TREA

Foldable frame assembly

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Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6581223
  • Patent Number
    6,581,223
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 21, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 24, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Trettel; Michael F.
    Agents
    • Webb Ziesenhiem Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
Information
Abstract
A foldable frame assembly includes a plurality of parallel frame members, each of which has left and right columns. A plurality of coupling units are alternately disposed with the frame members, and each includes first left and right connecting rods and second left and right connecting rods. Each of the first left and right connecting rods has a first upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a first lower rod end that is opposite to the first upper rod end. Each of the second left and right connecting rods has a second upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a second lower rod end that is opposite to the second upper rod end and that is pivoted to the first lower rod end so as to permit folding and unfolding of the frame members relative to one another in the longitudinal direction.
Description




CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION




This application claims priority of Taiwan patent Application No. 91202884, filed on Mar. 12, 2002.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a foldable frame assembly, more particularly to a foldable frame assembly with a plurality of coupling units that permit folding of the foldable frame assembly to a relatively compact configuration to facilitate transport and storage of the foldable frame assembly.




2. Description of the Related Art





FIGS. 1 and 2

illustrate a conventional foldable frame assembly for a foldable bed. The foldable frame assembly includes a plurality of telescopic columns


8


which are arranged in rows and columns, which are interconnected by a plurality of connecting rods


9


, and which are extendable in a vertical direction (indicated by reference numeral Z in FIG.


1


). Two adjacent ones of the connecting rods


9


intersect, are pivoted to each other at the intersection, and have ends that are respectively pivoted to top and bottom ends of two respective ones of the telescopic columns


8


so as to be foldable in two lateral directions (indicated by reference numerals X and Y in FIG.


1


).




The conventional foldable frame assembly is disadvantageous in that a relatively large quantity of the telescopic columns


8


is needed in order to provide a sufficient supporting area to avoid collapse of the foldable bed at regions among the top ends of the telescopic columns


8


, which inevitably results in an increase in the number of the connecting rods


9


and the volume and the weight of the foldable frame assembly.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a foldable frame assembly that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.




Another object of this invention is to provide a foldable bed that includes the foldable frame assembly and an inflatable mattress.




According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable frame assembly that comprises: a plurality of parallel frame members which are aligned in a longitudinal direction and each of which has left and right columns, each of the left and right columns extending in a vertical direction and having opposite upper and lower column ends that are telescopically movable toward and away from each other; and a plurality of coupling units which are alternately disposed with the frame members in the longitudinal direction and each of which includes first left and right connecting rods and second left and right connecting rods. Each of the first left and right connecting ros has a first upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a first lower rod end that is opposite to the first upper rod end. Each of the second left and right connecting rods has a second upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a second lower rod end that is opposite to the second upper rod end and that is pivoted to the first lower rod end so as to permit folding and unfolding of the frame members relative to one another in the longitudinal direction.




According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable bed that comprises: a foldable frame assembly, a belt unit, and an inflatable mattress. The foldable frame assembly includes: a plurality of parallel frame members, a plurality of coupling units, and a plurality of auxiliary supporting members. The frame members are aligned in a longitudinal direction, and each has left and right columns and parallel upper and lower beams. Each of the left and right columns extends in a vertical direction, and has opposite upper and lower column ends that are telescopically movable toward and away from each other. The upper and lower beams extend in a transverse direction, and interconnect the upper column ends of the left and right columns and the lower column ends of the left and right columns, respectively. Each of the coupling units includes first left and right connecting rods, second left and right connecting rods, third left and right connecting rods, fourth left and right connecting rods, left and right upper joints, left and right lower joints, and a cross-rod. Each of the first left and right connecting rods has a first upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a first lower rod end that is opposite to the first upper rod end. Each of the second left and right connecting rods has a second upper rod end that is pivoted to the upper column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members, and a second lower rod end that is opposite to the second upper rod end and that is pivoted to the first lower rod end. Each of the third left and right connecting rods has a third upper rod end and a third lower rod end that is pivoted to the lower column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of said one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members, and intersects a respective one of the first left and right connecting rods. Each of the fourth left and right connecting rods has a fourth upper rod end that is pivoted to the third upper rod end, and a fourth lower rod end that is pivoted to the lower column end of a respective one of the left and right columns of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members, and intersects a respective one of the second left and right connecting rods. The first and second lower rod ends are pivoted to each other via a respective one of the left and right lower joints. The third and fourth upper rod ends are pivoted to each other via a respective one of the left and right upper joints. The cross-rod interconnects the left and right lower joints. The auxiliary supporting members are respectively pivoted to the frame members, and each includes a post that is spaced apart from a respective one of the left and right columns in the transverse direction and that has upper and lower post ends, and parallel upper and lower rafters extending in the transverse direction. The upper rafter has two opposite ends respectively pivoted to the upper post end of the post and the upper column end of the respective one of the left and right columns. The lower rafter has two opposite ends respectively pivoted to the lower post end of the post and the lower column end of the respective one of the left and right columns. The belt unit includes a plurality of elastic belts which are arranged in rows and columns and which are detachably secured to the upper post ends of the posts. The inflatable mattress is detachably secured to the belt unit.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention,





