A swing bed is basically what the words say, a bed-like structure that is suspended from a ceiling or other support structure by ropes, cables, or chains. In the past, swing beds were made of wood. Although wood is a structurally solid material, wood is heavy adding to the cost and energy consumed in transportation and strain on workers and delivery personnel. Wood also has several design constraints that make it less desirable for use as a construction material for a swing bed. For one, wood is difficult to configure for home assembly and is heavy for a typical user to manipulate and carry. Additionally, wood is difficult to recycle once coated or painted.
Although wood is usually solid, to achieve the structural strength to support several people, a wooden swinge bed requires very hard wood of sufficient thickness, which is often very heavy—too heavy for the average person to move and manipulate. This weigh impacts the amount of energy used in transportation, both of raw materials to a manufacturing facility and transportation of the finished product to showrooms, then the end user. There are also secondary issues such as medical issues of delivery personnel and users from straining to carry such a heavy, large object.
As all products have a useful life, the end-of-life scenario of a swing bed must be considered. Wood is very difficult to recycle, especially when painted or coated. Painted wood is categorized as hazardous waste and is not recyclable in a wood recycling facility and, therefore, must be disposed of in a hazardous waste facility.
What is needed is a swing bed system that will be light in weight, easy to transport, easy to assemble, and be recyclable.
The swing bed is made from extruded aluminum (e.g., aluminum tubes, generally of rectangular cross-sectional shape) that are welded to each other to form a left side, right side, back side, and base. Each of the left side, right side, and back side are attached to the base by screws that go through the base and into bosses in the left side, right side, and back side. Tubes are inserted into each of the left side and right side going from the top to the bottom for passing of a chain or rope from which the swing bed is suspended. A hole is formed in the left side and right side, going through the tube, through which a pin is inserted through a link of the chain to hold the chain in the tube.
As the sides, base, and back are constructed and fastened together, it is fully anticipated that these components be mixed and matched to produce different sizes and styles of the swing bed. For example, two sides are attached to one base and back to form one size/style of swing bed and the same two sides are attached to another base and back to form another size/style of swing bed.
In some embodiments, legs are provided that are inserted into tubes of each arm of the swing bed to convert the swing bed into a stationary fixture.
In one embodiment, a swing bed kit is disclosed including a left side that has a first set of extruded aluminum sections welded together and a right side that has a second set of extruded aluminum sections welded together. A back side has a third set of extruded aluminum sections welded together and a base has a fourth set of extruded aluminum sections welded together. Threaded bosses are press fit into an inside surface of the left side and to an inside surface of the right side for attaching the left side to a first side of the base and affixing the right side to a second side of the base as well as press fit into an inside surface of the back side for attaching the back side to a back surface of the base and into the inside surface of the left side and the inside surface of the right side for attaching the left side to a left surface of the back side and attaching the right side to a right surface of the back side. Holes in the base are located to mate with each of the threaded bosses.
In another embodiment, a swing bed is disclosed including a left side that has a first set of extruded aluminum sections welded together and has a first tube and a second tube passing through an upper surface of the left side, through the left side, and out of a lower surface of the left side. A right side has a second set of extruded aluminum sections welded together and has a third tube and a fourth tube passing through an upper surface of the right side, through the right side, and out of a lower surface of the right side. A back side has a third set of extruded aluminum sections welded together and a base has a fourth set of extruded aluminum sections welded together. Threaded bosses are press fit into an inside surface of the left side and an inside surface of the right side for attaching the left side to a first side of the base and attaching the right side to an opposite side of the base. Threaded bosses are also press fit into an inside surface of the back side for attaching the back side to a back surface of the base and into the inside surface of the left side and the inside surface of the right side for attaching the left side to a left surface of the back side and attaching the right side to a right surface of the back side. Holes are drilled/formed in the base located to mate with each of the threaded bosses and holes are drilled/formed in the back side located to mate with the threaded bosses. Screws are passed through the holes and into a respective boss and tightened to hold the left side, right side, and back side to the base.
In another embodiment, a method of making a swing bed is disclosed including fabricating a left side by welding a first set of extruded aluminum sections together and inserting a first tube through a first top hole in an upper surface of the left side, through the left side, and out of a first lower hole in a lower surface of the left side and inserting a second tube through a second top hole in the upper surface of the left side, through the left side, and out of a second lower hole in the lower surface of the left side. Fabricating a right side by welding a second set of extruded aluminum sections together and inserting a third tube through a third top hole in an upper surface of the right side, through the right side, and out of a third lower hole in a lower surface of the right side and inserting a fourth tube through a fourth top hole in the upper surface of the right side, through the right side, and out of a fourth lower hole in the lower surface of the right side. Fabricating a back side by welding a third set of extruded aluminum sections together and fabricating a base by welding a fourth set of extruded aluminum together. Forming and/or drilling a first set of holes in an inside surface of the left side and in an inside surface of the right side and press fitting threaded bosses into each of the first set of holes. Forming and/or drilling a second set of holes in an insides surface of the back side and press fitting threaded bosses into each of the second set of holes, forming and/or drilling a third set of holes in an insides surface of the back side and forming holes in the base located to mate with each of the threaded bosses. Now, passing each of a plurality of screws through each of the holes and into a respective boss for holding the left side to the base, the right side to the base, the back side to the base, the left side to the back side, and the right side to the back side.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
Referring to
The swing bed 100 is fabricated from extruded aluminum (e.g., hollow pieces of aluminum) that are cut and welded into the shape of the base 107, the left side 106, the right side 108, and the back side 104. Such construction provides for a quality coat of paint (e.g., powder coated) and, after the end-of-life of the swing bed 100, the entire swing bed 100 is readily recycled anywhere aluminum is recycled.
Further, by making the swing bed 100 from extruded aluminum, the overall weight of the swing bed 100 is reduced to less than that of an equivalent wooden swing bed. Therefore, the shipping weight of the finished swing bed 100 is reduced as well as the shipping weight of raw materials to the factory. This lower weight not only saves energy and shipping cost, but reduces strain on transportation personnel, installers, and the end user when the end user completes the installation.
Further, by shipping the swing bed in four sections (the base 107, the left side 106, the right side 108, and the back side 104) and assembling at the point of use, each shipping package is of a weight that is easily handled by shipping staff and the end-user who will assemble the four sections (the base 107, the left side 106, the right side 108, and the back side 104) as will be shown with
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Visible on the bottom of the left side 106 and the right side 108 in
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There are also bosses on inside surfaces of the left side 106 and right side 108 and screws 162 passing through holes in the sides of the back side 104. These screws will be visible during use of the swing bed 100.
Visible on the bottom of the left side 106 and right side 108 are ends of tubes 180 that pass through the left side 106 and right side 108. The tubes 180 provide for ease of insertion of a chains 150 or ropes 150a for supporting the swing bed 100, as will be shown.
Referring to
After insertion, the tube 180 is held in place by any way known in the industry, including, but not limited to, press fitting, welding, and using an adhesive. The reason for the tubes 180 is to improve ease of assembly as, without the tubes, it would be difficult to feed the chain 150 or rope (not shown for brevity and clarity reasons) through the left side 106 (or right side 108) and secure such properly. In
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Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
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“The Connie Swing Bed.” Found online Dec. 7, 2023 at www.etsy.com. Product listed Nov. 1, 2023. Retrieved from URL: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1601099429/the-connie-swing-bed-twin-size-aluminum (Year: 2023). |