Abstract:
The bunk bed with integral staircase includes upper and lower bunks with a set of steps or stairs assembled integrally therewith as a single unit. The staircase includes a chest of drawers therein to provide storage. The staircase structure is configured to allow certain components to be interchanged from one side to the other, permitting the staircase to be assembled to either end of the bunk bed structure as desired. The drawers of the chest extend laterally from the side of the staircase, and may be removed, turned around, and reinstalled in the opposite side of the staircase as desired, according to which end of the bunks the staircase is attached. The bed structure, and particularly the lower bunk, may include additional features, such as additional storage drawers therebeneath, and/or the lower bunk may have a greater width than the upper bunk.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to furnishings, and particularly to a bunk bed with integral staircase that has a set of stairs that can be assembled to either end of the beds, as desired. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Bunk beds have been known for a considerable period of time, and have proven to be quite efficient in providing compact sleeping facilities for families with multiple children and in college dorms, etc. Conventionally, a ladder is used to access the upper bunk, rather than a set of steps or a staircase. While a ladder can provide adequate access, it may be difficult for some people, particularly younger children, to access the upper bunk using a ladder. 
     Accordingly, some bunk bed systems have been provided with a set of steps or a staircase to access the upper bunk. The additional floor space required is often compensated for by installing some form of storage beneath the steps. The steps are generally a separate component and remain unattached to the bunk bed structure, in order to provide greater versatility for their location at either end of the bed assembly. This separate step or staircase configuration has its drawbacks, e.g., the lack of stability that would be provided by connecting it to the bunk bed assembly and the possibility of the steps sliding away from the bed assembly if some lateral force is applied to the steps during use. 
     As a result, many bunk bed constructors have attached the steps to the bed assembly, at one end or the other. This usually limits the versatility of the bed and step assembly, as it is not generally possible to alter the arrangement of the steps relative to the bed assembly without major modification to the steps and/or bed. 
     The present inventor is aware of various bunk bed, ladder, and step configurations that have been developed in the past. An example of such is found in European Patent No. 734,665, published on Oct. 2, 1996. This reference describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a bunk bed assembly in which the two beds may pivot from their attachment to a common vertical structure, folding into the structure for storage. A ladder attaches to both bunks, with the ladder being removable to allow the two bunks to fold pivotally for storage. 
     Japanese Patent No. 2002-177,076, published on Jun. 25, 2002, describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a single bed structure in which the bed may be installed in either the lower level or upper level thereof. When the bed is installed at the lower level, the ladder is used as a fence to prevent an infant or small child from rolling out of the bed. When the bed is installed at the upper level, the ladder is used to access the bed. 
     Finally, German Patent No. 20-2006-012,792, published on Sep. 27, 2007, describes (according to the drawings; no English abstract was provided) a ladder having a detachable panel that may be secured over the lower rungs to block access thereto, to prevent persons from climbing the ladder. The panel may be removed when desired to provide access to the ladder. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a bunk bed with integral staircase solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The bunk bed with integral staircase includes a staircase having a chest of drawers installed therein, with the drawers opening or extending laterally from the side of the steps. The staircase and drawers are installed as an integral unit at one end of the bunk bed structure. The bed structure and the staircase share certain common components. However, the specific construction of the assembly permits the staircase to be installed to either end of the bunk bed structure, and/or removed once installed and reinstalled to the opposite end of the bed structure. To accomplish this, the chest of drawers is removed from the staircase, turned around, and reinstalled in the staircase with the drawers extending to the opposite side from their previous installation. Other structure is exchanged from one side of the staircase to the other, permitting the staircase to be attached to the opposite end of the bed structure. The bed structure, particularly the lower bunk, may include additional features, such as additional storage drawers therebeneath and/or the lower bunk may be wider than the upper bunk. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing its general features. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the bunk bed with integral staircase of  FIG. 1 , showing the relationship between various components. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the addition of a set of drawers beneath the lower bunk. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing a lower bunk having a greater width than the upper bunk. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the staircase assembly of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the initial step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the second step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of the bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the third step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the fourth step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the fifth step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the sixth step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of the bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the seventh step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the staircase assembly and one end of the bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the eighth step in converting the staircase for installation from one end of the bunks to the other end. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the upper bunk bed of a bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention, showing the assembly thereof for use with the bed assembly having the staircase at the opposite end from that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the completed bunk bed with integral staircase according to the present invention after completing the steps illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 13 , showing the staircase installed at the opposite end from that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention comprises various embodiments of a bunk bed with integral staircase in which the structure of the bunk beds and the staircase permit the staircase to be affixed to either end of the bunks and/or to be relocated readily from one end to the other, as desired.  FIGS. 1  through  3  of the drawings provide views of a first embodiment of the bunk bed and staircase assembly  10 , with  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrating additional options or accessories that may be included with the bed assembly. The assembly  10  includes a lower bunk  12  having a first end  14  (shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  14 ) and opposite second end  16 , a front side  18  (i.e., the side toward which the steps are oriented), and an opposite rear side  20 . The first end  14  includes a forward post  22  and rearward post  24  (shown most clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 14 ) comprising a lower bunk first end post pair, with the opposite second end  16  having a forward post  26  and rearward post  28  comprising a lower bunk second end post pair. 
