Patent Application
20250000269
The present disclosure relates to portable bed assemblies. In particular, the present disclosure relates to portable bed assemblies having a frame and a topper.
Portable bed assemblies exist, however a need still exists for bed assemblies that provide an advantage over the prior art or at least provide the public with a useful choice.
The systems, methods and devices described herein have innovative aspects, no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageous features will now be summarized.
An aspect of the present disclosure involves an adjustable frame for a portable bed including a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The first frame portion has a first end and a second end spaced a fixed distance apart from the first end. The second frame portion is configured to be adjustably coupled to the first frame portion. Adjustment of a position of the second frame portion relative to the first frame portion adjusts an overall length dimension of the frame measured between the first end of the first frame portion and an adjustable end of the second frame portion opposite the first end of the first frame portion.
In some configurations, the second frame portion can be adjusted relative to the first frame portion in a tool-less manner.
In some configurations, the first frame portion includes at least one elongate first frame member and the second frame portion includes at least one elongate second frame member that is telescopically engaged with the at least one elongate first frame member.
In some configurations, each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion include at least one support leg, wherein the at least one support leg is adjustable in a tool-less manner.
In some configurations, the first frame portion and the second frame portion comprise a plurality of elongate frame members including the at least one elongate first frame member and the least one elongate second frame member. Each of the plurality of elongate frame members are connected to one another by a plurality of connectors, each of which is substantially identical to one another.
In some configurations, one or more of the plurality of connectors comprises a tool-less fastener comprising a hand knob instead of a fastener requiring a tool.
In some configurations, each of the plurality of connectors comprises a support projection that extends outwardly beyond those of the plurality of elongate frame members attached to a particular one of the plurality of connectors.
In some configurations, a sleeve adapts the smaller of the telescoping first and second elongate frame members to the connector.
In some configurations, each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion includes one or more horizontal elongate frame members. The adjustable frame includes a plurality of support legs on each side thereof. An angle between each of the support legs and the one or more horizontal elongate frame members is equal to or greater than 92 degrees or 93 degrees.
In some configurations, the first frame portion includes a first pair of elongate frame members and the second frame portion includes a second pair of elongate frame member that are telescopically engaged with the first pair of elongate frame members. The second frame portion further comprises a pair of support legs slidably engaged with the second pair of elongate frame members such that a position of the pair of support legs along a length of the second pair of elongate frame members can be adjusted.
In some configurations, the pair of support legs are adjustable relative to the second pair of elongate frame members in a tool-less manner.
An aspect of the present disclosure involves a portable bed including the adjustable frame of any of the preceding paragraphs and a topper configured to be supported on the adjustable frame.
In some configurations, the topper comprises a plurality of elongate supports configured to extend from one side to an opposite side of the adjustable frame. The plurality of the elongate supports is positioned within a cover between a first layer and a second layer of the cover.
In some configurations, the cover comprises a plurality of pockets, each configured to receive one of the plurality of elongate supports.
In some configurations, the elongate supports are spaced from one another a suitable distance that the topper can be folded over onto itself with each of a first portion of the elongate supports positioned between each of a second portion of the elongate supports.
In some configurations, the distance between each of the supports differs between the first portion and the second portion of the elongate supports.
An aspect of the present disclosure involves an adjustable portable bed, including a first frame portion having a first end and a second end spaced a fixed distance apart from the first end. The first frame portion includes at least one first elongate frame member. A second frame portion is configured to be adjustably coupled to the first frame portion such that adjustment of a position of the second frame portion relative to the first frame portion adjusts an overall length dimension of a frame of the portable bed measured between the first end of the first frame portion and an adjustable end of the second frame portion opposite the first end of the first frame portion. The second frame portion includes at least one second elongate frame member. The at least one first elongate frame member and/or the at least one second elongate frame member is configured to be selected from one of a plurality of available lengths to adjust an overall dimension of the frame.
In some configurations, each of the at least one first elongate frame member and the at least one second elongate frame member is a crossbar that extends in a lateral direction of the portable bed.
