Patent Application
20190335911
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of beds of existing art and more specifically relates to bunk beds.
Many individuals sleep in beds. While the idea of bunk beds appeals to most children, parents often think twice about buying this style of bed for their children. Traditional bunk beds can be unsafe without any type of guardrail or side rail. Bunk beds with this feature may not look as aesthetically pleasing during the day. Additionally, ladders can be awkwardly positioned around the bunk bed, making it difficult for children to get in and out of the top bunk. Some ladders may detach from the bed, but this can be a safety hazard. A suitable safe solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,290 to Mark L. Woodhams relates to a bunk bed with reversible staircase and drawer unit. The described bunk bed with reversible staircase and drawer unit includes a bunk bed having a staircase and chest unit that can be mounted to either end of the bunk bed frame. The staircase opens to the front side of the bunk bed whereas drawers pull outwardly in a direction from the end of the bunk bed. The drawers may be mounted to either end of the bed frame with the drawers being reversible.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known beds art, the present disclosure provides a novel multiple-tier bunk-bed system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a safe multiple-tier bunk-bed system for use.
The present invention allows three children to comfortably sleep within the same bunk bed. It includes a repositionable ladder that locks and unlocks into place, preventing it from falling and hurting someone or stranding a child on the top bunk. The device prevents children from rolling off of the bed with a retractable side rail that tucks away during the day for a cleaner appearance. It leaves no room for small children to slip between cracks or gaps between the beds. The present invention saves parents time and frustration configuring bedrooms to fit three beds.
Disclosed herein is a multiple-tier bunk-bed system, the multiple-tier bunk-bed system comprising: a frame including a first-bed-tier; a second-bed-tier; and a third-bed-tier; a ladder; a ladder-guide; retractable side rails; retractable flaps for concealing an edge of the retractable side rails; three mattresses; a circular lock; a latch; wherein relationally speaking the first-bed-tier is in/on a plane below the second-bed-tier, and the second-bed-tier is located below the third-bed-tier. As designed the first-bed-tier is located adjacent a floor surface when used and is able to slide in under and out from under the second-bed-tier as desired for use; wherein there is no gap between the first-bed-tier and the second-bed-tier during use. The first-bed-tier and the second-bed-tier butt adjacent to each other during use. The first-bed-tier and the second-bed-tier lock in a fixed condition when used to allow for no relative movement between them.
The circular lock is able to be turned between an open-position and a closed-position such that the ladder can be moved and not moved respectively. The latch prevents relative movement between the ladder and the ladder-guide. As designed, the latch secures the ladder to the frame to prevent unsafe unwanted movement of the ladder for safety reasons. The retractable side rails are able to rotate about an axis between a stored-angle and an in-use angle. The ladder is received by the ladder-guide; wherein the ladder is repositionable to relation to the ladder-guide.
A kit and method are also disclosed; the method comprising the steps of: providing a multiple-tier bunk-bed system; sliding a first-bed-tier in relation to a second-bed-tier; and locking the first-bed-tier in relation to the second-bed-tier such that there is no gap between the first-bed-tier and the second-bed-tier during use. The method may further comprise the steps of locking the ladder to the frame via a latch such that there is no relative movement of the ladder in relation to the frame and unlocking the ladder when the ladder is desired to be moved.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a multiple-tier bunk-bed system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a bunk bed and more particularly to a multiple-tier bunk-bed system as used to improve the safety of users.
Generally speaking, the ‘Tyler Bunk Bed’ (multiple-tier bunk-bed system) offers a safer, more convenient, and easier-to-use three-sleeper bunk bed. This innovative product may comprise a three-bed bunk bed in which the third bed slides out from the bottom and locks into place. The slide-out bed can lock before it is completely removed, leaving no gap or space between the beds. The bunk bed can have a wood frame, offered in various finishes to match virtually any decor. Additionally, the bed can have retractable side rails, also preferably made from wood, matching the material of the bed frame. When the side rails are retracted, there can be a retractable wooden flap that slips right over the rail, leaving the visual impression of a clean finish, as well as allowing the bed to be used and look attractive with or without the rails. It should be appreciated that other materials may be used in the construction of the bed such as metal, non-metal, plastic, composite or the like.
A repositionable ladder can be attached to a circular device at the top corner of the bunk bed. When turned (open), the ladder can move. When closed, the ladder will not be able to move. Additionally, in order to keep the ladder stable, on each side of the top rung can be a latch-like device. When the latch is pushed down, it will hold tight to the bed frame, preventing the ladder structure from moving.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
The multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 further comprises retractable side rails 104 in preferred embodiments as shown in
In preferred embodiments of the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 the first-bed-tier 110 and the second-bed-tier 120 lock in a fixed condition (when used) to allow for no relative movement between them. This further promotes safety if children are standing up on the mattress 108 on the first-bed-tier 110 for example. In certain embodiment the first-bed-tier 110 comprises tracks on which to slide upon rails on the frame 102.
The ladder 140 is repositionable (indicated in
The multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 may further comprise a circular lock 150 as shown in
According to one embodiment, the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 may be arranged as a kit. In particular, the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 may further include a set of instructions. The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 such that the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.
A method for using the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more components or features of the multiple-tier bunk-bed system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method comprises the steps of: providing a multiple-tier bunk-bed system; sliding a first-bed-tier in relation to a second-bed-tier; and locking the first-bed-tier in relation to the second-bed-tier such that there is no gap between the first-bed-tier and the second-bed-tier during use. The method may further comprise the steps of locking the ladder to the frame via a latch such that there is no relative movement of the ladder in relation to the frame and unlocking the ladder when the ladder is desired to be moved. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of bed frames, mattresses as described herein, methods of relative movement between the various components (e.g., tracks/rails) will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. Other equivalent means for accomplishing this are also envisioned by the inventor.
Steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for use, are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/666,369 filed May 3, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62666369 | May 2018 | US |
