FURNITURE OBJECTS FOR STORING FOLDABLE BEDS

Abstract

A chest configured to transition between an open position and a closed position may include a front panel, side panels and a top panel, the front panel including a first and second portions, the side panels including first and second sub-side panels, the first portion of the front panel being hingably connected to a base of the chest, and the second portion of the front panel hingably connected to the first portion of the front panel and fixed to the first sub-side panels, wherein the second portion of the front panel is stored within an enclosure formed by at least the first portion of the front panel, the side panels and the top panel when the chest is in the closed position, and the first portion and the second portion of the front panel form a portion of a sleeping platform when the chest is in the open position.

Claims

1. A chest configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, the chest comprising: a front panel, side panels and a top panel, the front panel including a first portion and a second portion, the side panels including first sub-side panels and second sub-side panels, the first portion of the front panel being hingably connected to a base of the chest, and the second portion of the front panel hingably connected to the first portion of the front panel and fixed to the first sub-side panels, wherein the second portion of the front panel is stored within an enclosure formed by at least the first portion of the front panel, the side panels and the top panel when the chest is in the closed position, and the first portion and the second portion of the front panel form at least a portion of a sleeping platform when the chest is in the open position.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0026] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

[0027] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a chest configured to store a foldable bed in a closed or folded position according to example embodiments;

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a strap used to convert the chest between a closed or folded position and an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments;

[0029] FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate a chest in an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments;

[0030] FIGS. 10 to 28 illustrate a method of unfolding a chest from an closed or folded positon to an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments;

[0031] FIGS. 29 to 31 illustrate a kit including a chest configured to store a foldable bed and a mattress according to example embodiments;

[0032] FIGS. 32 to 34 illustrate a method of folding a chest from an open or unfolded position to a closed or folded positon according to example embodiments; and

[0033] FIGS. 35 to 42 illustrate a chest configured to store a foldable bed according to some other example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following description is merely example in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0035] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0037] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, portions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, portion, or section from another element, component, region, portion, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, portion, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, portion, or section without departing from the scope of the example embodiments.

[0038] Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “upward,” “downward,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “forward,” “rearward,” and the like refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front,” “back,” “rear,” “bottom,” “side,” and the like describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first,” “second,” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

[0039] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0040] Example embodiments relate to a furniture object configured to store a foldable bed. Example embodiments provide that the furniture object may be a chest, cabinet, coffer, trunk or any other like furniture object configured and/or adaptable to store a foldable bed. The furniture object described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built in a variety of shapes include any rectangular shape, square shape, and/or any other like shape. The furniture objects described herein may be constructed, manufactured, or otherwise built using a variety of materials, such as wood, plastic, metal, minerals and/or any combination thereof.

[0041] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a chest configured to store a foldable bed in a closed or folded position according to example embodiments;

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a chest 100 includes side panels 110, a top panel 120, a front panel 130, a back panel 140, and a base 150 which may be visible when the chest 100 is in the closed position.

[0043] The side panels 110 may include a first sub-side panels 110A and second sub-side panels 110B. Each of the first sub-side panels 110A are configured to secure to a corresponding one of the second sub-side panels 110B via a clasp 111. The side panels 110 may be provided in plural such that one of the side panels 110 is provided on each side of the chest 100.

[0044] The top panel 120 includes a first sub-top panel 120A and a second sub-top panel 120B. The first sub-top panel 120A may include a first portion 120A-1 and a second portion 120A-2 connected, for example, via a first hinge 121. In some example embodiments, the second hinge 121 may be a piano hinge. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. The first sub-top panel 120A may be connected to each of the first sub-side panels 110A. For example, the first portion 120A-1 of the first sub-top panel 120A may be connected to the each of the first sub-side panels 110A and the second portion 120A-2 of the first sub-top panel 120A may extend therefrom such that the second portion 120A-2 of the first sub-top panel 120A extends beyond the face of the front panel 130. Further, the second sub-top panel 120A-2 may be connected to each of the second sub-side panels 110B.

