LEG STRUCTURE FOR A FOLDING BED

Abstract

An improved leg structure for a folding bed includes a bed frame, a leg part and a support. The support includes at least one first rod and at least one second rod inserted into the first rod. An upper end of the first rod is hinged to a bottom of the bed frame, and another end thereof is a first free end. One end of the second rod is hinged to the bed leg, and another end thereof is a second free end. A positioning mechanism is also included. Accordingly, the unfolding and folding operation of the leg part is more convenient, and a stable supporting effect is also attained.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a bed framework and relates particularly to an improved leg structure for a folding bed.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A typical folding bed, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, comprises a bed frame 1 and leg parts 2. The legs 2 are pivotally connected to a bottom of the bed frame 1. At least one strut 3 is pivotally connected to an inner side of the legs 2. A through hole 31 is formed at a free end of the strut 3. A projection 11 is disposed at a place relative to the bottom of the bed frame 1. A slot 32 is formed beside the through hole 31. A diameter of the slot 32 can be equal to a diameter of the through hole 31 so that the free end of the strut 3 can form a U-shaped slot with an orifice opened to the side. The diameter of the slot 32 can also be slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 31 so that the free end of the strut 3 can form a C-shaped slot with an orifice opened to the side.

To extend or unfold the bed, the folding bed which adopts the above structure has to extend the legs 2 firstly, moves the strut 3 toward a side different from the slot 32 under the elasticity of the strut 3, and locks the projection 11 with the slot 32 from the side by using the through hole 31 at the free end of the strut. Thus, the bed frame 1, the legs 2, and the strut 3 are assembled to provide a triangular supporting state.

The use of the folding bed still has the following problems. First, the strut 3 needs to be moved if the strut 3 is to engage with the projection 11 or is to separate from the projection 11. Such movements may cause an elastic deformation of the strut 3. Hence, the unfolding and folding operation of the strut 3 is more laborious and inconvenient. Second, a long-term use of the strut 3 which may cause the deformation affects the engagement between the slot 32 and the projection 11, so the concern about the safety of using the whole folding bed is raised. Third, the strut 3 extending toward an inner side of the bottom of the bed frame 1 causes objects stored on a lower part of the bed frame 1 to touch the strut 3 easily. This situation affects the supporting stability of the strut 3 and also limits the storage space formed on the lower part of the bed frame 1.

Therefore, this invention is invented to solve the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide an improved leg structure for a folding bed which attains a more convenient unfolding and folding operation and provides an effect of positioning and supporting stably.

To achieve the aforementioned object, an improved leg structure for a folding bed in accordance with this invention comprises a bed frame, a leg part hinged to a bottom of the bed frame, and a support disposed between the bed frame and the leg part. The support includes at least one first rod and at least one second rod inserted into the first rod. An upper end of the first rod is hinged to the bottom of the bed frame, and another end thereof is defined as a first free end enclosing the second rod. One end of the second rod is hinged to the leg part, and another end thereof is defined as a second free end inserted into the first rod. This invention also includes a positioning mechanism for holding the first free end and the second free end in position.

Preferably, the positioning mechanism includes a first through hole formed on the first rod, a second through hole formed on the second rod, and a movable insert passing through the first through hole and the second through hole. The movable insert includes a pin portion and a limiting portion adapted to prevent the pin portion from sliding off the first through hole and the second through hole automatically.

Preferably, the support is disposed on an outer side of the leg part. The leg part includes two feet and a transverse beam connected between the two feet. The second rod is hinged to the transverse beam.

Preferably, a protecting sleeve is disposed at the first free end. The protecting sleeve abuts against the transverse beam when the leg part is set perpendicularly to the bed frame.

To use this invention with the above structure, the leg part is rotated to allow the second rod which is connected to the bed leg to travel along the first rod and concurrently move into the first rod. When the bed leg is rotated to a position perpendicular to the bed frame, the positioning mechanism secures both of the first free end and the second free end to hold the first rod and the second rod in position. Thus, the leg part, the support and the bed frame are combined to provide a triangular and stable supporting effect. To fold the leg part, the positioning mechanism can also be adapted to release the first free end and the second free end. Thus, the unfolding and folding operation of the leg part is more convenient. Meanwhile, the positioning mechanism ensures that the support can always keep connecting between the bed frame and leg part to attain a stable supporting effect.

Preferably, the movable insert adopted by the positioning mechanism of this invention functions to attain a positioning effect by only passing the pin portion through the first through hole and the second through hole. To fold the leg part, the movable insert is withdrawn, and then the leg part is rotated to move toward the bed frame so that the second rod can move outwards along the first rod. Thus, the unfolding and folding operation of the leg part is very convenient.

