Adjustable power bed layer

Abstract

An adjustable power bed layer that has a bed frame that folds from a flattened state to a folded state and from a flattened state to an adjusted state. The bed frame has an inner and outer frame that nest with each other in the flattened state. Head side and foot side actuators drive sliding members back and forth along respective tracks to pivot respective articulating frames between the flattened and adjusted states. The articulating frames are part of one of the inner and outer frames and the tracks are connected to the other of the inner and outer frames. In the folded state, the bed frame is positioned to that one of head side and foot side actuators becomes accessible for maintenance and servicing from above depending upon which way the bed frame is folded about its folding pivot.

Claims

1. An adjustable power bed layer, comprising: an adjustable bed frame having two articulating frames each pivotally movable between flattened and adjusted orientations and separated from each other with a central frame interposed between the two articulating frames; two actuators that drive two sliding members respectively to undertake respective sliding back and forth motions; and two connected structures pivotally connecting the two sliding members respectively with respective ones of the two articulating frames to move in unison with the sliding back and forth motions of the two sliding members respectively to thereby pivot the two articulating frames to move between the flattened and adjusted orientations as the central frame remains stationary throughout an entirety of the sliding back and forth motions of the two sliding members wherein the sliding members slide away from the center frame to the flattened orientation and slide towards the center frame to the adjusted orientation.

2. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bed frame has two halves pivotally connected to each other, wherein the two halves are pivotally movable between flattened and folded states so that in the flattened state, the two halves spread out substantially in a planar manner relative to each other with one of the two actuators at an underside of at least one of the two halves and in the folded state, the two halves rest one over the other with the one of the two actuators being at a topside of the two halves and thus accessible from above.

3. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bed frame also has a stationary frame relative to which the two articulating frames pivot between the flattened and adjusted orientations so that in the flattened orientation, the two actuators remain within confines of a volume bounded by the adjustable bed frame and between upper and lower planes of the adjustable bed frame that are spaced apart from each other by dimensions of the stationary frame, the two actuators remaining above the lower plane during an entirety of movement of the two articulating frames.

4. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bed frame has an inner frame and an outer frame pivotally connected to each other to move between a flattened state, at which the inner and outer frames nest with each other, and a folded state, at which the inner and outer frames fold one over another, the two articulating frames being part of one of the inner and outer frames, the other of the inner and outer frames having tracks connected thereto and along which slide the two sliding members to effect the sliding back and forth motions.

5. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 4, wherein one of the two articulating frames has two portions pivotally connected to each other that define a reflex angle between the two portions in the adjusted orientation.

6. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 5, further comprising; a link pivotally connecting one of the two portions to one of the inner and outer frames.

7. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 1, further comprising: at least one mattress retainer bar pivotally connected to the one of the two articulating frames so as to pivot into an orientation that allows a fitted sheet to be tucked under and cover the at least one mattress retainer bar; and a fitted sheet tucked under and covering the at least one mattress retainer bar.

8. The adjustable power bed layer of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bed frame also includes a further central frame interposed between and separating the two articulating frames from each other, the first-mentioned central frame and the further central frame together constituting two central frames, the two articulating frames being pivotally connected to respective ones of the two central frames to move between the flattened and adjusted orientations, the two articulating frames each defining respective reflex angles of inclinations from the respective ones of the two central frames so as to incline in a diverging manner away from the two central frames, each of the two central frames remaining stationary throughout an entirety of movement of the two articulating frames.

9. The adjustable power layer of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bed frame lacks any legs connected thereto.

