Patent Application
20220304475
Present embodiments relate to an adjustable base for a bed, More specifically, present embodiments relate to a safeguard for an adjustable base, wherein the safeguard prevents access to a space or area between the articulated portions of the base and a stationary frame.
Prior art articulating beds may be moved typically by adjusting a head portion to raise the head, for example, in order to read in bed, and a moveable feet portion which allows for raising or lowering of the feet depending on the sleep, reading, or other desired position of the user.
Unfortunately, in adjusting an articulating base to articulate the deck into a position spaced apart from the base frame, small children or animals may enter the area therebetween. In such configuration, the child or pet may potentially be injured if the base is lowered toward the frame, for example, unbeknownst to a user of the bed while the child or pet is in this area between the deck and base frame.
It is desirable to create a base in which access between the articulated deck portion and the frame is eliminate.
The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound.
The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter.
Present embodiments relate to a safeguard for an adjustable or articulating base. The safeguard inhibits or eliminates access to a space between an articulating deck and a frame and further precludes entry into these spaces by an animal or small child.
According to some embodiments, a safeguard for an adjustable base comprises a frame having at least one peripheral member, an adjustable deck operably connected to the frame, having at least a head portion, a feet portion and at least one intermediate portion therebetween. At least one of the head portion, intermediate portion, or the feet portion may be movable relative to the frame, a barricade may extend between the at least one movable head portion or feet portion, to the frame. The barricade may preclude access between the frame and the at least one movable head portion or feet portion.
According to some optional embodiments, the safeguard may further comprise a plurality of legs depending from the at least one peripheral member. The safeguard may further comprise a barricade extending between a bottom of the adjustable deck and the frame. The barricade may be connected to an inside of the frame. The barricade may be connected to an outer edge of the frame. The barricade may be extending from an upper edge of the adjustable deck to the frame. The barricade may be removably connected to at least one of the adjustable base and the frame. The barricade may be a fabric and the fabric may be one of stretchable or foldable. The safeguard barricade may be one of a vinyl, plastic, or textile. The safeguard may further comprise a second barricade material extending across the frame between the at least one peripheral member. The safeguard may further comprise at least one actuator connected to the frame. The safeguard may further comprise at least one linkage on the frame.
According to some embodiments, a method of safeguarding a space between an articulating base and a frame of a bed comprising articulating a deck from a first position to a second position, expanding a barricade from a first barricade position to a second barricade position during the articulating, and inhibiting access to a space between the articulating deck and the frame with the barricade.
According to some embodiments, a safeguard for an adjustable base comprises a frame having at least one peripheral member, an adjustable deck operably connected to the frame, having at least a head portion, a feet portion and at least one intermediate portion therebetween. At least one of the head portion, intermediate portion, or the feet portion may be movable relative to the frame; a barricade extending across an opening defined by the peripheral member of the frame.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. All of the above outlined features are to be understood as exemplary only and many more features and objectives of the various embodiments may be gleaned from the disclosure herein. Therefore, no limiting interpretation of this summary is to be understood without further reading of the entire specification, claims and drawings; included herewith. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.
In order that the embodiments may be better understood, embodiments of a safeguard for an adjustable base will now be described by way of examples. These embodiments are not to limit the scope of the claims as other embodiments of the safeguard for an adjustable base will become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the instant description. Non-limiting examples of the present embodiments are shown in figures wherein:
It is to be understood that a safeguard for an adjustable base is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The described embodiments are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
With reference to
Referring now to
The deck 12 may be formed of a plurality of support portions including a head portion 20, a feet portion 22, and an intermediate portion 24. At least one of the portions 20, 22, 24 is moveable or articulates relative to the frame 14. In the depicted embodiment, the head portion 20 is moveable in order to raise the head, for example if the user wants a reading position. Alternatively, the feet portion 22 is also shown as moveable in order to raise the feet or adjust to a comfortable position for reading or any other relaxing activity. Further, the intermediate deck portion 24 may, in some embodiments, be fixed relative to the frame 14 so that it does not raise or otherwise move relative to the frame 14. In the instant embodiment, an additional deck portion 26 is shown as moveable and corresponds to the thigh portion of the legs, for example between the waist and the knees in order to adjust this portion of the user's body for comfort. Various numbers of deck portions may be used. For example, the head portion 20 may be formed of numerous portions. Likewise for the feet portion 22 and the intermediate portion 24. Also, for example, where some portion of the intermediate portion 24 may be fixed, and other portions like the lumbar area, may be movable. As with the frame 14, the deck construction may vary and the illustrative embodiments should not be considered limiting. The deck 12 may be formed of a plurality of support substrates or portions slats or sheets including, but not limited to, wood, MDF, or plastic material which can support a mattress positioned upon the deck 12. In some embodiments for example a webbing or woven material may be used and alternatively a corrugated cardboard, sometime referred to corrugate. Thin sheet materials for example carbon or mixtures of carbon may be laminate or wovens may be used to define the deck 12. Each of the one or more deck portions 20, 22, 24, 26 may be pivotally connected to one another by a hinge structure or for example, may be connected to sub-frames which are pivotally connected. The deck portions 20, 22, 24 may also be pivotally connected to the frame 14 of the deck 12 and may be movable toward or away from the frame 14.