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a conventional foldable frame assembly in an extended position;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the foldable frame assembly in a folded position;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a foldable bed embodying this invention, in an extended position;





FIGS. 4 and 5

are perspective views to illustrate how a foldable frame assembly of the foldable bed of

FIG. 3

is folded;





FIGS. 6

to


9


are fragmentary perspective views to illustrate how an auxiliary supporting member of the foldable frame assembly of

FIG. 4

is designed in order to be foldable;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of the foldable bed of

FIG. 3

with a belt unit secured thereto;





FIG. 11

is a fragmentary perspective view to illustrate how a mattress is secured to the belt unit of the foldable bed of

FIG. 3

via a button unit;





FIG. 12

is a fragmentary perspective view of the auxiliary supporting member of

FIG. 6

with a torsion spring to facilitate folding of the auxiliary supporting member;





FIGS. 13 and 14

are perspective views of a restoring unit of the foldable bed of

FIG. 3

; and





FIGS. 15 and 16

are perspective views of the foldable bed with an inflatable mattress and a plastic sheet that forms a casing to enclose the foldable frame assembly and the inflatable mattress when the foldable bed is folded.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIGS. 3

to


5


illustrate a preferred embodiment of a foldable bed of this invention. The foldable bed includes a foldable frame assembly, a belt unit


41


(see FIG.


10


), and a mattress


4


.




The foldable frame assembly includes: a plurality of parallel frame members


1


, a plurality of coupling units


2


, and a plurality of auxiliary supporting members


3


.




The frame members


1


are aligned in a longitudinal direction, and each has left and right columns


11


and parallel upper and lower beams


12


. Each of the left and right columns


11


extends in a vertical direction, and has opposite upper and lower column ends


111


,


112


that are telescopically movable toward and away from each other (see FIGS.


3


and


5


). The upper and lower beams


12


extend in a transverse direction, and interconnect the upper column ends


111


of the left and right columns


11


and the lower column ends


112


of the left and right columns


11


, respectively.




Each of the coupling units


2


includes first left and right connecting rods


211


, second left and right connecting rods


212


, third left and right connecting rods


213


, fourth left and right connecting rods


214


, left and right upper joints


21


, left and right lower joints


24


, and a cross-rod


23


. Each of the first left and right connecting rods


211


has a first upper rod end


2111


that is pivoted to the upper column end


111


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


, and a first lower rod end


2112


that is opposite to the first upper rod end


2111


. Each of the second left and right connecting rods


212


has a second upper rod end


2121


that is pivoted to the upper column end


111


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


, and a second lower rod end


2122


that is opposite to the second upper rod end


2121


and that is pivoted to the first lower rod end


2112


so as to permit folding and unfolding of the frame members


1


relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. Each of the third left and right connecting rods


213


has a third upper rod end


2131


and a third lower rod end


2132


that is opposite to the third upper rod end


2131


and that is pivoted to the lower column end


112


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


, and intersects a respective one of the first left and right connecting rods


211


. Each of the fourth left and right connecting rods


214


has a fourth upper rod end


2141


that is pivoted to the third upper rod end


2131


, and a fourth lower rod end


2142


that is opposite to the fourth upper rod end


2141


and that is pivoted to the lower column end


112


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


. Each of the fourth left and right connecting rods


214


intersects a respective one of the second left and right connecting rods


212


so as to provide a stable supporting structure for the foldable frame assembly.