     The upper bunk  30  is similarly configured, with the primary differences being the shorter posts and the railing extending around all sides. The upper bunk  30  includes a first end  32  and opposite second end  34 , a front side  36  (i.e., the side toward which the steps are oriented), and an opposite rear side  38 . The first end  32  includes a forward post  40  and rearward post  42  comprising an upper bunk first end post pair, with the opposite second end  34  having a forward post  44  and rearward post  46  comprising an upper bunk second end post pair. The first end post pair  40 ,  42  and second end post pair  44 ,  46  of the upper bunk  30  install atop their corresponding lower bunk end post pairs  22 ,  24  and  26 ,  28  to stack the upper bunk  30  atop the lower bunk  12 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate additional accessories or options that may be included with the bunk bed assembly  10 , as desired. In  FIG. 3 , a series of storage drawers  48  is shown installed beneath the lower bunk  12 . The remainder of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 3  is identical to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In  FIG. 4 , the bunk bed assembly  10   a  has been modified by widening the lower bunk  12   a  to a width greater than that of the standard upper bunk  30 . First and second end lateral extensions, respectively  50  and  52 , have been added to the lower portions of the respective first and second end forward posts  22  and  26  for the lower bunk  12   a . The forward side  18   a  of the lower bunk  12   a  extends between the outboard ends of the two extensions  50  and  52 , thus allowing the lower bunk  12   a  to be widened. It will be seen that the lower bunk drawer additions  48  shown in  FIG. 3  may be readily added to the widened lower bunk  12   a  of  FIG. 4 , if so desired. 
       FIGS. 5 through 12  illustrate the staircase component  54  of the bunk bed assembly  10  or  10   a , and the procedure for converting the staircase  54  from its attachment to the first ends of the bunks, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , to attachment to the second ends of the bunks, as shown in  FIG. 14 . The staircase assembly  54  essentially comprises mutually opposed first and second sides, respectively  56  and  58 , with the paneled front portions  60  and  62  of the two sides including a series of steps  64   a  and  64   b  therebetween. More or fewer steps may be provided as desired. The upper landing  64   c  extends between the upper edges of the two sides  56 ,  58 , and comprises the top of the staircase assembly  54 . The steps  64   a ,  64   b  are open therebeneath, with these below step open areas  66   a ,  66   b  serving as open storage areas for the bunk bed assembly  10 . 
     The staircase assembly  54  includes additional storage beneath the upper landing  64   c , in the form of a chest of drawers  68  containing a series of individual drawers  70 . It will be seen that more or fewer drawers may be provided, or the storage space may comprise one or more shelves, either open or enclosed by a hinged door, or some combination of these storage units may be provided as desired. As the two sides  56 ,  58  of the staircase assembly  54  are open behind the paneled forward portions  60  and  62  thereof, the chest of drawers  68  may be oriented to allow the drawers  70  to open laterally from the staircase  54 , e.g., through the second side  58  thereof as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5  through  7 . The orientation of the chest of drawers  68  and drawers  70  may be readily reversed to provide for opening from the first side  56  if so desired, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 14 . The means for accomplishing this is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 12  and discussed in detail further below. 
