Abstract:
Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of mechanisms for enabling bed and mattresses to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. An embodiment of the invention herein describes a positioning assembly comprising a platform structure supported by a support structure. The platform structure supports a mattress which is retractable towards the support structure. The positioning assembly further comprises a leg structure configured for being displaceable for supporting the platform structure in cooperation with the support structure when deployed. The leg structure further linked to the support structure for retraction thereof when the platform structure is retracted. The platform assembly further comprises linkages for controlling positioning of the leg structure and at least one guide structure for guiding movement of at least one of the linkages.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a positioning assembly for use with a mattress. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Residences in many cities around the world are getting smaller. This has led to insufficient space for conventional furniture or insufficient space for moving around when conventionally-sized furniture are used. This in turn has led to an industry catering to providing retractable or collapsible furniture for stowing, and in some cases concealing, the furniture when not in use. One of such furniture in issue is the bed which usually occupies the most space in a typical bedroom. Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of mechanism, for example drawstrings and springs, for enabling the bed, or in some cases mattresses, to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. Leg structures have been incorporated to the retractable bed which provides additional support for the mattress when the retractable bed is deployed. However, these leg structures have to be manually positioned during deployment of the retractable bed for use and are subjected to being moved out of position when a user accidentally hits the leg structures when moving in its proximity Therefore, there exists a need for a solution to the above described problem. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a positioning assembly comprising a first support structure, a platform structure, and a second support structure. The platform structure is rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position with the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The platform structure defines a longitudinal platform axis. The actuator extends between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot. The second support structure is rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure with the second support structure being capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively. The said outward position is substantially opposite the said inward position. The positioning assembly further comprises a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure and being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof, a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof, and at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis. The platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface. 
         [0004]    In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a bed system comprising a first positioning assembly, a second positioning assembly, and a bed-frame inter-coupling the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly. The bed-frame is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a mattress thereon. Each of the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly comprises a first support structure, a platform structure, and a second support structure. The platform structure is rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position with the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The platform structure defines a longitudinal platform axis. The actuator extends between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot. The second support structure is rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure with the second support structure being capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively. The said outward position is substantially opposite the said inward position. The positioning assembly further comprises a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure and being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof, a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof, and at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis. The platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial side elevation of a positioning assembly according to an embodiment of the invention with a platform structure in a lowered position and a second support structure in an outward position; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial side elevation of the positioning assembly of  FIG. 1  with the platform structure substantially in a raised position and the second support structure in an inward position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a partial front elevation of a pair of the positioning assembly of  FIG. 1  with a bed-frame disposed therebetween and the platform structure and the second support structure of each thereof in the lowered position and the outward position respectively; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation of a first support structure of the positioning assembly of  FIG. 1  configured with an actuator and the platform structure in the lowered position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side elevation of a first linkage and a second linkage configured with the platform structure for coupling the second support structure to the first support structure of  FIG. 4  and a pair of guide structure positioned for impeding substantial upward displacement of the first linkage; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial front sectional elevation of the first linkage of  FIG. 5  being disposed in a channel formed by a beam of the platform structure and disposed between the guide structure of  FIG. 5  and a base of the beam, with the beam of the platform structure being a square beam; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial front sectional elevation of the first linkage of  FIG. 5  being disposed in a channel formed by a beam of the platform structure and disposed between the guide structure of  FIG. 5  and a base of the beam, with the beam of the platform structure being a L-shaped. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a positioning assembly  20  for use with a mattress  22 , is described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . The positioning assembly  20  comprises a first support structure  24  and a platform structure  26  rotatably coupled to the first support structure  24  at a primary pivot  28 . The platform structure  26  is for substantially supporting the mattress  22  thereon and is displaceable between a lowered position  30  and a raised position  32 . The mattress  22  is preferably substantially horizontal and substantially vertical when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position  30  and the raised position  32  respectively. When the positioning assembly  20  is in use, the platform structure  26  is displaced to the lowered position  30  to avail use of the mattress  22  and to the raised position  32  for freeing up space when use of the mattress  22  is not required. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the mattress  22  rests on a bed-frame  34  shaped and dimensioned for accommodating the mattress  22 . The bed-frame  34  is coupled to the platform structure  26  to enable the mattress  22  to be supported thereon. 
