Patent ID: 7810189
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
1. A folding bed for supporting an intended user in both an elongated configuration and a seated configuration, said intended user having a torso, a pair of lower limbs and a hip region therebetween, said folding bed being positionable on a ground surface, said folding bed comprising: a bed frame having a frame base, said bed frame defining a bed frame first end and a longitudinally opposed bed frame second end; a first supporting section for supporting said torso, said first supporting section defining a first supporting section first end and a longitudinally opposed first supporting section second end; a second supporting section for supporting said lower limbs, said second supporting section defining a second supporting section first end and a longitudinally opposed second supporting section second end; said first and second supporting sections being pivotally coupled together through a first-to-second section pivotal link for pivotal movement between an elongated configuration and a bent configuration, wherein in said extended configuration, said first and second supporting sections are in a substantially coplanar relationship with respect to each other, and in said bent configuration, said first and second supporting sections are angled relative to each other by a first-to-second section angle having a value smaller than 180 degrees; a first support member defining a first support member first end and a longitudinally opposed first support member second end, said first support member first end being pivotally attached to said first supporting section intermediate said first supporting section first end and said first supporting section second end at a section pivotal link-to-first support member distance from said pivotal link, said first support member second end being mechanically coupled to said frame base; and a second support member defining a second support member first end and a longitudinally opposed second support member second end, said second support member first end being pivotally attached to said second supporting section intermediate said second supporting section first end and said second supporting section second end at a section pivotal link-to-second support member distance from said pivotal link, said second support member second end being mechanically coupled to said frame base, said first and second support members being interconnected by a substantially rigid first-to-second support member interconnector; wherein: when said first and second supporting sections are in said extended configuration, said first-to-second section pivotal link is at a first level relative to said frame base; and when said first and second supporting sections are in said bent configuration, said first-to-second section pivotal link is at a second level relative to said frame base, said second level being substantially lower than said first level; said frame base defines a frame base first end and a longitudinally opposed frame base second end, said frame base including a substantially longitudinally extending base guiding member, said second supporting section being operatively coupled to said base guiding member to allow a translational movement of said second supporting section towards said frame base first end relative to said base guiding member when said first and second supporting sections are moved from said elongated configuration to said bent configuration; said second support member second end is operatively coupled to said base guiding member to allow a translational movement of said second support member second end with respect to said base guiding member when said first and second supporting sections are moved between said elongated configuration and said bent configuration; said folding bed further comprising a retaining member defining a retaining member first end and a longitudinally opposed retaining member second end, said retaining member first end being pivotally attached to said first supporting section intermediate said first supporting section first and second ends substantially spaced apart from said first support member first end, said retaining member second end being pivotally attached to said bed frame substantially adjacent said bed frame first end, wherein said retaining member constrains the movement of said first supporting section such that when said first and second supporting sections are moved from said elongated configuration to said bent configuration, said second supporting section second end is moved towards said bed frame first end.