US2663032A - Folding bed mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1953 v. GIUSEFFI 2,663,032

' FOLDING BED MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AA A 9,. m\\\\\ I I,

INVENTOR 'ATTO R N EY V. GIUSEFFI FOLDING BED MECHANISM Dec. 22, 1953 Filed July 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m fi 2 w M INyENTOR Vmceni 'luseff BY @nfliun ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1953 g afr tightly nou'gif wound. to oounterlgeklanoe the weight Of the' fraInE' along-with-their*h,1i mattresses if the-met: tres'sesshouldzbeuremovedj efiglffor cleaning; thebed will automatical y "361d uw prqbaibly "quite unexpectedly; anmposle-iblyfwith' Harmful e 'siiltsi pri'se upper and more springsirantanged "towopposei undesired. etiebtsazofe ceritainfl-'ravitational; forces occurring. during a"folding and-unfolding cycle doing so with an efictiveness which varies as" the ma nitndesi of. tho'eesrefiect'sefor 1 different portions of. the-cycle;

Itiis axfurth''r objectitoiprovide sucha mech anism which will b'ewinherently stable; i. e;, will tend to flock eitheri its .ifolded "or unfolded. condition so that'theaction ofiits sprin'g arrangem'nt': will' be:relatively "independent of: certain likelysvariationsin weight suchas that which would-be o'casioned byth'e removal o'f the mat-' trestes'f;

In general, these and other objects are attained by the use of;'on"-.-or more pr'e loade'd. countersr irings which are arranged to oppose gravitat tionll forces with' em= effierfl'livenes's which varies over th'e folding e ndmnfoldmg"cycle substam Y many asneeced;

"Irftl'iedrarlihg: V

Fig. 11" is e perspective view of "an embodiment Of thiS iIIVI'ItiOIF '22 fully unfolded Condition;

Fig? 2 -i's aj crtiss tioiiil View of th' embodimnt='ofEi;. Tithe-View being taken in the plane zLziofFig. or

Fig: 3 is se'ctioneglwiew 'tagken' in'aplane corre-= spondingto triatifofii tHe' vieWofFigf 2 but with the embddime1it ofli igi 1' I s'howr'f'in a condition intermediate it's fulliz -unfoltleq' 'and ite f lly foldeid conditions an'd' Fig. :4 is a noth'e'r*such 'sectional view but with the-meohanism in" ul'ly' fdlded'donditidnf iIheibed me'ohamsrii I P Shown" in Fig. 1 comower"11a;1'f -frames H andf] 2'; which are ao'in d' tg'ethjr with hing'es I3 as shown: E5 of th? helfl fritfis" I and His me'd'eof-foiif' 'leng'ths of "anglei'ronwelded. togethrto' foipm' 2; w rectangular recess into pfing niQ'ttreSS-maY be Thhel'f n mes- I I; I 2 b'ywelding' gussets' i'n'e'rs: Apair'o'f legs half ;frame:1 2 :and got :Iastening .wheels' I 1 to the between therinsiiie surfaces of thlg'sfl 5 to' per 'n ii l i edj en o e c of e half-frame ll when the bed mechanism i in its folded condition. This is best shown in Fig. 4.

The head end of the bed is supported on a pair of hinges I8. Each of these hinges has a first arm 19 which serves as a leg for the head end of the bed when it is unfolded and a second arm 20 which is provided with a number of screw holes 2| for attaching the mechanism of the bed to a foundation surface 22 (Figs. 2-4) The foundation surface 22 may be the floor of a cupboard (represented generally by dotted block 23 in Figs. 3 and 4) into which the bed is to be stored when folded, or the bottom of a credenza with which the folding mechanism shown in Fig. 1 may be combined to afford the article of furniture described in my above-mentioned copending application. It should be noted that the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 will sometimes be an article of manufacture complete in itself as a builder's supply item, and that it does not necassarily have to be merely a component part built into an article of furniture. For this reason, in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, certain anchor points which are needed for the counterspring arrangements herein are located on the hinge arms 25 rather than on the foundation surface 22. Because of this, where the mechanism is to be a complete article in itself, it will be possible to provide it with its counterspring arrangement s fully preadjusted, i. e., with its (their) anchor points properly located and its (their) springs under proper tension, and installation will require no more than simply screwing the hinge arms 28 to the intended foundation siuface.

