Patent Publication Number: US-11638486-B2

Title: Furniture objects

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a non-provisional application that claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/900,928, filed on Sep. 16, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to furniture objects configured to store foldable beds. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Often, furniture apparatuses capable of more than one function are used in environments (e.g., residential, commercial, etc.) where space is limited. For example, foldable beds, such as Murphy beds, may be used in such environments to increase available empty space when not being used as beds. In such environments, these foldable beds may make more efficient use of the limited space and may relieve the need for additional furniture. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments relate to furniture objects configured to store foldable beds. 
     According to some example embodiments, a furniture object configured to store a foldable bed may include one or more fixed panels and a foldable support platform. The one or more fixed panels may partially enclose a compartment within an interior of the furniture object. The one or more fixed panels may include a bottom panel. An upper surface of the bottom panel may at least partially define a bottom inner surface of the compartment. The foldable support platform may include distal and proximate support panels. The proximate support panel may be hingeably connected at opposite edges to the distal support panel and the one or more fixed panels via separate hingeable connections. The foldable support platform may be configured to move between a folded position and a deployed position via a scissors-type motion, wherein, in the folded position, the foldable support platform at least partially encloses the compartment, such that a first surface of the distal support panel defines an outer surface of the furniture object and a first surface of the proximate support panel defines a front inner surface of the compartment, and, in the deployed position, the foldable support platform, in combination with the bottom panel, defines a sleeping platform configured to structurally support the foldable bed resting, in an unfolded configuration, on the first surfaces of the proximate and distal support panels and the upper surface of the bottom panel, such that the first surfaces of the distal and proximate support panels are coplanar with each other and with the upper surface of the bottom panel. 
     The one or more fixed panels may include a rear panel. A surface of the rear panel may define a rear inner surface of the compartment, the rear inner surface opposing the front inner surface defined by the first surface of the proximate support panel when the foldable support platform is in the folded position. 
     The one or more fixed panels may include a top panel and opposing side panels. A bottom surface of the top panel may define a top inner surface of the compartment. The opposing side panels may extend at least between opposite edges of the top panel and opposite edges of the bottom panel and may further extend orthogonally from opposite edges of the rear panel. Opposing side surfaces of the opposing side panels may define opposing side inner surfaces of the compartment. 
     Each side panel of the opposing side panels may include a stop structure configured to restrict motion of the proximate support panel into the interior of the furniture object when the foldable support platform is in the folded position. 
     The one or more fixed panels may include one or more connection interfaces configured to connect the one or more fixed panels with a separate article of furniture to incorporate the furniture object into the separate article of furniture. 
     The separate article of furniture may be configured to structurally support at least a portion of the separate article of furniture over a first space, independently of the furniture object. The furniture object may be configured to be coupled to at least one load-bearing structure of the separate article of furniture so that the foldable support platform is configured to move into the deployed position to position the proximate and distal support panels in the first space to be at least partially vertically overlapped by the portion of the separate article of furniture. 
     The portion of the separate article of furniture may be a loft bed structurally supported by one or more load-bearing structures over the first space. 
     The at least one load-bearing structure may at least partially enclose the compartment. 
     The furniture object may include a lift mechanism, connected at opposite ends to the one or more fixed panels and the foldable support platform, respectively, the lift mechanism configured to control a rate at which the foldable support platform moves between the folded position and the deployed position. 
     The furniture object may include a plurality of lift mechanisms, the plurality of lift mechanisms including the lift mechanism, where the plurality of lift mechanisms are each connected between a separate fixed panel of the one or more fixed panels and a separate, opposite edge of the foldable support platform. 
     The lift mechanism may include a piston lift mechanism. 
     The lift mechanism may be connected, at one end, to the proximate support panel. 
     The distal support panel may include a set of handles at opposite ends of the first surface of the distal support panel. The set of handles may have respective longitudinal axes that extend in parallel with each other. The set of handles may be configured to align a longitudinal axis of the foldable bed resting on the foldable support platform with a longitudinal axis extending through the bottom panel and the proximate and distal support panels, based on the foldable support platform being in the deployed position. 
     The furniture object may be configured to hold the foldable bed in a folded configuration entirely within the compartment when the foldable support platform is in a folded position, such that the foldable bed is isolated from direct contact with the first surface of the distal support panel, and the foldable bed is entirely absent from being between the proximate and distal support panels. 
     The distal support panel may include one or more rollers at a first edge of the distal support panel. The one or more rollers may be configured to at least partially structurally support the foldable support platform. The one or more rollers may be configured to roll on a surface as the foldable support platform moves between the folded position and the deployed position. 
     According to some example embodiments, a method of operating a furniture object to deploy foldable support platform, where the furniture object rests on a support surface, the furniture object includes one or more panels partially enclosing a compartment within an interior of the furniture object, the one or more panels includes a bottom panel, an upper surface of the bottom panel at least partially defines a bottom inner surface of the compartment, the furniture object further includes the foldable support platform including distal and proximate support panels, the proximate support panel hingeably connected at opposite edges to the distal support panel and the one or more panels, may include applying a driver force on the distal support platform to cause a distal edge of the distal support platform to move, in a first direction parallel to the support surface, away from a distal edge of the distal support platform that is hingeably connected to the one or more panels, to cause the foldable support platform to move from the folded position to a threshold partially-deployed position via a scissors-type motion. In response to the foldable support platform moving to the threshold partially-deployed position, the hingeably connected proximate edges of the proximate and distal support platforms are caused to move, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, downwards towards the support surface based on a weight of the hingeably connected proximate and distal support platforms, such that the foldable support platform moves from the threshold partially-deployed position to a fully deployed position via the scissors-type motion to cause first surfaces of the distal and proximate support panels to be coplanar with each other to at least partially define a sleeping platform configured to structurally support the foldable bed resting, in an unfolded configuration, on at least the first surfaces of the proximate and distal support panels. 
     In response to the foldable support platform moving to the threshold partially-deployed position, the foldable support platform may move from the threshold partially-deployed position to the fully deployed position without any further application of driver force to the foldable support platform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
         FIG.  1    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  3    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position and including a lift mechanism according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position with a foldable bed stowed in a compartment in an interior of the furniture object according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  6    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position with a foldable bed in a partially unfolded configuration on a sleeping platform according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  7    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position with a foldable bed in a fully unfolded configuration on a sleeping platform according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  8    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  9    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  10    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  11    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  12    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  13    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  14 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  14 B  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  14 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  14 C  is a front view of the furniture object of  FIG.  14 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  15 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  15 B  is a lower rear, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  15 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  16 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  16 B  is a lower front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  16 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  16 C  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  16 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  17 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  17 B  is a lower front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  17 C  is a front view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  17 D  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  18 A  is a view of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  18 B  is a view of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  19 A,  19 B,  19 C,  19 D, and  19 E  are left views of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  20 A,  20 B,  20 C,  20 D, and  20 E  are left views of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D, and  21 E  are left views of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C  are front, left perspective views of a foldable bed in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C  are upper front, left perspective views of a furniture object having a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and holding a foldable bed in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  24 A  is an expanded view of a furniture object according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  24 B  is a upper front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  24 A  according to some example embodiments; 
         FIGS.  25 A,  25 B,  25 C, and  25 D  are upper front, left perspective views of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  25 E  is a left view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable bed in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments; 
         FIG.  25 F  is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable bed in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments; and 
         FIGS.  26 A and  26 B  are lower rear, left perspective views of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable shelf in a various deployed positions according to some example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely example in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, portion, or section from another element, component, region, portion, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, portion, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, portion, or section without departing from the scope of the example embodiments. 
     Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “upward,” “downward,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “forward,” “rearward,” and the like refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front,” “back,” “rear,” “bottom,” “side,” and the like describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first,” “second,” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the inventive concepts to those skilled in the art. 
