Abstract:
A bunk arrangement including a partition device is providing which is especially suitable for use as a sleeping or storing compartment in a vehicle, especially a truck or a bus. In one alternative, the bunk arrangement includes a partition device with a partition wall with a plurality of wall elements, which are provided for folding together and defolding the wall, for retracting and extending it, respectively, and holding and guiding means for holding the partition wall and for guiding the same between a retracted arid an extended state.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a bunk arrangement comprising a partition device, especially for a sleeping or storing compartment in a vehicle, especially a truck or a bus. The invention further relates to a vehicle cabin comprising such a bunk arrangement. 
         [0002]    The cabin especially of a track or a bus is usually equipped with at least one bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment in which the driver or an assistant driver can rest or sleep during a journey so that stops on a journey can be kept at a minimum and the driver and the assistant driver need not to leave the vehicle in order to sleep over night. 
         [0003]    Furthermore, if not used for sleeping or resting, such a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment can usually be used for storing objects or articles. However, in both cases it is desired to have a partition device delimiting the bunk arrangement against other areas of the cabin in order to improve the comfort for a person who is resting on the bunk or in order to avoid that stored objects or articles fail down from the bunk arrangement and hurt the driver or the assistant driver during driving. 
         [0004]    EP 1 069 031 discloses a hunk arrangement which comprises a bunk with a free edge with substantially vertically extending safety belts, which are attached to the ceiling of a cabin, and a safety net which is guided and locked by means of a horizontal net rod along the safety belts. Furthermore, at a free edge of the bunk a cartridge is provided enclosing a spring biased shaft for roiling up the safety net when releasing the same for shifting it into its downward position. 
         [0005]    EP 1 147 946 discloses a safety net arrangement for a bunk in which the safety net is provided at its free (forward) end with a net tube with attachments for suspending the net in the cabin. Net belts which are fastened to the net tube and the net extend under the bunk and are attached at the back of the wall of the cabin. Furthermore, elastic means are provided at the backward end of the net for withdrawing it under the bunk when the net is released from its suspension. Both these arrangements are relatively expensive in manufacturing and mounting because they comprise several single pans which have to be assembled. 
         [0006]    It is desirable to provide a bunk arrangement according to the introductory part above which comprises a partition device and which can be manufactured and assembled in a quick and easy manner. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, it is desirable that a bunk arrangement comprising a partition device shall be provided, which can be manually operated in a quick and simple way and is reliable in use. 
         [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bunk arrangement comprising a partition device is provided with a partition wall with a plurality of wall elements, which are provided for folding together and defolding the wail for retracting and extending it, respectively, and holding and guiding means for holding the partition wall and for guiding the same between a retracted and an extended state. 
         [0009]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, a bunk arrangement comprising a partition device is provided with a partition wall with a free upper and a lower edge, and a retracting device comprising an actuation means, mounted within or under a bunk of the bunk arrangement for drawing the partition wall at least partly into or under the bunk when the partition wall is released from a suspension. 
         [0010]    An advantage of these aspects is that the partition device can be used as a separation wall and as a safety wall for delimiting the bunk arrangement and for avoiding that stored objects or articles fail down from the bunk arrangement. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further details, features and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of exemplary and preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the drawings in which shows: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  a schematic three-dimensional view into the rear part of a cabin of a truck or bus comprising a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment with a partition device according to a first embodiment of the invention in a first variation; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  a side view of the arrangement from the left in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  a first front view of the arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  a second front view of the arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  a three-dimensional view of a bunk arrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention in a second variation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  a side view of the arrangement from the left in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  a detailed three-dimensional view of parts of a bunk and the partition device according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  a first detailed side view from the right in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  a second detailed side view from the right in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  a schematic top view of a partition device according to a second embodiment of the invention in a first variation; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  a schematic top view of the second embodiment of the invention in a second variation; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  a schematic three-dimensional view of the second embodiment and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  a schematic side view of the second embodiment of the invention in a third variation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a view into the rear part of a cabin having a back wall  3  and a ceiling  4  at which a luggage compartment  2  is mounted. Below the luggage compartment  2  a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment comprising a sleeper berth or bunk  1  is provided for the driver and/or the assistant driver, respectively, for resting or sleeping during a journey or for storing objects or articles. 
