FOLDABLE BED

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20240197076
  • Publication Number
    20240197076
  • Date Filed
    January 30, 2023
    a year ago
  • Date Published
    June 20, 2024
    4 months ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • ULIFE HEALTHCARE INC.
Abstract
A foldable bed includes a base frame unit including first and second frame bodies. A sliding unit includes a first sliding frame that is disposed on the first frame body, and a second sliding frame that is connected to the first sliding frame and that is disposed on the second frame body. A bed board unit includes a front bed board and a rear bed board that are connected to each other. A linkage mechanism is connected to the sliding unit and the bed board unit. The foldable bed is operable between an unfolded state, where the first and second frame bodies are aligned with each other, and a folded state, where the first frame body, the second frame body, the first sliding frame, the second sliding frame, the front bed board, and the rear bed board are stacked.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 111214119, filed on Dec. 20, 2022.


FIELD

The disclosure relates to a foldable bed, and more particularly to a foldable bed with a sliding unit.


BACKGROUND

Referring to FIG. 1, a lumbar-support bed, as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. M525120U, includes a bed frame unit 10, a base frame 11 that is disposed on and slidable in a front-rear direction (D) relative to the bed frame unit 10 through rollers 111, a backrest support frame 12 that is pivotally connected to a front end of the bed frame 11, a linkage mechanism 13 that is composed of link rods and that is connected between the backrest support frame 12 and the bed frame unit 10, and an electric actuator 14 that is connected to the linkage mechanism 13. The electric actuator 14 drives the linkage mechanism 13 to enable rotation of the backrest support frame 12 together with forward movement of the front end of the bed frame 11 with respect to the bed frame 10, thereby adjusting the lumbar-support bed to a reclined state.


However, because the lumbar-support bed cannot be folded, the lumbar-support bed occupies a relatively large space, thereby being inconvenient for storage thereof.


SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a foldable bed that is electrically activated and that may easily be stored.


According to the disclosure, a foldable bed includes a base frame unit, a sliding unit, a bed board unit, and a linkage mechanism.


The base frame unit includes a first frame body and a second frame body that are arranged in a front-rear direction and that are pivotally connected to each other to be foldable relative to each other.


The sliding unit is disposed on and slidable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base frame unit. The sliding unit includes a first sliding frame and a second sliding frame. The first sliding frame is disposed atop the first frame body in a top-bottom direction transverse to the front-rear direction, and has a plurality of first rollers slidably disposed on the first frame body such that the first sliding frame is slidable along the first frame body. The second sliding frame is pivotally connected to the first sliding frame and is disposed atop the second frame body in the top-bottom direction. The second sliding frame has a plurality of second rollers that are slidably disposed on the second frame such that the second sliding frame is slidable along the second frame body.


The bed board unit is movably disposed on the sliding unit. The bed board unit includes a front bed board and a rear bed board that are arranged in the front-rear direction and that are pivotally connected to each other.


The linkage mechanism is connected to the sliding unit and the bed board unit. The linkage mechanism is operable for driving one of the front and rear bed boards to rotate relative to the base frame unit and to simultaneously drive the sliding unit to slide relative to the base frame unit.


The foldable bed is operable between an unfolded state, where the first and second frame bodies are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction, and a folded state, where the first frame body, the second frame body, the first sliding frame, the second sliding frame, the front bed board, and the rear bed board are stacked in the top-bottom direction.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.



FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a lumbar-support bed as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. M525120U.



FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a foldable bed according to an embodiment of the disclosure.



FIG. 3 is a partly sectional side view of the embodiment, illustrating a bed board unit of the foldable bed in a flat horizontal state.



FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating a base frame unit, a sliding unit, and leg units of the foldable bed in an unfolded state.



FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment illustrating the base frame unit and the sliding unit.



FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating a positioning set connected to a first fame body and a second frame body of the base frame unit.



FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the positioning set removed from the first fame body and the second frame body.



FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating the bed board unit in a reclined state when the foldable bed is in the unfolded state.



FIG. 9 is a partly sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating the bed board unit in the reclined state when the foldable bed is in the unfolded state.



FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating a base frame unit, a sliding unit, and leg units of the foldable bed in an unfolded state while the bed board unit is omitted therefrom.



FIG. 11 is a fragmentary and partly exploded perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating the leg units.



FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment, illustrating one of the leg units.



FIG. 13 is a side view of the embodiment illustrating the foldable bed in a folded state.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.


It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “over,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.



FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a foldable bed of an embodiment according to the disclosure. The foldable bed includes a base frame unit 2, a sliding unit 3, a bed board unit 4, a linkage mechanism 5, and a plurality of leg units 6. The foldable table is operable between an unfolded state (see FIG. 2) and a folded state (see FIG. 13).


The base frame unit 2 includes a first frame body 21 and a second frame body 22 that are arranged in a front-rear direction (X) and that are pivotally connected to each other.


Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the first frame body 21 has two first rails 211 and a first bottom rod 212. The two first rails 211 are spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction (Y) that is transverse to the front-rear direction (X). The first bottom rod 212 is connected between front end portions of the first rails 211. Each of the first rails 211 has an opening elongated in the front-rear direction (X); the openings of the first rails 211 open outwardly in opposite directions away from each other. The second frame body 22 is disposed rearwardly of the first frame body 21, and has two second rails 221 and two second bottom rods 222. The two second rails 221 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Y), and are respectively and pivotally connected to laterally-inner peripheries of inner rear end portions of the first rails 211. One of the two second bottom rods 222 is connected between front end portions of the second rails 221, and the other second bottom rod 222 is connected between rear end portions of the second rails 221. Each second rail 221 has an opening elongated in the front-rear direction (X); the openings of the second rails 221 open toward each other. In this embodiment, a width (W1) of the first frame body 21 in the left-right direction (Y) is greater than a width (W2) of the second frame body 22 in the left-right direction (Y), so that the second frame body 22 may come in contact with the laterally-inner peripheries of the first rails 211 when being rotated relative to the first frame body 21, thereby reducing a dimension of the base frame unit 2 in the front-rear direction (X). In other embodiments, the width (W1) of the first frame body 21 may be smaller than the width (W2) of the second frame body 22 as long as the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 may be stacked on one another.


The base frame unit 2 further includes two base pivot members 23 and a positioning set 24. The two base pivot members 23 are aligned with each other in an axial line (L) extending in a left-right direction (Y), and serve as a pivot for pivot action of the first and second frame bodies 21, 22. One of the base pivot members 23 interconnects a left part of the first frame body 21 and a left part of the second frame body 22; the other one of the base pivot members 23 interconnects a right part of the first frame body 21 and a right part of the second frame body 22. In this embodiment, the inner rear end portions of the first rails 211 and the front end portions of the second rails 221 are pivotally connected to each other by the base pivot member 23.


Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the positioning set 24 is removably connected to the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 for securing the foldable bed in the unfolded state. The positioning set 24 has an inserting rod 241 and a spring clip 242. The inserting rod 241 is inserted through the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 in the left-right direction (Y). The spring clip 242 is removably inserted into the inserting rod 241 so as to prevent detachment of the inserting rod 241 from the first and second frame bodies 21, 22. The inserting rod 241 is spaced apart from and situated below the base pivot members 23 in a top-bottom direction (Z) that is transverse to the front-rear direction (X) and the left-right direction (Y). When the spring clip 242 is inserted into the inserting rod 241 that is inserted through the first and second frame bodies 21, 22, the inserting rod 241 prevents the pivot action of the first and second frame bodies 21, 22. When the spring clip 242 is removed from the inserting rod 241, the inserting rod 241 may be removed from the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 so that the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 are pivotally rotatable about the pivot formed by the base pivot members 23 so as to move toward or away from each other. In other embodiments, two of the positioning sets 24 may be respectively mounted to left and right sides of the base frame unit 2; the positioning sets 24 may be replaced by other components equivalent thereto.


Referring back to FIGS. 3 to 5, the sliding unit 3 is disposed on and slidable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base frame unit 2, and includes a first sliding frame 31, a second sliding frame 32, and two slide pivot mechanisms 33.


