Abstract:
A kit for a portable assembly bed includes an operable carry bag having retaining elements disposed on the inside of the bag with bed construction removably retained by the retaining elements. The kits provide co-operable construction components including reinforced discs and tubular frame members for an assembled double-decker bed or two single beds, and at lease one foldable foot locker and an accessories pouch. The portable construction when assembled provides a complete double-decker cot with storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Use of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a portable assembly bed. This invention also relates to a kit for the storage, transport and assembly of bed components. This invention also relates to components for a bed assembly particularly including a disc component construction. This invention further relates to a portable assembly for a double-decker bed construction including the storage and transport of the components. 
         [0003]    2. Background and Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A collapsible bed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,833, issued May 29, 1990 to Bonatz, which patent disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto (the “Bonatz prior art construction”). The Bonatz prior art single bed construction included tubular frame members, a canvas bed and discs which when assembled formed a single bed. The Bonatz prior art construction was only operable as and suitable for a single bed function. Further, the Bonatz prior art construction components were difficult to transport. 
         [0005]    It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a kit for the storage and transport of bed assembly components. 
         [0006]    It is another principal object of the present invention to provide improved functionality for bed assembly components. 
         [0007]    It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a double-decker bed or alternatively two single beds. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide storage components for the assembled beds. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a kit including carry bags for the ready transport of the components for the alternate assembly of a double-decker bed or two single beds. 
         [0010]    The foregoing objects are achieved by the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention, in one principal aspect, is a kit for the storage and transport of a bed assembly. The kit includes two carry bags with cooperable construction components in each bag, which components when assembled provide a double-decker bed or alternatively two single beds. The kit includes flexible material construction foot lockers for the ready assembly and disposition under the double-decker bed or separately under each single bed. The foot lockers are folded to a flat storage disposition. The construction components include novel heavy duty assembly discs and cooperable connectable tubular frame members. The head and foot assembly discs and tubular frame member constructions are pre-assembled and stowed as a kit in respective carry bags. The heavy duty discs have asymmetrically disposed reinforcing ribs in a specific disposition with respect to the connected tubular frame members. The double-decker bed has two unfolded foot lockers disposed beneath the lower bed and an accessories pouch removably attached to and depending from the lower bed frame. The carry bags with the bed assembly components stowed therein are readily carried from one location to another for ready assembly of the double-decker bed or two single beds. The present kit construction and bed assembly is particularly useful in, but not limited to, military applications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective partial assembly view of the double-decker bed of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective partial assembly view of the single lower bed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective partial assembly view of the single upper bed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of one foot locker in the closed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the foot locker of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the foot locker of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the foot locker of  FIG. 4  in the open position showing the assembled partitions; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8A  is the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8  showing the foldable disassembly of the partitions; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8B  is the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8  showing the initial foldable disassembly of the foot locker; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8C  is the front foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8B  showing the further foldable disassembly of the foot locker; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8D  is the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8C  showing the further foldable disassembly; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8E  is the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8D  showing the still further foldable disassembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8F  is the foot locker as shown in  FIG. 8E  in the fully folded flat disposition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the assembly disc of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevational view of the assembly disc of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the assembly disc of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the assembly disc of  FIG. 9  and a tubular frame member in the unassembled position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is the assembly disc and tubular frame member of  FIG. 12  in the assembled position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is an outer side elevational view of the frame member and disc construction of the lower bed; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is an inner side elevational view of the frame member and disc construction of the upper bed; 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of one of the two carry cases in the closed position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of one carry case in the open position principally showing the upper bed assembly construction; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the other carry case in the open position principally showing the lower bed assembly construction. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the double-decker bed or bed assembly  10  of the present invention. Bed  10  includes an upper bed or cot  11  and a lower bed or cot  12 . The bed construction in general includes eight assembly discs  13 , four tubular assembly side members or assemblies  14 , two upper bed tubular head assembly  15 , has lower bed head and foot assemblies  16 , two horizontally disposed cross members or supports  17 , two vertically disposed integrating connecting straps  18 , four angularly disposed reinforcing struts  19 , and two canvas or like flexible material bed support pieces  22 . A pair of foot lockers  20  and a hanging accessories pouch  21 , in general, completes the double-decker bed assembly  10 , as will be more fully discussed hereinafter. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the lower bed or cot  12  in the single bed disposition. Bed  12  has four assembly discs  13  and two tubular foot assemblies  16  and two tubular frame assemblies  14  interconnected with canvas support piece  22  to in general from the assembled single lower bed  12 . One foot locker  20  is slidably disposed under the bed. Accessories pouch  21  is Velcro® attached to the flexible cover  22  portion surrounding tubular frame assembly  14 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown upper bed or cot  11  in the single bed disposition. Bed  11  has four assembly discs  13 , two tubular assemblies  15 , two tubular frame assemblies  14  with canvas support piece  22  to in general form the assembled single (upper) bed  11 . Tubular assemblies  15  include lock cylindrical tubular members  15   a  and conjoined rectilinear tubular members  17  and  97 . One foot locker  20  is slidably disposed under the bed. Foot pads  210  cap the rectilinear ends of vertically disposed tubular members  97 . 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , lower support member  197  inter-fittingly engages depending tubular frame member  97  as at  199 . Lower support members also include depending semicircular tubular end piece  198  which slidably inter-fits within the annular circumferential recess or track of lower disc  13 . Integrating or locking strap  18  surrounds bottom tubular frame member  78  and upper tubular frame member  15   a  and the tighten strap  18  provides a locking tension force between lower assembly  16  and upper assembly  15 . 
