Abstract:
Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of coupling assembly, for example drawstrings and springs, for enabling the bed, or in some cases mattresses, to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. An embodiment of the invention herein describes a coupling assembly comprising a first support structure, a platform structure adaptable for supporting a mattress and a coupling pin. The coupling pin comprises a cylindrical portion for locating a first receptacle of the first support structure with a second receptacle of the support structure. The coupling pin further comprises for coupling with the second receptacle. The cylindrical portion is receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a coupling assembly for use with mattress positioning mechanisms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Residences in many cities around the world are getting smaller. This has led to insufficient space for conventional furniture or insufficient space for moving around when conventionally-sized furniture are used. This in turn has led to an industry catering to providing retractable or collapsible furniture for stowing, and in some cases concealing, the furniture when not in use. One of such furniture in issue is the bed which usually occupies the most space in a typical bedroom. Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of positioning systems, for example drawstrings and springs, for enabling the bed, or in some cases mattresses, to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. Further, the requirement for assembly of such furniture in confined spaces has led to difficult coupling of retractable or deployable mattress support structures to fixed support structures. Misalignment of the mattress support structure usually occurs once the respective side pivoting structures have been coupled to the fixed support structures. Pre-assembling the mattress support structure is also not ideal as access to enable coupling of the respective side pivoting structures to the fixed support structures is impeded. Therefore, there exists a need for a solution to the above described problem. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a coupling assembly comprising a first support structure defining a first receptacle, a platform structure having a first end and a second end and defining a second receptacle, and a coupling pin. The platform structure is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The coupling pin comprises a cylindrical portion for locating the first receptacle with the second receptacle, and a fastening portion adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion. The fastening portion is shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle. The cylindrical portion is receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. 
         [0004]    In a accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a coupling pin comprising a cylindrical portion, a fastening portion and a head portion. The cylindrical portion is locating a first receptacle of a first support structure with a second receptacle of a platform structure. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The fastening portion is adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion. The fastening portion is shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle. The cylindrical portion is receivable by the first receptacle for pivoting the platform structure with the first support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The head portion is adjacent and substantially concentric the fastening portion. The head portion is for abutting with the platform structure when the fastening portion is coupled to the second receptacle of the platform structure. 
         [0005]    In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a coupling method comprising positioning a first support structure having a first receptacle with a platform structure having a second receptacle for aligning the second receptacle with the first receptacle. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The coupling method further comprises inserting a cylindrical portion of a coupling pin through the second receptacle towards the first receptacle for locating the second receptacle with the first receptacle. The coupling pin further comprises a fastening portion adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion. The coupling method further comprises engaging the fastening portion of the coupling pin with the second receptacle for further displacing the cylindrical portion through the second receptacle. The fastening portion is shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle when engaged therewith wherein coupling the fastening portion of the coupling pin with the second receptacle with the cylindrical portion being received by the first receptacle pivots the platform structure with the first support structure to enable positioning of the platform structure between a raised position and a lowered position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial front sectional elevation of a coupling assembly formed integral with a positioning mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention with a coupling pin coupled with a first receptacle of a platform structure and received by the second receptacle of a first support structure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial front elevation of the a coupling pin of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a partial front sectional elevation of the coupling assembly of  FIG. 1  without the coupling pin of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial side elevation of the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 1  with the platform structure in a lowered position and a second support structure in an outward position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a partial side elevation of the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4  with the platform structure substantially in a raised position and the second support structure in an inward position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial front elevation of a pair of the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4  with a bed-frame disposed therebetween and the platform structure and the second support structure of each thereof in the lowered position and the outward position respectively; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side elevation of a first support structure of the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4  configured with an actuator and the platform structure in the lowered position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side elevation of a first linkage and a second linkage configured with the platform structure for coupling the second support structure to the first support structure of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a process flow diagram of a coupling method for employing the coupling assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a coupling assembly  100  formed integral with a positioning mechanism  20  for use with a mattress  22 , is described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 . The positioning mechanism  20  comprises a first support structure  24  and a platform structure  26  rotatably coupled to the first support structure  24  at a primary pivot  28 . The platform structure  26  is for substantially supporting the mattress  22  thereon and is displaceable between a lowered position  30  and a raised position  32 . The mattress  22  is preferably substantially horizontal and substantially vertical when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position  30  and the raised position  32  respectively. When the positioning mechanism  20  is in use, the platform structure  26  is displaced to the lowered position  30  to avail use of the mattress  22  and to the raised position  32  for freeing up space when use of the mattress  22  is not required. Preferably, the mattress  22  rests on a bed-frame  34  shaped and dimensioned for accommodating the mattress  22 . The bed-frame  34  is coupled to the platform structure  26  to enable the mattress  22  to be supported thereon. 