The first lower rod end


2112


of each of the first left and right connecting rods


211


and the second lower rod end


2122


of each of the second left and right connecting rods


212


are pivoted to each other via a respective one of the left and right lower joints


24


. The third upper rod end


2131


of each of the third left and right connecting rods


213


and the fourth upper rod end


2141


of each of the fourth connecting rods


214


are pivoted to each other via a respective one of the left and right upper joints


21


. The cross-rod


23


interconnects the left and right lower joints


24


.




The auxiliary supporting members


3


are respectively pivoted to the frame members


1


, and each includes a post


32


that is spaced apart from a respective one of the left and right columns


11


in the transverse direction and that has upper and lower post ends


321


,


322


, and parallel upper and lower rafters


31


,


33


extending in the transverse direction. The upper rafter


31


has two opposite ends


311


,


312


respectively pivoted to the upper post end


321


of the post


32


and the upper column end


111


of the respective one of the left and right columns


11


. The lower rafter


33


has two opposite ends


331


,


332


respectively pivoted to the lower post end


322


of the post


32


and the lower column end


112


of the respective one of the left and right columns


11


so as to permit folding and unfolding of each of the auxiliary supporting members


3


relative to the respective one of the frame members


1


in the transverse direction.




Referring to

FIGS. 6

to


9


, one of the opposite ends


311


of the upper rafter


31


and the upper post end


321


of the post


32


of each of the auxiliary supporting members


3


are pivoted to each other via a coupler


30


. The coupler


30


includes a tubular body


301


that has top and bottom ends


3011


,


3012


and that is formed with a notch


36


which extends upwardly from the bottom end


3012


toward the top end


3011


and which is confined by a notch-confining wall. The upper post end


321


of the post


32


of each of the auxiliary supporting members


3


extends into the bottom end


3012


of the tubular body


301


. The tubular body


301


is further formed with a pair of opposing guide grooves


34


in the notch-confining wall. The guide grooves


34


have bottom ends adjacent to the bottom end


3012


of the tubular body


301


. The tubular body


301


further has a bar piece


35


that has two opposite ends slidably retained in the guide grooves


34


in such a manner that the bar piece


35


falls down to the bottom ends of the guide grooves


34


(see

FIG. 7

) by virtue of gravity so as to prevent rotation of the post


32


relative to the tubular body


301


when the foldable frame assembly is positioned at an unfolding position and that the bar piece


35


can be lifted (see

FIG. 9

) by an external force so as to permit rotation of the post


32


relative to the tubular body


301


.




Referring to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a plurality of sliding members


25


are slidably and respectively mounted on the lower beams


12


of the frame members


1


. A plurality of first and second stretchers


26


,


27


are alternately disposed with and interconnect the frame members


1


. Each of the first stretchers


26


has two opposite ends


261


,


262


respectively pivoted to the lower column end


112


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of one of two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


and the sliding member


25


mounted on the lower beam


12


of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


. Each of the second stretchers


27


intersects a respective one of the first stretchers


26


, and has two opposite ends


271


,


272


respectively pivoted to the lower column end


112


of a respective one of the left and right columns


11


of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


and the sliding member


25


mounted on the lower beam


12


of said one of the two adjacent ones of the frame members


1


.




Referring to

FIGS. 10 and 11

, the belt unit


41


includes a plurality of elastic belts which are arranged in rows and columns and which are detachably secured to the upper post ends


321


of the posts


32


via screw means


45


extending through the elastic belts and into the coupler


30


on the upper post end


321


of a respective one of the left and right posts


32


. The mattress


4


is detachably secured to the belt unit


41


via a plurality of button units


42


, each of which engages a slit


411


formed in the elastic belts at a position disposed over the upper post end


321


of a respective one of the posts


32


.




Referring to

FIG. 12

, a torsion spring


36


is mounted on a pivot joint


16


that interconnects the upper beam


12


and one of the left and right columns


11


of each of the frame members


1


for urging the upper rafter


31


of a respective one of the auxiliary supporting members


3


so as to facilitate folding of the auxiliary supporting members


3


relative to the frame members


1


.