With regard to the movement or articulation, the deck 12, or portions thereof, may move between an unarticulated position, for example flat, and a fully articulated position depicted. The fully articulated position may be used as a maximum movement position, away from the unarticulated position, for purpose of determining how to size a barrier 40. In general, the barricade 40 may have an unstretched length at any given position which is less than the distance of the fully articulated position at the same given position. The barricade 40 may also comprise an additional elastic to tighten the barricade as the deck 12 returns to a flat position, for example, a bungee cord, spring, or other elastic.
In any of these embodiments, the deck and any movable portions of the frame 14 or one or more frame components (not shown) may be movable by use of one or more actuators and/or linkages which move the deck portion 20, 24, 26 relative to the frame 14, or in some embodiments, a sub-frame. For example, various actuators may be utilized including but not limited to electric, electromechanical actuators, fluid (hydraulic or pneumatic) actuators, spring, manual actuators, magnetic drive or others which provide for motion of the deck 12 or portion(s) of the deck relative to the frame 14.
Additionally, the deck portions 20, 22, 24, 26 may be covered with a padding, foam, or other cushioning material and/or may also include a fabric cover 23 of some sort to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the deck portions 20, 22, 24, 26. Further, each of the deck portions 20, 22, 24, 26 may comprise a cushion or padding 25 extending about the peripheral edge of the deck 12 in order to also provide a pleasing appearance while also inhibiting accidental injury from bumping into the edge of the deck 12. For example, the deck portions may be defined by an MDF material, covered in foam and further surrounded by a fabric material in some embodiments. The deck 12 may also include alignment and/or retaining features for the mattress (not shown). Further, hinge structures disposed between the deck portions may also be covered in foam to further reduce any change of pinching of a user.
Referring now to the frame 14, the frame 14 may be formed of at least one member 30 defining a substantially rectangular shape. The frame 14 may be inboard, outboard, or aligned with the deck 12. In the instant embodiment, a plurality of members 30, 32, 34 are shown wherein the frame comprises two longitudinal members extending in the head to toe direction of the bed and two lateral members which are perpendicular to the longitudinal members. An opening or open area is defined within the periphery of the members. In the instant embodiment there are four members which may be joined to form at least one member. Additional members may be utilized which may not be seen in this view, such as a member at the head portion 20 of the frame 14. The members 30, 32, 34 are generally fixed and may be connected together by a fasteners or other structures and/or may be welded or permanently connected together defining the at least one member. The members 30, 32, 34 may be various cross-sectional shapes and may for example be an angle-iron structural shape, or other open (unenclosed) cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the frame members may be an enclosed cross-sectional shape such as, square, rectangular, circular or other such closed shape. The frame members may all be of the same shape or cross-section, or alternatively, may be of differing cross-sections for example between the longitudinal and lateral directions. As described previously, the frame 14 may also be defined by one or more sub-frames which define the frame 14. The frame 14 may be formed of any upper and lower sub-frame wherein one of the upper and lower frame defines the support structure to allow pivot therefrom. The frame 14 may also comprise actuators or linkages which may be connected to the fixed portions of the frame 14 and may also be connected to the deck 12 to move portions thereof.
Depending from the at least one member may be one or more optional of legs 38, The legs 38 provide support and lift the frame 14 off of the ground below. The legs 38 may be formed of one or more segments in order to provide the height and while the legs 38 are shown as a cylindrical shape, the cross-section shape may be continuous or may vary along its axial direction. Likewise, the cross-sectional shape may be some shape other than circular which may or may not vary in the axial direction of the leg.
