FOLDABLE BED

Abstract

A foldable bed, comprising a foldable rectangular frame having first and second frame portions, and having a hinged middle structure therebetween including first and second middle feet on opposite ends thereof disposed between and hingedly connected to the first and second frame portions. A plurality of supporting feet are removably connected to the underside of the frame portions near the outer corners thereof. First and second fixed sub-body portions are disposed the first and second frame portions, respectively, and first and second main body portions are disposed on the first and second frame portions, respectively, and are hingedly connected to the first and second fixed sub-body portions, respectively. The bed further comprises at least one articulable sub-body portion. The overall length of the foldable bed is no more than 215 cm and the overall width is no more than 158 cm.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of furniture; more particularly, to beds; and most particularly, to a foldable bed having capability for adjusting mattress pad configurations and angles as may be desired by a user, yet is foldable into a package small enough to meet the dimensional requirements for use in small apartments and also for inexpensive international shipping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the development of society and increase in house prices, many people live in a small apartment. The sleeping space itself typically is relatively small, but many beds which are being used currently occupy a relatively large area, leaving little living space for people. Prior art foldable beds on the market tend not to be light-weight and compact after being folded, still occupy a large space after being folded, and have a bed frame that is unstable. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a lightweight, convenient foldable bed which when folded will occupy a relatively small space and is stable when either folded or unfolded.

Also, prior art foldable beds typically exceed the maximum size and weight allowable for inexpensive international shipping. Thus, foldable beds manufactured in China are difficult and expensive to export and consequently have difficulty in expanding the international market in the field of foldable beds even if the quality is relatively good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, an improved foldable bed in accordance with the present invention comprises a foldable rectangular frame having first and second frame portions, and having a hinged middle structure, including first and second middle feet at opposite ends thereof disposed between and hingedly connected to the first and second frame portions, and having supporting feet removably connected to the underside of the first and second frame portions near the outer corners thereof. The foldable bed further comprises at least first and second main body portions disposed on and hingedly connected to the first and second frame portions, respectively. The overall length of the foldable rectangular bed is preferably between 185 cm and 215 cm and does not exceed 215 cm, and the overall width of the foldable rectangular bed is preferably between 135 cm and 158 cm and does not exceed 158 cm.

In some embodiments, the first and second frame portions are of equal length, and in some embodiments the first and second frame portions are of equal width.

In some embodiments, a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention may comprise sub-body portions and actuating mechanisms for adjusting the shape and/or angle of repose of one or both of the first and second main body portions with respect to the underlying first and second frame portions.

In some embodiments, either or both of the first and second main body portions can include a mesh-shaped structure.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned actuating mechanisms can include a pushrod motor and/or a pneumatic lifting mechanism.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned mesh-shaped structure is formed of steel.

In some embodiments, a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention can include a flexible and resilient mattress pad disposed on the first and second main body portions that may overlap the sides of the first and second main body portions.

In some embodiments, the above-mentioned pushrod motor comprises a motor main body and a telescopic rod extending from the motor main body. The telescopic rod may be hingedly connected to the underside of the first or second main body portion.

In some embodiments, position-restraining members connect the mattress pad to one or both of the first and second main body portions.

The benefits of a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention are the following:

Because the foldable bed employs a hinge connection of the first and second frame portions to the hinged middle structure, the frame can be folded at the hinged middle structure, so the foldable bed is relatively light, occupies relatively little space, and is convenient to fold and unfold.

Moreover, when the bed is unfolded the hinged middle structure supports the inner ends of the first and second frame portions, and thus the hinged middle structure is stronger than corresponding elements of prior art folding beds, preventing failure of the middle structure, which will cause hurt to the human body.

Further, because the frame structure of a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention employs first and second frame portions that each contain a main body portion, it is possible to control the overall length of the unfolded bed in a range of 185-215 cm, and the overall width of the frame in a range of 135-158 cm.

Therefore, it is possible to make this foldable bed comply with the standards of the size and weight in international mail, which makes possible the use of relatively low-cost international mail to provide this foldable bed to foreign customers, allowing expansion of the international market in foldable beds, which has great market potential.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It should be understood that the following drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of the present invention, so they should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a first isometric view of a first embodiment of a portion of a foldable bed structure in accordance with the present invention, showing the bed partially unfolded;

FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of the bed shown in FIG. 1, showing the bed fully assembled and upside down;

FIG. 3 is a third isometric view of the bed shown in FIG. 1, showing the bed right side up and with the driving apparatus shown actuating main body portions and sub-body portions; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the following embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein the same or similar reference numerals from the beginning to the end will indicate the same or similar element or elements with the same or similar functions.

The embodiments as described in the following with reference to the drawings are only examples used for explanation of the present invention, and they should be understood as not limiting the scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “length”, “width”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, and so on is based on the orientation or positional relationship as shown in the attached drawings. They are only for the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the description of the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the indicated device or element must be in a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation; therefore, they should be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second” are used for the purpose of description only, and should not be understood as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical characteristics which are indicated.

Thus, the characteristics with the limitation of “first”, “second” may either explicitly or implicitly include one or multiple characteristics.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, “multiple” has the meaning of two or more unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly defined and limited, the terms “install”, “connecting”, “connected”, “securing” or the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, an element can be either connected in a fixed way, or connected in a removable way, or integrated as a whole; it can be mechanically connected or electrically connected; it can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through the intermediary, and it can be the internal communication of two components or the interactional relationship of two components.

