Abstract:
A folding bed includes a support frame with a bed having a frame. A linkage connects the bed frame to the support frame and enables folding of the bed frame between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. A selectively foldable seat mounts to an underside of the bed frame and has a linkage and folding legs actuatable independently of the bed&#39;s folding linkage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to folding beds. More particularly, the invention relates to a folding bed with an attached folding bench.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Wall beds and similar folding beds, often referred to as Murphy beds, have been in use for many years. Folding beds are moveable between a substantially vertical storage position to a substantially horizontal position, and visa versa. When in the lowered position, a folding bed may appear to be similar to a normal bed, sometimes with a headboard such as the retractable headboard disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,932 to Bue, and assigned to SICO, Inc. When in the raised position, the folding bed is typically confined folded into a wall or storage cabinet in the wall, where it is concealed. These beds provided greater utility of the space, saving space over conventional beds and allowing multiple wide ranging uses of the room with quick and easy conversion between a sleeping room and another use. This cabinet may include shelves or a desk such as the folding beds disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,212,710B1 and 4,793,011.  
           [0005]    A folding bed cabinet may include a built-in seat or bench that is usable only when the bed is in the upright position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,978 discloses such a folding bed with a seating bench that automatically extends upward into a seating position as the bed folds into an upright position. A drawback to this type of seating bench and folding bed combination is that the bench does not have the option of being folded up, down or otherwise out of the way when the bed is in the upright position. Consequently, the folded bed takes up more floor space and is not as versatile for purposes of compact storage of the bed.  
           [0006]    A folding bed may further include storage space within or adjacent to the storage space allocated for the folding bed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,710B1 illustrates cupboards included in a folding bed cabinet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,102 discloses an enclosure unit partially surrounding and removable from the lower portion of an upright bed frame. These designs have various constraints including, for example, size, permanency, easy of access, and manufacturability.  
           [0007]    It can be seen then that a new and improved folding bed is needed that overcomes the problems with the prior art. An improved folding bed should provide a more versatile folding seat that requires less overall floor space when the bed is in the upright storage position. An improved folding bed should also provide an adjacent storage space with advantages over the prior art. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with folding beds.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to a folding bed, and in particular to a folding bed having a folding bed assembly and an independently actuated folding seat assembly. The bed assembly and seat assembly are supported on a frame that may be utilized with a storage compartment or locker and incorporated into a cabinet or a recess in the wall or may be self-standing and supported on casters, providing for easily moving the bed between various locations.  
           [0009]    The bed assembly includes a mattress mounted to a bed frame and retained with a strap. Folding legs extend outward from the extended edge of the bed frame and provide support in unfolded position. The bed assembly folds along one of its sides between an unfolded use position wherein the mattress and bed frame are substantially horizontal for sleeping, and a folded storage position, wherein the mattress and bed frame are substantially vertical. The bed assembly includes a linkage having a link connecting the support frame to the folding legs. The bed frame pivots near a center portion at each end of the bed frame on the support frame. The bed linkage automatically retracts and extends the folding legs as the bed is folded and unfolded. A counterweight and/or one or more gas springs may be utilized to balance the bed so that the folding may be easily accomplished with minimal effort.  
           [0010]    The bed assembly also includes a lock with a handle mounted in the bed frame and flush with an outer surface of the bed frame in a non-actuated position. The lock is depressible to actuate a shaft extending through the bed frame to the inner side of the bed to engage one of two brackets, each configured for receiving the extended shaft, A first bracket receives the shaft in the unfolded use position and a second bracket receives the shaft in the folded stored position.  
           [0011]    The seat assembly includes a seat back mounted to an underside of the bed frame and a seat bottom extending outward from a strut extending outward from an underside of the bed frame transverse to the plane of the bed frame. The seat bottom folds between a position substantially flush against the seat back and an extended use position. Folding legs mount to a seat frame near an outer edge to provide sufficient load capacity to support several persons on the seat. The seat linkage includes a link connecting the legs to the support frame so that the legs automatically retract in the storage position and extend in the use position. A lock mounts to one of the folding legs for the seat and includes a spring-loaded actuator handle and an engagement pin. The engagement pin extends through the leg to engage the bed frame when the seat is in the folded stored position. The lock prevents accidental folding of the seat assembly.  
           [0012]    The present invention may also include a cabinet covering the mechanisms as well as the bed assembly and seat assembly. It can be appreciated that the present invention provides full access for cleaning the floor and minimal extension outward with side folding and a balanced folding mechanism mounting from an upright portion of the wide base of the support frame.  
