FOLDABLE BED FRAME

Abstract

A foldable bed frame that can be easily installed, folded and transported having first and second sets of longitudinal supports spaced apart and parallel to each other where each longitudinal support includes two longitudinal support extensions pivotally coupled to each other to form a linear base support when the bed frame is in an open position. The longitudinal supports are pivotally coupled to a plurality of leg assemblies comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotally coupled to each other to form X-shaped vertical supports. The bed frame further includes at least one brace member pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support on one end and slidingly coupled to a corresponding leg assembly on another end for additional lateral support of the bed frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bed frame that can be easily folded and transported. More specifically, this invention is directed to a light-weight, foldable bed frame constructed with support members for providing additional stability in the longitudinal direction of the bed frame.

Portable beds are well known in the prior art and have evolved throughout the years. More recently with the development of new materials, manufacturers are seeking cost-effective, light-weight construction while maintaining overall stability of the bed frame. Moreover, with the rising cost of raw materials, it is desirable for a manufacturer to build a product with less material and/or less components without compromising the safety of the product.

Such a folding bed, for example, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,879 (“the '879 patent”). The '879 patent includes strengthening elements to provide further stability of the bed frame. To achieve this objective, the '879 patent uses a total of six strengthening elements 5 attached to the legs 2 of the folding bed frame. Thus, this structure requires more parts and material which increases manufacturing cost and weight. Moreover, even though the bed frame is provided with more vertical stability, the strengthening elements do not improve lateral stability of the bed frame which is an important safety feature.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,159 (“the '159 patent”) attempts to provide a foldable bed frame with improved lateral stability which the '879 patent does not offer. The '159 patent is directed to a foldable bed frame with two pairs of side bars each pivotally connected to a central link and three pairs of scissoring end or middle bars linking the two pairs of side bars. The '159 patent also includes ten additional components (22a, 22a′, 22b, 22b′, 25a, 25a′, 25b, 25b′, 26, 26′) to provided additional support for the bed frame structure. Thus, the construction of the bed frame disclosed in the '159 patent contains numerous more components making it more difficult to manufacture. Moreover, the increased number of components not only increases the likelihood of component wear and tear it is also more difficult for the user to open and close the bed frame.

SUMMARY

The deficiencies in the prior art and other objectives of the present invention include providing a low-cost, lightweight foldable bed frame with improved lateral stability of the bed frame—in the transverse direction as well as the longitudinal direction of the bed frame—using minimal components for construction which is can be easily opened and folded.

The foldable bed frame includes first and second sets of longitudinal supports spaced apart and parallel to each other. Each longitudinal support comprises a pair of longitudinal support extensions each having a proximal end and a distal end. The respective proximal ends are pivotally coupled to an intermediate coupling member having a pair of opposing flanges for securing the longitudinal support extensions therebetween such that the longitudinal support extensions are in linear alignment. The respective distal ends of the longitudinal support extensions are pivotally coupled to an end coupling member having a pair of opposing flanges for securing the longitudinal support extensions therebetween. The intermediate coupling member and the end coupling members are positioned in the same plane. The bed frame also includes first, second and third sets of leg assemblies. Each leg assembly comprises a first leg having a proximal end and a free end, a second leg consisting upper and lower members each having proximal and distal ends. A leg coupling having a pair of opposing flanges is fixedly secured between the upper member proximal end and lower member proximal end such that the upper and lower members are spaced apart and are in parallel alignment. The first leg is pivotally coupled to the leg coupling between the pair of opposing flanges intermediate the proximal and free ends of the first leg and between the upper and lower members of the second leg to form an X-shaped vertical support. The first leg proximal ends of each first and second leg assemblies are fixedly coupled to respective end coupling members of the first longitudinal support, and the distal ends of the second leg upper member are fixedly coupled to respective end coupling members of the second longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges. With respect to the third leg assembly, the first leg proximal end is fixedly coupled to the intermediate coupling member of the first longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges and the second leg upper member proximal end is fixedly coupled to the intermediate coupling member of the second longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges. The foldable bed also includes a pair of brace members for further lateral support of the bed frame. Each brace member includes a brace having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is pivotally coupled to the first longitudinal support approximate respective distal ends, and a sleeve is slidingly coupled to the first leg and pivotally coupled to the brace distal end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foldable bed frame of the present invention illustratively shown in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the foldable bed frame illustratively shown in a partially folded position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the foldable bed frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the foldable bed frame of the present invention illustratively shown in another partially folded position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the foldable bed frame of the present invention illustratively shown in a fully folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the foldable bed frame 1 of the present invention is a light-weight structure that is easily foldable from an open position (FIG. 1) to a compact folded position (i.e., closed) (FIG. 5) in three simple steps. Similarly, the bed frame 1 can be fully opened from its closed compact configuration by reversing the steps, as fully described below in further detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bed frame 1 is constructed to accommodate a typical rectangular shaped sleeping surface (e.g., canvas linings, among other linings) supported by two sets of opposing longitudinal supports 3, 5. Each longitudinal support 3, 5 includes two longitudinal support extensions 7 having a proximal end 9 and a distal end 11. Although the bed frame in the preferred embodiment is constructed for a typical rectangular support surface, a person of the ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the length of the support extensions 7 and legs 27, 33 can be modified to accommodate other desired surface areas and shapes.