         [0014]    The platform structure  26  has a first end  36  and a second end  38  forming extremities thereof. The primary pivot  28  is configured between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The positioning assembly  20  further comprises an actuator  40  extending between the first support structure  24  and the first end  36  of the platform structure  26  for biasing the platform structure  26  towards the raised position  32 . The actuator  40  comprises at least one axially resiliently biased piston or the like prismatic actuator. For example, the actuator  40  comprises a pair of pistons with each thereof being axially resiliently biased pneumatically. 
         [0015]    The positioning assembly  20  further comprises a second support structure  42  rotatably coupled to the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The second support structure  42  is further coupled to the first support structure  24  for displacement thereof between an outward position  44  and an inward position  46  when the platform structure  26  is displaced to the lowered position  30  and the raised position  32  respectively. The platform structure  26  extends between and is supported by the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42  when in the lowered position  30  to thereby dispose the mattress  22  for support by the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42 . Preferably, the first support structure  24  and the second support structure  42  rest on a surface  48  when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position  30  for spatially displacing the bed-frame  34 , and consequently the mattress  22  disposed thereon, from the surface  48 . 
         [0016]    Further when in use, the bed-frame  34  is coupled to and disposed between a pair of the positioning assembly  20  for providing and configuratively corresponding a pair of the first support structure  24  and a pair of the second support structure  42  substantially to four corners of the bed-frame  34 . The pair of positioning assembly  20  forms a bed system. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the first support structure  24  is a panel supported from the surface  48  and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown). The panel is made from wood, metal or the like material having sufficient strength when shaped and dimensioned for supporting the mattress  22  and the platform structure  26 . The panel is further shaped for forming a portion of a furniture or a cabinet. For example, the panel is made from wood and forms a side of a box-shaped structure dimensioned for substantially receiving the mattress  22  therewithin when the platform structure  26  is in raised position  32 . Preferably, the inward position  46  of the second support structure  42  substantially opposes the outward position  44  thereof for enabling the second support structure  42  to be substantially received in box-shaped structure or the like concealment structure for substantially visually conceal the second support structure  42  formed in part by the first support structure  24 . 
         [0018]    Alternatively, the first support structure  24  comprises a panel structure  50  and an interface plate  52 . The panel structure  50  is supported from the surface  48  and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown) with the interface plate  52  inter-coupling the panel structure  50  and the platform structure  26 . Preferably, the primary pivot  28  is formed on the interface plate  52  for coupling with the platform structure  26  and whereabout the platform structure  26  rotatably displaces relative the first support structure  24 . Therefore, the interface plate  52  is preferably made of metal or the like wear-resistant material. 
         [0019]    When the panel structure  50  forms part of, for example a siding of, the box-shaped structure, the positioning assembly preferably further comprises a head-board assembly (not shown) configured for concealing at least a portion of the actuator  40  when the platform structure  26  is in the lowered position. The head-board assembly is coupled to the platform structure  26  for moving in tandem therewith and is configured such that when the platform structure  26  is displaced from the lowered position  30  to the raised position  32 , the head-board assembly structurally collapses for allowing the box-shaped structure more space for accommodating the platform structure  26  and the mattress  22  supported thereon. 
         [0020]    The positioning assembly  20  further comprises a first linkage  54  and a second linkage  56 . The first linkage  54  is preferably slidably coupled to the platform structure  26  for displacement along a longitudinal axis  58  extending between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The first linkage  54  is rotatably coupled to the second support structure  42  at one end thereof. The second linkage  56  is rotatably coupled to a link point  60  on the first support structure  26  at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage  54  at the other end thereof. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the positioning assembly  20  comprises at least one guide structure  100  formed integral the platform structure  26  to limit travel of the first linkage  54  to substantially along the longitudinal axis  58  when force applied by the second linkage  56  thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal axis  58 . The platform structure  26  comprises a channel  102  extending between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26  with the first linkage  54  being disposed along the channel  102 . The channel  102  defines a base  104  whereupon the first linkage  54  is supported. The at least one guide structure  100  is positioned for substantially impeding displacement of the first linkage  54  away from the base  104  of the channel  102 . 