         [0026]    The bunk  1  is fastened with a first longitudinal edge at the back wall  3  of the cabin. The bunk arrangement is provided with a partition device comprising a partition wall  10  (or separation or safety wall) which preferably extends from the opposite and tree second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1  upwardly and is guided and held by means of holding and guiding means preferably in the form of a first and a second belt  11 ,  12 . As can be seen as well in  FIG. 2  which is a side view from the left in  FIG. 1 , the belts  11 ,  12  are attached according to a first variation of the first embodiment with their first upper ends at the luggage compartment  2 . 
         [0027]    The wall  10  can be manufactured from one or more of a plurality of different materials in dependence on the desired properties and functions to be obtained. If for example the wall  10  is provided for hiding objects or articles which are stored on the bunk  1  and/or for keeping the compartment behind the wall  10  dark, the material is preferably opaque. For obtaining a fire protection, for preventing that a person or objects which are lying on the bunk  1  can fall down from the bunk  1  in case of an emergency brake or a collision, and/or for other functions and purposes, the material has to be chosen primarily with respect to an appropriate strength. 
         [0028]    The wall  10  is manufactured for example from a polyester fabric with a thickness of between about 0.7 mm and about 1.2 mm which is usually strong enough for most of the above functions and purposes. Furthermore, such a polyester fabric is easy to clean as well. 
         [0029]    According to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wall  10  comprises a plurality of wall elements  113 . Preferably the wall  10  is provided substantially in the form of a jalousie with a plurality of longitudinal elements  113  which extend along the length of the wall  10  and which provide a zigzag form in the direction of the height of the wail  10 . The belts  11 ,  12  are guided through slits within the elements of the wall  10  so that when shifting the wall  10  down, the wall elements  113  are folded together in a zigzag manner. 
         [0030]    If one or both belts  11 ,  12  are inclined relative to the extension of the longitudinal elements  113  (e.g. if the first upper end of one or both belts  11 ,  12  is attached at a side wall of the cabin instead of at the luggage compartment  2 ), the slits within the elements  113  have a corresponding length so that the wall  10  can be pulled up (i.e. extended) and shifted down as well. The longitudinal elements  113  can be swivelling linked together as especially indicated in  FIG. 7 , or the elements  113  are single elements as in case of a usual jalousie. 
         [0031]    An advantage of such a wall  10  is that it can be used as well to replace a usual curtain which is provided for dividing a known partition device from other parts of a cabin. 
         [0032]    For receiving the elements  113  of the wall  10  in its down-shifted position, the free second edge of the bunk  1  is provided with a receptacle preferably in the form of a cassette  13  with a substantially rectangular cross section which is indicated in  FIG. 2 . The partition wall  10  can be retracted by folding it into the receptacle  13  and it can be extended by defolding or pulling it out of the receptacle  13 . 
         [0033]    The belts  11 ,  12  are attached with their second lower ends at the foot of the partition wall  10  and especially within the receptacle  13 . 
         [0034]    Preferably, the strengths of the attachments of the belts  11 ,  12  at the luggage compartment  2  and in the receptacle  13 , as well as the strengths of the belts  11 ,  12  themselves are dimensioned such that they fulfill the requirements for achieving the function of safety belts for preventing that a person or objects which are lying on the bunk  1  can fall down in case of an emergency brake or a collision. 