     Example embodiments relate to furniture objects configured to store foldable beds and/or reversibly deploy sleeping platforms to structurally support foldable beds and/or or more occupants on said foldable beds. Such furniture objects may include Murphy beds, as the term is well-known. The furniture objects as described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built in a variety of shapes include any rectangular shape, square shape, and/or any other like shape. The furniture objects described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built using a variety of materials, such as wood, plastic, metal, minerals and/or any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  1    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  2    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  3    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position and including a lift mechanism according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  4    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  5    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position with a foldable bed stowed in a compartment in an interior of the furniture object according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  6    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position with a foldable bed in a partially unfolded configuration on a sleeping platform according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  7    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position with a foldable bed in a fully unfolded configuration on a sleeping platform according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  14 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  14 B  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  14 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  14 C  is a front view of the furniture object of  FIG.  14 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  15 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  15 B  is a lower rear, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  15 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  16 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  16 B  is a lower front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  16 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  16 C  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  16 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  17 A  is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  17 B  is a lower front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments. FIG.  17 C is a front view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  17 D  is a left view of the furniture object of  FIG.  17 A  according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  18 A  is a view of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  18 B  is a view of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  19 A,  19 B,  19 C,  19 D, and  20 E  are left views of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  20 A,  20 B,  20 C,  20 D, and  20 E  are left views of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D, and  21 E  are left views of a portion of a foldable support platform of a furniture object in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C  are front, left perspective views of a foldable bed in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  23 A,  23 B, and  23 C  are upper front, left perspective views of a furniture object having a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and holding a foldable bed in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments. It will be understood that same reference labels used in different Figures refer to same elements included in the different Figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , a furniture object  100  may be configured to store a foldable bed  190 . In  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the furniture object  100  is shown as a cabinet, but it will be understood that example embodiments of furniture objects  100  are not limited to cabinets. For example, the furniture object  100  may be any article of furniture that may include a compartment  180  at least partially located within an interior of the furniture object  100 , including a desk, a dresser, a chair, a bed, a sofa, a chest, a coffer, a trunk, any other like furniture object, or any combination thereof. 
     In some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  may include a set of one or more fixed panels  110  and a foldable support platform  120  that may be moved between a folded position and a deployed position. In some example embodiments, the one or more fixed panels  110  may be at least partially movable in relation to a fixed support surface  1900  and thus may not be “fixed” panels. In the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , for example, the set of one or more fixed panels  110  includes a bottom panel  112 , a rear panel  114 , a top panel  116 , and two opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  that collectively partially define one or more surfaces of a compartment  180 , also referred to herein as an “enclosure”, within an interior of the furniture object  100 . It will be understood that, as described herein, a structure and/or surface thereof that defines a surface of the compartment  180  may enclose said surface of the compartment  180 . As described further herein, the foldable support platform  120  may, in the folded position, define a surface of the compartment  180  and may, as a result, enclose at least a portion of the compartment  180 . Collectively, the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120  may partially or entirely enclose the compartment  180  as an open or closed enclosure within the interior of the furniture object  100  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. It will be understood that one or more structures that define and partially enclose compartment  180  may be referred to as defining the compartment  180  as an open enclosure, and one or more structures that define and completely enclose the compartment  180 , within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances, may be referred to as defining the compartment  180  as a closed enclosure. 
     It will be understood that a compartment  180  may be referred to as a closed enclosure if the boundaries of the compartment  180  are enclosed within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances (e.g., at least 90% enclosed by one or more structures). Otherwise, the compartment  180  may be referred to as an open enclosure. 
     It will be understood herein that a surface of the compartment  180  that is defined by one or more structures refers to an enclosed boundary of the compartment  180 . It will be further understood that, as described herein, one or more structures that define one or more dimensions of the compartment  180 , including one or more edges, vertices, and/or boundaries of the compartment  180 , may not enclose the defined dimensions. For example, two opposing panels that define opposing side surfaces of the compartment  180 , and thus enclose opposing side boundaries of the compartment may further define an additional side boundary of the compartment  180  that extends between the opposing side panels, for example orthogonally between opposing side edges of the opposing side panels, but the defined additional boundary of the compartment  180  may not be enclosed by the opposing side panels. Accordingly, it will be understood that one or more structures may define some or all of the compartment  180 , for example defining an entirety of the dimensions of the volume space of the compartment  180 , without completely enclosing the compartment  180 , such that the one or more structures may be understood to define the compartment  180  as an open compartment or to partially enclose the compartment  180 . Additional structures that are separate from the one or more structures may be coupled to the one or more structures to complete the enclosure of the compartment  180 , within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances, as a closed enclosure within an interior of the furniture object  100 . 
     It will be understood that, as used herein, “orthogonally” may include orthogonally or substantially orthogonally, where substantially orthogonally includes orthogonally within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances. 
     It will be understood that the “interior” of the furniture object  100  may amount to any volume space, also referred to herein as simply a “space” or “volume”, having boundaries that are at least defined by any part of the furniture object  100  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. For example, referring to  FIGS.  8 - 10   , the rear panel  114 , bottom panel  112 , and foldable support platform  120  in the folded position may define and enclose bottom, rear, and front boundaries of the furniture object  100 , and the edges  114 E,  112 E, and  120 E of the rear panel  114 , bottom panel  112 , and foldable support platform  120  may be understood to define opposing, unenclosed side boundaries  194 - 1  and  194 - 2  of the furniture object  100 , and edges  114 E and  123 - 2  of the rear panel  114  and the foldable support platform  120  in the folded position may be understood to define an unenclosed top boundary  196  of the furniture object  100 , and the interior of the furniture object  100 , within which the compartment  180  is defined as an open enclosure, may be understood to be the space within such defined, enclosed and unenclosed boundaries. 
     It will be understood that example embodiments are not limited to the set of one or more fixed panels  110  as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , and the set of one or more fixed panels  110  of the furniture object may include additional or fewer fixed panels than as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E , and  23 A- 23 C. For example, in some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  8 - 10   , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include the bottom panel  112  and the rear panel  114  and may not include side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  and top panel  116 . In another example, in some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13 ,  24 A- 24 B, and  25 A- 26 B , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include only the bottom panel  112  and no other additional panels. 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E,  23 A- 23 C, and  24 A- 24 B , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include a bottom panel  112  having an upper surface  112 S, where the upper surface  112 S of the bottom panel  112  at least partially defines a bottom inner surface of the compartment  180  and thus at least partially defines and encloses a bottom boundary of the compartment  180 . In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  8 - 10 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include a rear panel  114  having a surface  114 S, where the surface  114 S of the rear panel  114  at least partially defines a rear inner surface of the compartment  180  and thus at least partially defines and encloses a bottom boundary of the compartment  180 . In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include a top panel  116  having a bottom surface  116 S and overlapping the bottom panel  112  in a vertical direction, where the bottom surface  116 S of the top panel  116  at least partially defines a top inner surface of the compartment  180  and thus at least partially defines and encloses a top boundary of the compartment  180 . In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may include opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  extending at least between opposite edges of the top panel  116  and opposite edges of the bottom panel  112 . The opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  may further extend orthogonally from opposite edges of the rear panel  114 , and opposing side surfaces  118 - 1 S and  118 - 2 S of the opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  may at least partially define opposing side inner surfaces of the compartment  180  and thus may at least partially define and enclose opposing side boundaries of the compartment  180 . The top panel  116 , bottom panel  112 , and opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  may further define a front boundary of the compartment  180  but may not enclose the front boundary of the compartment  180 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may define the entirety of the boundaries of the compartment  180 , and thus may entirely “define” the compartment  180 , and may enclose all of the boundaries of the compartment  180 , but at least the front boundary of the compartment  180  may not be enclosed by the set of one or more fixed panels  110 . As shown in  FIGS.  8 - 10 ,  24 A- 24 B , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may define some (e.g., a limited portion) of the boundaries of the compartment  180 , and thus may partially “define” the compartment  180 , and may enclose some of the boundaries of the compartment  180 , but at least the front boundary of the compartment  180  may not be enclosed by the set of one or more fixed panels  110 . Accordingly, the compartment  180  as defined by the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , alone or in combination with the foldable support platform  120 , may be an open enclosure. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between a folded position, for example as shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  14 A- 14 C, and  19 A , and a deployed position, for example as shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  17 C- 17 D, and  19 E , via a scissors-type motion, for example as shown in  FIGS.  2 - 3 ,  15 A- 16 C, and  19 B- 19 D , where the foldable support platform  120  is shown in a partially-deployed position, to provide a reversibly-deployable sleeping platform  140  that may at least partially structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting, in an unfolded configuration, thereupon, for example as shown in  FIG.  23 C . In some example embodiments, the foldable support platform  120 , when in the deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 E , may, in combination with the bottom panel  112 , define the sleeping platform  140  such that the sleeping platform  140  may structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting, in the unfolded configuration, on first surfaces  124 S and  122 S of the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  and the upper surface  112 S (also referred to as “first surface”) of the bottom panel  112 , such that the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  are coplanar with each other and with the upper surface  112 S of the bottom panel  112 , such that the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S both face upwards (e.g., away from a support surface  1900  upon which the furniture object  100  is resting), in addition to the upper surface  122 S which faces upwards, such that the upwards-facing, coplanar surfaces  122 S,  124 S,  112 S are configured to directly contact the underside of the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration and thus structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration. But, it will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  may omit at least the bottom panel  112  and may omit any fixed panels  110 , such that the furniture object  100  is entirely comprised by the foldable support platform  120 . It will be understood that an element that is described herein to be configured to “structurally support” another element is configured to support at least a portion of the structural load (e.g., weight) of the other element. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in at least  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , and as particularly shown in  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between the folded position, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 A , and the deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 E , via a scissors-type motion such that the opposite, distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  move in relation to each other, in a first direction D 1  that is parallel or substantially parallel to a support surface  1900  (also referred to herein as a floor) upon which the furniture object  100  rests, during the movement between the folded position and the deployed position while edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  are hingeably connected to each other via hingeable connection  126  between the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 , and thus remain approximately close in position to each other in relation to the relatively large change in proximity between the distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  during the movement between the folded position and the deployed position, for example as shown in  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E . 