         [0022]    Preferably, the channel  102  is formed from a rectangular beam or a square beam. Alternatively, the channel  102  is formed from a beam with an L-shaped, C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. Preferably, the at least one guide structure  100  comprises at least one pin disposed within the channel  102  with the first linkage  54  being disposed within the channel  102  and being supported by the base  104 . The first linkage  54  is further disposed between the base  104  of the channel  102  and the at least one guide structure  100 . 
         [0023]    If an implement of the positioning assembly  100  uses only one of the guide structure  100 , the guide structure  100  is preferably positioned between the first end  36  of the platform structure  26  and midway between the first end  36  and the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . Should two of the guide structure  100  be employed, a first one of the guide structure  100  is preferably positioned towards the first end  36  of the platform structure  26  while a second one of the guide structure  100  is preferably positioned towards the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . 
         [0024]    Alternative to the at least one pin, the at least one guide structure  100  can comprise at least one bearing. The at least one bearing is at least one of a pin bearing, a ball bearing, a roller bearing and a bush bearing spatially displaced from the base  104  of the channel  102  for disposing the first linkage  54  between the base  104  of the channel  103  and the at least one pin bearing. 
         [0025]    As push-pull forces exerted by the second linkage  56  acting at one end of the first linkage  54  that is connected to the second linkage  56  may contribute to forces that are not acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis  58  and hence potentially contributing to substantial lift off from the base  104  of the channel  102 . 
         [0026]    Without movement isolation of movement guidance from the at least one guide structure  100 , the first linkage  54  and the second linkage  56  may approach structural singularity. Further, the straightening of the first linkage  54  and the second linkage  56  and the lateral degree-of-freedom of the first linkage relative the longitudinal axis  58  of the platform structure  26  may result in incomplete rotation of the leg structure  64  to the outward position  44 . Partial rotation may result in inability to properly rest the leg structure  64 , and hence the platform structure  26 , on the floor. This potentially may further lead to the load bearing capability of the positioning assembly being compromised. Therefore, there is a need to substantially isolate the movement of the first linkage  54  to only along the longitudinal axis  58  of the platform structure  26 . 
         [0027]    Preferably, the distance between the primary pivot  28  and the point where the actuator  40  couples with the first support structure  26  is larger than the distance between the primary pivot  28  and the link point  60 . 
         [0028]    Structurally, when in use, the Euclidean distance between the link point  60  and the longitudinal axis  58  of the platform structure  26  increases when the platform structure  26  is displaced from lowered position  30  towards the raised position  32  to thereby displace the first linkage  54  away from the first end  36  and towards the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . The second support structure  42  is displaced from the outward position  44  towards the inward position  46  when the first linkage  54  is displaced away from the first end  36  and towards the second end  38  of the platform structure  26 . 
         [0029]    Preferably, the second support structure  42  comprises a mounting plate  62 , a leg structure  64  extending from the mounting plate  62  and a connector  66  having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting plate  62  and another end rotatably coupled to the first linkage  54 . The mounting plate  62  is coupled to the platform structure  26  and is operable for displacing the leg structure  64  between an inward position and an outward position corresponding with the inward position  46  and the outward position  44 , respectively, of the platform structure  26 . The connector  66  and the mounting plate  62  are so inter-configured to enable the leg structure  64  to travel more than  100  degrees angle when displaced from one to the other of the inward position and the outward position. 
         [0030]    The actuator  40  is for providing an actuation force when in use. The actuator  40 , the platform structure  26  and the first support structure  24  are inter-configured for substantially balancing moment generated by the weight of the mattress  22  and moment generated by the actuation force of the actuator  40  about the primary pivot  28  when the platform structure  26  is substantially at least one of in the lowered position  30 , the raised position  32  and substantially proximal the raised position  32 . 
         [0031]    In the foregoing manner, a positioning assembly for use with at least one mattress is described according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although only one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.