         [0035]    The upper free end of the wall  10  is provided with a tube or rod  114  by which the wall  10  can be pulled up (and down) by hand along the belts  11 ,  12  until reaching the luggage compartment  2  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and by which the wall  10  can be fixed in this or in any intermediate position between the receptacle  13  and the luggage compartment  2  by means of clamping devices (not shown) which are effective between the tube or rod  114  and the belts  11 ,  12 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows a front view onto the wall  10  and the luggage compartment  2 . The wall  10  is drawn partly out of the receptacle  13  up to an intermediate position at about a half of the height between the receptacle  13  and the luggage compartment  2 . Furthermore, the belts  11 ,  12  are shown in this Figure which are again attached with one end within the receptacle  13  and with the other end at the luggage compartment  2 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows the same view as in  FIG. 3 , however, the wall  10  is pulled up to the luggage compartment  2  so that the bunk arrangement behind the wall  10  is closed against the front part of the cabin. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic three-dimensional view into the rear part of a cabin of a truck or bus with a bunk arrangement or sleeping compartment comprising a partition device with a partition wall  10  (or separation or safety wall) according to a second variation of the first embodiment of the invention. Equal or corresponding parts as in  FIGS. 1 to 4  are denoted by the same reference signs. 
         [0039]    The bunk arrangement again comprises a bunk  1  which is fastened with a first longitudinal edge at a back wall  3  of the cabin and which comprises at the opposite free second longitudinal edge a receptacle  13  in the form of a cassette for enclosing the elements  113  of the wail  10  which can be pulled out of the receptacle  13  and fixed at holding and guiding belts  11 ,  12  as explained above. 
         [0040]    In contrary to the first variation, the belts  11 ,  12  are attached with their first upper ends at fastening means  111 ,  112  at the ceiling  4  of the cabin. Consequently, the height of the wall  10  is preferably dimensioned such that it can be pulled up to the ceiling  4  so that the bunk arrangement can be closed. The side view according to  FIG. 6  from the left side in  FIG. 5  shows the wall  10  pulled up into an intermediate position between the receptacle  13  and the ceiling  4 . 
         [0041]    In both the first and the second variations the belts  11 ,  12  are preferably provided as well for holding and carrying the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1  and not only as safety belts and for holding and guiding the wall  10 . 
         [0042]    Furthermore, only one or more than two belts can be provided in dependence on their strengths and the load effected by the bunk  1 . The positions of the belts along the length of the wall  10  are substantially selected such that a person can get onto the bunk  1  in a comfortable manner.  FIG. 7  shows a more detailed view of the right side end portion of the bunk  1  (in which a mattress has been removed) and the wall  10  together with the second belt  12 . As indicated in this Figure, the receptacle  13  is formed at the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1  with a substantially U-shaped cross-section. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, this Figure shows in more details the wall  10  comprising a plurality of longitudinal elements  113  which when shifting down the wall  10  are folded together into the receptacle  13 . The opposite upper edge of the wall  10  is provided with the tube or rod  114  which provides a termination of the wall  10  and makes handling of the wall  10  easier, especially when pulling if up and shifting if down. This tube  114  preferably also comprises clamping means for fixing the wall in an intermediate position at the belts  11 ,  12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows a side view from the right in  FIG. 1  or  5  in which the back wall  3  of the cabin, the bunk  1  with the receptacle  13  at the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1  and the belts  11 ,  12  are indicated. In this Figure the wall  10  is shifted into its down most position in which the elements  113  of the wall  10  are folded above each other and are enclosed entirely within the receptacle  13 . Furthermore, the rube or rod  114  which terminates the wail  10  at its upper edge is positioned on the opening of the receptacle  13  so that if closes the same. For this purpose the upper surface of the receptacle  13  comprising the opening for receiving the elements  113  is provided with a groove  131  (see  FIG. 9 ) running along its length which is formed to receive at least a part of the rod or tube  114  so that it can lie in it and closes the opening when the wall  10  has been shifted into its retracted state. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  again shows the side view of  FIG. 8  in which the wall  10  has been pulled out of the receptacle  13  partly so that some of the elements  113  of the wall  10  are de-folded and some of the elements  113  are still enclosed within the receptacle  13 . As mentioned above, the rod or tube  114  is preferably provided to fix the wall  10  in a desired position by means of clamping means which are effective between the rod or tube  113  and the belts  11 ,  12 .  FIGS. 10  to  13  show a second embodiment of the invention in three variations in which instead of the receptacle  13  the partition wall  10  is retracted into a space under or within the bunk  1 . This embodiment is especially provided for a wall  10  in the form of e. g. a net or a fabric or any other material which is flexible or can be rolled, curved or bent, or is suitable in another way, for being drawn into or under the bunk  1 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a plan view into the space within (or under) a bunk  1 . The wall  10  is terminated at its upper free edge with a first tube or rod  114  as described above with respect to the first embodiment. However, in contrary to the first embodiment, this second embodiment of the partition device does not comprise any belts  11 ,  12  or other guiding means for the partition wall  10 . Instead, the first tube or rod  114  is provided preferably for being hooked into a related upper attachment or suspension at or above the bunk arrangement. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, the opposite lower edge of the wall  10  is drawn into or under a bunk  1  of the bunk arrangement by means of a retracting device  23 ,  24  comprising an actuation means, which is mounted within or under the bunk  1  and is connected with the lower edge of the partition wall  10  for drawing the same at least partly into or under the bunk  1  when the wall  10  is released from its suspension. 
