Patent Publication Number: US-6698040-B1

Title: Retractable bed

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to storable bed systems and more particularly pertains to a new retractable bed for mounting in a ceiling of a room. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of storable bed systems is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,048 describes a hoist for beds. Another type of storable bed system is U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,714 which discloses a suspend sleeping platform assembly for suspending a bed from a ceiling. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system in which the bed is stored above ceiling level until needed, then remotely lowered into a position allowing a user to access the bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by incorporating hydraulic telescoping sections in conjunction with a hydraulic power assembly being operationally coupled to a cap member mounted in the ceiling and a base member supporting the bed which is positionable within a cavity in the cap member during storage, and is extendable downward for accessibility to the user by means of a control switch conveniently located within the room. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new retractable bed that is fully hidden within the attic when not in use in a cap member, which allows the user to leave the bedding on the bed when stored. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new retractable bed that saves floor space in the room in which it is installed. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a cap member for mounting on mounting rafters of a framed section in a ceiling and has a cap cavity. The cap member comprises a top wall, and a pair of cap side walls and cap end walls that are attached to and extend away from the top wall to define the cap cavity. A base member holds a bed and in a bed cavity. The base member comprises a bottom wall, and a pair of base side walls and base end walls being attached to and extending away from the bottom wall to define the bed cavity. The base member is selectively positionable in the cap cavity. A moving means selectively moves the base member between a retracted position and an extended position. A switch allows a user to actuate the moving means, thereby controlling the positioning of the bed. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new retractable bed according to the present invention with the bed in place and depicting it in between the retracted and extended positions. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lower corner section of the base member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side partial cross-sectional view of an upper corner section of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cutaway view of the base member of the present invention from a top perspective looking down. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view of the cap member of the present invention from a bottom perspective looking up. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the present invention in the fully retracted position 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic partial side cross-sectional view of a cylinder assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new retractable bed embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the retractable bed  10  generally comprises a cap member  11  for mounting on mounting rafters  4  of a framed section  3  in a ceiling  2  of a room and has a cap cavity  12 . The cap member  11  comprises a top wall  13 , and a pair of cap side walls  14  and cap end walls  15  that are attached to and extend away from the top wall  13  to define the cap cavity  12 . 
     A base member  16  holds a bed  6  and has a bed cavity  18 . The base member  16  comprises a bottom wall  19 , and a pair of base side walls  20  and base end walls  21  that are attached to and extend away from the bottom wall  19  to define the bed cavity  18 . The base member  16  is selectively positionable in the cap cavity  12 . 
     A moving means selectively moves the base member  16  between a retracted position  22  and an extended position  23 . A switch  24  actuates the moving means. 
     The base member  16  being fully received by the cap member  11  such that the base member  16  is flush with the ceiling  2  characterizes the retracted position  22 . The base member  16  being positioned generally adjacent to a floor  5  of the room so as to allow access to the bed  6  characterizes the extended position  23 . 
     The cap member  11  and the base member  16  have generally the same shape. Dimensions of the base member  16  are generally smaller than dimensions of the cap member  11  such that an uppermost portion  25  of the base member  16  is positionable in the cap cavity  12 . 
     A plurality of U-shaped mounting brackets  26  selectively couples the cap member  11  to the mounting rafters  4 . Each of the mounting brackets  26  is attached to the cap end walls  15  of the cap member  11 . Each of the mounting brackets  26  includes a plurality of fasteners  27  for securely coupling the cap member  11  to the mounting rafters  4 . 
     The base member  16  includes a ceiling plate  28  for creating a false ceiling on a bottom side  29  of the base member  16 . The ceiling plate  28  is mounted on an outer surface  30  of the bottom wall  19  and comprises a material being generally similar to the ceiling  2  of the room. 
     The ceiling plate  28  has a width is generally equal to the bottom wall  19  and a length that is generally less than a length of the bottom wall  19  such that end edges  31  of the ceiling plate  28  are recessed away from the base end walls  21 . 
     A pair of flap members  32  is attached to and protrudes outward from the base end walls  21  of the base member  16 . Each of the flap members  32  extends a full width of the bottom wall  19  and has an inner edge  33  that abut the end edges  31  of the ceiling plate  28 . 
     A distance between outer edges of the flap members  32  when each of the flap members  32  is mounted on the base member  16  is generally equal to a distance between the mounting rafters  4  of the ceiling  2 . 
     Each of the flap members  32  comprises a generally resilient elastomeric material. 
     A support wall  34  for supporting the bed  6  is attached to and extends between the base side walls  20  and the base end walls  21 . The support wall  34  is positioned proximate to the bottom wall  19  and is oriented substantially parallel to the bottom wall  19  to define a base cavity  35  between the bottom wall  19  and the support wall  34 . 
     A plurality of elongate support members  36  for supporting the base member  16  is located in the base cavity  35 . Each of the support members  36  is attached to and extends between the base end walls  21  in a substantially parallel manner. 
     Each of the support members  36  is attached to the bottom wall  19  of the base member  16 . Each of the support members  36  abuts a lower surface  37  of the support wall  34  for the purpose of supplying additional bearing support. 
     The moving means comprises a pump assembly  38  and a plurality of telescoping cylinder assemblies  39 . The pump assembly  38  comprises a hydraulic pump member  40  has a reservoir  41 . The pump member  40  is electrically coupled to the switch  24 . The pump assembly  38  is fluidly coupled to each of the cylinder assemblies  39 . 
     Activation of the pump assembly  38  in a first direction forces fluid from the reservoir  41  into each of the cylinder assemblies  39  causing each of the cylinder assemblies  39  to extend. Activation of the pump assembly  38  in a second direction forces the fluid from each of the cylinder assemblies  39  into the reservoir  41  causing each of the cylinder assemblies  39  to retract. 
     Each of the cylinder assemblies  39  is attached to and extends between each of the cap side walls  14  and each of the base side walls  20 . 
     A bottom end  42  of each of the cylinder assemblies  39  is coupled to respective ends  43  of each of the support members  36 . 
     When each of the cylinder assemblies  39  is fully extended, the base member  16  is in the extended position  23 . When each of the cylinder assemblies  39  is fully retracted, the base member  16  is in the retracted position  22 . 
     Each of the cylinder assemblies  39  comprises a plurality of cylinder members  44 . Each of the cylinder members  44  includes a piston wall  45  that has an aperture  46  extending therethrough such that each of the cylinder members  44  is in fluid communication with each other. A bottommost cylinder member  48  of each of said cylinder assemblies  39  having a closed end  49  such that each of said cylinder assemblies  39  is a fluidly closed system. Each of the cylinder members  44  is telescoping such that a length of each of the cylinder assemblies  39  is variable. 
     The switch  24  is positioned in the room so as to allow a user to actuate the pump assembly  38  while observing movement of the base member  16  from a safe distance and allowing the user to observe all areas beneath the base member  16  for safety purposes. The switch  24  is electrically coupled to a power source. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.