

According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1, 3-7, the movement mechanism 13 comprises at least one control bar 14 which is interposed between the cabinet 3 and a respective leg 11 and is designed to rotate the leg 11 between the operating position and the rest position in response to the rotation of the bed frame 2 between the open position and the closed position, respectively.

The movement mechanism 13 comprises at least one safety element 15, which is structured to operate in conjunction with a respective control bar 14, so that the rotational movement imparted by the control bar 14 to the leg 11 around the axis B from the operating position to the rest position, during the rotation of the bed frame 2, stops when the leg 11 is subjected to a predetermined resistance force opposite to its rotational movement, which is indicative of the presence of an obstacle along the rotation path of leg 11.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the control bar 14 extends substantially rectilinearly along one side of the bed frame 2 and has a first end coupled/connected to the cabinet 3 by means of a joint or a locking pin. rotation 16, and a second end, opposite to the first, which is connected by means of the security element 15 to the leg 11 in an eccentric position with respect to the axis B. In the example shown in Figure 5, the second end of the Control bar 14 is connected to the leg 11 by means of a joint or pin 17 arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis B.

The safety element 15 further comprises at least one device structured to increase, in a controlled manner, the distance between the second free end of the control bar 14 and the joint or pin 17 of the leg 11, to release the rotation movement of the leg 11 of the rotation movement of the bed frame 2 from the open position to the closed position when the leg 11 is hindered in its rotation path.

According to the invention, the safety element 15 comprises an extendable element or body, which is structured to extend axially, in a controlled manner, based on the opposing force exerted by the leg 11 on the control bar 14, when the bed frame 2 rotates from the open position to the closed position.

Preferably, the extendable member or body of the safety member 15 is structured to extend axially when the opposing force exerted by the leg 11 on the second end of the control bar 14 exceeds a predetermined safety threshold, to release, i.e. mechanically release, the rotational movement of the leg 11 from the rotational movement of the bed frame 2. The predetermined safety threshold may conveniently be defined by an operating condition indicative of the presence of an object that hinders the rotation of the leg 11 around of the B axis.

According to one embodiment, the extendable element or body of the security element 15 may preferably be structured to automatically reduce, after an extension, its length to a predetermined inactive length when no opposing force is exerted by the leg 11 on the bar. control 14, for example, after removal of the obstacle along the path of the leg 11.

According to a preferred embodiment, the extendable element or body of the security element 15 may also be structured to maintain the predetermined inactive length unchanged when subjected to compression, in particular, when the control bar 14 rotates the leg 11 from the rest position to the operating position in response to the rotation of the bed frame 2 from the closed position to the open position.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the extendable element or body of the security element 15 comprises an elastic mechanical element connected between the second end of the control bar 14 and the pin 17 of the leg 11. The elastic mechanical element may advantageously comprise an elastically deformable oblong element, such as, for example, a spring. The spring may preferably comprise a helical spring coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the control rod 14.

The helical spring may be structured so that its spring constant is associated with the predetermined safety threshold. The spring may also be structured to have, at rest, the predetermined idle length. Furthermore, the spring may be structured so that its extension is such as to allow the leg 11 to be released from the bed frame 2 in the event of impact of the leg 11 with an obstacle.

The longitudinal elastic constant of the helical spring of the safety element 15 is preferably dimensioned so that, on the one hand, the helical spring rotates the leg 11 in the absence of interference along the rotation path thereof, and, on the other hand, On the other hand, it extends and maintains the leg 11 in the open position when the latter encounters resistance during the closing of the bed frame 2.

It is understood that the extendable element or body of the security element 15 according to the present invention is not limited to the use of a spring.

For example, according to a different embodiment, the extendable element or body of the security element 15 may comprise an axial damping device. Preferably, the axial damping device may be provided with a pair of rectilinear elements axially slidingly coupled to each other with friction, in which one rectilinear element is connected to the second end of the control rod 14, and the other rectilinear element is coupled to the joint 17 of the bed frame 2. For example, the rectilinear elements may comprise two tubular elements telescopically coupled to each other. According to another example, the rectilinear elements may comprise a cylinder 18 provided with an inner chamber filled with gas containing a piston that slides in the chamber, as shown in Figure 6.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the positioning of the security element 15 between the control bar 14 and the pin 17, but other embodiments may be provided. For example, according to one such embodiment, the safety element 15 is made according to any of the variants described above, but is installed on the folding bed 2 in a different position such as, for example, between the wardrobe 3 and the grab bar. control 14, with one end at joint 16 and the other end connected directly to the end of control rod 14 opposite leg 11.

