Patent Publication Number: US-3971078-A

Title: Device for changing the position of the head section of hide-away bed frames

Description:
The invention relates to a device designed to facilitate changing the position of the head section of a bedframe particularly a frame which is suitable for use in a bed that is hidden from sight when the bed is not being used. 
     The improvement consists in the use of a jaw type clamp system which acts by the jaw cocking with respect to the sliding rod to squeeze the rod against further shifting, and with the intervention of spring action to retain the clamping jaw cocked, plus a cocking release means, e.g. a handle, attached to the jaw. These enable setting of a comfortable elevation of the head section of the frame with a simple muscular action on that section and enable a smooth descent without intermediate or sharp stops. This permits the placing of the head section at different reclining levels by means of a manual control which can be operated with very little effort by a person in the bed. 
    
    
     A preferred embodiment given by way of example, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame containing the claimed device with the head section raised, ready for the bed to be used. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of the device with the head section of the frame in the raised position. 
     FIG. 3 is the same type of view as FIG. 2 with the head section of the frame in the lowered position. 
     FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the operating mechanism shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line of and in the direction of arrows 5--5 of FIG. 4 further showing the operating mechanism of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     Turning to the drawings, the device of the invention is manually operated and is comprised of a longitudinal bar 1 that is curved at its joint end and is joined to the movable head semi-frame 2, which, in turn, is articulated at its axle 3 to the main bedframe 4. 
     Beneath frame 4 a flap 5 is soldered on one side or both sides of the frame (as the claimed mechanism can be single, or double in cases where it is installed on both sides of the frame) and its corresponding axle is articulated by means of a flat bar fork shaped holder 6 perforated in the center with web by a hole through which the longitudinal bar 1 passes. 
     Also, the fork 6 has a hole 7 in one of its sides at which one of the ends of a helicoidal spring 8 with controlled tension, is attached. The other end of the spring is attached to the bedframe 4. 
     The device is manually operated with a lever 9 which pivots on flap 5 and which also is an integral part of fork 6. 
     To raise the head section 2 bar 1 is slid outwards (or to the left in FIGS. 2 and 3) from the forks 6 without any effort. The head section 2 is maintained at a chosen reclining angle by the simple cocking of the hole in the fork 6 or tilting of the fork with respect to the bar 1 as a consequence of the permanently exercised tension on the spring 8, which biases fork 6 to its cocked condition. 
     To lower the head section 2 lever 9 is operated or pivoted in such a way that the hole in said fork 6 is lined up with bar 1 which will enable a smooth descent by gravity action assisted by the weight of the bedclothes and of the user. The descent can be interrupted at any intermediate position by releasing or stopping the operation of said lever 9. In this way, the descent is smooth and continuous, totally eliminating momentary or repeated stops which result in sharp jerking, such as those produced by the toothed systems known at the present time. In addition, the device totally does away with bothersome noises. 
     All of the coincidental details such as shape, size and materials used in its construction, can be altered without such modifications detracting from the essence of that which is summarized in the following claims.