The first sliding frame 31 is slidably disposed atop the first frame body 21 in the top-bottom direction (Z), and has a first connecting seat 311 and four first rollers 312. The first connecting seat 311 is connected to and spans the first rails 211. The first connecting seat 311 has a first main seat body 313 that spans the first rails 211, and two sliding strips 314 that are respectively fixed to left and right sides of the first main body 313. The sliding strips 314 extend in the front-rear direction (X) and are respectively parallel to the first rails 211. The first rollers 312 are rotatably mounted to the sliding strips 314 of the first connecting seat 311 and are slidably disposed on laterally-outer peripheries of the first rails 211 such that the first sliding frame 31 is slidable along the first frame body 21.


The second sliding frame 32 is pivotally connected to the first sliding frame 31 and is slidably disposed atop the second frame body 22 in the top-bottom direction (Z). The second sliding frame 32 has a second connecting seat 321 and four second rollers 322. The second connecting seat 321 is disposed above the second frame body 22, and has a second main seat body 323 and four extension strips 324. The second main seat body 323 is hollow rectangular in shape and is disposed above and between the second rails 221 in the left-right direction (Y). Two of the extension strips 324 are forwardly and rearwardly spaced apart from each other, and are fixed to and extend downwardly from a left side of the second main seat body 323. The other extension strips 324 are forwardly and rearwardly spaced apart from each other, and are fixed to and extend downwardly from a right side of the second main seat body 323. The second rollers 322 are respectively and rotatable mounted to the extension strips 324 of the second connecting seat 321 and are slidably disposed on laterally-inner peripheries of the second rails 221 of the second frame body 22 such that the second sliding frame 32 is slidable along the second frame body 22.


The slide pivot mechanisms 33 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Y), and are connected to the first sliding frame 31 and the second sliding frame 32. Each of the slide pivot mechanisms 33 has a first pivot plate 331 that is fixed to the first main body 313, and a second pivot plate 332 that is pivotally connected to the first pivot plate 331 and that is fixed to the second main seat body 323. In this embodiment, for each of the pivot mechanisms 33, the first pivot plate 331 extends rearwardly from the first sliding frame 31 toward the second sliding frame 32, and has a distal end portion bent downwardly; the second pivot plate 332 extends forwardly from the second sliding frame 32 toward the first sliding frame 31, and has a distal end portion bent downwardly. A junction 330 of the first and second pivot plates 331, 332 of the slide pivot mechanisms 33 is formed at the distal end portions of the first and second pivot plates 331, 332 of the slide pivot mechanisms 33. The first pivot plate 331 and the second pivot plate 332 of each of the slide pivot mechanisms 33 are mirror-symmetrical to each other with respect to the junction 330. Because the first and second sliding frames 31, 32 are pivotally connected to each other by the slide pivot mechanisms 33, moving the first sliding frame 31 to slide relative to the first frame body 21 may drive the second sliding frame 32 to slide relative to the second frame body 22.


Referring to FIG. 8 in combination with FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed board unit 4 is movably disposed on the sliding unit 3. The bed board unit 4 includes a front bed board 41 and a rear bed board 42 that are arranged in the front-rear direction (X) and that are pivotally connected to each other. The front and rear bed boards 41, 42 are movable relative to the base frame unit 2. The front bed board 41 has three plates: one plate of the front board 41 is fixed to the first sliding frame 31; the other two plates of the front board 41 are disposed forwardly of the plate of the front board 41 and are pivotally connected to the first sliding frame 31 and movable with respect to the base frame unit 2. The rear bed board 42 has three plates: one plate of the rear board 42 is fixed to the second sliding frame 32; the other two plates of the rear board 42 are disposed rearwardly of the plate of the rear board 42 and are pivotally connected to the second sliding frame 32 and movable with respect to the base frame unit 2. In other embodiments, only the front bed board 41 may be movable relative to the base frame unit 2. Since detailed construction of the front and rear bed boards 41, 42 is known in the art and has various variations, it can be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the above description that the details can be omitted, which is not further illustrated.