[0045] The front panel 130 includes an outer front panel (e.g. a first portion) 130A and an inner front panel (e.g. a second portion) 130B. The inner front panel 130B may be fixed to the first portion 120A-1 of the first-sub-top panel 120A and the outer front panel 130A may be fixed to the second portion 120A-2 of the first-sub-top panel 120A such that the outer front panel 130A and the inner front panel 130B are connected via the first hinge 121. The outer front panel 130A may be connected to the base 150 via a second hinge 131. In some example embodiments, the second hinge 131 may be a piano hinge. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0046] While it may appear in FIG. 1 that the outer front panel 130A is attached to the first sub-side panels 110A, as will be discussed later, the outer front panel 130A may be adjoined to the first sub-side panels 110A when the chest 10 is in the closed positon but may not be directly fixed to the first sub-side panels 110A.

[0047] The outer front panel 130A include one or more handles 132 provided to assist in transitioning the chest 100 from the closed position to the open position. The handles 132 may be any type of handle, knob, latch, hook or and/or any other like protrusion or void that allows an operator to manually grip the top panel 110. Further, the outer front panel 130A may include pivoting guards 160 therein. For example, the outer front panel 130A may include a pair of the pivoting guards 160 in upper corners thereof. As will be discussed in more detail below, the pivoting guards 160 may be secured by pivot points to, for example, the outer front panel 130A.

[0048] The lower front panel 130B may include side portions attached to each of the second sub-side panels 110B, where the first sub-side panels 110A are configured to abut the side portions of the lower front panel 130B when the chest 100 is in the closed position such that a sum of the height of the side portions of the lower front panel 130B and the first sub-side panels 110A is equal to a height of the second sub-side panels 110B.

[0049] The chest 100 in the closed position is configured store a foldable mattress 500 (see FIGS. 25 and 26) in an enclosure formed by the side panels 110, the top panel 120, the front panel 130, and the back panel 140. The foldable mattress 500 may be in a folded position when stored in the enclosure.

[0050] As discussed in more detail below, the chest 100 may transition from the closed position via movement of the outer front panel 130A, the first sub-side panels 110A and the first sub-top panel 120A from the closed position in which the outer front panel 130A is parallel to a surface of the base 150, to a downward position in which the outer front panel 130A is perpendicular to the surface of the base 150.

[0051] When the chest 100 is in the open position, the back panel 140 may function as a headboard for the foldable mattress 500.

[0052] Further, as discussed in more detail below, in addition to the side panels 110, the top panel 120, the front panel 130, and the back panel 140, which may be visible when the chest 100 is in the closed position, the chest 100 may further include a folding slat deck 200.

[0053] Further, as discussed in more detail below, in some example embodiments, a rear folding leg assembly 300 may be connected to the first sub-side panels 110A and selectively extend therefrom to provide additional support to the sleeping platform.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a strap used to convert the chest between a closed or folded position and an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments. FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate a chest in an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, when the chest is in the open or unfolded position, the first sub-side panels 110A are detached from the second sub-side panels 110B, the first sub-top panel 120A is detached from the second sub-top panel 125B and the front surface of the outer front panel 130A is folded downwards such that the front surface is parallel to a surface of the ground and perpendicular to a position of the front surface when the chest 100 is in the closed position.

[0056] Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, in addition to the top panel 110, the front panel 120, the side panels 140, and the back panel 150, which may be visible when the chest 100 is in the closed position, the chest 100 may further include the folding slat deck 200 in an inside thereof. Further, a strap 400 may be attached to the inner front panel 130B.

[0057] The folding slat deck 200 may be attached to, for example, the back panel 140 (or rear supports associated therewith) via one or more third hinges 210. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the folding slat deck 200 may be pivotally connected to the side panels 140 via protrusions protruding from a rear of a first one of the second sub-side panels 110B and the folding slat deck 200 that are connected to respective openings in a rear of a second one of the second sub-side panels 110B and the folding slat deck 200. Further, in other example embodiments, the folding slat deck 200 may simply be manually liftable and/or foldable without including any connection between the folding slat deck 200 and the chest 100. By having the folding slat deck 200 foldable between the folded position and the unfolded position, the mattress 500 may sit substantially deeper in the enclosure until needed, thus, substantially reducing the height of the chest 100.