     The foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between the folded position and the deployed position via a scissors-type motion such that the opposite, distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  are configured to collectively transmit the structural load, or weight, of the foldable support platform  120  to a support surface  1900  upon which the furniture object  100  is resting, either directly or via transmission through an intervening structure such as the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , throughout an entirety of the process of moving the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions. 
     As a result, the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to be moved between the folded and deployed positions, as shown in at least  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , by a driver, which may be a human operator and/or a mechanical driver such as an electrical motor, without the driver having to partially or entirely support the structural load, or weight, of the foldable support platform  120 . Instead, the structural load of the foldable support platform  120  may be transferred to the underlying support surface  1900  via  1 ) a hingeable connection  128  between edge  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  and the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and  2 ) a direct (e.g., sliding) or indirect (e.g., rolling via attached rollers  142 ) connection between edges  123 - 1  of the foldable support platform  120  and the underlying support surface  1900 . As a result, the foldable support platform  120  to be moved between the folded and deployed positions based on reduced magnitudes of effort by the driver (e.g., human operator and/or mechanical driver) thereby improving the ease of movement and practicality of the foldable support platform  120  and increasing the range of drivers that may be configured to move the foldable support platform  120  completely between the folded and deployed positions. For example, the effort exerted by the driver to move the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions may be limited to effort to induce lateral movement and/or acceleration of the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the foldable support platform  120  may include a distal support panel  122  and a proximate support panel  124 , where the proximate support panel  124  is hingeably connected to the distal support panel  122  and the set of one or more fixed panels  110  via one or more hingeable connections  126  and one or more hingeable connections  128  at opposite edges  125 - 1 ,  125 - 2  of the proximate support panel  124 . Structures that are connected to each other via a hingeable connection will be understood to be hingeably connected to each other For example, as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E,  23 A- 23 C, and  24 A- 24 B , the proximate support panel  124  may be hingeably connected (e.g., directly connected) to the bottom panel  112  and/or the opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  via a set of one or more hingeable connections  128  at edge  125 - 2  of the proximate support panel  124 , and the proximate support panel  124  may also be hingeably connected (e.g., directly connected) to the distal support panel  122  via a set of one or more hingeable connections  126  at edge  125 - 1  of the proximate support panel  124 , where edges  125 - 1  and  125 - 2  are opposite edges of the proximate support panel  124 . 
     It will be understood that the one or more hingeable connections  126  and the one or more hingeable connections  128  may be same or different types of hingeable connections and may each include any type of hinge connection known in the art, including, without limitation, a pivot hinge connection, a spring hinge connection, a barrel hinge connection, a case hinge connection, or any combination thereof. 
     For example, in some example embodiments, the hingeable connection  126  may include one or more pivot hinge connections, also referred to herein as one or more pivot pin connections, which may include one or more pivot pins (e.g., clevis pins) that extend through a portion of the proximate support panel  124  and a portion of the distal support panel  122  to hingeably connect the proximate support panel  124  and the distal support panel  122  together. Such one or more pivot pins may be referred to herein as one or more pivot pin connections. Accordingly, it will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  may be hingeably connected together via a hingeable connection  126  that includes at least one pivot pin connection that may include a pivot pin that extends through a portion of the proximate support panel  124  and a portion of the distal support panel  122 . 
     In some example embodiments, the hingeable connection  128  may include at least one pivot pin connection that may include a pivot pin that extends through a portion of the proximate support panel  124  and a portion of one or more fixed panels  110 . In some example embodiments, the hingeable connection  128  may include a different type of hinge connection than the hingeable connection  126 . For example, in some example embodiments, the hingeable connection  126  may include one or more pivot pin connections between the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 , and the hingeable connection  128  may include one or more barrel hinge connections between the proximate support panels  124  and one or more fixed panels  110 . 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  14 A- 20 E , and particularly as shown in  FIGS.  18 A- 18 B , separate distal support structures  162  may be connected (e.g., affixed via any well-known means) to an underside of the distal support panel  122  at (e.g., adjacent and/or proximate to) opposite edges  122 -E thereof, and separate proximate support structures  164  may be connected (e.g., affixed) to an underside of the proximate support panel  124  at opposite edges  124 -E thereof. The proximate and distal support structures  164  and  162  may, in collection with support structures  166  and  168 , collectively at least partially comprise one or more structural supports  144  that that are configured to contact an underlying support surface  1900  upon which the furniture object  100  is resting when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 E , such that the one or more structural supports  144  may assist in transferring a structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon to the underlying support surface  1900 , and thus enabling the sleeping platform  140  to support the structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  14 A- 20 E , and particularly as shown in  FIGS.  18 A- 18 B   19 A- 19 E, and  20 A- 20 E, separate sets  167  of proximate and distal support structures  164  and  162  that are adjacent to each other at a same edge  120 -E of the foldable support platform  120 , where the same edge  120 -E includes adjacent edges  124 -E and  122 -E that are on a same side of the longitudinal axis  141  when the foldable support platform  120  is the deployed position as shown in at least  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D , may be connected to each other via separate, respective hingeable connections  126 , where each separate hingeable connection  126  may include a pivot pin connection. As shown, each distal support structure  162  includes a through hole  362  that may be aligned with a through hole  364  of a corresponding proximate support structure  164  that is part of the same set  167  at the same edge  120 -E of the foldable support platform  120 . As shown in at least  FIG.  18 A , separate hingeable connections  126  connecting separate, respective sets  167  of proximate and distal support structures  164  and  162  at separate, respective edge  120 -E of the foldable support platform  120  may each include a clevis pin  372  that extends through aligned through holes  362  and  364  of the distal and proximate support structures  162  and  164  of the given set  167 , and the clevis pin  372  may further extend through a washer  374  and a hairpin cotter pin  376  may be inserted through a hole in the clevis pin  372  to secure the clevis pin in the aligned through holes  362  and  364  to establish the hingeable connection  126 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  18 B ,  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E, and  20 A- 20 E , the proximate support structure  164  may include a protruding structure  354  (which may be a continuous part of the proximate support structure  164 ) that protrudes outward from under (e.g., away from) the proximate support panel  124  and away from the proximate edge  125 - 1  by at least a particular spacing distance  355 , where the through hole  364 , and thus the hingeable connection  126  that connects the proximate support structure  164  to a distal support structure  162 , is spaced apart from the proximate edge  125 - 1  by at least another spacing distance  356 . As a result of such spacing of the hingeable connection  126  from the proximate edge  125 - 1  as a result of the protrusion of the protruding structure  354 , and as shown in  FIG.  18 B ,  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E, and  20 A- 20 E , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to establish a gap space  170  between the proximate edge  123 - 2  of the distal support panel  122  and the proximate edge  125 - 1  of the proximate support panel  124 , such that the proximate edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  do not touch (e.g., do not contact each other) and thus the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S do not touch (e.g., do not contact each other) when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position such that the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S are coplanar and facing upwards, away from support surface  1900 , as shown in at least  FIG.  19 E . As a result, the safety provided to a driver that is a human operator and who applies force to the foldable support platform  120  to cause the foldable support platform  120  to move between the folded and deployed positions may be improved. For example, the presence of at least the gap space  170  between the support panels  122  and  124  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position, based on the hingeable connections  126  being pivot pin connections, reduces or prevents the risk of injury to a human operator driver due to limbs (e.g., fingers) being trapped or jammed between edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 2  when the foldable support platform  120  is moved to or from the fully deployed position. The magnitude of the gap space  170  may be a minimum spacing distance that is sufficiently large to prevent most or all human limbs (e.g., fingers) from being trapped and/or jammed between edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1 . For example, the gap space  170  may be set, based on the spacing  355  and  356  of the protruding structure  354  of the support structures  164  and the through holes  364  thereof that at least partially comprise the hingeable connections  126 , to be equal to or greater than about 2 inches (e.g., 2±0.2 inches). 