The embodiment shown herein by way of illustration has two counterspring arrangements each of which comprises a flexible cable 24, e. g., a light stranded steel cable or a nylon cable having a steel core, which has one of its ends fastened to a hook eye 25 (a first anchor point) which is welded to the top surface of the arm 20. Each of the cables 24 extends through two pulleys, 26 and 21 respectively to a second anchor point. There its other end is fastened to the cross member 28,

of half frame [2 at one of several holes which may be selected in accordance with the tension under which it is desired to place the cable.

Each of the pulleys 26 is hung from the under side of the cross member 28 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably, the distance between each of the pulleys 26 and the point on the cross member 28 from which it hangs is made variable to provide an adjustment which in practice has proven very efiective for causing the folding mechanism I 0 to operate in the intended manner which is to be described below. However, in certain embodiments this distance may be fixed. For example, where a particular embodiment is standardized for mass production so that certain parameters can be predetermined, e. g., the weights of its component parts, the locations of the anchor points, and the amount of spring tension, the distance between each of the pulleys 26 and the point on the cross member 28 from which it is hung can also be determined in advance and therefore it need not necessarily be adjustable. In embodiments for which this adjusting means is desired, each of the pulleys may be hung from the cross member 28 by any of numerous kinds of suitable suspensions of variable length. In the present example I show it hung on a short flexible cable the length of which may be made adjustable in any suitable manner. In each of the counterspring arrangements a coil spring 30 is 4 stretched between the hook eye 3| of its pulley 2i and a third anchor point 36. The third anchor points are located as shown in Fig. 1 near the back edge of the bottom cross member 32 of the half-frame I2. As is most apparent from Fig. 2, the tension of the springs 30 tends to draw the cross member 32 toward an imaginary axis extending between the two hook eyes 25. The effect of using the pulley 21 in each counterspring arrangement is to permit the use of a spring 30 of approximately half the physical range of elasticity and twice the tensile force of a spring which would be required without the use of a pulley.

t causes a short stifi spring to act in the same way as a long compliant spring, and, since the spring is under twice as much tension as the cable 24, it reduces the free lash of the counterspring arrangement in a region where it can at least well be tolerated, i. e., in a region where it passes close to the bottom of the box spring.

A handle 33 is attached to each side of halfframe 12 near one of the hinges I3. When an upward force is exerted on one or both of the handles 33 in order to fold the mechanism [0, it will not be effective to raise the head end of the half-frame ll inasmuch as this is fastened down by the hinges I8. Nor will be it effective to raise the foot end inasmuch as far less force is required to buckle the center of the mechanism in an upward direction along the line of the pins of the hinges [3 than to raise the dead weight offered by the lower portion of the halfframe l2, the legs 55, the wheels 11, etc. As a result, an upward force on one or both of the handles will start to jack-knife the two bed halves H and i2 toward a position such as that shown in Fig. 3. This will greatly increase the effectiveness of the counterspring arrangements in opposing gravitational forces which tend to keep the mechanism It fiat and open.

The contractilev force which each of the two counterspring arrangements exerts between the first and third anchor points along a line which is broken due to the presence of the pulley 26, has a component which acts along a straight line between those points and which diminishes to a limiting value of zero as the angle between the jack-knifed bed halves, ll, l2, becomes smaller and finally reaches zero degrees. At the same time, the mechanical advantage of the two jackknifed bed halves to translate a contractile force which is exerted in a straight line between the first and third anchor points into a force acting upwardly at the juncture of the two half-frames increases as said angle decreases. Thus the eifectiveness of this mechanism to exert an upward force to oppose the free falling component of its own total weight is the resultant of two oppositely changing variables. I have found that the way in which these variables combine to produce this resultant is afunction of the distance from the cross member 28 to each of the pulleys 26. By adjusting this properly, the overall effectiveness of the counterspring arrangement(s) in opposing undesired gravitational forces will vary to sufficiently but not excessively oppose the free falling weight at all points in the folding-andunfolding cycle. When the mechanism is fully unfolded so that the angle between the halfframes is only a very slight upward force will be exerted. This force is so slight that the weight of the frames with or without mattresses is suificient to keep the mechanism open. However, the forces stored in the springs 30 have a very substantial effectivenessinan upward dl-.

