Patent Application
20150342356
The present invention relates generally to a positioning assembly for use with a mattress.
Residences in many cities around the world are getting smaller. This has led to insufficient space for conventional furniture or insufficient space for moving around when conventionally-sized furniture are used. This in turn has led to an industry catering to providing retractable or collapsible furniture for stowing, and in some cases concealing, the furniture when not in use. One of such furniture in issue is the bed which usually occupies the most space in a typical bedroom. Retractable beds exist and work on a myriad of mechanism, for example drawstrings and springs, for enabling the bed, or in some cases mattresses, to be retracted and deployed. However, structural deficiencies together with the weight of the mattress have contributed to deficiencies and damage to these retractable beds. Leg structures have been incorporated to the retractable bed which provides additional support for the mattress when the retractable bed is deployed. However, these leg structures have to be manually positioned during deployment of the retractable bed for use and are subjected to being moved out of position when a user accidentally hits the leg structures when moving in its proximity Therefore, there exists a need for a solution to the above described problem.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a positioning assembly comprising a first support structure, a platform structure, and a second support structure. The platform structure is rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position with the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The platform structure defines a longitudinal platform axis. The actuator extends between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot. The second support structure is rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure with the second support structure being capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively. The said outward position is substantially opposite the said inward position. The positioning assembly further comprises a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure and being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof, a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof, and at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis. The platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a bed system comprising a first positioning assembly, a second positioning assembly, and a bed-frame inter-coupling the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly. The bed-frame is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a mattress thereon. Each of the first positioning assembly and the second positioning assembly comprises a first support structure, a platform structure, and a second support structure. The platform structure is rotatably coupled to the first support structure at a pivot and displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position with the first support structure for supporting the platform structure from a surface. The platform structure has a first end and a second end and is adaptable for supporting a mattress thereon. The platform structure defines a longitudinal platform axis. The actuator extends between the first support structure and the first end of the platform structure for counterbalancing at least the platform structure about the pivot. The second support structure is rotatably coupled substantially adjacent the second end of the platform structure with the second support structure being capable of displacement between an outward position and an inward position when the platform structure is displaced towards the lowered position and the raised position respectively. The said outward position is substantially opposite the said inward position. The positioning assembly further comprises a first linkage slidably coupled to the platform structure and being rotatably coupled to the second support structure at one end thereof, a second linkage rotatably coupled to a link point on the first support structure at one end and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage at the other end thereof, and at least one guide structure formed integral the platform structure to limit travel of the first linkage to substantially along the longitudinal platform axis when force applied by the second linkage thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal platform axis. The platform structure extends between and is supported by the first support structure and the second support structure when in the lowered position to thereby dispose the mattress substantially parallel the surface.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a positioning assembly 20 for use with a mattress 22, is described hereinafter with reference to
Preferably, the mattress 22 rests on a bed-frame 34 shaped and dimensioned for accommodating the mattress 22. The bed-frame 34 is coupled to the platform structure 26 to enable the mattress 22 to be supported thereon.
The platform structure 26 has a first end 36 and a second end 38 forming extremities thereof. The primary pivot 28 is configured between the first end 36 and the second end 38 of the platform structure 26. The positioning assembly 20 further comprises an actuator 40 extending between the first support structure 24 and the first end 36 of the platform structure 26 for biasing the platform structure 26 towards the raised position 32. The actuator 40 comprises at least one axially resiliently biased piston or the like prismatic actuator. For example, the actuator 40 comprises a pair of pistons with each thereof being axially resiliently biased pneumatically.
The positioning assembly 20 further comprises a second support structure 42 rotatably coupled to the second end 38 of the platform structure 26. The second support structure 42 is further coupled to the first support structure 24 for displacement thereof between an outward position 44 and an inward position 46 when the platform structure 26 is displaced to the lowered position 30 and the raised position 32 respectively. The platform structure 26 extends between and is supported by the first support structure 24 and the second support structure 42 when in the lowered position 30 to thereby dispose the mattress 22 for support by the first support structure 24 and the second support structure 42. Preferably, the first support structure 24 and the second support structure 42 rest on a surface 48 when the platform structure 26 is in the lowered position 30 for spatially displacing the bed-frame 34, and consequently the mattress 22 disposed thereon, from the surface 48.
Further when in use, the bed-frame 34 is coupled to and disposed between a pair of the positioning assembly 20 for providing and configuratively corresponding a pair of the first support structure 24 and a pair of the second support structure 42 substantially to four corners of the bed-frame 34. The pair of positioning assembly 20 forms a bed system.
Preferably, the first support structure 24 is a panel supported from the surface 48 and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown). The panel is made from wood, metal or the like material having sufficient strength when shaped and dimensioned for supporting the mattress 22 and the platform structure 26. The panel is further shaped for forming a portion of a furniture or a cabinet. For example, the panel is made from wood and forms a side of a box-shaped structure dimensioned for substantially receiving the mattress 22 therewithin when the platform structure 26 is in raised position 32. Preferably, the inward position 46 of the second support structure 42 substantially opposes the outward position 44 thereof for enabling the second support structure 42 to be substantially received in box-shaped structure or the like concealment structure for substantially visually conceal the second support structure 42 formed in part by the first support structure 24.
Alternatively, the first support structure 24 comprises a panel structure 50 and an interface plate 52. The panel structure 50 is supported from the surface 48 and disposed substantially perpendicular a wall (not shown) with the interface plate 52 inter-coupling the panel structure 50 and the platform structure 26. Preferably, the primary pivot 28 is formed on the interface plate 52 for coupling with the platform structure 26 and whereabout the platform structure 26 rotatably displaces relative the first support structure 24. Therefore, the interface plate 52 is preferably made of metal or the like wear-resistant material.