In some configurations, a plurality of connectors connect the at least one first elongate frame member, the at least one second elongate frame member, and the support legs. Each of the crossbars is connected to a pair of the plurality of connectors with a tool-less connection.
In some configurations, the portable bed includes a plurality of support legs. Each of the support legs is configured to be selected from one of a plurality of available lengths to allow the portable bed to be configured to conform to support surfaces of various shapes.
In some configurations, a plurality of connectors connect the at least one first elongate frame member, the at least one second elongate frame member, and the support legs. Each of the plurality of support legs is connected to one of the plurality of connectors with a tool-less connection.
In some configurations, the portable bed includes a topper that is configured to be selected from one of a plurality of available widths to adjust an overall width dimension of the portable bed.
The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of systems, components and methods of assembly and manufacture will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like or similar elements throughout. Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosed below, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the inventions described herein extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations, and can include other uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the inventions. In addition, embodiments of the inventions can comprise several novel features and no single feature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.
Certain terminology may be used in the following description for the purpose of reference only, and thus are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “above” and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “rear,” and “side” describe the orientation and/or location of portions of the components or elements within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the components or elements under discussion. Moreover, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on may be used to describe separate components. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
With reference to
With reference to
The frame assembly 200 includes a plurality of portions, supports, or tubes 202, 203, 204, two or more of which are coupled by a portion or connector 201. In the illustrated arrangement, the supports 202, 203, 204 are in the form of hollow tubes; however, other suitable types of supports could also be used. Furthermore, the illustrated tubes are circular in cross-sectional shape; however, other suitable cross-sectional shapes could also be used. In the illustrated arrangement, the supports 202 are in the form of cross-supports or crossbars that extend in a lateral direction of the bed platform assembly 100. The supports 203 are in the form of longitudinal supports that extend in a longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the bed platform assembly 100. The longitudinal supports 203 define a fixed length of the first frame portion 400. The supports 204 are in the form of longitudinal supports that extend in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the bed platform assembly 100. The longitudinal supports 204 are telescopically engaged with the longitudinal supports 203 to permit adjustment of the overall length dimension 450 of the frame assembly 200. In the illustrated arrangement, the longitudinal supports 204 are received within the longitudinal supports 203 and, thus, the longitudinal supports 204 have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the longitudinal supports 203.
The frame assembly 200 further includes one or more vertical supports that support the longitudinal supports 203, 204 and the crossbars 202 at an elevated position relative to a surface on which the frame assembly 200 rests. In the illustrated arrangement, the vertical supports comprise a plurality of support legs 205 coupled to the connector 201 by a tool-less fastener. Each of the support legs 205 can include two telescoping portions or tubes 206 and 207 that are coupled by a tool-less fastener, such as a biased push-pin and hole arrangement, to allow assembly and/or height adjustment between the tubes 206, 207 of the support leg 205, 206, 207. The lower end of each support leg 205 can include a foot 208, which can have an interference fit with the support leg 205. The foot 208 can comprise or be constructed from a rubber, elastomer, or similar material to provide grip. The upper tube 206 can also be used without the lower tube 207 to achieve smaller minimum height. A separate, larger foot 208a (
In the illustrated arrangement, each of the connectors 201 is coupled to the crossbars 202 or the longitudinal supports 203, 204 by a suitable coupling arrangement, such as a mechanical fastener. In some configurations, the mechanical fastener for the connection of the crossbars 202 to each of the connectors 201 and of the support legs 205 to each of the connectors 201 is a biased push-pin and hole arrangement, which allows simple and tool-less connection of the crossbars 202 and support legs 205 to the connectors 201. Such an arrangement allows for simple and quick assembly of the crossbars 202 and/or support legs 205 to the connectors 201. Such an arrangement also allows for simple and quick disassembly of the crossbars 202 and/or support legs 205 from the connectors 201. The longitudinal supports 203, 204 and the connectors 201 that form each side of the frame assembly 200 can be retained separately in an assembled but collapsed configuration. Such an arrangement allows the components of the frame assembly 200 to be stored in a significantly smaller space than the assembled frame assembly 200, but also facilitates the quick re-assembly of the frame assembly 200 as described above.