Preferably, the leg part includes two feet and a transverse beam connected between the two feet. The second rod is hinged to the transverse beam. The support is disposed on the outer side of the leg part and connected to the transverse beam, so the transverse beam allows the leg part to support the bed frame more stably, and the connection between the support and the transverse beam prevents the support from being touched accidentally. Furthermore, the support disposed on the outer side of the leg part allows objects to be stored in a space formed on an inner side of the leg part.

Preferably, a protecting sleeve disposed at the first free end protects the first rod by bearing a partial force exerted on the first rod. Meanwhile, the protecting sleeve also helps the positioning effect. When the protecting sleeve abuts against the transverse beam, the first through hole and the second through hole are aligned with each other to permit the movable insert to be precisely inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole. Thus, the operation of holding the support in position is more convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first preferred embodiment of this invention in which only one side of the folding bed is shown;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the first preferred embodiment of this invention in which only one side of the folding bed is shown;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional folding bed in which only one side of the folding bed is shown; and

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The advantages and the structure of this invention are further described in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an improved leg structure for a folding bed comprises a bed frame 10 and a leg part. FIG. 1 only shows one side of the folding bed which will be described in detail. The leg part on the side of the folding bed includes two feet 20 and a transverse beam 21 connected between the two feet 20. The two feet 20 are all hinged to a bottom of the bed frame 10.

This invention further comprises a support disposed between the bed frame 10 and the leg part. The support is disposed on an outer side of the leg part. The support can be directly connected to the feet 20. Alternatively, the support is connected to the transverse beam 21 as shown. The support includes at least one first rod 41 and at least one second rod 42 inserted into the first rod 41. An upper end of the first rod 41 is hinged to the bottom of the bed frame 10, and the other end thereof is defined as a first free end enclosing the second rod 42. One end of the second rod 42 is hinged to the transverse beam 21, and the other end thereof is defined as a second free end inserted into the first rod 41. This invention also comprises a positioning mechanism capable of holding the first free end and the second free end in position. By using the positioning mechanism, the movement of the first free end and the second free end can be limited.

In the preferred embodiment, the positioning mechanism, specifically, includes a first through hole 411 formed on the first rod 41, a second through hole 421 formed on the second rod 42, and a movable insert 50 passing through the first through hole 411 and the second through hole 421. The movable insert 50 includes a pin portion 52 and a limiting portion 51 which prevents the pin portion 52 from sliding off the first through hole 411 and the second through hole 421 automatically. When the second rod 42 moves inside the first rod 41, relative places of the first through hole 411 and the second through hole 421 are gradually changed. When an axis of the first through hole 411 is in alignment with an axis of the second through hole 421, the movable insert 50 can be inserted into the first through hole 411 and the second through hole 421 for positioning.

To attain the relative positions of the first rod 41 and the second rod 42, the positioning mechanism can also adopt another mechanism, such as a spring latch which is common to use. The spring latch can be disposed inside the second rod 42. When the spring latch moves to the first through hole 411 by a movement of the second rod 42 within the first rod 41, the spring latch projects partially from the first through hole 411 to limit the relative movement between the second rod 42 and the first rod 41.

It is also preferable that a protecting sleeve 43 is disposed at the first free end. The protecting sleeve 43 abuts against the transverse beam 21 when the leg part and the bed frame 10 are perpendicular to each other. The use of the protecting sleeve 43 can bear a partial force exerted on the first rod 41 to make sure that the first rod 41 provides a more stable supporting effect.

While the embodiments of this invention are shown and described, it is understood that further variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An improved leg structure for a folding bed comprising a bed frame, a leg part hinged to a bottom of said bed frame, and a support disposed between said bed frame and said leg part, wherein said support includes at least one first rod and at least one second rod inserted into said first rod, an upper end of said first rod being hinged to said bottom of said bed frame, another end of said first rod being defined as a first free end having a circumferential wall defining a rectangular opening and enclosing said second rod, one end of said second rod being hinged to said leg part, another end of said second rod being defined as a second free end having a rectangular cross-section that corresponds in size and shape to said rectangular opening of said first rod to be receivably inserted into said opening of said first rod, a positioning mechanism being disposed for holding said first free end and said second free end in position;

wherein said positioning mechanism includes a first through hole formed in and extending through said first rod, a second through hole formed in and extending through said second rod, and a movable insert including a pin portion receivable in and extendible completely through said first through hole and said second through hole and a limiting portion mounted to an end of said pin portion to prevent said pin portion from sliding off said first through hole and said second through hole.

2. (canceled)

3. The improved leg structure for the folding bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support is disposed on an outer side of said leg part, said leg part including two feet and a transverse beam connected between said two feet, said second rod being hinged to said transverse beam.

4. The improved leg structure for the folding bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein a protecting sleeve is disposed at said first free end of said first rod.