         [0040]    The tubular frame members  14  ( FIGS. 17-18 ) are inter-fitted and then passed through canvas support opening  221 , and then forced-filled into the circular hub  222  of discs  13  ( FIGS. 1 ,  12 - 13 ). Similarly, the tubular inter-fitting of lower support member  97  with and between upper assembly  15  and lower assembly  16  is likewise readily accomplished. Stabilizer bars  19  are also readily clipped onto stabilizer pin  19   a , to stabilize the assembled double-decker cot. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-7  and  8 - 8 F, there is shown foot locker  20 . Foot locker  20  is generally of the flexible material foldable construction. Foot locker  20  includes front  31 , sides  32  and  33 , rear  34 , bottom  39  and openable top  36 . Top  36  is hinged to side  33  as at  37 . Velcro® pads  45  secure top  36  in the closed position ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ). The inside bottom portion  39  of foot locker  20  includes assembled vertically disposed partitions  46 . Partitions  46  are Velcro® pad secured to the inner walls of foot locker  20  ( FIG. 8 ). Partitions  46  are of foldable disassembly construction together with bottom  39  ( FIGS. 8A-8C ). Flexible material pockets  41  (typical) are fixedly secured or sewn on the outside wall of side  32 . Side  33  includes net construction storage pocket  43 , elongate item storage pocket  44  and Velcro® pads  45  (typical ( FIG. 5 ). Pads  45  attach to other cooperatively disposed pads such as on a second foot locker or to carry bag pads when in the folded stowed construction for ready transport. Rear  34  includes flexible handle  46  for ready transport of the foot locker  20  with or without its contents ( FIG. 6 ). Bottom surface  35  includes four thermoplastic reinforcing ribs  48  fixedly glued or thermoplastically bonded to bottom surface  35  to support the upright foot locker  20  on a floor surface. 
         [0042]    Foot locker  20  is readily folded in a step wise manner to a fully folded flat disposition ( FIGS. 8A-8F ) for ready for transport in the carry bag, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-13 , there is shown assembly disc  13 . Disc  13  including central hub  222 , peripheral concave seat  13 A and a plurality of ribs  55 A- 55 J. Ribs  55 A- 55 J are asymmetrically disposed. Ribs  55 A and  55 B are immediately oppositely juxtaposed to one rib  55 C. Ribs  55 A- 55 B are not radially disposed. Ribs  55 C- 55 J are symmetrically radially disposed. The specific asymmetrical construction  55 A- 55 B is juxtaposed to and straddles partial circumferential slot  60 . Slot  60  is sized to receive locking cam or wing  65  of tubular member or assembly  14 . In this manner of construction, tubular member wing  65  engages slot  60  and is rotated in race  63  to a locked position. The asymmetrical rib construction  55 A- 55 C maintains the integrity and operability of the interconnected metal tubular member  14 /wing  65  disposed in thermoplastic disc slot  60 /race  63  construction, as well as providing durability in heavy duty use. Tubular member  14  is preferably formed of two inter-fitted swaged tubular frame members for improved support strength in heavy duty environments. The foregoing constructions are particularly useful in military environments 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 14-15 , there is shown the pre-assembled foot assembly  16  ( FIG. 14 ) and pre-assembled head assembly  15  ( FIG. 15 ). Foot assembly  16  includes integral tubular assemblies  70  and  75  and two inter-fitted discs  13 . Tubular assembly  70  is formed of a horizontally disposed cross member  71  with semi-circular portions or wings  72  having circular ends  73 . Tubular foot support  75  includes downwardly outwardly disposed legs  76  with curvilinear tubular feet  77  and bottom tubular cross piece  78  of integral construction. Tubular foot support  75  is integrally bonded or welded to tubular assembly at  79 . A pair of stabilizer pins  19   a  for connection to stabilizers  19  ( FIG. 1 ). Disc  13  and particularly annular circumferential recessed seats or tracks  13 A are force fitted into wings  72 . Disc  13  as assembled to integral assemblies  70  and  75  forms foot assembly  16 . Foot assembly  16  as shown in  FIG. 14  is readily stowed in a carry case. 