' slasheroints mainly-a1 awasdaew sncwn z 7 am ure contractile" 1 al'dfi the stretcher etweefi eae eeieasfirseand as ea -cease as ts the mechanism-' approaches its-fully tioni Thereroretowera chin iterspring afrang M essence in urgifig the halffran'ies t further jaclg-knifing. This averts' bangnig -to gthei o'f-th hair-nan APt use saifiil tiine, '1'." e., fie the 'cerhpltib of assessment-immense arraiigriientrsr beome fiiereafieinsrs (in ective to pull together the two arms I9 and 20 of chic 6f tney eme pnmasn ol menses he! frame merely ngsfi oriri-it y meningesi It is apparent that when -one-seek's unfold this mechanism by tuning outward as "he dles 33, he will be assisted by the availability 7 answerable1everage tspuu apart-tn arms" of the hinges again-st the" acne I of tl-ie counter string arrangements); Because- 0f-'-th-is"--it will be easy-to pair-the" half-framesoiit fthe recess 23'; Theconsiderable leverage- (referred to) is avaiiabieseeacsethedistance orn ea'ch of 'the handlest'the so much greatef than;fthlength ef the Vertical arrn- I-QE" Asa result; itis relatively easy to start the process of. unfolding even if the spring 30 hay" been as greatly loaded masther'iiech'ariism It] will comp1ete1y-fo1d: itself: automatically once foldinggis merely startedn Moreover, it wilLliker wise be easy tocomplete thlii'nfoldmgs Intact, apoint will, be reached tow/ant em of iir'ifoldiifigl'agt' which, of its 66th acco" it will'edr'opiithe 1 part, of theway theunyopefi position where it will remain as 'thoiigh'loked. It is possible to adjust the counterspring mechanism(s) so that they just overcome the gravitational forces without having enough reserve left to overcome the friction in the hinge pins and other working parts of the mechanism. As a result, when the mechanism It is in an intermediate position, it will stay there unless a slight amount of force is exerted manually to move it in either direction as desired.

It is apparent from the foregoing that during either folding or unfolding, the weight of the foot end of this mechanism is carried on the wheels I! which roll along the foundation surface 22 inward toward the recess 23 or outward from it as the case may be.

The lower half-frame I2 is somewhat shorter than the upper half-frame I I so that the wheels I! are lifted away from the foundation surface 22 when the angle between the bed halves has become very small. Upon continuation of folding beyond that point, the lower half-frame simply hangs on the upper half-frame, from the hinges l3.

Provision is made for the eventuality that one may carelessly reach into the recess 23 and draw out the mechanism without use of the handles 33, for example, by pulling on the upper halfframe. If this is done, there is the possibility that without an enlargement of the angle between the half-frames, the two of them as a still tightly-jack-knifed unit may begin to swing outward on the axis of the pins of hinges 18 to a 6 v point whcm the foohzend ofi'thwluwenhadfi-framcz (or'aabox springamattresszcarrimmmitb'- willgbinda onithe foundatiorrisurfacezr Toaavoidithisgaipain ofl rollersifl areicanriefii om'rthes: outside e'surface' of- 'tlic cross-membernz Ac-thevpointimentionedi immediately:abovetitheyiwillibear slideably upon' me foundation. surface tc prevent bindingaor reiduce-the likelihoodthereofi If I desired; each counterspring arrangement may: utilize: another pulley which hung from the headend cross membergofithetcpihalf frame tb-rediiwtlie -spacing=between the cable wand'the bottom of thi's cnoss member: will lessen the likelihood of the cable Zflb'eingseen from" tl'ie siisle -of the bede Each sucl-lad'ditional pulley ma consist of a smalfwheel (not shown carried masher-t shaft mountedacrosstheuppenend of the slot 31 (See' Fig; l whieh is prcvided a-' respec'ti veoneor thehinge-arms W to avoid blocking the path for the-cable 21 between the pulley 26 and the hook eye 25. If such wheels-are respectivel'y-mouhted mthearms l 9 their-slots 31 will not need to: extenct'as far toward their-hinge pins as do the"-slbt's31=shown in'Fig; 1.