The proximal ends 9 of each pair of the longitudinal support extensions 7 are pivotally attached to an intermediate coupling member 13 to form each longitudinal support 3, 5. Each intermediate coupling member 13 includes two opposing flanges 15 which serve as plates which are sufficiently spaced apart and configured to receive the opposing sides of the proximal ends of the longitudinal support extensions 7. In a preferred embodiment, the flanges 15 of the intermediate coupling members 13 are triangular in shape to receive legs 27, 33 of the third (or intermediate) leg assembly 25 (described in more detail below). However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape of the flanges 15 can be configured differently without affecting the function of the intermediate coupling members 13, that is, so long as the flanges 15 can accommodate the longitudinal support extensions 7 as well as the legs 27, 33. For example, the flanges 15 can be T-shaped. Alternatively, the intermediate coupling members 13 can be rectangular in shape if, for example, the third (or intermediate) leg assembly 25 is excluded from the bed frame 1. The support extensions 7 are pivotally secured to the intermediate coupling members 13 via fasteners 14.

At the distal ends 11 of the longitudinal support extensions 7, end coupling members 17 are pivotally attached for receiving first and second legs 27, 33 of the bed frame 1, which is described in more detail below. The end coupling members 17 are also constructed of two opposing flanges 19 sufficiently spaced apart to receive the legs 27, 33 of the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23. In a preferred embodiment, the flanges 19 are L-shaped to receive the legs 27, 33 therebetween, although such L-shaped configuration is not considered limiting. The end coupling members 17 are attached to the longitudinal support extensions via fasteners 18.

Vertical support for the frame is accomplished by providing at least two but preferably three sets of leg assemblies 21, 23, 25. Each leg assembly includes a first leg 27 and a second leg 33 which cross each other to form an X-shaped support when the bed frame 1 is in the open position.

Each first leg 27 is a continuous elongated member having a proximal end 29 and a free end 31. Each second leg 33 consists of an upper member 35 having a proximal end 37 and a distal end 39, and a lower member 41 having a proximal end 43 and a distal end (or second leg free end) 45. In an embodiment, the lengths of the upper member 35 and lower member 41 of the second leg 33 are approximately one-half of the length of the first leg 27. The upper and lower members 35, 41 of the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 are attached to a leg coupling 47 via fasteners 48. The leg coupling 47 is constructed of two opposing flanges 49 spaced apart and configured to receive the upper and lower members 35, 41. In a preferred embodiment, the flanges 49 are S-shaped and the proximal ends of the upper and lower members 37, 43 are attached to each respective end of the S-shaped flange such that the upper and lower members 37, 43 are in parallel alignment. The S-shaped configuration of the flanges 49 is not limiting and can also vary so long as the flanges can accommodate the first and second legs 27, 33. The first leg 27 is pivotally coupled by a fastener 50 (i.e., bolt or rivet) within the flanges 49 between the upper and lower members 37, 43 at a median position along the length of the first leg 27. The upper and lower members 37, 43 are spaced apart such that the first leg 27 fits snugly between the upper and lower members 37, 43 and in the same plane when the bed frame 1 is in its open position (FIG. 1). This allows for the upper and lower members 37, 43 to maintain a parallel relationship. Thus, the combination of the first and second legs 27, 33 form an X-shaped vertical support for the foldable bed frame 1. Alternatively, the second leg 33 can be one continuous member (instead of having an upper member and lower member joined by a leg coupling) and pivotally coupled adjacent to the first leg 27 at an intersecting point to form an X-shaped vertical support.

