Example embodiments relate generally to furniture objects configured to store foldable beds.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to example embodiments and may not constitute prior art.
Often, furniture apparatuses capable of more than one function are used in environments (e.g., residential, commercial, etc.) where space is limited. For example, foldable beds, such as sofa beds, futon beds or other like, may be used in such environments as sitting furniture (e.g., couches, sofas, etc.) and lying and/or sleeping furniture (e.g., beds, etc.). In such environments, these foldable beds may make more efficient use of the limited space and may relieve the need for additional furniture. However, even these foldable beds may take up too much space in certain environments.
Some example embodiments relate to a chest configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, the chest forming an enclosure configured to store a foldable mattress.
In some example embodiments, the chest includes a top panel, a front panel, and side panels, the top panel configured to be manually lifted off of the chest to form a lower portion of a sleeping platform, the front panel including an upper front panel hingedly connected to a lower front panel; and a back panel hingably connected to the side panels.
In some example embodiments, the back panel is hingably connected to a rear portion of the side panels, and at least the lower front panel is connected between a front portion of the side panels such that at least the lower front panel holds the side panels in a position perpendicular to the back panel.
In some example embodiments, the back panel is a headboard when the chest is in the open position.
In some example embodiments, the top panel includes legs extending in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the top panel such that the top surface and the legs are liftable as one unitary piece off of the chest, wherein the legs of the top panel are configured to support the lower portion of the sleeping platform.
In some example embodiments, the chest further includes a folding slat deck within the enclosure, the folding slat deck configured to transition between an unfolded state and a folded state such that the folding slat deck separates the enclosure into a top portion and bottom portion when the folding slat deck is in the unfolded state, and combines the top portion and the bottom portion of the enclosure into a single usable space when the folding slat deck is in the folded state.
In some example embodiments, the folding slat deck forms an upper portion of the sleeping platform when the folding slat deck is in the unfolded state.
In some example embodiments, the foldable mattress is storable in the single usable space when the folding slat deck is in the folded state.
In some example embodiments, the chest further includes the foldable mattress, the foldable mattress configured to transition between a folded position and an unfolded position based on whether the chest is in the closed position and the open position, respectively.
In some example embodiments, the foldable mattress is in the folded position when stored in the enclosure, and the foldable mattress is in the unfolded position when the foldable mattress is supported by the sleeping platform.
In some example embodiments, the front panel is configured to transition between an upward position and a downward position, the front panel configured to form a middle portion of the sleeping platform when the front panel is in the downward position.
In some example embodiments, the upper front panel is configured to transition between the upward position and the downward position.
Some example embodiments relate to a kit configured to form a chest that transitions between an open position and a closed position.
In some example embodiments, the kit includes a first portion including a back panel and side panels hingably connected thereto; a front panel including an upper front panel and a lower front panel, the lower front panel configured to connect between a front portion of the side panels such that at least the lower front panel holds the side panels in a position perpendicular to the back panel, the upper front panel being hingedly connected to the lower front panel such that the upper front panel is transitionable between an upward position and a downward position; and a top panel configured to be manually placed on top of at least the back panel and the side panels to form an enclosure to store a foldable mattress when the upper front panel is in the upward position, and to be manually lifted off the chest to form a lower portion of a sleeping platform along with the lower front panel when the lower front panel is in the downwards position.
In some example embodiments, the kit includes a folding slat deck configured to pivotably connect to each of the side panels such that the folding slat deck pivots in a second direction opposite a first direction in which the side panels are configured to pivot with respect to the back panel.
In some example embodiments, when the folding slat deck is pivotably connected to each of the side panels, the folding slat deck is configured to transition between an unfolded state and a folded state such that the folding slat deck separates the enclosure into a top portion and bottom portion when the folding slat deck is in the unfolded state, and combines the top portion and the bottom portion of the enclosure into a single usable space.
In some example embodiments, the folding slat deck forms an upper portion of the sleeping platform when the folding slat deck is in the unfolded state.
In some example embodiments, the kit further includes a foldable mattress, wherein the foldable mattress is storable in the single usable space when the folding slat deck is in the folded state.
In some example embodiments, the foldable mattress is in folded when stored in the enclosure, and the foldable mattress is unfolded when the foldable mattress is supported by the sleeping platform.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely an example and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, portion, or section from another element, component, region, portion, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, portion, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, portion, or section without departing from the scope of the example embodiments.
Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “upward,” “downward,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “forward,” “rearward,” and the like refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front,” “back,” “rear,” “bottom,” “side,” and the like describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first,” “second,” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.