     The corners of the staircase assembly  54  are defined by relatively tall forward and rearward outboard posts, respectively  68  and  70 , and opposite forward and rearward lower bunk posts. The posts of the outboard post pair  68  and  70  are preferably sufficiently tall to reach from the floor to the upper edge of the railing provided about the landing  64   c  and upper bunk  30 , but each may be formed as two shorter lengths if so desired. The forward and rearward lower bunk posts comprise either the first end post pair  22 ,  24  or the second end post pair  26 ,  28 , depending upon which end the staircase assembly  54  is attached. In the examples of  FIGS. 1 through 5 , it will be seen that the outboard post pair  68 ,  70  is attached to the ends of the second side  58  of the staircase assembly  54 , while the lower bunk first end post pair  22 ,  24  is attached to the ends of the first side  56 , thereby attaching the staircase assembly  54  to the first end  14  of the lower bunk  12 . 
     The staircase assembly  54  is preferably provided as a preassembled structure, but with the outboard post pair  68 ,  70  and lower bunk post pair  22 ,  24  or  26 ,  28  remaining unattached to the staircase assembly  54  in order to allow the owner or user to install the staircase assembly  54  to either end of the bunks  12  and  30  as desired. Structural rigidity for the staircase assembly  54  may be provided by shipping blocks (not shown) temporarily installed along each of the edges of the two sides  56 ,  58  in lieu of the outboard post pair  68 ,  70  and lower bunk post pair  22 ,  24  or  26 ,  28 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the staircase assembly  54  at an early stage of disassembly from the first end  14  of the lower bunk  12 , i.e., the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. In  FIG. 5  the outboard post pair  68 ,  70  has already been removed, and the two lower bunk first end posts  22 ,  24  comprising the lower bunk first end post pair are shown separated from the edges of the first side  56 . Once this has been accomplished, the two outboard posts  68 ,  70  are installed to the edges of the first side  56 , with the lower bunk second end post pair  26  and  28  being installed to the edges of the second side  58  of the staircase assembly  54 . 
     Obviously, the staircase assembly  54  is not yet ready for installation to the second end  16  of the lower bunk  12  at the stage shown in  FIG. 6 , as the drawers would be facing the end of the lower bunk  12  rather than facing away from the lower bunk to provide for their opening. Accordingly, the staircase assembly  54  is configured to provide for the removal and reversal of the chest of drawers  68  therein, once the drawers  70  have been removed as shown in  FIG. 7 . The staircase assembly  54  includes an open back  76 , best shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , where the chest of drawers  68  is being removed ( FIG. 9 ) and reinstalled ( FIG. 10 ) in the staircase  54  through the open back  76  thereof. 
     The chest of drawers  68  includes an open front providing for the installation of the drawers  70  therein, a closed back panel structure  78 , and mutually opposed closed first and second side panels, respectively  80  and  82 . Thus, the chest of drawers  68  is essentially a box having opposed closed sides  80  and  82  and back  78 , with the top, bottom, and front (i.e., the drawer opening) being open. The two side panels  80 ,  82  serve as the vertical backing panels for the open stairway storage areas  66   a  and  66   b , depending upon the orientation of the chest  68  within the staircase structure  54 . In the example of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , it will be seen that the first side  80  of the chest of drawers  68  serves as the back panel for the open stairway storage areas  66   a ,  66   b  when the staircase assembly  54  is installed to the first end  14  of the lower bunk  12 . The second side  82  of the chest serves this function when the staircase assembly  54  is installed to the second end  16  of the lower bunk  12 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The chest of drawers  68  is secured within the staircase  54  by attaching the rearward structure of the chest  68  to the staircase  54  through the open side of the staircase  54  opposite the drawer extension side of the chest. Thus, in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , the drawers  70  open through the second side  58  of the staircase assembly  54 , and the back of the chest of drawers  68  is secured through the opposite first side  56  of the staircase. A number of different means may be used to accomplish this, but the preferred attachment is by means of an additional component, e.g., a magazine rack  84  as shown particularly in  FIGS. 8 and 12 , installed through the appropriate side of the staircase assembly  54 , with the component fitting between the posts of the lower bunk end post pair, or more specifically between the inboard edges of the steps  64   a ,  64   b  and the rearward lower bunk end post, e.g., rearward first end post  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . (It will be understood that the configuration shown in  FIG. 8  is an intermediate step, with the lower bunk second end posts  26 ,  28  and outboard posts  72 ,  74  having been previously installed on the staircase assembly  54 .) 