For one of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms will be understood according to the specific situation.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment 10 of a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention comprises a foldable rectangular frame 12 having first and second frame portions 14a,14b, and having a hinged middle structure 16 therebetween including first and second middle feet 18a,18b on opposite ends thereof disposed between and hingedly connected to said first and second frame portions 14a,14b, and having a plurality of supporting feet 20 supported on posts 22 and removably connected to the underside of said first and second frame portions 14a,14b near the outer corners thereof. First and second fixed sub-body portions 24a,24b are disposed on first and second frame portions 14a,14b, respectively. First and second main body portions 26a,26b are disposed on first and second frame portions 14a,14b, respectively, and are hingedly connected to first and second fixed sub-body portions 24a,24b, respectively.

Foldable bed 10 further comprises first and second articulable sub-body portions 28a,28b, at least one of which is hingedly attached to one of said fixed sub-body portions 24a,24b.

When unfolded, the overall length of foldable bed 10 is in the range of 185-215 cm, preferably about 215 cm, and the overall width is in the range of 135-158 cm, preferably about 158 cm.

In a prior art foldable bed (not shown), a typical middle structure is fixedly connected to both ends of a single cross bar. A foldable bed having such a structural configuration can be easy to fold, but because the single cross bar needs to bear a relatively large portion of the total load, it is easy to break and cause danger.

Hinged middle structure 16 of the present invention includes a first pair of hinge joints 30a,30b connected to first frame portion 14a, and a second pair of hinge joints 32a,32b connected to second frame portion 14b, which taken together facilitate easy folding and unfolding of bed 10 and are stronger than a prior art folding bed because the innermost members 34a,34b of first and second frame portions define two cross bars rather than one.

As described above and shown in FIG. 3, each frame portion 14a,14b may contain a plurality of sub-body portions. In the present example, frame portion 14b includes a hinged main body portion 22b at the head part, and frame portion 14a includes first and second articulable sub-body portions 28a,28b hinged as described above. In addition, each frame portion 14a,14b includes a fixed sub-body portion 24a,24b.

As can be seen by inspection, first main body portion 26a and second main body portion 26b are symmetrical with each other at the position of the hinged middle structure 16, making the structure very stable during use.

In a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, first and second main body portions 26a,26b comprise mesh-shaped structures 36a,36b formed of steel.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first embodiment 10 of the present invention further comprises one or more driving mechanisms 38a,38b for pivoting first and second main body portions 26a,26b and first and second articulable sub-body portions 28a,28b with respect to first and second frame portions 14a,14b and hinged middle structure 16. Driving mechanisms 38a,38b may include a pushrod motor 40 having a telescoping rod 42 and/or a pneumatic lifting mechanism 44. Driving mechanism 38a is operably connected between first articulable sub-body portion 28a and first fixed sub-body portion 24a, and driving mechanism 38b is operably connected between second articulable sub-body portion 28b and second fixed sub-body portion 24b.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment 110 of a foldable bed in accordance with the present invention is formed and operates substantially the same as first embodiment 10, with the following exceptions.

First and second frame portions 114a,114b are preferably slightly narrower and shorter than first embodiment counterparts 14a,14b, and hinged middle structure 118 is preferably slightly narrower than first embodiment counterpart 18. Thus, first and second main body portions 126a,126b, being substantially the same width as counterparts 26a,26b slightly overhang first and second frame portions 114a,114b and hinged middle structure 116 at the sides and ends thereof. A mattress pad 160 is formed to overlap the sides and ends of the first and second main body portions 126a,126b. Further, one or more retaining members 162 may be connected between mattress pad 160 and first and second main body portions 126a,126b to attach mattress pad 160 to the bed structure. Mattress pad 160 may be formed of any resilient material, e.g., natural or synthetic sponge, wood cellulose fiber, or foamed plastic polymers such as low-density polyether, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyester. Synthetic sponge is currently preferred.

The above description is directed to currently preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications as may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art are fully comprehended by the present invention. All such modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and the like that may be made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but will have full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. A foldable bed, comprising:

a) a foldable rectangular frame having first and second frame portions, and having a hinged middle structure therebetween including first and second middle feet on opposite ends thereof disposed between and hingedly connected to said first and second frame portions, and having a plurality of supporting feet removably connected to the underside of said first and second frame portions near the outer corners thereof;

b) first and second fixed sub-body portions disposed on said first and second frame portions, respectively; and

c) first and second main body portions disposed on said first and second frame portions, respectively, and hingedly connected to said first and second fixed sub-body portions, respectively.

2. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the overall length of said foldable bed is no more than 215 cm and the overall width of said foldable bed is no more than 158 cm.

3. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 1 further comprising first and second articulable sub-body portions,

wherein at least one of said first and second main body portions comprises at least two articulable sub-body portions, and

wherein at least one of said articulable sub-body portions is hingedly attached to one of said fixed sub-body portions.

4. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first driving mechanism connected between said first frame portion and said first bed main body portion, and a second driving mechanism connected between said second frame portion and said second bed main body portion.

5. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second bed main body portions includes a mesh-shaped structure.

6. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second driving mechanisms comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a pushrod motor, a pneumatic lifting mechanism, and combinations thereof.

7. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 5, wherein said mesh-shaped structure is formed of steel.

8. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a mattress pad overlapping the outside of said first and second main body portions.

9. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pushrod motor comprises a motor main body and a telescopic rod extending from said motor main body, and wherein said telescopic rod is hinge-connected to one of said first and second main body portions.

10. A foldable bed in accordance with claim 8, further comprising at least one position-restraining member connecting said mattress pad to said first and second main body portions.