Example embodiments relate to a furniture object configured to store a foldable bed. Example embodiments provide that the furniture object may be a chest, cabinet, coffer, trunk or any other like furniture object configured and/or adaptable to store a foldable bed. The furniture object described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built in a variety of shapes include any rectangular shape, square shape, and/or any other like shape. The furniture objects described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built using a variety of materials, such as wood, plastic, metal, minerals and/or any combination thereof.
Referring to
The top panel 110 includes one or more handles 111, for example two handles 111, used to manually lift the top panel 110 onto or off of the chest 100 to transition to the chest between the open position and the closed position. The handles 111 may be any type of handle, knob, latch, hook or and/or any other like protrusion or void that allows an operator to manually grip the top panel 110.
The top panel 110 may have legs 112 extending in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the top panel 110. The top panel may have a one piece design.
The front panel 120 includes an upper front panel 120A and a lower front panel 120B. As illustrated in
The upper front panel 120A may be configured to transition between an upward position in which the upper and lower front panels 120A, 120B are parallel, and a downward position in which the upper front panel 120A is perpendicular to the lower front panel 120B. The front panel may include one or more handles 123 that assist the operator opening the upper front panel 120A to the downward position. The handles 123 may be any type of handle, knob, latch, hook or and/or any other like protrusion or void that allows an operator to manually grip the top panel 110.
Further, as discussed below with reference to
The side panels 140 may be connected to the lower front panel 120B and the back panel 150 (see
The chest 100 in the closed position is configured store the foldable mattress 200 (see
Referring to
As discussed below, in the unfolded position, a sleeping platform may be arranged that includes an upper sleeping platform, a middle sleeping platform, and a lower sleeping platform, with a portion of the back panel 150 forming a headboard.
The folding leg assembly 130 may be connected to the front panel 120. For example, the folding leg assembly 130 may be connected to the upper front panel 120A of the front panel 120 via one or more or more hinges 124 or any other like mechanism that connects the folding leg assembly 130 to the front panel 120.
The folding leg assembly 130 may include legs 131 and handles 132. The handles 132 may be configured to assist in transitioning the upper front panel 120A between a raised and lowered state, and also folding and unfolding the folding leg assembly 130.
In regards to the middle sleeping platform, the folding leg assembly 130 is configured to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state depending on whether the chest 100 is in the closed or open position such that, in the unfolded position, the folding leg assembly 130 and the inside of the upper front panel 120A may extend horizontally on the same plane to form the middle sleeping platform.
In the unfolded state, the legs 131 may be configured to rest on a floor to support the middle sleeping platform. In the folded state (see
In some example embodiments, the height of the chest 100 may be reduced while still including a sleeping platform long enough to accommodate a conventional queen or king size mattress (e.g., 80 inches in length) by including the folding leg assembly 130 that is able to transition between the folded and unfolded states.
The folding slat deck 160 may include a plurality of slats 161 running in the lengthwise direction of the chest 100. The folding slat deck 160 may be pivotally connected to the side panels 140 via protrusions 142 protruding from the rear of side panels 140 connected to respective openings 162 in the rear of the folding slat deck 160. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, in other example embodiments, the protrusions 142 may be in the slat deck 160 and the openings 162 may be in the side panels 140. Further, in other example embodiments, the folding slat deck 160 may simply be manually liftable and/or foldable without including any pivotable connection between the folding slat deck 160 and the side panels 140.
By having the folding slat deck 160 foldable between the folded position and the unfolded position, the mattress 200 may sit substantially deeper in the enclosure until needed, thus, substantially reducing the height of the chest 100.
In regards to the upper sleeping platform, the folding slat deck 160 may transition between a folded position (see
The bottom slats 170 may be connected between the rear panel 150 and the front panel 120, for example, between a lower rear panel 150B and the lower front panel 120B. The bottom slats 170 may be arranged as several discrete slats 170 that allow for a light weight design while providing stability and hold the weight of the foldable mattress 200 when the mattress 200 is in the closed position, or alternatively, the bottom slats 170 may be one solid platform on an opposite side of the enclosure from the top panel 110.
In regards to the lower sleeping platform, the top panel 110 when manually lifted and removed from the enclosure, may be positioned against or near the front panel 120 in the unfolded state to form the lower sleeping platform.
Thus, the sleeping platform may be formed simply and without the costs associated with telescoping rails by having the top panel 110 manually removable from enclosure by simply lifting the same and placing the top panel 110 on the floor to form the lower sleeping platform, folding the upper front panel 120A down and the folding leg assembly 130 out to form the middle sleeping platform, and lowering the folding slat deck 160 onto the supports 141 to form the upper sleeping platform.