Referring to

FIGS. 13 and 14

, a restoring unit is mounted on the frame members


1


, and includes a spring-biased reel


52


which is mounted on the lower beam


12


of a frontmost one of the frame members


1


, and a line


51


which winds around the reel


52


and which has one end secured to the lower beam


12


of a rearmost one of the frame members


1


distal from the frontmost one of the frame members


1


so as to facilitate folding of the frame members


1


in the longitudinal direction.




Referring to

FIGS. 15 and 16

, the mattress


4


is inflatable, and is provided with an air pump


7


which is mounted on a plastic sheet


6


for inflating the mattress


4


. The plastic sheet


6


has a base portion


60


with a plurality of side edges, and a plurality of side portions


61


which extend from the side edges of the base portion


60


, respectively, and which have peripheral edges that are interconnected via a closure unit (not shown) secured to and extending along lengths of the peripheral edges of the side portions


61


for enclosing the foldable frame assembly, the belt unit


41


, and the inflatable mattress


4


when the foldable frame assembly is positioned at a folding position so as to facilitate transport of the foldable frame assembly. The plastic sheet


6


is provided with handles


62


and rollers


63


on the side portions


61


.




With the inclusion of the upper and lower beams


12


and the coupling units


2


in the foldable frame assembly, the aforesaid drawbacks as encountered in the prior art can be eliminated.