In some embodiments, the frame 14 may be placed on an existing bed accessory. For example, if the user has an existing bed frame, such as slats and/or box spring, they would like to use, the frame 14 may be placed on such bed accessory, without the use of legs 38. The frame 14 may be sized to have a vertical dimension wherein any mechanicals such as actuators, blowers or other components may fit and operate therein without interfering with such bed accessory below frame 14. Further, the barricade 40 may also be added to such bedding accessory in order to further inhibit access into areas which may result in pinching or crushing.
Also shown extending about the deck 12 between the deck 12 and the frame 14, is a barricade 40, also referred to as a barrier which functions as a safeguard. The barricade 40 extends between the frame 14 and the deck 12. The barricade 40 may be formed of various materials and may be in various forms. For example, the barricade 40 may be formed of an elastomeric material, which may be defined as any material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, that is able to resume its original shape when a deforming force is removed. The elastomeric material may also include but is not limited to, fabric, vinyl, plastic, any of which may be stretched to expand when the deck 12 is spaced apart from the frame 14. The barricade 40 may also be formed of foams or polymers, or any combination of the preceding materials. The elastomeric may be, in some embodiments, an elastomeric fabric which may be defined by a fabric having some percentage of elastomeric fibers. For example, an elastomeric fabric may include at least 10% elastic fiber content to provide a desired amount of stretch. The barricade 40 allows for some amount of stretch, or amount of deformation, and may, provide for between about 50% stretch up to about 300% stretch or 3× increase from its un-deformed length. The amount of stretch may be used to size the barrier relative to a size of gap between the deck and frame. For example, and without limitation, for a fully-articulated gap of 24″, a barricade of 12″ at 100% stretch may be utilized. The percentage of stretch may be varied and therefore may be used to size the barricade 40. In general, the barricade 40 may be sized so that the un-stretched barricade 40 length, in the direction between deck 12 and frame 14, is less than the fully-articulated or maximum gap size. Further, in addition to, or alternatively from the stretching capability, the barricade 40 may retract or fold away when the deck 12 is returned to the frame 14, for example in a flat orientation. In some embodiments, the barricade 40 may fold like an accordion when retracting. Further, as related to form, the barricade may be in the form of a netting or net-like material or may be in the form of a fabric. The net material may have relatively small openings or may be in the form of a cargo-net with relatively larger holes, and which may be stretchable, for example like a bungee material, or may not be stretchable. Various may be used to the extent that the form precludes access of a small child for example to areas of possible pinch-hazard.
The barricade 40 may include various treatments. For example, the barricade may include a fire resistant (FR) treatment. This FR treatment may be provided by way of the types of fibers or materials used, may be by way of chemical treatment, or a combination. For example, various acrylics or kevlars may have fibers or chemicals that may have a spray on or bath type application. In other embodiments, a backing sheet of FR material may be applied to the barricade 40, The barricade 40 may be also have some amount of glass content which acts as a flame barrier. These products and applications may be used individually or in combination. The FR material should be capable of passing known flame resistant tests suitable for bedding products for example as found in 16 CFR § 1632 and 1633.
Still further other anti-microbial treatments may be provided to the barricade 40. For example, the anti-microbial may inhibit mold and or bedbugs, for non-limiting example. The antimicrobials may also include anti-fungals and/or biocides.
Referring still to
With reference now to
Referring now to
Additionally, according to any of the embodiments of
In some embodiments, the upper and/or lower end of the barricade 40 may be connected to a wrap or pad which extends about an edge of the deck 12 or an edge of the frame 14. Such wrap or pad may disconnectably be attached to the frame 14 or the deck 12, or both
With additional reference to
In any of the previously described embodiments, or any other embodiments, it may be desirable to provide for cable management or other management for tubing, actuators or any parts or components that may need to move through the surface defined by the barricade. For example, it may be necessary to allow for passage of the power and or control wire(s), air or fluid hose, or allow for passage of a portion of an actuator. Accordingly, the barricade 40 may include a grommet, a slit in the material, a pass-thru passage or the like. Any of these pass-thru passages or structures may be located in the horizontal or vertical surfaces described and shown herein.
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the invent of embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition; any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.
Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally; additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically, identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures.
The foregoing description of methods and embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention and all equivalents be defined by the claims appended hereto.
This PCT patent application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/859,459 filed Jun. 10, 2019, titled “Safeguard for an Adjustable Base”, all of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/036648 | 6/8/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62859459 | Jun 2019 | US |