The proximal ends 29 of the first legs 27 of the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 are fixedly coupled to the end coupling members 17 of the first longitudinal support 3 via fasteners 20. Similarly, the second leg upper member distal ends 39 of the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 (or second leg proximal end 39) are fixedly coupled to the end coupling members 17 of the second longitudinal support 5 via fasteners 20. The first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 are positioned perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal supports 3, 5 when the bed frame 1 is in the open position (FIG. 1) and are positioned parallel to the first and second longitudinal supports 3, 5 when the bed frame 1 is folded in the fully folded or closed position (FIG. 5).

Similarly, the first leg proximal end 29 and the second leg upper member distal end 39 of the third leg assembly 25 (or the third leg proximal end 29 and the fourth leg upper member distal end 39 of the intermediate leg assembly 25) are fixedly coupled to the intermediate coupling members 13 of the first longitudinal support 3 and the second longitudinal support 5, respectively, via fasteners 20. The third (or intermediate) leg assembly 25 is positioned perpendicular with respect to the first and second longitudinal supports 3, 5 in either the open or closed positions of the bed frame 1 (FIGS. 1, 5). The third (or intermediate) leg assembly 25 can optionally be attached to the intermediate coupling members 13 to provide additional vertical support proximate the central portion of the bed frame 1.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of brace members 51 are provided for additional lateral support. Each brace member 51 includes a brace 53 having a proximal end 55 and a distal end 57. The proximal end 55 is pivotally coupled via fastener 61 to the longitudinal support extension distal ends 11 of the first longitudinal support 3. The distal end 57 is pivotally coupled via fastener 63 to a sleeve 59 which is slidingly coupled to the first leg 27.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the brace members 51 provide additional lateral stability for the bed frame 1 along the transverse direction “T,” as well as the longitudinal direction “L” of the bed frame 1. Foldable bed frames can be equipped with a permanent cover that is stitched or otherwise fastened around the support extensions 7 of opposing longitudinal supports 3, 5. The fabric covering (not shown) provides lateral support in the transverse direction along the bed frame, however, the stitching or fasteners and the cover itself is susceptible to lateral stresses and undesired wear-and-tear, especially when a user lays down on the covering of the bed structure. To alleviate or otherwise minimize the excessive lateral forces, the brace members 51 provide additional lateral support to the bed frame 1 and prevent unnecessary stress or wear and tear on the cover stitching or fasteners by restricting the lateral movement of the bed frame 1 by a user. In other words, the braces 51 absorb most, if not all of the lateral forces instead of the fabric covering itself.

In an embodiment where foldable bed frames are not provided with permanent covers, but are instead constructed for use with a separate detachable mattress, the brace members 51 provide the transverse lateral support necessary for preventing the bed frame 1 from extending beyond the desired open position. That is, the transverse movement of the longitudinal supports 3, 5 are limited by the length and positioning of the brace 53 with respect to the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 because the sleeve 59 cannot move beyond the desired open position due to geometrical constraints created by the length of the brace 53.

This geometrical constraint formed by the connection of the brace members 51 between the longitudinal support 3 and first leg 27 also limits lateral movement along the longitudinal direction “L,” thus providing additional stability to the bed frame 1 in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, each sleeve 59 of the brace members 51 provides a guide for the bed frame 1 during the folding process (described in more detail below).