     As shown in  FIGS.  21 A- 21 E , in some example embodiments, the hingeable connection  126  may include one or more hinges that connect opposing proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 . As shown in  FIGS.  21 A- 21 E , a hingeable connection  126  that is a hinge (e.g., a case hinge) may be configured to enable the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  to be in flush contact when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  21 E , such that opposing faces  2102  of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  are in flush contact with each other. As shown, a gap space  171  between the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position as shown in  FIG.  21 E  may be absent or very small (e.g., less than 0.5 inches), based on the hingeable connection  126  being a hinge connection. In addition, a hingeable connection  126  that includes a hinge connection as shown, for example, in  FIGS.  21 A- 21 E  may close the gap spacing between the support panels  124  relatively quickly when the foldable support platform  120  moves between the folded and fully deployed positions. 
     In contrast, as shown in at least  FIGS.  20 A- 20 E , a gap space  170  between the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position may be present, and may be set based on spacings  355  and/or  356  of the protruding structure  354  to be at least a certain distance (e.g., 2 inches) that is associated with reduced or minimized human operator injury due to limbs being trapped between edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 2  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position. Additionally, based on the hingeable connection  126  being a pivot pin connection and/or the hingeable connection  126  being spaced apart by spacing distance  356  from edge  125 - 1  based on the support structure  164  including a protruding structure  354 , the hingeable connection  126  may close the gap spacing between the support panels  124  and  122  relatively slowly during movement of the foldable support platform from the folded position shown in  FIG.  20 A  to the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  20 E , in comparison to the closing of the gap spacing during movement of the foldable support platform from the folded position shown in  FIG.  21 A  to the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  21 E  when the hingeable connection  126  is a hinge connection as shown in  FIGS.  21 A- 21 E . 
     In some example embodiments, the support structure  162 , instead of support structure  164 , may include a protruding structure  354  that protrudes away from the distal support panel  122 , and away from the proximate edge  123 - 2 , but spacing distance  355  such that the through hole  362  of the support structure  162 , and thus the hingeable connection  126 , is spaced away from the edge  123 - 2  by distance  356 . In some example embodiments, both support structures  162  and  164  may have respective protruding structures  354  that may protrude from the respective edges  125 - 1  and  123 - 2  by respective spacing distances  355  (which may be the same distance or different distances in the support structures  162 ,  164 ) such that the hingeable connection  126  between the support structures  162 ,  164  is spaced apart from both the edge  123 - 2  and the edge  125 - 1  by respective spacing distances  356  (where the spacing distance  356  of the hingeable connection  126  from edge  125 - 1  may be the same as or different from the spacing distance  356  of the hingeable connection  126  from edge  122 - 2 ). 
     Accordingly, and as shown, a foldable support platform  120  that includes a hingeable connection  126  (e.g., a pivot pin connection) that connects the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  based on connecting respective support structures  164 ,  162  that have one or more protruding structures  354  that cause the hingeable connection  126  to be spaced apart (e.g., by one or more respective spacing distances  356 ) from one or both of the proximate edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124 . Accordingly, the spacing of the hingeable connection  126  due to the one or more protruding structures  354  may thereby cause the foldable support platform  120  to be configured to cause gap space  170  to be present, such that the proximate edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  do not touch (e.g., do not contact each other), when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position (e.g., when the first surfaces  122 S,  124 S are coplanar with each other and face upwards, e.g., away from support surface  1900 ). Such a foldable support platform  120  may provide improved human operator safety in relation to a foldable support platform  120  that includes a hingeable connection that is a hinge connection. 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  15 A- 18 B and  24 A- 24 B , the hingeable connection  128  may include one or more hinges (e.g., one or more barrel hinges) connecting the bottom panel  112  to the proximate support panel  124 . Such a hingeable connection  128  may enable the proximate support panel  124  and bottom panel  112  to be in flush contact, such that a gap space between the proximate support panel  124  and bottom panel  112  are reduced or minimized, when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position as shown in at least  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D . However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     It will be further understood that a hingeable connection is not limited to a hinge connection, and elements that are hingeably connected to each other are not limited to elements that are connected to each other by a hinge connection. For example, it will be understood that elements that are hingeably connected to each other via a hingeable connection may be configured to move in relation to each other, between two or more relative positions, while remaining physically connected to each other via one or more movable and/or fixed structures. In addition, it will be understood that a hingeable connection may include a set of one or more structures that, when connected to two separate structures, is configured to enable the two separate structures to move in relation to each other while remaining physically connected to both of the two separate structure. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the foldable support platform  120  includes one or more rollers  142  connected (e.g., directly connected) to an edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  122  that is opposite to the edge  123 - 2  that is connected (e.g., directly connected) to the edge  125 - 2  of the proximate support panel  124 . As shown in at least  FIGS.  2 - 3    and  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , the one or more rollers  142  are configured to establish rolling contact between the distal support panel  122  and a surface, to transfer at least a portion of the structural load, or weight, of the foldable support platform  120  to the underlying support surface  1900 . Accordingly, the rollers  142 , in combination with the one or more hingeable connections  128 , may support the structural load of the foldable support platform  120 . It will be understood that, in some example embodiments the one or more rollers  142  may be absent from the furniture object  100 , and the edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  122  may be configured to directly contact the underlying support surface  1900  via sliding contact when the foldable support platform is moved between the folded and deployed positions. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , a furniture object  100  that is supported on a support surface  1900  (e.g., a floor) may have a foldable support platform  120  that may be moved from the folded position shown in  FIG.  19 A  to the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E . As shown at  FIGS.  19 A- 19 B , the movement may be initially implemented based on a force FP (e.g., a pulling or pushing force) being applied to at least a portion of the distal support panel  122  (e.g., based on exerting a pulling force on one or more of the handles  132 - 1 ,  132 - 2 ) by a driver (e.g., human operator) to cause at least the distal edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  122  to move in a horizontal, first direction D 1  that is at least partially parallel to the support surface  1900 , while the distal edge  125 - 2  does not move in relation to the support surface  1900 , such that the distal edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  124  is caused to move away from the distal edge  125 - 2  of the proximate support panel  122 , and thus away from the bottom panel  112 , in the first direction D 1 . The distal edge  123 - 1  may be supported on the support surface  1900  by rollers  142  that roll over the surface  1900  as the distal edge  123 - 1  is moved away from distal edge  125 - 2  in the first direction D 1  based on application of the force FP. The driver-applied force FP may be referred to herein as a “driver force” and may be applied on the one or more handles  132 - 1 ,  132 - 2  coupled to the distal support platform  122 . 