In a further embodiment, furthermore, the safety element 15 could be arranged along the control bar 14, thereby interrupting the continuous extension of the control bar 14. In the latter embodiment, the movement mechanism 13 comprises two coaxial control rods 14, which are mutually connected through the security element 15, the distal ends of which are connected to the pin 16 and the pin 17, respectively.

The folding bed 1 may further comprise a motor unit (not shown) for rotating the bed frame 2 about the axis B between the open position and the closed position. The motor unit may comprise an electric motor, a mechanism for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to the bed frame 2, and an electronic circuit for driving the electric motor.

The operation of the folding bed 1 can be easily inferred from the above description.

During the opening operation, the bed frame 2 is rotated about the axis A from its closed position to its open position, while during the closing operation, it is rotated from its open position to its closed position.

During the opening operation, the movement mechanism 13 rotates the leg 11 around the axis B from its rest position to its operating position, while, vice versa, during the closing operation, the movement mechanism 13 rotates the leg 11 from its operating position to its rest position.

In particular, as shown in Figure 7, during the closing operation, the safety device extends axially when the leg 11 encounters resistance and, consequently, the control bar 14 is subjected to tension. The axial extension of the safety device thus allows the leg to be kept in the open position, i.e. rotated outwards even when the bed frame 2 has completed its closing operation.

The folding bed described above has many advantages. First of all, the folding bed can guarantee the user the necessary safety during the operation to close the bed frame. In particular, the folding bed described above is not dangerous to a distracted user who accidentally leaves a limb resting between the bed frame and the leg during the operation to close the bed frame, since the extension of the safety element allows the leg to remain in the open position, rotated outward, stopping its scissor-like movement, which was known to be dangerous to the user. In other words, the safety element prevents the risk of causing injury to a distracted user who accidentally leaves a limb resting between the bed frame and the leg during the operation to close the bed frame. The folding bed is particularly advantageous if it comprises a motor unit suitable for automatically closing the bed frame without any type of automatic control system that can prevent the bed frame from closing in case of resistance to closing of one of the legs. In addition, the folding bed 1 described above provides a technical solution to guarantee the user the necessary safety during the operation to close the bed frame, which is simple, economical and easy to install even on devices already on the market.

Claims (9)

1. Folding bed (1) comprising: a closet (3), a bed frame (2) that is designed to support a mattress and is articulated with respect to said cabinet (3) so as to be able to rotate about a first axis (A) between a first position, in which said bed frame (2 ) is arranged substantially vertical, and a second position in which said bed frame (2) is arranged substantially horizontal, at least one leg (11) that is articulated in the bed frame (2) so as to be able to rotate about a second axis (B) between an operating position, in which the free end of the leg (11) is brought to abutting against a support surface, and a rest position, in which the leg (11) is approximately coplanar with the plane in which the bed frame (2) is located, movement means (13) comprising at least one control bar (14) structured to rotate said leg (11) between the rest position and the operating position and in response to the rotation of the bed frame (2) between the first position and the second position, said movement means (13) further comprise at least one safety element (15) that is structured to function in conjunction with a respective control bar (14) so that the rotation imparted by the control bar (14) to said leg (11) about the second axis (B) from the operating position to the rest position, in response to the rotation of the bed frame (2) from the second position to the first position, stops when the leg ( 11) is hindered in its rotation movement around said second axis (B), said folding bed (1) being characterized in that said safety element (15) comprises an extendable element, which is structured to extend axially, in a controlled manner, based on an opposition force exerted by the leg (11) on said control bar (14). 2. Bed according to claim 1, wherein said safety element (15) comprises at least one device structured to increase, in a controlled manner, the distance between a free end of the control bar (14) and a connecting element (17) connected to the leg (11). 3. Bed according to claim 2, wherein said safety element (15) is structured to extend axially when the opposing force exerted by the leg (11) on said free end of the control bar (14) exceeds a threshold preset security setting. 4. Bed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said safety element (15) is structured to automatically reduce, after an extension, its length to a predetermined inactive length when the leg (11) does not exert any force of opposition on the control bar (14). 5. Bed according to claim 4, wherein said safety element (15) is structured to maintain the predetermined inactive length unchanged when the control bar (14) rotates the leg (11) from the rest position to the position of operation in response to the rotation of the bed frame (2) from the first position to the second position. 6. Bed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said safety element (15) comprises an elastic mechanical element. 7. Bed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said safety element (15) comprises an elastically deformable oblong element. 8. Bed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said safety element (15) comprises a spring. 9. Bed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said safety element (15) comprises a pair of rectilinear elements mutually coupled in an axially sliding manner with friction.