           [0013]    These features of novelty and various other advantages that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a folding bed with the bed unfolded according to the principles of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bed of FIG. 1 with the bed assembly folded and the seat assembly folded;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of the bed of FIG. 1 with the bed assembly folded up and the seat assembly unfolded;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows a right end elevational view of the bed of FIG. 1 in an unfolded position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 shows a right end elevational view of the bed of FIG. 1 in a partially folded position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows a right end elevational view of the bed of FIG. 1 in a folded storage position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 shows a right end elevational view of the bed of FIG. 1 with the seat unfolded;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 details shows a detail view of a first lock receiver bracket for the folding bed of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 details shows a detail view of a second lock receiver bracket for the folding bed of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a folding bed having a cover cabinet according to the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a folding bed having a cover cabinet and end storage compartments and mounted to a wall according to the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a folding bed, generally designated  20 . The folding bed  20  includes a folding bed assembly  22  and a folding seat assembly  24  that are actuatable independently of one another. The bed  20  is supported by support frame  26  having a wide base with a vertical portion extending upward there from. The bed  20  also may include a storage compartment or locker  90  situated behind the bed and against which the bed assembly  22  folds when in the storage position. The storage compartment  90  may have sliding doors to provide easy access with room to keep bed linens, pillows and other accessories at a convenient location. Although the present invention is freestanding on the support frame  26 , it could also be mounted into a wall and pulled outward from there. If freestanding, the bed  20  typically includes a cabinet  92  receiving the bed assembly  22 , the seat assembly  24 , and the storage compartment  90 . The bed assembly  22  folds between the use position shown in FIG. 1 and the storage position shown in FIG. 2. Unlike typical prior art wall beds, which fold from one of their ends, the bed  20  has the bed assembly  22  fold along one of its sides. The seat assembly folds between a storage position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a use position shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0027]    The bed assembly  22  includes a mattress  30  supported on a substantially horizontal bed frame  34 . A strap  32  extends around the mattress  30  and maintains it in position against the bed frame  34  when folded and unfolded. The configuration of the bed assembly  22  is such that the mattress  30  is never folded, unlike the typical sleeper couch. When unfolded, two legs  36  support the bed frame  34 , one at each of the comers at the extended edge of the bed frame  34 .  
         [0028]    As most clearly shown in FIGS.  4 - 6 , the bed assembly includes a folding linkage  40  which facilitates folding of the bed assembly  22  from an unfolded use position, as shown in FIG. 4, through an intermediate position, shown in FIG. 5, to a folded storage position, shown in FIG. 6, and back. The bed assembly  22  folds so that the bed frame  34  is substantially horizontal in the unfolded use position shown in FIG. 4, and substantially vertical in the folded storage position, shown in FIG. 6. The folding linkage  40  mounts on the support frame  26  with a tab  46  extending horizontally from the rectangular portion  28 , acting as a linkage support. A main pivot  44  of the bed assembly  22  is positioned just above and at an outer end of the linkage support portion  28  of the frame  26 . A first link  42  pivotally mounts to the tab  46  on one end and to a folding leg  36  at the extended end. Each of the legs  36  also pivotally mounts to a side of the bed frame  34  near an outer edge of the bed frame. As shown in FIG. 5, as the bed assembly  22  is unfolded, the linkage  40  rotates the legs  36  outward from a position beside an end of the bed frame  34 . To facilitate folding, in a preferred embodiment, the bed frame  34  includes a counterweight in the frame to provide balance about the pivot  44 . A gas spring  62  mounts between the support frame  26  and the bed frame  34 . Although one gas spring  62  is shown mounted at one end of the bed  20 , various gas springs of various sizes and having various damping characteristics, or combinations of two or more gas springs  62  may be utilized in the present invention at one or both ends of the bed  20 . As shown in FIG. 6, when the bed  20  is positioned with the bed assembly  22  in the folded storage position, the bed linkage  40  automatically positions the bed frame  34  at a substantially vertical position. In addition, the folding legs  36  of the bed assembly  22  are also retracted to a position extending outward from and collinear with an edge of the bed frame  34 .  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 6, further unfolding moves the bed assembly legs  36  to a substantially vertical position transverse to the bed frame  34 . Moving the bed assembly  22  from an unfolded position to a folded position moves the bed assembly legs  36  back to their substantially vertical stored position, retracted against the bed frame  34 . When fitted with casters  38 , at the folded position, the bed  20  is free to me moved and may be easily rolled from location to location.  
         [0030]    Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown an actuator handle  52  for a lock assembly for a bed lock assembly  50 . Lock handle  52  connects to a shaft  56  that inserts into a first bracket and a second bracket, one bracket associated with each position of the bed assembly  22  to lock the bed assembly  22  at the fully folded position or the fully unfolded position. A spring  54  pivots the lock handle  52  back to its home position from the release position, indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1. The shaft  56  inserts into a hole in a first receiver bracket  58  mounted to the rear of the riser portion, as shown in FIG. 8. Depressing the lock handle  52  retracts the shaft  56  from engagement with the first receiver bracket  58  and allows the bed assembly  22  to be released from the unfolded position, shown in FIG. 1. In the normal release position, the shaft  56  is inserted into the orifice in the first receiver bracket  58  and prevents accidental folding of the bed assembly  22 . The locking capability provides for a more secure sleeping environment for users.  