       FIG.  19 B  shows the foldable support platform  120  in a first partially-deployed position, where the foldable support platform  120  remains stable and does not move without further application of the driver force FP to cause the foldable support platform  120  to move from the first partially deployed position. 
     As shown in  FIG.  19 C , where the foldable support platform  120  is in a second partially-deployed position (also referred to herein as a threshold partially deployed position, at least the distal edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  124  are caused to move away from the distal edge  125 - 2  of the proximate support panel  122 , and thus away from the bottom panel  112 , in the first direction D 1  at least until, in response to the foldable support platform  120  being in the second partially-deployed position, the horizontal distance between distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  is equal to or greater than a particular distance D at which the weight of the hingeably connected proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  provides a downward force FG that causes the hingeable connection  126  and the edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  connected via the hingeable connection  126  to move downwards in a vertical, second direction D 2  that is perpendicular to the first direction towards the support surface  1900  under the influence of gravity and with reduced or no further application of force FP by a driver (e.g., human operator). Restated, in response to the foldable support platform  120  being in the second partially-deployed position, the foldable support platform  120  begins to move toward the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E  with reduced or no further application of driver force FP to the foldable support platform  120  (e.g., without any further application of driver force FP to the foldable support platform  120 ). 
     Accordingly, in response to the foldable support platform  120  being in the second partially-deployed position, where the horizontal distance between distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  is equal to or greater than the particular distance D, the downward force FG causes the distal edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  124  to move further outwards in the first direction D 1  with reduced or no further application of force FP by a driver (e.g., human operator) (e.g., without any further application of driver force FP to the foldable support platform  120 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  19 D , where the foldable support platform  120  is at a third partially-deployed position, the horizontal distance between distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  is greater than the particular distance D. As a result, when the foldable support platform  120  is at the third partially-deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 D , the downward force FG causes the hingeable connection  126  and the edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  connected via the hingeable connection  126  to move downwards in the second direction D 2 , and the distal edge  123 - 1  of the distal support panel  124  to move further outwards in the first direction D 1 , with reduced or no further application of force FP by a driver (e.g., human operator). Thus, when the foldable support platform  120  is at the third partially-deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 D , the foldable support platform  120  moves towards the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E  with reduced or no further application of driver force FP by a driver (e.g., without any further application of driver force FP to the foldable support platform  120 ). 
     As a result, the movement of the foldable support platform  120  between the folded position shown in  FIG.  19 A  and the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E  may be implemented by a driver (e.g., human operator) in a single-step pulling action (e.g., the application of force FP) to cause the foldable support platform  120  to move to a until the horizontal distance between distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  reaches a particular distance D, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 C ) such that the foldable support platform  120  may be unfolded with improved simplicity and ease to the driver. Similarly, the folding of the foldable support platform  120  (e.g., the movement of the foldable support platform  120  from the fully deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E  to the folded position shown in  FIG.  19 A ) may be implemented via a single-step pushing action (e.g., application of a pushing force that is in the opposite direction of the force FP) by a driver, such that the foldable support platform  120  may be folded with improved simplicity and ease to the driver. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , and as particularly shown in FIGS.  19 A- 19 E, the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between the folded and deployed positions via scissors-type motion, such that, as shown in at least  FIG.  1   , when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, shown for example in  FIG.  19 A , the foldable support platform  120  may enclose at least a portion of the compartment  180 , such that a first surface  122 S (e.g., upper surface) of the distal support panel  122  faces outwards from the furniture object  100  and defines an outer surface of the furniture object  100 , while a first surface  124 S (e.g., upper surface) of the proximate support panel  124  faces inwards into the interior of the furniture object  100  and defines a front inner surface of the compartment  180 , thereby at least partially enclosing the front boundary of the compartment  180 . As shown, the surface  114 S of the rear panel  114  may define a rear inner surface of the compartment  180  that opposes the front inner surface of the compartment  180  that is defined by the first surface  124 S of the proximate support panel  124  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7   , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to complete an enclosure of the compartment  180  when in the folded position, such that the first surface  124 S, in combination with the upper surface  112 S, the side surfaces  118 - 1 S and  118 - 2 S, the surface  114 S, and the bottom surface  116 S collectively define compartment  180  as a closed enclosure, within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances, within the interior of the furniture object  100 . 
     As shown in at least  FIGS.  5 ,  22 A- 22 C, and  23 A- 23 C , the furniture object  100  may be configured to hold, or store, a foldable bed  190  in a folded configuration at least partially within the compartment  180 . As shown in  FIGS.  22 A- 23 C , the foldable bed  190  may include multiple separate, coupled section  190 - 1 ,  190 - 2 , and  190 - 3  which may be folded or unfolded in relation to each other to move the foldable bed  190  between a folded configuration shown in  FIG.  22 A , where the sections  190 - 1  to  190 - 3  are folded to extend in parallel with each other, and a deployed configuration shown in  FIG.  22 C , where the sections  190 - 1  to  190 - 3  are unfolded to extend in series in a same plane. As shown in  FIGS.  5  and  23 A , the foldable bed  190  may be entirely held within the compartment  180  when in the folded configuration (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  22 A ), but example embodiments are not limited thereto. As shown in at least  FIGS.  5  and  23 A , the furniture object  100  may be configured to hold the foldable bed  190  in a folded configuration entirely within the compartment  180  when the foldable support platform  120  is in a folded position, such that the foldable bed  190  is isolated from direct contact with the first surface  122 S of the distal support panel  122 , and the foldable bed  190  is entirely absent from being between the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  when the foldable support platform  120  is in a folded position, for example as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  14 A- 14 C . 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in at least  FIGS.  4 ,  6 - 7 , and  23 B- 23 C  and particularly  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between the folded and deployed positions via scissors-type motion such that, when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position, shown for example in  FIG.  19 E  and  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D , the foldable support platform  120 , in combination with the bottom panel  112 , defines a sleeping platform  140  that extends between the interior and exterior of the furniture object  100  and is configured to structurally support the load, or weight, of the entire bottom surface of the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration and at least a certain structural load, or weight, of one or more loads (e.g., human occupants) resting on the top surface of the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration. As shown in at least  FIGS.  4 ,  6 - 7 , and  23 B- 23 C , the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  may be coplanar with each other and with the upper surface  112 S of the bottom panel  112  (e.g., surfaces  122 S,  124 S, and  112 S all face upwards, away from the support surface  1900 ) when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position, such that the surfaces  122 S,  124 S, and  112 S collectively define a planar, upwards-facing surface having a surface area sufficient to contact (e.g., directly contact) an entire bottom surface (e.g., underside) of the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration and thus collectively define a planar surface that is configured to directly contact and structurally support at least the outer boundaries of the bottom surface of the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration. As shown, the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  may each include one or more structural supports  144  that are configured to contact an underlying support surface  1900  upon which the furniture object  100  is resting when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  19 E , such that the one or more structural supports  144  may assist in transferring a structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon to the underlying support surface  1900 , and thus enabling the sleeping platform  140  to support the structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon. 
     It will be understood that elements described herein as being “coplanar” with each other encompasses elements that are exactly coplanar with each other and elements that are “substantially” coplanar with each other, where elements that are “substantially” coplanar are coplanar with each other within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances known in the art. 