         [0048]    According to a first variation, the wall  10  is provided at its opposite lower edge which lies within or under the bunk, with a second tube or rod  115   a  at which a wire or line  23  is attached. This wire or line  23  is wound on a turning roll  24  which is actuated by a spiral spring (not shown) and which is rotatably mounted at the downside of the bunk or between a lower part  22  and an upper part  21  of the bunk. When releasing the wall  10  from a suspension (not shown), the roll  24  is driven by the spring force so that the wire or line  23  is turned onto the roll  24  and the wall  10  is drawn into the space within or under the bunk  1 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  shows a plan view into the space within (or under) a bunk  1  of a second variation of the second embodiment. The same parts as in  FIG. 10  are again denoted with the same reference signs. The wall  10  is again provided at its upper free edge with a first tube or rod  114  as described above. According to this second variation the wall  10  is provided at its opposite lower edge lying within or under the bunk  1  with a second tube or rod  115   b  which is a hollow element so that a wire or line  23  for retracting the wall  10  can be guided through the tube or rod  115   b.    
         [0050]    More in details, a first end of the wire or line  23  is attached within or under the bunk at its inner or back side. The wire or line  23  runs through the second tube or rod  115   b  and is guided around a spring biased roil  24  which is again driven by the force of a spiral spring (not shown) and is rotatably mounted under the bunk or between a lower part  22  and an upper part  21  of the bunk  1  as described above and indicated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 12  shows a three-dimensional view into the space within a bunk  1  (the upper part  21  being removed) in which the roll  24  comprising the spiral spring, and the second hollow tube or rod  115   b  are indicated together with the wall  10  which comprises at its upper tree edge the first tube or rod  114 . Preferably the wall  10  is guided out of the space within the bunk  1  around a longitudinal cylinder  25  which extends substantially along the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 13  shows a third variation of the second embodiment in a cross-section through a bunk  1  having an upper part  21  and a lower part  22  between which the space within the bunk  1  is delimited for retracting the partition wall  10  (which is again preferably a net). The wall  10  is drawn through an opening along the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1 . The roil  24  is rotatably mounted within the space of the bunk  1  in the region of its first longitudinal edge and again driven by the force of a spiral spring. 
         [0053]    In contrary to the first and second variation, in this third variation the wall  10  is attached with its lower edge at the lower part  22  of the bunk  1 , in the region of the free second longitudinal edge of the bunk  1 . From there, the wall  10  is guided over a tube or rod  115   c  to the outside of the bunk. The tube or rod  115   c  itself is drawn by means of a wire or line  23  and an actuated roll  24  as described with respect to the second variation according to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . This third variation is especially advantageous in case of a bunk  1  with a small width in relation to a wall  10  in the form of a fabric or net with a large height, or generally in case of a wall  10  having a large height. 
         [0054]    Finally, the roll  24  according to the second embodiment can be actuated or driven for drawing the wall  10  into or under the bunk  1  as well by means of an electromotor or another actuation means which instead of a spiral spring turns the roll  24 .