[0058] In regards to the upper sleeping platform, the folding slat deck 200 may transition between a folded position (see FIG. 25) and an unfolded position (see FIG. 30), where the folding slat deck 200 may rest against supports on the inside of at least the second sub-side panels 110B in the unfolded position to form the upper sleeping platform. The supports may extend towards an interior of the enclosure an amount such that the supports do not interfere with placement of the mattress 500 in the enclosure when the mattress 500 is in the folded position.

[0059] The inner front panel 130B may be connected to the first sub-side panels 110A and the first portion 120A-1 of the first sub-top panel 120A such that the inner front panel 130B is connected to the outer front panel 130A via the first hinge 121. The inner front panel 130B may include a rail 133 connected between the two first sub-side panels 110A and a plurality of slats 134. The plurality of slats 134 may be secured between the first portion 120A-1 of the first-sub-top panel 120A and the rail 133. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the inner front panel 130B may include a solid surface rather than the plurality of slats 134.

[0060] Further, the inner front panel 130B may include front legs 135 and rear legs 136 attached thereto. The rear legs 136 may include rollers 137 attached to a bottom surface thereof. In some example embodiments, as illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 6 and 7, the rear legs 136 may be secured a distance away from the first portion 120A-1 of the first sub-top panel 120A and angled towards the rear of the inner front panel 130B to allow sufficient clearance between the rear legs 136 and the top panel 120 when the inner front panel 130B is folded into the chest 100. However, as discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 36-43, example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0061] At least the folding slat deck 200, the inside surface of the outer front panel 130A and the slats 134 on the inner front panel 130B may together form a sleeping platform to support a weight of the mattress 500 thereon when the outer front panel 130A is folded a downwards direction (e.g., 90 degrees), the folding slat deck 200 is unfolded in a downwards direction (e.g., 90 degrees) and the lower support is unfolded (e.g., 180 degrees) such that the front legs 135 and the rear legs 136 contact a ground. In the open or unfolded position the combined weight of the sleeping platform and the mattress 500 may be supported by the front legs 135, the rear legs 136 and the base 150 of the chest 100.

[0062] FIGS. 10 to 24 illustrate a method of unfolding a chest from an closed or folded positon to an open or unfolded position according to example embodiments;

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, in a first operation to unfold the chest 100, the first sub-side panels 110A, the first sub-top panel 120A, the outer front panel 130A along with the inner front panel 130B attached thereto may be folded downwards from a first position in which the outer front panel 130A is substantially parallel with the front of the base 150, towards a second position in which the outer front panel 130A is perpendicular to the front of the base 150. As the outer front panel 130A moves from the first position to the second position, the pivoting guards 160 attached to, for example, the outer front panel 130A may pivot about a pivot point thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, the pivot point of the pivoting guards 160 may be offset towards a side thereof closest to the second hinge 131 such that a weight of the pivoting guards 160 urges the pivoting guards 160 to automatically pivot outwards from a first position to a second position as the outer front panel 130A moves from the first position to the second position and may secure the pivoting guards 160 in the second position against a force applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outer front panel 130A. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, rather than having pivoting guards 160, the chest 100 may include fixed guards that extend from, for example, the outer front panel 130A to inhibit (or, alternatively, prevent) the outer front panel 130A from directly contacting the ground by maintaining a gap between the outer front panel 130A and the ground.

[0064] Note also, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, that due to the angling of the rear legs 136, a sufficient clearance may be secured to allow the inner front panel 130B including the rear legs 136 to extend from within the chest 100 without interacting with the top panel 120.

[0065] As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, in a second operation to unfold the chest 100, the first sub-side panels 110A, the first sub-top panel 120A, the outer front panel 130A along with the inner front panel 130B attached thereto may be further unfolded so that the pivoting guards 160 contact a ground. As discussed above, the pivot point of the pivoting guards 160 may be offset such that the pivoting guards 160 are secured in the second position against a force applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outer front panel 130A. Therefore, the pivot guards 160 may inhibit (or, alternatively, prevent) the outer front panel 130A from directly contacting the ground, thus, enhancing the durability of the chest 100 without the costs and weight associated with a set of rails stored within the chest 100 to support the outer front panel 130A.