In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal support extensions and legs of the bed frame are constructed of light-weight steel and have a rectangular cross-section. The longitudinal support extensions and legs are preferably tubular which reduces the overall weight of the structure while maintaining the strength of the structure. Alternatively, the longitudinal support extensions and legs can be constructed of other materials such as high-strength plastic, composite material, aluminum, other light-weight alloys or combinations thereof, and can have other cross-sectional configurations (e.g., circular shape) without affecting the overall integrity of the structure. Additionally, the fasteners are preferably rivets, however, other fastener types such as nuts and bolts, screws, or other fasteners can be used to achieve the same objective.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, in operation, a three-step process is implemented to fold the bed frame from the open position (FIG. 1) to a fully folded (closed) position (FIG. 5). Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second longitudinal supports 3, 5 are pushed together in the transverse direction “T” until the longitudinal supports 3, 5 are side-by-side. During this closing process, the first and second legs 27, 33 also become positioned side-by-side while remaining in the same plane, such that each half of the bed frame structure pivots about the fasteners 50 of the leg couplings 47.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 are folded inward towards the longitudinal direction “L” until they are positioned side-by-side (i.e., parallel) with the first and second longitudinal supports 3, 5. During this folding step, each of the leg assemblies 21, 23 pivots inwardly about the fastener 18. As the leg assemblies 21, 23 pivot inward, each sleeve 59 also slides from the first leg proximal end 29 in a direction towards the first leg free end 31 as the brace 53 pivots inward about the fastener 61.

Referring to FIG. 5, each side of the leg assembly 21, 23 and longitudinal support extension 7 is further folded inwardly in the longitudinal direction “L” by pivotably rotating the distal ends 9 about the fasteners 14 extending through the intermediate coupling members 13 until the bed frame 1 is in a fully folded position. In this fully folded or closed position, the folded first and second leg assemblies 21, 23 are positioned parallel each other on opposing sides of the third (or intermediate) leg assembly 25.

Therefore, the present invention provides a low-cost, lightweight foldable bed frame with improved lateral stability of the bed frame—in the transverse direction as well as the longitudinal direction of the bed frame—using minimal components for construction which is can be easily opened and folded.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible including but not limited to those described above. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A foldable bed frame comprising: first and second sets of longitudinal supports spaced apart and parallel to each other, each longitudinal support comprising a pair of longitudinal support extensions each having a proximal end and a distal end, the respective proximal ends pivotally coupled to an intermediate coupling member having a pair of opposing flanges for securing the longitudinal support extensions therebetween such that the longitudinal support extensions are in linear alignment, the respective distal ends of the longitudinal support extensions pivotally coupled to an end coupling member having a pair of opposing flanges for securing the longitudinal support extensions therebetween, the intermediate coupling member and the end coupling members positioned in the same plane;first, second and third sets of leg assemblies, each leg assembly comprising a first leg having a proximal end and a free end,a second leg consisting an upper member having proximal and distal ends, and a lower member having proximal and distal ends,a leg coupling having a pair of opposing flanges fixedly securing therebetween the upper member proximal end and lower member proximal end such that the upper and lower members are spaced apart and are in parallel alignment, the first leg pivotally coupled to the leg coupling between the pair of opposing flanges intermediate the proximal and free ends of the first leg and between the upper and lower members of the second leg to form an X-shaped vertical support,each first and second leg assemblies having the first leg proximal ends each fixedly coupled to respective end coupling members of the first longitudinal support, and the second leg upper member distal end each fixedly coupled to respective end coupling members of the second longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges,the third leg assembly having the first leg proximal end fixedly coupled to the intermediate coupling member of the first longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges and the second leg upper member proximal end fixedly coupled to the intermediate coupling member of the second longitudinal support between the pair of opposing flanges; anda pair of brace members for further lateral support of the bed frame, each brace member including a brace having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end pivotally coupled to the first longitudinal support approximate respective distal ends anda sleeve slidingly coupled to the first leg and pivotally coupled to the brace distal end.