     In some example embodiments, at least the first surface  122 S of the distal support panel  122  may include ornamentation that is similar to ornamentation on other outer surfaces of the furniture object  100 , so that the first surface  122 S may at least partially obscure or conceal that compartment  180  is present in the furniture object  100  and/or that a foldable bed  190  is held within an interior of the furniture object  100  and/or that a foldable support platform  120  may be deployed to establish the sleeping platform  140 . 
     In some example embodiments, where the furniture object  100  includes at least a bottom panel  112  such that the sleeping platform  140  may include the bottom panel  112 , which is a fixed panel, in addition to the foldable support platform  120 , to structurally support the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration, the furniture object  100  may have reduced complexity of the foldable support platform  120 . For example, the bottom panel  112  may be structurally reinforced (e.g., with fasteners  134  which may include screws, nails, or the like and which may fix the panel  112  to a separate fixed structure including one or more of the opposing side panels  118 - 1  or  118 - 2  and/or the rear panel  114 ) to be configured to provide at least some of the structural support of the foldable bed  190  without being also configured to move independently of the set of one or more fixed panels  110 . Accordingly, the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to support a reduced proportion of the structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon and thus may be lighter, improving the ease with which the foldable support platform  120  may be moved by a driver between the folded and deployed positions as shown in at least  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E  and thus improving the practicality of the furniture object  100 . 
     It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  may not include any fixed panels  110 , and thus may not include a bottom panel  112  that, in addition to the foldable support platform  120 , structurally supports the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position. In some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  that does not include any fixed panels  110  may entirely comprise the foldable support platform  120  that is configured to be hingeably connected (e.g., via one or more hingeable connections  128 ) to one or more fixed structures of a separate object (e.g., a separate article of furniture  200  as described with reference to  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B ), and one or more of the fixed structures of the separate object may, in combination with the foldable support platform  120 , structurally support the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position. Accordingly, it will be understood that the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to support a reduced proportion of the structural load of the foldable bed  190  and one or more loads resting thereupon and thus may be lighter, improving the ease with which the foldable support platform  120  may be moved by a driver between the folded and deployed positions and thus improving the practicality of the furniture object  100 , even when the furniture object  100  does not include any fixed panels  110 . 
     In some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  that does not include any fixed panels  110  may entirely comprise the foldable support platform  120  that is configured to be hingeably connected (e.g., via one or more hingeable connections  128 ) to one or more fixed structures of a separate object (e.g., a separate article of furniture  200  as described with reference to  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B ), and the foldable support platform  120 , may be configured to structurally support the entirety of the foldable bed  190  in the unfolded configuration when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position. Such a furniture object  100  that does not include any fixed panels  110  may thus include a foldable support platform  120  that may be configured to be moved between the folded and deployed positions based on reduced magnitudes of effort by the driver (e.g., human operator and/or mechanical driver) thereby improving the ease of movement and practicality of the foldable support platform  120  and increasing the range of drivers that may be configured to move the foldable support platform  120  completely between the folded and deployed positions, based at least in part upon the opposite, distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  being configured to collectively transmit the structural load, or weight, of the foldable support platform  120  to a surface upon which the furniture object  100  is resting, either directly or via transmission through an intervening structure such as the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , throughout an entirety of the process of moving the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions, even though the furniture object  100  may not include any fixed panels  110 . 
     In some example embodiments, for example as shown in  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E  and  FIGS.  23 A- 23 C , the foldable support platform  120  is configured to move between the folded and deployed positions independently of the foldable bed  190 , which may be folded and stored in the compartment  180  independently of the motion of the foldable support platform  120  and which, when held in the compartment  180 , may be structurally supported by the bottom panel  112 . As a result, in some example embodiments, the foldable support platform  120  may be moved between the folded and deployed positions independently of any manipulation of the foldable bed  190  in combination with the foldable support platform  120 . Thus, in some example embodiments, the foldable support platform  120  may have reduced weight and complexity, thereby improving the practicality of the furniture object  100 . 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , one or more of the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , including for example one or more of opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2 , may include one or more stop structures  146  (e.g., stop structures  146 - 1  and  146 - 2  on separate opposing side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2 ) that extend into the compartment  180 , where the stop structure  146  is configured to contact at least a portion of the proximate support panel  124 , for example the first surface  124 S thereof, when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. As a result, the stop structure  146  may restrict motion of the proximate support panel  124  into the interior of the furniture object  100  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, thereby reducing or preventing the likelihood of excessive compression of any objects held in the compartment  180 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3    in particular, in some example embodiments the furniture object  100  may include a lift mechanism  150  that is connected at opposite ends to the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120 . The lift mechanism  150  may be configured to control the rate of change of position of one or more parts of the foldable support platform  120 , for example the rate at which the foldable support platform  120  moves between the folded position and the deployed position. For example, the lift mechanism  150  may operate as a damper to limit the maximum rate at which the foldable support platform  120  may move between the folded and deployed positions. As a result, the lift mechanism  150  may reduce or prevent rapid, uncontrolled movement of the foldable support platform, thereby improving the ease with which a driver (e.g., a human operator or a mechanical driver) may controllably adjust the position of the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions, thereby reducing or preventing abrupt, uncontrollable movement of the foldable support platform  120 . Accordingly, safety, ease of use, and practicality of the furniture object  100  may be improved. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the lift mechanism  150  may include multiple lift mechanisms  150 - 1  and  150 - 2  that are each connected at a first end  152 - 1  to the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , for example separate side panels  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  as shown in  FIG.  3   , and are each further connected at an opposite, second end  152 - 2  to a separate, opposite edge of the foldable support platform  120 , for example opposite edges of the proximate support panel  124  as shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  15 A- 18 B and  24 A- 24 B , in particular, in some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  may include a single lift mechanism  150  that is connected at opposite ends  152 - 1  and  152 - 2  to the to the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120 . As shown in at least  FIGS.  15 A- 17 D and  24 A- 24 B , a first end  152 - 1  of the single lift mechanism  150  may be coupled to a first support structure  154  that is connected (e.g., affixed) to an underside of the bottom panel  112 , and an opposite, second end  152 - 2  of the single lift mechanism  150  may be coupled to a second support structure  156  that is connected to an underside of the proximate support panel  124 . As further shown, the first end  152 - 1  may be coupled to a coupling point  154 - 1  (e.g., a hole) in the first support structure  154  and the second end may be coupled to a coupling point  156 - 1  (e.g., a hole) in the second support structure  156 . As shown in at least  FIG.  17 B , the first and second support structures  154  and  156  may be connected to the bottom panel  112  and the proximate support panel  124 , respectively, in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the sleeping platform  140  that is established when the foldable support platform  120  is in the fully deployed position shown in at least  FIGS.  17 A- 17 B . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  15 A- 17 D  and  FIGS.  19 A- 19 E , the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between the folded position shown in  FIG.  19 A  and the deployed position shown in  FIG.  19 E  via a scissors-type motion, and supported and controlled via a lift mechanism  150 , such that the opposite, distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  of the foldable support platform  120  move away from each other in the first direction D 1  during the movement from the folded position as shown in  FIGS.  15 A- 15 B and  19 A  and the deployed position shown in  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D and  19 E , while edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  are hingeably connected to each other via hingeable connection  126  between the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 . As shown at  FIGS.  16 A- 16 C and  19 B- 19 D , when the distance between the distal edges  123 - 1  and  125 - 2  reaches a certain, particular distance D, the weight of the hingeably connected proximate and distal support panels  1124  and  122  may naturally (that is, without additional manual application of force FP to the foldable support platform  120  by a driver (e.g., human operator and/or mechanical driver)) and quickly bring the hingeably connected proximate edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  downwards in the second direction D 2  to complete the movement to the fully deployed position as shown in  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D . The lift mechanism  150  may enable the rate of lowering of the proximate edges  123 - 2  and  125 - 1  (e.g., the magnitude of the downwards-acting force FG caused by the weight of the hingeably connected proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 ) to be controlled and/or reduced to be a reduced rate, thereby enabling the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  to be moved to the fully deployed position, shown for example in  FIG.  19 E , gently based on reduced magnitudes of effort (e.g., applied force FP) by the driver (e.g., human operator and/or mechanical driver) thereby improving the ease of movement and practicality of the foldable support platform  120  and increasing the range of drivers that may be configured to move the foldable support platform  120  completely between the folded and deployed positions. For example, the effort (e.g., applied force FP) exerted by the driver to move the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and deployed positions, e.g., to at least the positions shown in  FIGS.  16 A- 16 C and  19 C  to enable the downwards force FG, based on the weight of the hingeably connected proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 , to take over to complete the movement to the fully deployed position shown in  FIGS.  17 A- 17 D and  19 E , may be limited to effort to induce the initial lateral movement and/or acceleration of the foldable support platform  120  between the folded and partially deployed positions, as shown for example in  FIGS.  19 A- 19 B . 