[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 15-20, in a third operation to unfold the chest 100, a user may begin to unfold the inner front panel 130B by, for example, pulling on the strap 400 until the rear legs 136 (e.g., the rollers 137 attached thereto) contact the ground. At this juncture, the pivoting guards 160 may still contact the ground and support a portion of the sleeping platform.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 20 in conjunction with FIGS. 15-19, after performing the first to third operations to unfold the chest 100, the sleeping platform will arrive at the position shown in FIG. 20, which is a static state of rest for all components. For example, the outer front panel 130A has been lowered to the floor with a weight w1 thereof supported by the hingeable connection at one end to the base 150 by the second hinge 131 and on the other end by the pivoting guards 160 sitting on the floor. Accordingly after performing the first to third operations, the outer front panel 130A is at rest and static under a force of gravity g. Likewise, the inner front panel 130B is also at rest with the inner front panel 130B being hingeably attached to the outer front panel 130A by the first hinge 121 with the center of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B supported between the roller 137 and the first hinge 121.

[0068] In this rest state, the sleeping platform may form a lever with the roller 137 considered a fulcrum of the lever with the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B acting on a left of the fulcrum, and counter-balanced by a portion the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A acting through the second hinge 131 with the remaining portion of the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A supported through the pivoting guards 160.

[0069] A lever may be defined based on a location of the input force (effort), the fulcrum, and the resistance (the load) with a class 1 lever having the fulcrum placed between the effort and load, a class 2 having the load between the effort and the fulcrum and a class 3 lever having the effort between the load and the fulcrum. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the sleeping platform may form a class 1 lever with the fulcrum defined by the roller 137 being between the input force p and the resistance or load provided a portion of the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A.

[0070] In a fourth operation to unfold the chest 100, the user may continue to unfold the inner front panel 130B by, for example, pulling further on the strap 400 to provide an input force p to the lever formed by the sleeping platform.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 20 in conjunction with FIGS. 21 to 24, to bring the outer front panel 130A and the inner front panel 130B into a single horizontal plane to form a portion of the sleeping platform that supports the mattress 500, an external force p that overcomes the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A may be applied by the user resulting in upward movement m of the outer front panel 130A.

[0072] Due to the configuration of the lever, the external force p applied by the user is aided by the force of the weight w2 of the lower support since both forces are on a same side of the fulcrum defined by the roller 137. As illustrated in FIG. 24, in this position, the distance “a” between the center of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B and the fulcrum (e.g., the roller 137) is substantially larger than the distance “b” between the center of the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A and the fulcrum. As such, the inner front panel 130B may provide a mechanical advantage, to reduce (or, alternatively, minimize) the external force p provided by the user to bring the outer front panel 130A and the inner front panel 130B into the single horizontal plane. The downwards motion of the inner front panel 130B and the lifting of the outer front panel 130A in the fourth operation tends to move the center of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B further from the fulcrum such that the magnitude of the input force p provided by the user decreases as the user continues to unfold the inner front panel 130B until a transition point is reached at a mid-angle, where the input force p will diminish to zero, and the lever will be a perfect balance between the center of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B and the center of the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A acting through the first hinge 121.

[0073] Beyond this point, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, the direction of the input force p applied by the user changes to support a portion of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B, until the front legs 135 are lowered to the ground to support the sleeping platform.

[0074] Referring to FIGS. 25 to 28, in the final static position, the outer front panel 130A and the inner front panel 130B are horizontal providing a portion of the sleeping platform for the mattress 500 with the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A supported between the second hinge 131 and the first hinge 121, and the inner front panel 130B stably supported by the front legs 135 and the rear legs 136 with the roller 137 having moved rearwards coming to a final position almost under the first hinge 121.