         [0045]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 15 , there is shown head assembly  15 . Head assembly  15  includes tubular cross member  94  with outwardly dispose semi-circular wings  95  having circular ends  96 , and downwardly vertically disposed rectilinear tubular members  97  terminating in rectilinear end  98 . A cross-piece  99  interconnects and braces members  97 . Stabilizer pieces  19   a  are disposed at one end on member  97 . Foot pads  210  ( FIG. 3 ) are clipped onto ends  98  of members  97  to provide a protective bearing surface for the floor. Head assembly  15  is of integral bonded or welded construction as at  101  and  102 . Disc  13  is force fitted onto semi-circular ends  95 , in a manner similar to that for foot assembly  16 . Head assembly  15  as shown in  FIG. 15  is readily stowed in a carry case. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , there is shown carry case  80 . Carry case  80  is formed of flexible material or fabric. Case  80  includes straps  81  and handle  82 . Carry case  80  includes panels or sides  83 , hinge  84  and zipper  85  which selectively encloses sides  83 . Straps  81  are stitched or bonded to sides  83  as at  86 . Carry case  80  is provided in two embodiments  80 A and  80 B, respectively, for the head assemblies ( FIG. 17 ) and foot assemblies  16  ( FIG. 18 ) as well cooperating construction elements. In this manner of construction, the two carry cases  80 A and  80 B contain all the construction components and elements required to assemble the double-decker bed or cot  10 . A person of average strength can readily transport both fully complemented carry cases  80 A and  80 B to a location and readily assemble the double-decker cot  10 . 
         [0047]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 17 , there is shown carry case  80 A. Carry case  80 A contains two head assemblies  15 , held in place by Velcro® tab straps  91 . A plurality of inter-fitting tubular members  14  are retained in place on the inside of panel  83  by straps  92 . Lower support members  197  include part-circular tubular end piece  198  for engaging disc  13  as at  201 . Members  197  are held in place by retainers  202 . 
         [0048]    Netted pockets  100  are fixedly secured to the inside of carry case panel  83 . Rectilinear plastic footings  210  are held in net pockets  100 . Footings  210  frictionally fit onto tubular member  97  at  199  when the upper bed is utilized as a singled bed in contradistinction to the double-decker construction. A plurality of stabilizer bars  19  are retained in elongate pocket or sleeve  215 . 
         [0049]    The folded accessories bag  21  is stowed between the folded case panels  83 . The folded foot locker  20  is stowed between the folded case panels  83 . The integrating or locking strap  18  is also stowed between the folded case panels  83 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 18 , there is shown carry case  80 B. Carry case  80 B is similar in overall construction to carry case  80 A. However, carry case  80 B retains the foot assemblies  16 . The assemblies  16  are retained by means of Velcro® straps or tabs  91 . Carry case  80 B in a like manner to carry case  80 A contains lower support members  197 , an accessories pocket  21 , a foot locker  20  and an integrating or locking strap  18 . 
         [0051]    In the aforesaid manner of construction, two essentially uniform construction carrying cases  80 A and  80 B effectively stow all the components for assembling a double-decker bed or two separate single beds. Canvas bed support  22  are separately transported or provided, as these may need to be periodically washed or replaced with extended use. 
         [0052]    In the afore-described manner of construction, a double-decker bed or two separate single beds can be readily assembled and disassembled. While the foregoing describes a construction assembly for one double-decker bed or two single beds, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide further expanded construction assemblies such as for a triple-decker bed. 
         [0053]    The foregoing description is intended to be merely illustrative and not limiting of the invention, which invention is defined by the adjoined claims.