While in the illustratlve embodiment shown herein provisionis made f'o'r adjusting; the tension of each of thecounterspring arrangements through the use ef -a plurality' ofholesanyone of which may be selected. to serve asits second arrchor' point; it is obvious: that one may'use any ofa variety of other snitable means For ex;- ample, a.turmbuckle;may'beinsertedjn'series in each of the countersprm'g;arrangements,,e. g,, be,,- tween the root, enct offitsjspringgii,lli'andiimithird anchor point 36*.

Whatis claimediszv l A folding bed mechanism. suitable; for. use on. av relatively, flatioundation. surface comprismg: upper and! lower. halt-frames each having two side members i andifa. top. andgbcttom cross member joined; to define,a;plane, corresponding to the underside of a. halt mattress; hinging means articulately connecting the top cross member of the lower half frame to the bottom cross member of the upper half frame so that in folding and unfolding said mechanism the half frames may be moved relatively to each other between two limiting positions in one of which said planes are mutual extensions of each other and in the other of which they are closely adjacent and parallel; means for articulately anchoring the top end of the upper half frame with respect to a predetermined part of said foundation surface so that said plane defined by the sides of this half frame may be moved about an axis parallel to its top cross member between a position parallel to the foundation surface when the mechanism is unfolded and one substantially perpendicular to said surface when the mechanism is folded; means aifording at least one anchor point near to said predetermined part of the foundation surface; one leg attached at its top end to each of the side members of the lower half-frame near to its bottom cross member; one wheel carried on the other end of each leg; at least one counterspring-arrangement means for exerting a variable contractile force directly between said anchor point and a part of said lower half-frame near its bottom cross member to variably urge the two half-frames toward the limiting position in which they are closely adjacent to each other, the

" last-mentioned means including a spring coupled under tension, a cable coupled to an end of the;

spring for coupling said end to said anchor point, for attaching one end of said cable being attached to said anchor point, said anchor point being located near to a portion of said surface which is more closely adjacent to the top cross member of said upper half-frame when the mechanism is unfolded than to any of the other cross members, and a pulley-like cable-carrying means hung from one of the articulately-connected cross members and carrying said cable strung through it; whereby in all positions of the mechanism intermediate said two limiting positions the force along the cable is exerted along a broken line which has an apex at said pulley-like meansand said contractile force as directly exerted in a substantially straight line between said anchor point and said last-mentioned part of the lower halfframe varies in magnitude as the upper and lower half-frames are moved between their two limit- .ing positions.

2. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 in which said means for articulately anchoring the top end of the upper half -frame comprises a hinge having two arms each having one of its ends articulately joined to a corresponding end of the other at a hinge pin, one of said arms being attached at its other end to the top end of the upper half frame to serve as a leg therefor when the mechanism is unfolded, and the other of said arms being provided with means by which it may be attached to said foundation surface.

3. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 2 in which said means affording at least one anchor point is integral with'said last-mentioned arm of said hinge.

4. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 3 in which the path of said cable between said cablecarrying means and said anchor point extends in such a direction with respect to the path to be followed by the first-mentioned hinge arm with respect to the second in the folding of the mech anism that said means for exerting a contractile force is effective to hold the hinge shut when the mechanism is folded and the half-frames have their second-mentioned limiting positions.

5. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 in which the lower half -frame is of such length that when it is suspended by its top cross member from the upper half-frame in the fully folded condition of the mechanism its lower cross member is raised a substantial distance away from a plane corresponding to that of said foundation surface.

6. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 which further comprises at least one roller carried on the bottom surface of the bottom cross member of the lower half-frame.

7. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 in which said means for exerting a contractile force includes a means for adjusting the loading of said spring.

8. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 in which said means for exerting a variable contractile force includes a means which is adjustable in length by which said pulley-like means is hung from said one of the articulately-connected cross members at an adjustable distance therefrom.

9. A folding bed mechanism as in claim 1 in which each of said means for exerting a contractile force includes a pulley arrangement for effectively dividing by a predetermined constant the contractile force exerted by said spring along said broken line while at the same time multiplying by the same constant its contractible range as usefully exerted along said line.

VINCENT GIUSEFFI.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,556 Robinson Aug. 10, 1869 963,789 Merrill July 12, 1910 1,726,075 Kolb Aug. 27, 1929 2,544,762. Lochridge Mar. 13, 1951

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