     It will be understood that a lift mechanism  150  according to any example embodiments may be any lift mechanism known in the art. For example, as shown in at least  FIGS.  3 ,  15 A- 18 B, and  24 A- 24 B , a lift mechanism  150  may include a piston lift mechanism, including one or more devices that are sometimes referred to as a linear dashpot, a gas lift, or the like, which may control the rate at which the foldable support platform  120  moves between the deployed and folded positions based on controlling flow of a fluid in or out of at least one reservoir. However, it will be understood that example embodiments of a lift mechanism  150  are not limited to piston lift mechanisms. For example, in some example embodiments a lift mechanism  150  may include, without limitation, a spring lift mechanism which may control the rate at which the foldable support platform  120  moves between the deployed and folded positions based on operation of a spring. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 23 C , the distal support panel  122  may include a set of handles  132 - 1  and  132 - 2  at opposite ends of the first surface  122 S of the distal support panel  122 . As shown in at least  FIG.  4   , the set of handles  132 - 1  and  132 - 2  may have respective longitudinal axes  133 - 1  and  133 - 2 . The longitudinal axes  133 - 1  and  133 - 2  may extend in parallel with each other, for example as shown in  FIG.  4   . Additionally, the handles  132 - 1  and  132 - 2  may be configured such that the longitudinal axes  133 - 1  and  133 - 2  extend in parallel with, and are equidistant from, the longitudinal axis  141  of the sleeping platform  140  that is defined when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position. As a result, and as shown in at least  FIGS.  6 - 7  and  23 B- 23 C , the handles  132 - 1  and  132 - 2  may be configured to align a longitudinal axis  191  of the foldable bed  190  resting in the unfolded configuration on the sleeping platform  140  with the longitudinal axis  141  of the sleeping platform  140 , where the longitudinal axis  141  extends through the bottom panel  112  and the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 . Accordingly, the handles  132 - 1  and  132 - 2 , in addition to providing a means for a human operator to manipulate and/or move the foldable support platform  120  between the deployed and folded positions, may further provide alignment and lateral, or horizontal, structural support to the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  to thus reduce or prevent the possibility of misalignment or undesirable lateral movement of the foldable bed  190  on the sleeping platform  140  when one or more occupants are resting on the foldable bed  190 . As a result, the safety, ease of use, and practicality of the furniture object  100  may be improved. 
       FIG.  8    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  9    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  10    is an upper front, left perspective view of a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  24 A  is an expanded view of a furniture object according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  24 B  is a upper front, left perspective view of the furniture object of  FIG.  24 A  according to some example embodiments; 
     In some example embodiments, the compartment  180  of the furniture object  100  may not be fully (“completely”) enclosed, within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances, even when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, such that the compartment  180  is only partially enclosed by the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120 . For example, as shown in  FIGS.  8 - 10   , in some example embodiments the set of one or more fixed panels  110  of the furniture object  100  may omit at least side and top panels, such that the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120  only partially enclose the compartment  180 , even when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position as shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     In the example embodiments shown in at least  FIGS.  8 - 10   , when the set of one or more fixed panels  110  includes a bottom panel  112  and a rear panel  114 , the bottom, rear, and front inner surfaces of the compartment  180  may be defined by surfaces  112 S,  114 S, and  124 S when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, such that the rear panel  114 , bottom panel  112 , and foldable support platform  120  in the folded position may define and enclose bottom, rear, and front boundaries of the compartment  180 . Additionally, the edges  114 E,  112 E, and  120 E of the rear panel  114 , bottom panel  112 , and foldable support platform  120  shown in  FIGS.  8 - 10    define opposing, unenclosed side boundaries  194 - 1  and  194 - 2  of the compartment  180 , which may also be opposing, unenclosed side boundaries  194 - 1  and  194 - 2  of the furniture object  100 , and edges  114 E and  123 - 2  of the rear panel  114  and the foldable support platform  120  in the folded position define an unenclosed top boundary  196  of the compartment  180 , which may also be an unenclosed top boundary  196  of the furniture object  100 . Accordingly, the interior of the furniture object  100 , within which the compartment  180  is defined as an open enclosure, may be understood to be the space within such defined, enclosed and unenclosed boundaries, and the compartment  180  may be understood to be fully defined but only partially enclosed by the set of one or more fixed panels  110  and the foldable support platform  120 , and thus is an open enclosure within an interior of the furniture object  100 . 
     In some example embodiments, a furniture object  100 , even though not configured to completely enclose compartment  180 , and thus define the compartment  180  as a closed enclosure within the interior of the furniture object, may be configured to be coupled to a separate article of furniture, such that the furniture object  100  and the separate article of furniture collectively completely enclose the compartment  180  as a closed enclosure when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. As a result, the furniture object  100  may provide a modular capability to be incorporated into another, separate article of furniture, and may occupy otherwise empty, unused space in the separate article of furniture, thereby improving space utilization efficiency of the separate article of furniture and the furniture object  100  and thus improving the practicality of both the separate article of furniture and the furniture object  100 . 
     In some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  may include one or more connection interfaces  199  configured to connect the one or more fixed panels  110  with a separate article of furniture to incorporate the furniture object  100  into the separate article of furniture. For example, as shown in  FIG.  8   , one or more edges of the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , including one or more edges  114 E of the rear panel  114 , one or more edges  112 E of the bottom panel  112 , or the like, may include one or more connection interfaces  199  that may each be any structural connector known in the art, including an adhesive configured to bond the given edge with a structure of the separate article of furniture, a plug or slot structural connector configured to engage with a complementary structural connector of the separate article of furniture, a tongue or groove configured to engage with a complementary groove or tongue of the separate article of furniture to establish a complementary tongue and groove connection, any combination thereof, or the like. In some example embodiments, a furniture object  100  may be configured to be coupled to a separate article of furniture via any known means for structurally connecting two separate furniture objects or for constructing a furniture object. 
       FIG.  11    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a folded position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  12    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  13    is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  25 A,  25 B,  25 C, and  25 D  are upper front, left perspective views of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in various deployed positions according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  25 E  is a left view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable bed in a partially deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIG.  25 F  is an upper front, left perspective view of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable bed in a fully deployed position according to some example embodiments.  FIGS.  26 A and  26 B  are lower rear, left perspective views of a loft bed furniture article that is coupled to a furniture object that includes a foldable support platform in a fully deployed position and with a foldable shelf in a various deployed positions according to some example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B , a furniture object  100  may be coupled to a separate article of furniture  200 , for example via one or more connection interfaces  199  included in the set of one or more fixed panels  110  as shown in  FIG.  8   , to incorporate the furniture object  100  into the separate article of furniture  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B , in some example embodiments, the furniture object  100  is configured to be coupled to the separate article of furniture  200  so that one or more structures of the separate article of furniture  200  at least partially enclose the compartment  180  as a closed enclosure within the separate article of furniture  200 , so that the set of one or more fixed panels  110 , the foldable support platform  120 , and the one or more structures of the separate article of furniture  200  may collectively enclose the compartment  180  as a closed enclosure when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, for example as shown in  FIG.  11   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B , the set of one or more fixed panels  110  may be limited to a single fixed panel, for example the bottom panel  112 , and the furniture object  100  may be coupled to the separate article of furniture  200  via coupling of one or more connection interfaces  199  in the bottom panel  112  to one or more structures  202 - 1 ,  202 - 2 , and/or  204 , such that one or more structures  202 - 1 ,  202 - 2 ,  204 , and/or  205  complete the definition of all inner surfaces of the compartment  180  that are not defined by the foldable support platform  120  in the folded position and thus complete the enclosure of compartment  180  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position. 