         [0016]    The coupling assembly  100  comprises a first receptacle  102 , a second receptacle  104  and a coupling pin  106 . The first receptacle  102  is defined by and through the first support structure  24  while the second receptacle is defined by and through the platform structure  26 . The coupling pin  106  comprises a cylindrical portion  108 , a fastening portion  110  adjacent and concentric the cylindrical portion  108 , and a head portion  112  adjacent and substantially concentric the fastening portion  110 . The fastening portion  110  of the coupling pin  106  is positioned between the cylindrical portion  108  and the head portion  112 . 
         [0017]    The cylindrical portion  108  of the coupling pin  106  is for locating the first receptacle  102  with the second receptacle  104 . The fastening portion  110  is shaped and dimensioned for coupling with the second receptacle  104 . The cylindrical portion  108  is receivable by the first receptacle  102  for pivoting the platform structure  26  with the first support structure  24  between the raised position  32  and the lowered position  30  to thereby establish the primary pivot  28 . 
         [0018]    Preferably, the cylindrical portion  108  of the coupling pin  106  sits simply within the first receptacle  102 . Alternatively, one of a bushing, a ball bearing and a roller bearing interfaces the cylindrical portion  108  of the coupling pin  106  and the first receptacle  102 . Preferably, the fastening portion  110  of the coupling pin  106  is externally threaded and the second receptacle  104  is internally threaded for engagement with the fastening portion  110  of the coupling pin  106 . Preferably, the head portion  112  is shaped for abutting with the platform structure  26  adjacent the second receptacle  104  when the fastening portion  110  is coupled to the second receptacle  104  of the platform structure  26 . 
         [0019]    Preferably, the head portion  112  of the coupling pin  106  is shaped and dimensioned for mating with a fastening tool. The fastening tool could be one of a screwdriver, for example a Philip or straight head screwdriver, an allen key of any cross-section, a wrench, a socket wrench or the like tools. Alternatively or additionally, the head portion  112  of the coupling pin  106  is externally knurled for hand tightening or for use with any friction-based tools. 
         [0020]    The platform structure  26  has a first end  36  and a second end  38  forming extremities thereof. The primary pivot  28  is configured between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The positioning mechanism  20  further comprises an actuator  40  extending between the first support structure  24  and the first end  36  of the platform structure  26  for biasing the platform structure  26  towards the raised position  32 . The actuator  40  comprises at least one axially resiliently biased piston or the like prismatic actuator. For example, the actuator  40  comprises a pair of pistons with each thereof being axially resiliently biased pneumatically. 
         [0021]    The positioning mechanism  20  further comprises a second support structure  42  rotatably coupled to the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The second support structure  42  is further coupled to the first support structure  24  for displacement thereof between an outward position  44  and an inward position  46  when the platform structure  26  is displaced to the lowered position  30  and the raised position  32  respectively. The platform structure  26  extends between and is supported by the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42  when in the lowered position  30  to thereby dispose the mattress  22  for support by the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42 . Preferably, the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42  rest on a surface  48  when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position  30  for spatially displacing the bed-frame  34 , and consequently the mattress  22  disposed thereon, from the surface  48 . 
         [0022]    Further when in use, the bed-frame  34  is coupled to and disposed between a pair of the positioning mechanism  20  for providing and configuratively corresponding a pair of the first support structure  24  and a pair of the second support structure  42  substantially to four corners of the bed-frame  34 . The pair of positioning mechanism  20 , together with a pair of the integrally formed coupling assembly  100 , forms a bed system. 
         [0023]    A coupling method  200  is employed for coupling the platform structure  26  to the first support structure  24  of each of the positioning mechanism  20 . When employing the coupling method  200 , the bed-frame  34  may already be assembled with the platform structures  26  or may be in a unassembled state. In the coupling method  200 , the first receptacle  102  of the first support structure  24  is positioned for alignment with the second receptacle  104  of the platform structure  26  in a step  202 . Next, the cylindrical portion  108  of the coupling pin  106  is inserted through the second receptacle  104  towards the first receptacle  102  for locating the second receptacle  104  with the first receptacle  102  in a step  204 . The second receptacle  104  is a through hole while the first receptacle  102  is one of a through hole and a blind hole. Next, the fastening portion  110  of the coupling pin  106  is engaged with the second receptacle  104  for further displacing the cylindrical portion  108  through the second receptacle  104  in a step  206 . The coupling pin  106  is then tightened via the fastening portion  110  till the head portion abuts with the platform structure  26  adjacent the second receptacle  104 . 