With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as recited in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A foldable frame assembly comprising:a plurality of parallel frame members which are aligned in a longitudinal direction and each of which has left and right columns that extend in a vertical direction, each of said left and right columns having opposite upper and lower column ends that are telescopically movable toward and away from each other; and a plurality of coupling units which are alternately disposed with said frame members in the longitudinal direction and each of which includes: first left and right connecting rods, each of which has a first upper rod end that is pivoted to said upper column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a first lower rod end that is opposite to said first upper rod end, and second left and right connecting rods, each of which has a second upper rod end that is pivoted to said upper column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of the other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a second lower rod end that is opposite to said second upper rod end and that is pivoted to said first lower rod end so as to permit folding and unfolding of said frame members relative to one another in the longitudinal direction.
  • 2. The foldable frame assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said coupling units further includes:third left and right connecting rods, each of which has a third lower rod end that is pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of said one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a third upper rod end that is opposite to said third lower rod end, and each of which intersects a respective one of said first left and right connecting rods, and fourth left and right connecting rods, each of which has a fourth lower rod end that is pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of said other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a fourth upper rod end that is opposite to said fourth lower rod end and that is pivoted to said third upper rod end, and each of which intersects a respective one of said second left and right connecting rods so as to provide a stable supporting structure for said foldable frame assembly.
  • 3. The foldable frame assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said frame members further has parallel upper and lower beams extending in a transverse direction and interconnecting said upper column ends of said left and right columns and said lower column ends of said left and right columns, respectively.
  • 4. The foldable frame assembly of claim 3, wherein each of said coupling units further includes left and right upper joints and left and right lower joints, said first and second lower rod ends being pivoted to each other via a respective one of said left and right lower joints, said third and fourth upper rod ends being pivoted to each other via a respective one of said left and right upper joints, each of said coupling units further including a cross-rod which interconnects said left and right lower joints.
  • 5. The foldable frame assembly of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary supporting members which are respectively pivoted to said frame members and each of which includes a post that is spaced apart from a respective one of said left and right columns in the transverse direction and that has upper and lower post ends, and parallel upper and lower rafters extending in the transverse direction, said upper rafter having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said upper post end of said post and said upper column end of the respective one of said left and right columns, said lower rafter having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said lower post end of said post and said lower column end of the respective one of said left and right columns so as to permit folding and unfolding of each of said auxiliary supporting members relative to the respective one of said frame members in the transverse direction.
  • 6. The foldable frame assembly of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of sliding members that are slidably and respectively mounted on said lower beams of said frame members, and a plurality of first and second stretchers, each of said first stretchers having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of said frame members and said sliding member mounted on said lower beam of the other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, each of said second stretchers intersecting a respective one of said first stretchers, and having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of the other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members and said sliding member mounted on said lower beam of said one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members.
  • 7. The foldable frame assembly of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary supporting members which are respectively pivoted to said frame members and each of which includes a coupler, a post that is spaced apart from a respective one of said left and right columns in the transverse direction and that has an upper post end pivoted to said coupler, and a rafter extending in the transverse direction and having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said coupler and said upper column end of the respective one of said left and right columns so as to permit folding and unfolding of each of said auxiliary supporting members relative to the respective one of said frame members in the transverse direction, said coupler including a tubular body that has top and bottom ends and that is formed with a notch which extends upwardly from said bottom end toward said top end and which is confined by a notch-confining wall, said upper post end of said post extending into said bottom end of said tubular body, said tubular body being further formed with a pair of opposing guide grooves in said notch-confining wall, said guide grooves having bottom ends adjacent to said bottom end of said tubular body, said tubular body further having a bar piece that has two opposite ends slidably retained in said guide grooves in such a manner that said bar piece falls down to said bottom ends of said guide grooves by virtue of gravity so as to prevent rotation of said post relative to said tubular body when said foldable frame assembly is positioned at an unfolding position and that said bar piece can be lifted by an external force so as to permit rotation of said post relative to said tubular body.
  • 8. The foldable frame assembly of claim 5, further comprising a belt unit that includes a plurality of elastic belts which are arranged in rows and columns and which are detachably secured to said upper post ends of said posts.
  • 9. The foldable frame assembly of claim 8, further comprising a restoring unit that includes a spring-biased reel which is mounted on said lower beam of a frontmost one of said frame members, and a line which winds around said reel and which has one end secured to said lower beam of a rearmost one of said frame members distal from said frontmost one of said frame members.
  • 10. A foldable bed comprising:a foldable frame assembly including: a plurality of parallel frame members which are aligned in a longitudinal direction and each of which has left and right columns and parallel upper and lower beams, each of said left and right columns extending in a vertical direction and having opposite upper and lower column ends that are telescopically movable toward and away from each other, said upper and lower beams extending in a transverse direction and interconnecting said upper column ends of said left and right columns and said lower column ends of said left and right columns, respectively; a plurality of coupling units which are alternately disposed with said frame members in the longitudinal direction and each of which includes: first left and right connecting rods, each of which has a first upper rod end that is pivoted to said upper column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of one of two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a first lower rod end that is opposite to said first upper rod end, second left and right connecting rods, each of which has a second upper rod end that is pivoted to said upper column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of the other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, and a second lower rod end that is opposite to said second upper rod end and that is pivoted to said first lower rod end, third left and right connecting rods, each of which has a third upper rod end and a third lower rod end that is pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of said one of said two adjacent ones of said frame members, and each of which intersects a respective one of said first left and right connecting rods, fourth left and right connecting rods, each of which has a fourth upper rod end that is pivoted to said third upper rod end, and a fourth lower rod end that is pivoted to said lower column end of a respective one of said left and right columns of said other one of said two adjacent ones of said frame embers, and each of which intersects a respective one of said second left and right connecting rods so as to provide a stable supporting structure for said foldable frame assembly, left and right upper joints and left and right lower joints, said first and second lower rod ends being pivoted to each other via a respective one of said left and right lower joints, said third and fourth upper rod ends being pivoted to each other via a respective one of said left and right upper joints, and a cross-rod interconnecting said left and right lower joints; and a plurality of auxiliary supporting members which are respectively pivoted to said frame members and each of which includes a post that is spaced apart from a respective one of said left and right columns in the transverse direction and that has upper and lower post ends, and parallel upper and lower rafters extending in the transverse direction, said upper rafter having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said upper post end of said post and said upper column end of the respective one of said left and right columns, said lower rafter having two opposite ends respectively pivoted to said lower post end of said post and said lower column end of the respective one of said left and right columns; and a belt unit that includes a plurality of elastic belts which are arranged in rows and columns and which are detachably secured to said upper post ends of said posts.
  • 11. The foldable bed of claim 10, further comprising an inflatable mattress detachably secured to said belt unit.
  • 12. The foldable bed of claim 11, further comprising a plastic sheet that has a base portion with a plurality of side edges, and a plurality of side portions which extend from said side edges of said base portion, respectively, and which have peripheral edges that are capable of being interconnected for enclosing said foldable frame assembly, said belt unit, and said inflatable mattress when said foldable frame assembly is positioned at a folding position.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
091202884 U Mar 2002 TW
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3064667 Marino Nov 1962 A
4243263 Thiboutot Jan 1981 A
4594743 Owen et al. Jun 1986 A
6446282 Wu Sep 2002 B1
6457192 Choi et al. Oct 2002 B2