         [0031]    In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the shaft  56  inserts into an orifice in a second receiver bracket  60 , positioned at the base of the support frame  26 . When the shaft  56  is inserted into the orifice of the second bracket  60 , the bed assembly  22  cannot be moved from the storage position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. This prevents accidental unfolding of the bed assembly  22  and provides for a safer secure folding bed. In either position, the lock assembly  50  is easily released by depressing lock handle  52  that is flush with an outer portion of bed frame  34 . This configuration minimizes accidental release of the lock assembly  50  and also eliminates an extended element, which may pose a safety hazard.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the seat assembly  24  includes a seat back  70  and a seat bottom  72  that folds between a use position and a storage position. Seat back  70  is mounted substantially flush against the underside of the bed frame  34 . The seat back  70  and seat bottom  72  may be cushioned but may also be hard surfaces. In addition, the cushions may be removable from the seat assembly  24 . It will be appreciated that in the unfolded position, the seat assembly  24  provides comfortable seating and support for the backs of several seated users. Moreover, the seat assembly  24  includes folding seat legs  74  positioned near the extended edge of a seat frame  76  from the seat bottom  72  so that rigid support is provided. With the legs  72  and the support frame  26 , substantial load capacity is provided to accommodate seating of several persons on seat assembly  24 .  
         [0033]    The seat frame  76  pivotally mounts on a seat linkage support strut  82  extending transversely from an underside of the bed frame  34 . The seat legs  74  pivotally mount to the seat bottom frame  76  at an extended end. A link  84  mounts to a tab extending forward from the linkage support  28  of the support frame  26  and bends slightly to pivotally mount to the seat legs  74 . The seat linkage  78  facilitates folding between the storage position shown in FIG. 6 and the unfolded use position shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, the linkage  78  allows for folding of the seat assembly  24  with the bed assembly  22  as shown in FIGS.  4 - 6 . The various elements of the seat linkage  78  remain in the substantially same alignment and do not pivot relative to one another when the bed assembly  22  folds, with the exception of the link  84  that folds from a substantially vertical upward extending position shown in FIG. 6, to the outward horizontally extending position shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0034]    Referring again to FIG. 2, the seat assembly  24  includes a lock  88 . An engagement pin of the lock  88  extends from one of the seat legs  74  through the bed frame  34  to prevent movement of the seat assembly  24  relative to the bed frame  34 . A spring-loaded actuator handle  80  is depressible to release the seat assembly  24  and allow folding of the seat assembly  24 . The actuator handle is simply pivotally mounted to seat leg  74  and biased toward an engaged position. Pivoting of the actuator handle  80  retracts the pin of the lock  88  and allows unfolding of the seat assembly  24 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a second embodiment of a folding bed, generally designated  100 . The folding bed  100  is similar to folding bed  20 , but includes a further housing  102  extending over the bed assembly and seat assembly so that a cabinet-type appearance is presented. The cover  102  may take on various configurations including a roll top-type configuration sliding on tracks, a folding cover with one or more panels pivotally mounted, or other well know cover arrangements. The cover  102  moves between a position covering the seat assembly  24  and bed assembly  22  and is removed or retracted for easy access and use.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a third embodiment of a folding bed, generally designated  200 . The folding bed  200  is similar to folding bed  100 , with a housing  202  extending over the bed assembly and seat assembly so that a cabinet-type appearance is presented. As with bed  100 , the cover  202  may take on various configurations including a roll top-type configuration sliding on tracks, as shown. Folding bed  200  also includes end storage compartments  204  at either end of the bed  200 . The compartments  204  include front access doors  206  providing easy direct access for storage of pillows, bed linens and other accessories. The compartments  204  may also include top access rather than front access and a single compartment at one end of the bed, rather than a pair of compartments my be utilized, depending on needs and available space. The end compartments  204  may also be used with the rear storage compartment shown in the first embodiment. The bed  200  is shown permanently mounted directly to a wall. It can be appreciated that the first two embodiments of the folding bed,  20  and  100 , may also be incorporated into a wall. In addition, the bed  200  may be configured as a stand-alone unit.  
         [0037]    Although the present invention has been shown with both a bed assembly  22  and a seat assembly  24 , it can be appreciated that the folding bed assembly may be utilized without the folding seat assembly  24 . The present invention provides a sturdy economical folding bed that folds along its side rather than an end. Moreover, the folding bed may be incorporated into rooms and permanently inserted into a wall of the room or it may be utilized as a mobile unit. The support frame  26  may be fitted with casters that provide easy movement of the folding bed  20 . With the bed  20  having three positions, it provides great versatility to any room that incorporates the folding bed in its design. In a first position with the bed assembly  22  folded and the seat assembly  24  folded, the folding bed  20  provides maximum floor space. With the bed assembly  22  folded and the seat assembly  24  unfolded, the folding bed  20  provides bench type seating for several persons, requiring minimal floor space. In a third position with the bed assembly  22  unfolded, the folding be  20  provides a bed in the same space.  
         [0038]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.