The linkage mechanism 5 is connected to the sliding unit 3 and the bed board unit 4. The linkage mechanism 5 is electrically operable for driving the front and rear bed boards 41, 42 to rotate relative to the base frame unit 2 and to simultaneously drive the sliding unit 3 to slide relative to the base frame unit 2. In this embodiment, the front and rear bed boards 41, 42 are driven by electric actuators and link rods of the linkage mechanism 5 to move between a flat horizontal state (see FIG. 2) and a reclined state (see FIG. 8). Since detailed construction and linkage relationship of the linkage mechanism 5 are existing techniques and have a variety of variations, it can be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the above description that the expansion details are not further illustrated.


Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 in combination with FIG. 3, when the foldable bed of the disclosure is in the unfolded state, and when the linkage mechanism 5 is operated to drive the front and rear bed boards 41, 42 to move from the flat horizontal state (see FIG. 3) to the reclined state (see FIG. 9), the front bed board 41 not only is rotatable relative to the base frame unit 2, but also drives the first sliding frame 31 together with the second sliding frame 32 to slide forwardly relative to the base frame unit 2.


Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 in combination with FIG. 10, the leg units 6 are removably mounted to a bottom end of the base frame unit 2. In this embodiment, two of the leg units 6 are removably mounted to a front bottom end of the first frame body 21; four of the leg units 6 are removably and respectively mounted to four bottom corners of the second frame body 22.


Each of the leg units 6 includes a first tubular leg set 61 and two second tubular leg sets 62. The first tubular leg set 61 has a first tubular body 611 that extends in the top-bottom direction (Z), a first connecting member 612 that is fixed to a top end of the first tubular body 611, and a leg pad 613 that is fixed to a bottom end of the first connecting member 612. The second tubular leg sets 62 are connected to each other; one of the second tubular leg sets 62 is removably mounted to the first tubular leg set 61; the other second tubular leg set 62 is removably mounted to the base frame unit 2. Each of the second tubular leg sets 62 includes a connecting head 621, a second tubular body 622 that extends in the top-bottom direction (Z) and that has a bottom end portion sleeved on the connecting head 621, and a second connecting member 623 that is fixed to a top end of the second tubular body 622. Regarding the second tubular leg set 62 removably mounted to the first tubular leg set 61, the connecting head 621 thereof is removably fastened to the first connecting member 612 of the first tubular leg set 61. The other second tubular leg set 62 is removably mounted to the base frame unit 2 by the second connecting member 623 thereof, and the connecting head 621 of the other second tubular leg set 62 is removably fastened to the second connecting member 623 of the second tubular leg set 62 that is mounted to the first tubular leg 61. By virtue of combining the first tubular legs 61 and multiple second tubular legs 62, a height of the leg units 6 is selectively adjustable.


Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 5, when the foldable bed of the disclosure is in the unfolded state, the first and second frame bodies 21, 22 are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction (X); the sliding unit 3 is slidable relative to the base frame unit 2. When the front and rear bed boards 41, 42 are moved to the flat horizontal state as the foldable bed is in the unfolded state, and when the junction 330 of the first and second pivot plates 331, 332 is moved, via operation of the sliding unit 3, onto the axial line (L), the foldable bed is permitted to convert from the unfolded state to the folded state after the leg units 6 are removed from the base frame unit 2.


Referring to FIG. 13, when the foldable bed is in the folded state, the first frame body 21, the second frame body 22, the first sliding frame 31, the second sliding frame 32, the front bed board 41, and the rear bed board 42 are stacked in the top-bottom direction (Z).


Because an overall length of the foldable bed is reduced when the foldable bed is in the folded state, the foldable bed in the folded state occupies less space, thereby being convenient to be stored.


In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.