2. A foldable bed frame comprising: first and second sets of longitudinal supports spaced apart in a substantially parallel arrangement, each longitudinal support comprising a pair of longitudinal support extensions having a proximal end and a distal end, the respective proximal ends of each pair of longitudinal support extensions being pivotally coupled to an intermediate coupling member such that the longitudinal support extensions are rotatably movable between a folded and a linear arrangement, the respective distal ends of the longitudinal support extensions each being pivotally coupled to an end coupling member;a pair of first legs each having a proximal end and a free end, each proximal end being pivotally coupled to one of the end coupling members associated with a distal end of one of the longitudinal support extensions of the first longitudinal support set, said free ends being rotatably extendable in a direction towards the second longitudinal support set to an open position;a pair of second legs each comprising an upper member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a lower member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal ends of the upper and lower members of each pair of second legs being pivotally coupled to a leg coupling, each said distal end of each upper member being pivotally coupled to one of the end coupling members at the distal end of the longitudinal support extensions of the second longitudinal support set, the distal ends of the lower members being free ends, said free ends of the lower members being rotatably extendable in a direction towards the first longitudinal support set to the open position, wherein each said leg coupling is coupled to one of said pair of first legs;a pair of brace members, each having a proximal end and a distal end, each proximal end of the brace members being pivotally coupled to one of the distal ends of the longitudinal support extensions of the first longitudinal support set, each distal end of the brace members being slidably coupled to one of the first legs; andan intermediate leg assembly comprising a third leg having a proximal end and a free end, the proximal end of the third leg being pivotally coupled to the intermediate coupling member associated with the first longitudinal support set, said free end of the third leg being rotatably extendable in a direction towards the second longitudinal support set, and a fourth leg comprising an upper member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a lower member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal ends of the upper and lower members of the fourth leg each being pivotally coupled to a third leg coupling, said distal end of the upper member of the fourth leg being pivotally coupled to the intermediate coupling member of the second longitudinal support set, the distal end of the lower member being a free end, said free end of the lower member of the fourth leg being rotatably extendable in a direction towards the first longitudinal support set to the open position, wherein said third leg is coupled to the third leg coupling.

3. The foldable bed frame of claim 2, wherein each of the intermediate coupling members, end coupling members and leg couplings is a pair of opposing flanges.

4. The foldable bed frame of claim 2, wherein the intermediate couple members and the end coupling members are positioned in the same plane.

5. The foldable bed frame of claim 2, wherein the first and second legs are positioned in the same plane.

6. The foldable bed frame of claim 2, wherein the third and fourth legs are positioned in the same plane.

7. The foldable bed frame of claim 2, wherein the upper and lower members are in parallel relationship.

8. A foldable bed frame comprising: first and second sets of longitudinal supports spaced apart and positioned parallel to each other, each longitudinal support comprising a pair of longitudinal support extensions each having a proximal end and a distal end, the respective proximal ends pivotally coupled together;first and second sets of leg assemblies, each leg assembly comprising a first leg having a proximal end and a free end, and a second leg having a proximal end and a free end, the first and second legs pivotally coupled to each other intermediate the respective proximal and free ends, each first leg proximal end pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support extension distal ends of the first leg assembly and each second leg proximal end pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support extension distal ends of the second leg assembly; andat least one brace having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the brace pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support extension distal end and the distal end of the brace slidingly coupled to the corresponding first leg proximal end.

9. The foldable bed frame of claim 8, further comprising a third leg assembly having a first leg having a proximal end and a free end, and a second leg having a proximal end and a free end.

10. The foldable bed frame of claim 9, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second legs are pivotally coupled to the first and second longitudinal supports, respectively, at or near the longitudinal support extension proximal ends by intermediate coupling members.

11. The foldable bed frame of claim 10, wherein each intermediate coupling member is a pair of opposing flanges for each securing therebetween each proximal end of the legs and the proximal ends of the longitudinal support extensions.

12. The foldable bed frame of claim 8, wherein the first and second leg assemblies are pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support extensions by end coupling members.

13. The foldable bed frame of claim 12, wherein the end coupling members are a pair of opposing flanges for each securing therebetween each proximal end of the legs and each distal end of the longitudinal support extensions.

14. The foldable bed frame of claim 8, wherein the second leg comprises an upper member having proximal and distal ends, and a lower member having proximal and distal ends.

15. The foldable bed frame of claim 14, wherein the upper member proximal end and the lower member proximal end are fixedly coupled to each other by a leg coupling.

16. The foldable bed frame of claim 15, wherein the leg coupling is a pair of opposing flanges for each securing therebetween each proximal end of the upper and lower members.

17. The foldable bed frame of claim 16, wherein the first leg is pivotally coupled to the leg coupling to form an X-shaped support.

18. The foldable bed frame of claim 8, wherein the distal end of the brace is slidingly coupled to the corresponding first leg proximal end by a sleeve movable along the first leg.