     The magazine rack  84  includes a pair of spaced apart vertical members with upper notches that engage the lower edge of the crossmember forming the upper edge of the side panel of the staircase assembly  54 , e.g., the upper edge of the first side  56  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The lower ends of the magazine rack vertical members are screwed or otherwise attached to the structure of the staircase  54  to hold the rack in place. The vertical members of the rack  84  extend slightly into the interior of the staircase  54  and engage the closed back panel  78  and structure of the chest of drawers  68  to lock it in place in the staircase assembly  54 , thereby preventing withdrawal of the chest of drawers  68  through the open back  76  of the staircase assembly. 
     Once the magazine rack  84  has been removed, the chest of drawers  68  can be slid outwardly through the open back  76  of the staircase assembly  54  as shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings. The chest  68  is then turned around through 180 degrees to position its second side  82  toward the steps  64   a ,  64   b  and align its open front with the first side  56  of the staircase assembly  54 , generally as shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. The chest of drawers  68  is then slid back into the staircase assembly  54  and the drawers  70  installed in the chest  68  through the first side  56  of the staircase  54 , generally as shown in  FIG. 11 . The magazine rack  84  may then be installed between the lower bunk second end rear post  28  and the backs of the steps  64   a ,  64   b , generally as shown in  FIG. 12  of the drawings. 
     At this point, the necessary alterations to the railing of the upper bunk  30  may be made, generally as shown in  FIG. 13 . The upper bunk  30  includes a forward and a rearward lateral rail, respectively  86  and  88 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 ,  13 , and  14 . These lateral rails  86 ,  88  may remain in place regardless of the location of the staircase  54  relative to either end of the bunk assembly. However, it is preferred that one of the end rails provide an opening for access from the upper landing  64   c  of the staircase assembly  54  to the upper bunk  30 . Thus, the two end rails are constructed to provide a staircase end rail  90  having a relatively short length to provide an access opening between the staircase assembly  54  and the upper bunk  30 , and a longer end rail  92  spanning the entire width of the upper bunk. 
     It will be noted that the shorter staircase end rail  90  is located at the first end  32  of the upper bunk  30  in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , in order to provide access to the upper bunk when the staircase  54  is attached to the first end  14  of the lower bunk  12 . However, the two end rail assemblies  90  and  92  have been transposed in  FIGS. 13 and 14  to provide for the installation of the staircase assembly  54  at the second end  16  of the lower bunk  12 , with the full width end rail assembly  92  located at the first end  32  of the upper bunk and the shorter upper bunk access end rail assembly  90  located at the second end  34  of the upper bunk in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . An additional outboard safety rail assembly  94  is installed between the two outboard posts  72  and  74 , i.e., over the outboard side of the stairway assembly  54  (the drawer opening side) when the staircase assembly  54  is installed to the bunks  12  and  30 . Finally, a staircase end rail assembly  96  is installed between the appropriate upper bunk rearward end post  42  or  46  and the rearward outboard post  74 . This staircase end rail assembly  96  spans between the upper bunk first end post  42  and the rearward outboard post  74  when the staircase assembly  54  is installed to the first end  14  of the lower bunk  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , but is switched to span between the upper bunk second end post  46  and the rearward outboard post  74  when the staircase assembly  54  is secured to the second end  16  of the lower bunk  12  as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Accordingly, the bunk bed and integral staircase  10  in its various embodiments provide a greatly improved structure for such an article of furniture, due to the elimination of the conventional ladder access to the top bunk and the addition of a stairway integrally attached to the bed assembly. The integral attachment of the staircase to the bed assembly greatly enhances safety by assuring that the stairs cannot move or slip relative to the bed structure in the event that some lateral force is applied to the stairs. Yet, the versatility provided by the bed and stairway components allows the staircase assembly to be installed to either end of the beds, and further allows the staircase to be switched from one end to the other with minimal effort. The additional storage space provided beneath the steps and in the chest removably and reversibly installed beneath the landing, is also a welcome benefit of the integral staircase component. The structure of the bunk beds with their integral staircase thus provides a number of advantages not previously developed in the art. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.