     In some example embodiments, the separate article of furniture  200  may be configured to structurally support a structural load, or weight, of at least a portion of the separate article of furniture over a first space  210  or “volume”, independently of the furniture object  100 , and the furniture object  100  may be configured to be coupled to at least one load-bearing structure of the separate article of furniture  200  so that the foldable support platform  120  is configured to move into the deployed position to position the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  in the first space  210  to be at least partially vertically overlapped by the portion of the separate article of furniture  200 . For example, as shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B , the separate article of furniture  200  may include a portion that is a loft bed  206  that is structurally supported over the first space  210  by load-bearing structures  202 - 1 ,  202 - 2 ,  204 ,  208 - 1 , and  208 - 2 . As shown, the furniture object  100  may be coupled to one or more of the load-bearing structures  202 - 1 ,  202 - 2 , and  204  so that the foldable support platform  120  is configured to move into the deployed position to position the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122  in the first space  210  to be at least partially vertically overlapped by the loft bed  206 . In some example embodiments, the configuration of the foldable support platform  120  to move into the first space  210  as shown in  FIGS.  12 - 13  and  25 B- 25 D  may enable improved efficiency of space utilization with regard to the first space  210 , and the first space  210  may be utilized for usage of the foldable bed  190  when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position and may additionally or alternatively be used for other uses when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position, thereby allowing the separate article of furniture  200  to provide improved versatility and space usage efficiency and therefore to have improved practicality. 
     While, as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 13 ,  14 A- 21 E, and  23 A- 26 B , a furniture object  100  may include a foldable support platform  120  and a set of one or more fixed panels  110  (e.g., at least a bottom panel  112 ), it will be understood that, in some example embodiments, a furniture object  100  may not include any fixed panels  110  and may entirely comprise the foldable support platform  120 , where the foldable support platform  120  includes one or more hingeable connections  128 , connected to the proximate support panel  124  at edge  125 - 2 , that are configured to hingeably connect the proximate support panel  124 , and thus the foldable support platform  120 , to a separate, fixed object, where the separate fixed object may include a separate article of furniture  200  as shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B . For example, the hingeable connections  128  may be pivot pin connections configured to hingeably connect the proximate support panel  124  to separate, respective load-bearing structures  202 - 1  and  202 - 2 . 
     As a result, it will be understood that a furniture object  100  that does not include any fixed panels  110  may be configured to be connected with a separate article of furniture (e.g., the separate article of furniture  200 ), for example to be incorporated into the separate article of furniture  200 , to store a foldable bed  190 . Such a furniture object  100  may include a foldable support platform  120  including distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124 , the proximate support panel  124  hingeably connected (e.g., via one or more hingeable connections  126 ) at a first edge  125 - 1  to the distal support panel  122 , the proximate support panel  124  configured to be hingeably connected (e.g., via one or more hingeable connections  128 ) at an opposite, second edge  125 - 2  to the separate article of furniture (e.g., to one or more fixed structures (e.g.,  202 - 1 ,  202 - 2 ,  204 , and  205  of the separate article of furniture  200 ) to which the furniture object  100  may be hingeably connected as shown for example in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B ). Such a foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between a folded position and a deployed position via a scissors-type motion, wherein, in the folded position, the foldable support platform  120  at least partially encloses a compartment  180  that is at least partially enclosed by the separate article of furniture (e.g.,  200 ), such that a first surface  122 S of the distal support panel defines an outer surface of the separate article of furniture  200  and a first surface  124 S of the proximate support panel  124  defines a front inner surface of the compartment  180 , and, in the deployed position, the foldable support platform  120  at least partially (e.g., entirely, partially in combination with one or more fixed structures of the separate article of furniture  200 , or the like) defines a sleeping platform  140  configured to structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting, in an unfolded configuration, on at least the first surfaces  124 S and  122 S of the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 , such that the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  are coplanar with each other and face upwards, away from the support surface upon which the separate article of furniture  200  is resting (e.g., support surface  1900 ) such that the upwards-facing, coplanar surfaces  122 S,  124 S,  112 S are configured to directly contact the underside of the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration and thus structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration. 
     In some example embodiments, the foldable support platform  120  of a furniture object  100  that does not include any fixed panels  110  may not, in combination with separate structures of an article of furniture (e.g.,  200 ) to which the furniture object  100  is hingeably connected, define and/or enclose a compartment  180 . Accordingly, the foldable support platform  120  may be configured to move between a folded position and a deployed position via a scissors-type motion wherein, in the folded position, the foldable support platform  120  may at least partially define an outer surface of the separate article of furniture  200  to which the furniture object  100  may be hingeably connected as shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B , such that a first surface  122 S of the distal support panel  122  defines an outer surface of the furniture object  100  and, in the deployed position, the foldable support platform  120  at least partially or entirely defines a sleeping platform  140  configured to structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting, in an unfolded configuration, on at least or entirely on the first surfaces  124 S and  122 S of the proximate and distal support panels  124  and  122 , such that the first surfaces  122 S and  124 S of the distal and proximate support panels  122  and  124  are coplanar with each other and face upwards, away from the support surface upon which the separate article of furniture  200  is resting (e.g., support surface  1900 ) such that the upwards-facing, coplanar surfaces  122 S,  124 S,  112 S are configured to directly contact the underside of the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration and thus structurally support the foldable bed  190  resting on the sleeping platform  140  in the unfolded configuration. As shown in  FIGS.  25 A- 25 D , the foldable bed  190  may be held in the compartment  180  and may remain in a folded configuration while the foldable support platform  120  is moved from a folded position, for example as shown in  FIG.  25 A , to a fully deployed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  25 D , to establish the sleeping platform  140 . As further shown in  FIGS.  25 E- 25 F , the foldable bed  190  may then, subsequently to the sleeping platform being established as shown in  FIG.  25 D , be unfolded at least partially out of the compartment  180 , and similarly to as shown in at least  FIGS.  6 - 7  and  23 A- 23 C , to a fully deployed configuration as shown in  FIG.  25 F . 
     In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  25 A- 26 B , the separate article of furniture  200  may include a separate deployable structure, including the deployable structure  209  shown in  FIGS.  25 A- 26   , that may be adjustably deployed into the same space  210  into which the foldable support platform  120  may deploy, separately, and independently of the deployment or folding of the foldable support platform  120 . As a result, the separate deployable structure  209  may enable the separate article of furniture  200  to provide additional and/or separate utilization of the space  210 , thereby improving the utility of the separate article of furniture  200 . For example, the separate deployable structure  209  may be configured to be deployed into the space  210  into a deployed configuration, as shown in  FIG.  26 A , when the foldable support platform  120  is in the folded position as shown in  FIG.  25 A , to enable manual utilization of the deployable structure  209  as a desk within the space  210 , and where the deployable structure  209  may be folded into a folded position, as shown in  FIG.  26 B , when the foldable support platform  120  is in the deployed position as shown in at least  FIGS.  25 D- 25 F , to enable improved utilization of the foldable bed  190  when deployed as shown in  FIG.  25 F . 
     While the separate article of furniture  200  is shown in  FIGS.  11 - 13  and  25 A- 26 B  to include a loft bed  206 , it will be understood that the separate article of furniture  200  may include other additional or alternative articles of furniture, including, without limitation, a dresser, a sofa, a chair, a desk, any combination thereof, or the like. 
     The description of the disclosure is merely example in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.