Referring to
Next, as illustrated in
Thereafter, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Thereafter, as illustrated in
Lastly, as illustrated in
As discussed above, the sleeping platform may be formed simply and without the costs associated with telescoping rails by having the top panel 110 manually removable from enclosure by simply lifting the same and placing the top panel 110 on the floor to form the lower sleeping platform, folding the upper front panel 120A down and the folding leg assembly 130 out to form the middle sleeping platform, and lowering the folding slat deck 160 onto the supports 141 to form the upper sleeping platform. Further, by having the folding slat deck 160 pivotable between the folded position and the unfolded position, the height of the chest 100 may be reduced by allowing the mattress 200 to sit substantially deeper in the enclosure until needed.
Referring to
The lift tray 180 may include a foldable shelf 181, a foldable leg 182, a support 183, and crossbars 184, the foldable shelf 181 and foldable leg 182 may be connected to a body of the lift tray 180 via one or more hinges 185. To setup the nightstand 180, the operator may raise the shelf 181 perpendicular to the side panel 140′, and move the foldable leg 182 from a folded position to the unfolded position to support the weight of the shelf 181 and items placed thereon. When not in use, the nightstand 180 may be collapsed by the operator moving the foldable leg 18 to the folded position and lowering the shelf 181 parallel with the side panel 140′.
In some example embodiments, the lift tray 180 may be a separate module that may be optionally purchased and installed on the chest 100. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in other example embodiments, the lift tray 180 may be manufactured with the chest 100.
Referring to
The chest 200 may also include the top panel 110, front panel 120, side panels 140, back panel 150, folding slat deck 160, and bottom slats 170 that are identical to the description of the same with regard to the chest 100. However, for the sake of brevity repeated description is omitted herein.
When the roll-out front panel 220 is in the upward position, the rear leg assembly 232 may extend within the enclosure in a direction parallel to the floor, and the lower leg assembly 230 may rest on the floor via the rollers 231.
As illustrated in
The chest 200 including the roll-out front panel 220 may have increased production efficiency as compared to the chest 100 that includes the hinged front panel 120.
Referring to
The top panel 310 may include a clawed edge 317, the hook-on front panel 320 may include protrusions 325 and clawed edges 326, 327, and each of the side panels 340 may include a divot 345 and a protrusion 346 on the front side of the side panels 340.
In the closed position, as illustrated in
In the open position, as illustrated in
The chest 300 including the hook-on front panel 320 may have increased production efficiency as compared to the chest 100 that includes the hinged front panel 120.
Referring to
The kit 400 may include a first section 410 which includes the back panel 150 and side panels 140 connected together via one or more hinges 411 such that the first section 410 is initially in the folded position to reduce the size of the disassembled kit 400.
In some example embodiments, the back panel 150 may include end-rails 151 attached to sides thereof thereto that extend in a direction perpendicular to the back panel 150 and the hinges 411 may be connected between the side panels 140 and the end rails 151.
To assemble the kit 400, a user may unfold the side panels 140 from the back panel 150, connect the slats 170 between the back panel 150 and the lower front panel 120B and connect each of the folding slat deck 160 and the lower front panel 120B to the side panels 110. Thereafter, the user may fold open the folding slat deck 160, place the mattress 200 within the enclosure, close the front panel 120, and position the top panel 110 onto the chest 100 to assemble the chest 100 in the closed position.
By providing the kit 400 with the first section 410 having the back panel 150 and the side panels 140 connected via the hinges 410, the kit 4100 may be shipped in a compacted form while simplifying setup of the chest 100 by a user.
As discussed above, the sleeping platform may be formed simply and without the costs associated with telescoping rails by having the top panel manually removable from enclosure by simply lifting the same and placing the top panel on the floor to form the lower sleeping platform, form the middle sleeping platform from the front panel, and lowering the folding slat deck onto the supports to form the upper sleeping platform. Further, by having the folding slat deck pivotable between the folded position and the unfolded position, the height of the chest may be reduced by allowing the mattress to sit substantially deeper in the enclosure until needed. Additionally, the height of the chest may be further reduced while still including a sleeping platform long enough to accommodate a conventional mattress by including a folding leg assembly that is able to transition between the folded and unfolded states.
The description of the disclosure is merely example in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120/121 to U.S. application Ser. No. 17/738,382, filed on May 6, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/828,913, filed on Dec. 1, 2017, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15828913 | Dec 2017 | US |
Child | 17738382 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17738382 | May 2022 | US |
Child | 18063922 | US |