While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is(are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims
  • 1. A foldable bed comprising: a base frame unit including a first frame body and a second frame body that are arranged in a front-rear direction and that are pivotally connected to each other;a sliding unit disposed on and slidable forwardly and rearwardly relative to said base frame unit, said sliding unit including: a first sliding frame that is disposed atop said first frame body in a top-bottom direction transverse to the front-rear direction, and that has a plurality of first rollers slidably disposed on said first frame body such that said first sliding frame is slidable along said first frame body, anda second sliding frame that is pivotally connected to said first sliding frame and that is disposed atop said second frame body in the top-bottom direction, said second sliding frame having a plurality of second rollers that are slidably disposed on said second frame body such that said second sliding frame is slidable along said second frame body;a bed board unit movably disposed on said sliding unit, said bed board unit including a front bed board and a rear bed board that are arranged in the front-rear direction and that are pivotally connected to each other; anda linkage mechanism connected to said sliding unit and said bed board unit, said linkage mechanism being operable for driving one of said front and rear bed boards to rotate relative to said base frame unit and to simultaneously drive said sliding unit to slide relative to said base frame unit;wherein said foldable bed is operable between an unfolded state, where said first and second frame bodies are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction, and a folded state, where said first frame body, said second frame body, said first sliding frame, said second sliding frame, said front bed board, and said rear bed board are stacked in the top-bottom direction.
  • 2. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first frame body has two first rails that are spaced apart from each other in a left-right direction transverse to the front-rear direction and the top-bottom direction;said first sliding frame further has a first connecting seat that is connected to and spanning said first rails;said first rollers are mounted to said first connecting seat and are disposed on laterally-outer peripheries of said first rails;said second frame body has two second rails that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and that are respectively connected to said laterally-inner peripheries of said first rails;said second sliding frame further has a second connecting seat that is disposed above said second frame body; andsaid second rollers are mounted to said second connecting seat and are disposed on laterally-inner peripheries of said second rails.
  • 3. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of said first frame body in the left-right direction is greater than a width of said second frame body in the left-right direction.
  • 4. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said base frame unit further includes two base pivot members that are aligned with each other in an axial line extending in a left-right direction that is transverse to the front-rear direction and the top-bottom direction and that serve as a pivot for pivot action of said first and second frame bodies, one of said base pivot members interconnecting a left part of said first frame body and a left part of said second frame body, the other one of said base pivot members interconnecting a right part of said first frame body and a right part of said second frame body;said sliding unit further includes at least one slide pivot mechanism that has a first pivot plate fixed to said first sliding frame, and a second pivot plate pivotally connected to said first pivot plate and fixed to said second sliding frame; andwhen said foldable bed is in the unfolded state, and when a junction of said first and second pivot plates is moved, via operation of said sliding unit, onto the axial line, said foldable bed is permitted to convert from the unfolded state to the folded state.
  • 5. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said first pivot plate extends rearwardly from said first sliding frame toward said second sliding frame, and has a distal end portion bent downwardly; andsaid first pivot plate and said second pivot plate are mirror-symmetrical to each other with respect to said junction of said first and second pivot plates.
  • 6. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame unit further includes: two base pivot members that are aligned with each other in a left-right direction transverse to the front-rear direction and the top-bottom direction and that serve as a pivot for pivot action of said first and second frame bodies, one of said base pivot members interconnecting a left part of said first frame body and a left part of said second frame body, the other one of said base pivot members interconnecting a right part of said first frame body and a right part of said second frame body; anda positioning set that is removably connected to said first and second frame bodies for securing said foldable bed in the unfolded state.
  • 7. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 6, wherein said positioning set has: an inserting rod that is spaced apart from said base pivot members and that is inserted through said first and second frame bodies in the left-right direction; anda spring clip that is removably inserted into said inserting rod so as to prevent detachment of said inserting rod from said first and second frame bodies.
  • 8. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of leg units that are removably mounted to a bottom end of said base frame unit.
  • 9. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said leg units includes: a first tubular leg set having a first tubular body that extends in the top-bottom direction, and a first connecting member that is fixed to a top end of said first tubular body; andat least one second tubular leg set removably connected to said first tubular leg set, said at least one second tubular leg set having a connecting head that is removably fastened to said first connecting member, and a second tubular body that extends in the top-bottom direction and that has a bottom end portion sleeved on said connecting head.
  • 10. The foldable bed as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said at least one second tubular leg set includes two second tubular leg sets;one of said second tubular leg sets is removably connected to said first tubular leg set and further has a second connecting member fixed to a top thereof; andsaid connecting head of another one of said second tubular leg sets is removably fastened to said second connecting member of said one of said second tubular leg sets.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
111214119 Dec 2022 TW national