Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wall bed, and more particularly to a wall bed lifting mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional, modern-day sleeping facilities, it is common to have a wall bed including a substantially rectangular shaped support dimensioned and configured to allow a user to be supported in horizontal relation to the surface of the floor, and a mechanism to rotate the bed from a position adjacent to the wall and vertical to the floor when not in use to a position perpendicular to the wall and horizontal to the floor. Furthermore, in some cases, a folding headboard may be accommodated by wall bed mechansims of the prior art.
While the wall bed and folding headboard structure are in common usage, it is also well recognized that it may be preferable, and perhaps more stable, to provide a wall bed with a fixed headboard positioned in standard relation to the head of the bed.
In order to overcome the above set forth problem of positioning a wall bed without a headboard, or with a folding headboard, in both operational and storage positions, the prior art is replete with numerous "folding mechanisms" capable of positioning the bed structure in horizontal relation to the floor from a position adjacent to the wall and vertical to the floor with use of the hands. However, devices of the type referred to, in some instances, may be cosidered overly complicated and/or somewhat limited in their operation at least partially based on the fact that such structures either do not accommodate a headboard or may accommodate only a folding headboard thereby lacking the versatility of providing a substantially rigid headboard structure.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device which is structured to be versatile in its operation to the extent of being capable of positioning a wall bed and fixed headboard structure between the aforementioned storage or operational position while maintaining the feature of requiring nominal storage space adjacent to the wall.
In addition, such a preferred wall bed mechanism should be capable of reducing complexity in design, operation, maintenance, and, installation, while accommodating suitable stability and durability which shall be described in greater detail hereinafter.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a wall bed mechanism specifically designed to be used in combination with a wall bed and fixed headboard structure and more specifically to be mounted at the head of a wall bed. In operation, the wall bed mechanism of the present invention is structured to vertically rotate the wall bed and fixed headboard structures for storage adjacent to a wall surface when it is not desired to lie on the bed structure. The subject mechanism enables the lifting of the aforementioned wall bed and headboard structure with a simple pulling motion outward from the wall at the foot of the bed.
More specifically, the subject wall bed mechanism comprises a support frame including a mounting member dimensioned and configured to extend behind the headboard and onto the exposed face of the wall mounting frame. Through the incorporation of elongate screw elements, the support frame allows the subject wall bed mechanism to be readily adaptable to each, individual wall bed permitting proper pivotal operation of the wall bed from the secured to the operational position. In the preferred embodiment, two wall bed mechanisms are oriented equi-distant from the sides of the bed to provide stability and reduce stress on an individual mechanism.
One independently disposed and structured lifting assembly is provided and centrally positioned behind the headboard and into the base of the bed for assisting in lifting the bed when force is applied by a user to rotate the bed back into the vertical, storage position and for retaining the bed in the storage position until a user applies force to pull the bed into the horizontal or reclined position.
More specifically, the lifting assembly includes a strut system supporting the bed platform and headboard connected by appropriate linkage to the support frame wherein the linkage is placed under tension as the bed is outwardly extended. The tensioned linkage is designed to be of sufficient force to support a portion of the weight of the bed, but not enough to cause the bed to pivot into the upright position without additional force from a user. The tensioned linkage acts to assist a user in lifting the bed into the storage position when force is applied to lift the bed, and to maintain the bed in the upright position when not in use.
Ancillary structures associated with the subject lifting mechanism includes an adjustable support apparatus pivotally connected to the support frame providing fine adjustment of the bed frame in the bed cabinet in order to assure free movement of the bed into and out of the wall bed cabinet; and, an adjustable rear support bracket for providing additional securing of the support frame to the wall bed cabinet. Yet another feature of the present invention is the ability to adjust the tension of the tension linkage by means of the elongate screws extending to the forward edge of the wall bed cabinet.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the improved wall bed mechanism of the present invention in the storage position with the operational position and motion being displayed in partial cutaway by dashed lines and arrows.