         [0024]    A spring washer and/or thread-lock may be employed to impede loosening and dislodgement of the fastening portion  110  of the coupling pin  106  from the second receptacle. Alternatively or additionally, a c-clip may be employed adjacent a free end of the cylindrical portion  108  of the coupling pin  106  to prevent displacement of the cylindrical portion  108  out of the first receptacle  102 . 
         [0025]    Preferably, the first support structure  24  is a panel supported from the surface  48  and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown). The panel is made from wood, metal or the like material having sufficient strength when shaped and dimensioned for supporting the mattress  22  and the platform structure  26 . The panel is further shaped for forming a portion of a furniture or a cabinet. For example, the panel is made from wood and forms a side of a box-shaped structure dimensioned for substantially receiving the mattress  22  therewithin when the platform structure  26  is in raised position  32 . Preferably, the inward position  46  of the second support structure  42  substantially opposes the outward position  44  thereof for enabling the second support structure  42  to be substantially received in box-shaped structure or the like concealment structure for substantially visually conceal the second support structure  42  formed in part by the first support structure  24 . 
         [0026]    Alternatively, the first support structure  24  comprises a panel structure  50  and an interface plate  52 . The panel structure  50  is supported from the surface  48  and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown) with the interface plate  52  inter-coupling the panel structure  50  and the platform structure  26 . Preferably, the first receptacle  102  is formed in the interface plate  52  for coupling with the platform structure  26  via the coupling pin  106  and whereabout the platform structure  26  rotatably displaces relative the first support structure  24 . Therefore, the interface plate  52  is preferably made of metal or the like wear-resistant material. 
         [0027]    When the panel structure  50  forms part of, for example a siding of, the box-shaped structure, the positioning mechanism preferably further comprises a head-board assembly (not shown) configured for concealing at least a portion of the actuator  40  when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position. The head-board assembly is coupled to the platform structure  26  for moving in tandem therewith and is configured such that when the platform structure  26  is displaced from the lowered position  30  to the raised position  32 , the head-board assembly structurally collapses for allowing the box-shaped structure more space for accommodating the platform structure  26  and the mattress  22  supported thereon. 
         [0028]    The positioning mechanism  20  further comprises a first linkage  54  and a second linkage  56 . The first linkage  54  is preferably slidably coupled to the platform structure  26  for displacement along a longitudinal axis  58  extending between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The first linkage  54  is rotatably coupled to the second support structure  42  at one end thereof. The second linkage  56  is rotatably coupled to a link point  60  on the first support structure  26  at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage  54  at the other end thereof. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the distance between the primary pivot  28  and the point where the actuator  40  couples with the first support structure  26  is larger than the distance between the primary pivot  28  and the link point  60 . 
         [0030]    Structurally, when in use, the Euclidean distance between the link point  60  and the longitudinal axis  58  of the platform structure  26  increases when the platform structure  26  is displaced from lowered position  30  towards the raised position  32  to thereby displace the first linkage  54  away from the first end  36  and towards the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The second support structure  42  is displaced from the outward position  44  towards the inward position  46  when the first linkage  54  is displaced away from the first end  36  and towards the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . 
         [0031]    Preferably, the second support structure  42  comprises a mounting plate  62 , a leg structure  64  extending from the mounting plate  62  and a connector  66  having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting plate  62  and another end rotatably coupled to the first linkage  54 . The mounting plate  62  is coupled to the platform structure  26  and is operable for displacing the leg structure  64  between an inward position and an outward position corresponding with the inward position  46  and the outward position  44 , respectively, of the platform structure  26 . The connector  66  and the mounting plate  62  are so inter-configured to enable the leg structure  64  to travel more than  100  degrees angle when displaced from one to the other of the inward position and the outward position. 
         [0032]    The actuator  40  is for providing an actuation force when in use. The actuator  40 , the platform structure  26  and the first support structure  24  are inter-configured for substantially balancing moment generated by the weight of the mattress  22  and moment generated by the actuation force of the actuator  40  about the primary pivot  28  when the platform structure  26  is substantially at least one of in the lowered position  30 , the raised position  32  and substantially proximal the raised position  32 . 
         [0033]    In the foregoing manner, a coupling assembly formed integral with a positioning mechanism for use with at least one mattress is described according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although only one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.