[0075] Considering the inner front panel 130B as a lever with the fulcrum at roller 137, with the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B on one side of the fulcrum and the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A acting on the other side of the fulcrum, a substantial difference may exist between a distance “c” from w2 to the fulcrum as compared to a distance “d” of w1 to the fulcrum. This difference in distances may provide mechanical advantage to aid resisting the sleeping platform from collapsing back to, for example, the position of FIG. 24 due to an increase in weight from, for example, the mattress 500 and the sleeping user.

[0076] FIGS. 29 to 31 illustrate a kit including a chest configured to store a foldable bed and a mattress according to example embodiments.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 29 to 31, the chest 100 may be included in a kit along with the mattress 500 or may be separately provided with the mattress 500 to form the kit.

[0078] In a fifth operation to unfold the chest 100, the mattress 500 may be removed from the enclosure inside the cabinet 100, and the folding slat deck 200 may be unfolded so that the holding slat deck 200 is substantially in the same horizontal position as the outer front panel 130A and the inner front panel 130B, thus, forming the sleeping platform for the mattress 500. Thereafter, the mattress 500 may be unfolded and placed on the sleeping platform. For example, as shown in FIG. 31, in an effort to avoid placing a crease of the mattress in a middle of a user's body, the mattress may include two separate folds located on an upper third and a lower third of the mattress 500 such that the mattress 500 is unfolded by unfolding the lower third and the upper third of the mattress 500.

[0079] FIGS. 32 to 34 illustrate a method of folding a chest from an open or unfolded position to a closed or folded positon according to example embodiments.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 32 to 34, to fold the chest 100, a user may perform a reversal of the process discussed above with regards to unfolding the chest 100. For example, in a first operation associated with folding the chest 100, the user may provide an upward force p lifting the full weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B.

[0081] Thereafter, the upwards motion of the inner front panel 130B and the lowering of the outer front panel 130A, causes the rollers 137 to move away from the chest 100 (e.g., towards the user) such that the center of the weight w2 moves closer to the fulcrum (e.g., the rollers 137), and, thus, the rollers 137 support more of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B. The magnitude of the input force p provided by the user decreases as the user continues to fold the inner front panel 130B until a transition point is reached at a mid-angle, where the input force p will diminish to zero, and the lever will be a perfect balance between the center of the weight w2 of the inner front panel 130B and the center of the weight w1 of the outer front panel 130A acting through the first hinge 121.

[0082] Beyond this transition point the user will not need to provide any further forward force, only a light reverse force to keep the motion of the inner front panel 130B under control until the lower support is back at rest similar to that of FIGS. 13 and 14. As the outer front panel 130A moves back to a vertical position as the chest 100 is closed, the pivoting guards 160 may remain extended due to the offset of their pivot point. Thus, the user may manually apply a force to the pivoting guards 160 to urge the pivoting guards 160 to retract back into the enclosure.

[0083] FIGS. 35 to 42 illustrate a chest configured to store a foldable bed according to some other example embodiments.

[0084] Referring to FIGS. 35 to 42, rather than the rear legs 136 angled towards the rear of the inner front panel 130B to allow sufficient clearance between the rear legs 136 and the top panel 120 when the inner front panel 130B is folded into the chest 100, in some example embodiments, the chest 100 may further include the rear folding leg assembly 300. The rear folding leg assembly 300 may include the rear legs 136 having the rollers 137 extending from a bottom thereof.

[0085] The rear folding leg assembly 300 may be connected to the first portion 120A-1 of the first sub-top panel 120A. For example, a first one of the first portion 120A-1 and the rear folding leg assembly 300 may include a slot therein and the second one of the first portion 120A-1 and the rear folding leg assembly 300 may include a protrusion thereon, where the rear folding leg assembly 300 is configured to pivot from a closed position to an open position by rotating of the slot about the protrusion, and subsequently secured into place by applying a force to slide the folding leg assembly towards the upper front panel 120A.

[0086] The rear folding leg assembly 300 may allow the rear legs 136 to be folded so that there is sufficient clearance between the rear legs 136 and the top panel 120 when the inner front panel 130B is folded into the chest 100 while placing the rear leg 136 directly under the first hinge 121 to increase a stability of the sleeping platform by removing a lever action urging the inner front panel 130B to fold.

[0087] The description of the disclosure is merely example in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.