FIG. 2 is a detailed front view of the wall bed mechanism of the present invention as shown along the lines of 2--2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a detailed overhead view of the wall bed mechanism of the present invention as shown along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the wall bed mechanism in partial cutaway along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a detailed rear view of the wall bed mechanism of the present invention as shown along the lines of 5--5 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a detailed side plan view of the wall bed mechanism in the operational position and in partial cutaway.
FIG. 7 is a side plan view in partial cutaway of dual wall bed mechanisms in position affixed to the wall frame and the wall bed with the wall bed in the operational position.
FIG. 8 is a frontal view of dual wall bed mechanisms in position affixed to the wall bed and wall frame with the wall bed in the storage position.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts thoughout the several views of the drawings.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention is directed towards an improved wall bed lifting mechanism generally indicated as 10 comprising a support frame 11 including two longitudinal sides or trusses 12 and 14. The trusses 12 and 14 are connected by spacer bars 16 and 17 at one end, a mounting member 18 at a forward location designed to reach nearly flush to the front lip of a wall connected cabinet 20 (as shown in FIG. 7), a shaft member 22, and, wedge bar 23 (FIG. 2). The mounting member 18 has at least two apertures 24, dimensioned and relatively disposed, to accommodate connecting members, such as the bolts normally associated with a mounting member 18 and cabinet assembly 20 generally indicated as in FIGS. 7 and 8. The connecting bolts, while not clearly shown, are common to most modern-day wall bed assemblies and are generally used to secure the folding bed mechansim 10 to the wall bed cabinet 20 and more particularly, to an exposed upper face thereof 26, thus, preventing lateral or longitudinal motions of the support frame 11 during the bed raising and lowering stages. The mounting member 18 is pivotally connected to the support frame 11 by means of a pin 108 which permits pivotal motion about holes 110 and 112 such that the pivot point of pin 22 can be raised or lowered while the lifting mechanism 10 remains secured to cabinet 20. These adjustments are accomplished via bolts 25 (FIG. 2) which engage into wedge bar 23 with mating threaded holes and act against the spacer bar 17 to provide the installer a means of adjusting the side gaps 33 (FIG. 8) between the platform edges and cabinet sides while the bed is in the upright stored position. The aft end of the support frame 11 is secured to cabinet assembly 20 prior to securing the mounting member 18 by sliding back the entire lifting mechanism 10 while in the upright position until the spacer bar 16 is slipped under the clamping bracket 27 and secured in place by a screw 29 is threaded through a hole 25 into abutting relation with spacer bar 16 (FIG. 7). Clamping bracket 27 has a central portion and the two distal portions that are attached to an interior base portion of the cabinet. The central portion is L-shaped in cross section so that the spacer is slid under a horizontal leg, with a vertical leg of the bracket abutting the rear interior wall of the cabinet. The threaded hole 25 is centrally located on the central portion. The distal portions of the clamping bracket 27 are L-shaped so as to provide mounting feet for the bracket 27. A vertical portion of each distal portion can abut the side of the support frame 11, while a horizontal portion can include a hole for engagement with a nut and bolt for attaching the bracket to the cabinet interior.
Accordingly, while the mounting member 18 serves to fix and securely attach the support frame 11 in the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to the wall bed cabinet 20, the rotating structure 28 is pivotally secured by the shaft 22 in substantially overlying relation to the lip of the exposed upper face 26 of the wall bed cabinet 20. Such pivotal movement into and out of overlying relation with the support frame 11 and between the covering relation shown in solid lines and the upright or open position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 is thereby possible, and, reflects the storage position (bed completely inside cabinet) and the user position (head board flush with face of the cabinet) of the wall bed, respectively.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the rotating structure 28 includes a lifting strut 30 and a support strut 32 upon which a bed platform 34 and headboard 36 are mounted. The support strut 32 comprises two parallel U-beams 38 and 40 rotatably connected to the rod 22. A bar 42 is fixed in perpendicular relation to the U-beams 38 and 40, as by welding, to provide a primary function of securing the rotating structure 28 to the bed platform as by a nut and bolt (not shown) inserted through the hole 44 and into the headboard 36 as best shown in FIG. 7, and, a secondary function of maintaining the parallel relation of the U-beams 38 and 40.
