Patent Application
20200069067
Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of folding beds, and more particularly to folding beds that, in the stored position, are enclosed in a cabinet or similar furniture.
Traditional beds take up a large amount of floor space in the room that the bed is placed. When the beds are not used frequently, and/or when the bed is located in a small room or a room in which the space for the bed could be otherwise utilized, a folding bed is one solution to allow for other use of the space in the room when the bed is not needed.
Some folding beds are folded away into a cabinet or other similar furniture article when not in use. Such Murphy bed chests are attractive pieces of furniture when the bed is in a folded position, and a comfortable bed when needed and transformed into an opened position where at least a portion of the furniture article is a sleeping platform supportive of a mattress. Some Murphy bed chests, however, are heavy, are cumbersome to move between the closed position and the opened position, and offer limited storage or limited access to storage, especially when the bed is in the opened position.
In one embodiment a folding bed chest system includes a chest assembly having two opposing side panels spaced apart by a distance, and a front panel assembly connected to the chest assembly by one or more primary hinges. The front panel assembly is movable between an upright closed position and an opened position, such that when in the opened position the front panel assembly is configured to be supportive of a mattress. The front panel assembly, includes an upper front panel rotatably connected to the front panel assembly. The upper front panel extends from and is supportive of the front panel assembly when the front panel assembly is in the opened position. The folding bed chest system further includes a frame including a main frame portion, a footboard frame connected to the main frame by one or more secondary hinges, and a footboard leg extending from the footboard frame and supportive of the footboard frame when the front panel assembly is in the opened position. A drawer assembly is freely movable into an out of a drawer opening located below the front panel assembly and between the opposing side panels. The drawer assembly is configured such that the front panel assembly is movable from the closed position to the opened position when the drawer assembly is located fully in the drawer opening.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer assembly includes opposing drawer side panels defining a drawer width, the drawer width less than a drawer opening width, and a drawer guide extending laterally outwardly from each of the drawer side panels. The drawer guide is interactive with a side of the drawer opening to guide the drawer assembly into the drawer opening.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer assembly further includes one or more wheels affixed to the drawer assembly.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a shelf extends between the opposing side panels.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the shelf is at least partially supportive of the mattress.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer is movable between a drawer closed position fully in the drawer opening and a drawer opened position fully outside of the drawer opening when the front panel assembly is in the opened position.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments one or more retainers retain the footboard leg at the footboard frame when the front panel assembly is in the closed position.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more retainers are one or more magnets.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a latch assembly extends between the side panel and the front panel assembly to retain the front panel assembly in the closed position.
The folding bed chest system of claim 1, further comprising a brace retains the upper front panel in the extended position.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a charging station is located at a side panel. The charging station includes one or more electrical power outlets and/or one or more USB ports for connecting one or more electronic devices thereto.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the one or more primary hinges are located at a front rail extending between the two opposing side panels.
In another embodiment, a folding bed chest system includes a cabinet having a front panel assembly movable from a closed position to an opened position, wherein when in the open position the front panel assembly is supportive of a mattress located thereon. A drawer assembly is freely movable into an out of a drawer opening located below the front panel assembly. The drawer assembly is configured such that the front panel assembly is movable from the closed position to the opened position when the drawer assembly is located fully in the drawer opening.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer assembly includes opposing drawer side panels defining a drawer width, the drawer width less than a drawer opening width, and a drawer guide extending laterally outwardly from each of the drawer side panels, the drawer guide interactive with a side of the drawer opening to guide the drawer assembly into the drawer opening.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer assembly further includes one or more wheels affixed to the drawer assembly.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a shelf is located in the cabinet. The shelf is at least partially supportive of the mattress.
Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the drawer is movable between a drawer closed position fully in the drawer opening and a drawer opened position fully outside of the drawer opening when the front panel assembly is in the opened position.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring now to
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Referring to the exploded view of
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As stated above, the drawer assembly 20 is freely movable and is not connected to the Murphy bed chest 10 by a typical drawer rail or slide. To improve ease of drawer assembly 20 installation to the Murphy bed chest 10, the drawer assembly 20 includes a drawer guide 58 extending laterally outwardly from the drawer side panel 46, and as shown in
The drawer opening 42 has an opening width 64 greater than a drawer width 66, as measured between the drawer side panels 46. As such, the drawer guide 58 and the cabinet guide 60 aid in aligning the drawer assembly 20 in the drawer opening 42, such that when installed in the Murphy bed chest 10, the drawer assembly 20 is laterally centered in the drawer opening 42. This aligns the drawer assembly 20 with similar features on the front panel assembly 18 for good appearance of the Murphy bed chest 10.
Referring to
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In some embodiments, the footboard leg 88 is held at a closed position at the footboard frame 82 via a magnet, as shown in
Referring again to
Further, as shown in
The Murphy bed chest 10 disclosed herein improves the movement between the closed position and the opened position, and improves offer limited storage or limited access to storage, especially when the bed is in the opened position.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. 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” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, 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, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