The mechanical fastener for the connection of the longitudinal supports 203 to each of the connectors 201 is a bolt that requires a tool, which forms a removable but semi-permanent connection. In other words, the longitudinal supports 203 are intended to remain connected to the connectors 201 during normal use after the initial assembly. The mechanical fastener for the connection of the longitudinal supports 204 to each of the connectors 201 is of a tool-less type, such as a bolt that is actuatable by a finger knob or a hand knob (hereinafter, “hand knob”). As described below, such an arrangement permits simple and quick adjustment of the overall length dimension 450 of the frame assembly 200.
With reference to
With reference to
In some configurations, a sleeve 530 (
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In some configurations, the elongate supports or slats 302 are spaced from one another a suitable distance that the topper 300 can be folded over onto itself with each of a first portion of the elongate supports or slats 302 positioned between each of a second portion of the elongate supports or slats 302. In some configurations, the on-center distance D1 or D2 between each of the supports or slats 302 differs between the first portion and the second portion of the elongate supports or slats 302. The distance D2 can be greater than the distance D1, such as about 9 inches and about 8 inches, respectively.
In some configurations, straps 303 are provided that can be coupled to a respective one of slats 302 directly, passing through slots in the cover 301. In some configurations, each of a plurality of straps 303 can be coupled to the cover 301 indirectly, such as by a corresponding one of a plurality of straps 304, amongst other possible arrangements. In the illustrated arrangement, longitudinal straps 304 in the form of sewn webbing are provided, which can provide a plurality of positions in which the straps 303 can be secured relative to the topper assembly 300. With reference to
With reference to
In some configurations, the length of the frame assembly 200 in the collapsed configuration is less than about 40″ or is less than or equal to about 39″ so that the frame assembly 200 can be positioned between the wheel wells of common vehicles in the collapsed configuration. Such an arrangement can allow for storage in a relatively small space when not in use as a sleeping platform. In some configurations, the frame assembly 200 in the collapsed configuration can be positioned within the cargo space of a vehicle with the rear seats in an upright position. With reference to
In some configurations, the extending portions can be identified by color and size. For example, the internal telescoping longitudinal support 204 can be a different color than one or more of, or the remainder of, the other horizontal supports (e.g., the crossbars 202 and/or the longitudinal supports 203). In some configurations, the internal tubes 207 of the support legs 205 can be a different color than one or more of, or the remainder of, the outer tubes 206 of the support legs 205. In some configurations, the supports or tubes 202, 203 and 206 can be black in color. In some configurations, the supports or tubes 204 and 207 can be silver or raw aluminum in color.
With reference to
It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the herein-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. Moreover, any of the steps described herein can be performed simultaneously or in an order different from the steps as ordered herein. Moreover, as should be apparent, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Moreover, the following terminology may have been used herein. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an item includes reference to one or more items. The term “ones” refers to one, two, or more, and generally applies to the selection of some or all of a quantity. The term “plurality” refers to two or more of an item. The term “about” or “approximately” means that quantities, dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other characteristics need not be exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting acceptable tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill in the art. The term “substantially” means that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also interpreted to include all of the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but should also be interpreted to also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3 and 4 and sub-ranges such as “about 1 to about 3,” “about 2 to about 4” and “about 3 to about 5,” “1 to 3,” “2 to 4,” “3 to 5,” etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value (e.g., “greater than about 1”) and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described. A plurality of items may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. Furthermore, where the terms “and” and “or” are used in conjunction with a list of items, they are to be interpreted broadly, in that any one or more of the listed items may be used alone or in combination with other listed items. The term “alternatively” refers to selection of one of two or more alternatives, and is not intended to limit the selection to only those listed alternatives or to only one of the listed alternatives at a time, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63511580 | Jun 2023 | US |