With continuing reference to FIG. 6, a pin assembly 45 is fixed into position on said U-beams 38 and 40 about the lifting strut 30 as by insertion through holes 50 and 52 of two pins 46 and 48. Mounted on said pins are two pulley mechanisms 54 and 56 through which a tension rope 58 extends along a portion of the length of the lifting strut 30.
As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the lifting strut 30 includes a pair of parallel U-beams 60 and 62 perpendicularly extending from the U-beams 38 and 40 and fixed as by welding in engaging relation to said U-beams 38 and 40. At the far end of the U-beams 60 and 62, a bar 64 is fixed, as by welding, and, serves a dual function of maintaining the spacing between said U-beams 60 and 62 and fixing one end of three springs 74, 72, and 70 as through holes 66, 67, and 68. In usage, the lifting strut 30 inserts into the bed platform 34 (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 7) and has sufficient length to act as a lever to both hold the head of the bed in a set spaced relation to the floor when in use and to apply lift to the bed so as to counter-balance the bed's weight upon proper application of spring tension as the bed is placed into its storage position.
Referencing FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the springs 70, 72, and 74 act to provide tension on the lift strut 30 as the bed is rotated into the usable position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7) by an interconnection of the spring ends to a slidable bar 5 as through holes 76, 77, and 78, and the connection of the bar 75 to the tension rope 58 as by looping through the hollow circular end 80. Then tension rope, as previously discussed, extends through two pulley mechanisms 54 and 56 at the interconnection area of the lift strut 30 and the support strut 32. The tension rope 58, which may be constructed of steel wire cable, is connected at an adjustable location to the support structure 11.
The result being that with the tension rope 58 properly adjusted, the springs 70, 72 and 74 will be relaxed when the bed is in its storage position as depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5; and, as the bed is pulled into its usable position, the springs 70, 72, and 74 will be extended into a tension position. When a user seeks to lift the bed into its storage position, the springs 70, 72, and 74 will assist the user in lifting the bed as the springs seek to release their tension. Under the operation of the wall bed mechanism, the springs will further act to maintain the bed in its storage position until such time as a user applies pressure against the springs to pull the bed back into its usable position.
Referencing FIGS. 1 and 6, the tension rope 58 may be adjusted according to the needs of the particular bed to obtain proper tension operation of the springs by eliminating the center spring 72 and/or adjustment of screws 82 and 84 extending through holes 92, 94, 96, 98, sized and spaced both fore and aft on the support structure 11 (as best depicted in FIG. 6), and having the heads 86 and 88 of said screws, sized larger than said aft holes 96 and 98, acting to prevent the sliding forward of said screws 82 and 84. An adjustable bar 90 engages said screws 82 and 84 with mating threaded holes 100 and 102 and is movable, both for and aft for adjusting the tension of the tension rope 58 by turning the screws 82 and 84 from the readily accessible ends 93 and 95 with a screwdriver. In order to facilitate this adjustable feature the tension rope 58 is looped as through holes 104 and 106. Said holes 104 and 106 are located in a wider relationship with respect to each other than the pulley mechanism 54 and 56 in order to prevent binding and twisting of the tension rope 58. A roller 108 is further fixed to the support frame 11 and recessed beneath the bar 90 as through holes 110 and 112 to further enable the tension rope 58 to maintain a suitable relationship between the bar 90 and pulleys 54 and 56 in order to facilitate the motion of the support strut as it is retracted and extended on the pivot bar 22.
While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be recognized that other embodiments, incorporating modifications of this invention but retaining the principles of the invention may be made. It is therefore to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
Now that the invention has been described,