When the panel structure 50 forms part of, for example a siding of, the box-shaped structure, the positioning assembly preferably further comprises a head-board assembly (not shown) configured for concealing at least a portion of the actuator 40 when the platform structure 26 is in the lowered position. The head-board assembly is coupled to the platform structure 26 for moving in tandem therewith and is configured such that when the platform structure 26 is displaced from the lowered position 30 to the raised position 32, the head-board assembly structurally collapses for allowing the box-shaped structure more space for accommodating the platform structure 26 and the mattress 22 supported thereon.
The positioning assembly 20 further comprises a first linkage 54 and a second linkage 56. The first linkage 54 is preferably slidably coupled to the platform structure 26 for displacement along a longitudinal axis 58 extending between the first end 36 and the second end 38 of the platform structure 26. The first linkage 54 is rotatably coupled to the second support structure 42 at one end thereof. The second linkage 56 is rotatably coupled to a link point 60 on the first support structure 26 at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the other end of the first linkage 54 at the other end thereof.
Preferably, the positioning assembly 20 comprises at least one guide structure 100 formed integral the platform structure 26 to limit travel of the first linkage 54 to substantially along the longitudinal axis 58 when force applied by the second linkage 56 thereto is angularly displaced from the longitudinal axis 58. The platform structure 26 comprises a channel 102 extending between the first end 36 and the second end 38 of the platform structure 26 with the first linkage 54 being disposed along the channel 102. The channel 102 defines a base 104 whereupon the first linkage 54 is supported. The at least one guide structure 100 is positioned for substantially impeding displacement of the first linkage 54 away from the base 104 of the channel 102.
Preferably, the channel 102 is formed from a rectangular beam or a square beam. Alternatively, the channel 102 is formed from a beam with an L-shaped, C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. Preferably, the at least one guide structure 100 comprises at least one pin disposed within the channel 102 with the first linkage 54 being disposed within the channel 102 and being supported by the base 104. The first linkage 54 is further disposed between the base 104 of the channel 102 and the at least one guide structure 100.
If an implement of the positioning assembly 100 uses only one of the guide structure 100, the guide structure 100 is preferably positioned between the first end 36 of the platform structure 26 and midway between the first end 36 and the second end 38 of the platform structure 26. Should two of the guide structure 100 be employed, a first one of the guide structure 100 is preferably positioned towards the first end 36 of the platform structure 26 while a second one of the guide structure 100 is preferably positioned towards the second end 38 of the platform structure 26.
Alternative to the at least one pin, the at least one guide structure 100 can comprise at least one bearing. The at least one bearing is at least one of a pin bearing, a ball bearing, a roller bearing and a bush bearing spatially displaced from the base 104 of the channel 102 for disposing the first linkage 54 between the base 104 of the channel 103 and the at least one pin bearing.
As push-pull forces exerted by the second linkage 56 acting at one end of the first linkage 54 that is connected to the second linkage 56 may contribute to forces that are not acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis 58 and hence potentially contributing to substantial lift off from the base 104 of the channel 102.
Without movement isolation of movement guidance from the at least one guide structure 100, the first linkage 54 and the second linkage 56 may approach structural singularity. Further, the straightening of the first linkage 54 and the second linkage 56 and the lateral degree-of-freedom of the first linkage relative the longitudinal axis 58 of the platform structure 26 may result in incomplete rotation of the leg structure 64 to the outward position 44. Partial rotation may result in inability to properly rest the leg structure 64, and hence the platform structure 26, on the floor. This potentially may further lead to the load bearing capability of the positioning assembly being compromised. Therefore, there is a need to substantially isolate the movement of the first linkage 54 to only along the longitudinal axis 58 of the platform structure 26.
Preferably, the distance between the primary pivot 28 and the point where the actuator 40 couples with the first support structure 26 is larger than the distance between the primary pivot 28 and the link point 60.
Structurally, when in use, the Euclidean distance between the link point 60 and the longitudinal axis 58 of the platform structure 26 increases when the platform structure 26 is displaced from lowered position 30 towards the raised position 32 to thereby displace the first linkage 54 away from the first end 36 and towards the second end 38 of the platform structure 26. The second support structure 42 is displaced from the outward position 44 towards the inward position 46 when the first linkage 54 is displaced away from the first end 36 and towards the second end 38 of the platform structure 26.
Preferably, the second support structure 42 comprises a mounting plate 62, a leg structure 64 extending from the mounting plate 62 and a connector 66 having one end rotatably coupled to the mounting plate 62 and another end rotatably coupled to the first linkage 54. The mounting plate 62 is coupled to the platform structure 26 and is operable for displacing the leg structure 64 between an inward position and an outward position corresponding with the inward position 46 and the outward position 44, respectively, of the platform structure 26. The connector 66 and the mounting plate 62 are so inter-configured to enable the leg structure 64 to travel more than 100 degrees angle when displaced from one to the other of the inward position and the outward position.
The actuator 40 is for providing an actuation force when in use. The actuator 40, the platform structure 26 and the first support structure 24 are inter-configured for substantially balancing moment generated by the weight of the mattress 22 and moment generated by the actuation force of the actuator 40 about the primary pivot 28 when the platform structure 26 is substantially at least one of in the lowered position 30, the raised position 32 and substantially proximal the raised position 32.
In the foregoing manner, a positioning assembly for use with at least one mattress is described according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although only one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