10. A method of assembling an adjustable power bed layer, comprising: pivotally moving two articulating frames of an adjustable bed frame between flattened and adjusted orientations; separating the two articulating frames from each other by a central frame interposed between the two articulating frames; actuating two actuators to drive two sliding members respectively to effect sliding back and forth motions of the sliding members; and moving two connected structures, which pivotally connect the two sliding members and the two articulating frames respectively, in unison with the sliding back and forth motions of the two sliding members respectively to pivotally move the two articulating frames between the flattened and adjusted orientations as the central frame remains stationary throughout an entirety of the sliding back and forth motions of the two sliding members wherein the sliding members slide away from the center frame to the flattened orientation and slide towards the center frame to the adjusted orientation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bed frame has two halves pivotally connected to each other, further comprising: pivoting the two halves to move between flattened and folded states so that in the flattened state, the two halves spread out substantially in a planar manner relative to each other with one of the two actuators at an underside of at least one of the two halves and in the folded state, the two halves rest one over the other with the one of the two actuators being at a topside of the two halves and thus accessible from above.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bed frame also has a stationary frame relative to which the two articulating frames pivot between the flattened and adjusted orientations so that in the flattened orientation, the two actuators remain within confines of a volume bounded by the adjustable bed frame and between upper and lower planes of the adjustable bed frame that are spaced apart from each other by dimensions of the stationary frame, the two actuators remaining above the lower plane during an entirety of movement of the two articulating frames.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bed layer has an inner frame and an outer frame pivotally connected to each other, further comprising: moving the inner and outer frames between a flattened state, at which the inner and outer frames nest with each other, and a folded state, at which the inner and outer frames fold, the two articulating frames being part of one of the inner and outer frames, the other of the inner and outer frames having tracks connected thereto, the two sliding members effecting the sliding back and forth motions along the tracks.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one of the two articulating frames has two portions pivotally connected to each other that define a reflex angle between the two portions in the adjusted orientation.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising; pivoting a link that pivotally connects one of the two portions to one of the inner and outer frames.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising: pivoting at least one mattress retainer bar, which is pivotally connected to the one of the two articulating frames, into an orientation; tucking a fitted sheet under the at least one mattress retainer bar and covering the at least one mattress retainer bar with the fitted sheet.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bed frame also includes a further central frame separating the two articulating frames from each other, the two articulating frames being pivotally connected to respective ones of the two central frames, the first-mentioned central frame and the further central frame together constituting two central frames; further comprising: moving the two articulating frames between the flattened and adjusted orientations so that the two articulating frames each define respective reflex angles of inclinations from the respective ones of the two central frames and incline in a diverging manner away from the two central frames.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bed frame lacks any legs connected thereto.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the adjustable power bed layer of the invention in a flattened state.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view thereof in the flattened state.

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof in the flattened state.

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof, which is symmetric to the left side view thereof in the flattened state.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view thereof in the flattened state.

(7) FIG. 6 is a back view thereof in the flattened state.

(8) FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the adjustable power bed layer of FIG. 1 but in a folded state.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view thereof in the folded state.

(10) FIG. 9 is a bottom view thereof in the folded state.

(11) FIG. 10 is a right side view thereof, which is symmetric to the left side view thereof in the folded state.

(12) FIG. 11 is a front view thereof in the folded state.

(13) FIG. 12 is a back view thereof in the folded state.

(14) FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the adjustable power bed layer of FIG. 1 but in an adjusted state.

(15) FIG. 14 is a top view thereof in the adjusted state.

(16) FIG. 15 is a bottom view thereof in the adjusted state.

(17) FIG. 16 is a right side view thereof, which is symmetric to the left side view thereof in the adjusted state.

(18) FIG. 17 is a front view thereof in the adjusted state.

(19) FIG. 18 is a back view thereof in the adjusted state.

(20) FIG. 19 is a reverse isometric view to that of FIG. 13 in the adjusted state.

(21) FIG. 20 is a partial sectional view of the foot side of the bed frame in a partial adjusted orientation.

(22) FIG. 21 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 20 but in a fully flattened orientation.

(23) FIG. 22 is a partial section view of FIG. 20 but in a fully adjusted orientation that is fully inclined at 45 degrees.

(24) FIG. 23 is a side view of a combination of mattress with fitted sheet on the adjustable bed power layer of FIG. 1 with the latter in the flattened state.

(25) FIG. 24 is a front view of the combination of FIG. 23.

(26) FIG. 25 is a corner view of the combination of FIGS. 23 and 24 but with the corner in a raised position to show that the fitted sheet wraps around and under the mattress and retainer bar, but with the corner region of the mattress raised above the adjustable bed power layer.

(27) FIG. 26 is the corner view of FIG. 25 but with the fitted sheet cutaway to show more of the retainer bar.

(28) FIG. 27 is an isometric view of FIG. 28 but with the corner region resting upon the adjustable power bed layer.

(29) FIG. 28 an isometric view as in FIG. 27, but with the combination rotated 90 degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(30) Turning to the drawings, they all show the adjustable power bed layer 10 of the invention. FIGS. 1-6, 7-12 and 13-19 may be grouped as depicting the adjustable power bed layer 10 of the invention respectively in its flattened state, folded state and adjusted state. FIGS. 20-22 show the foot-side of the adjustable power bed layer 10 of the invention in respective intermediate, fully flattened and fully adjusted states. FIGS. 23-28 show the combination of the adjustable power bed layer 10 under a mattress having a fitted sheet.

(31) The adjustable power bed layer 10 has two support frames, namely, an outer frame 12 and an inner frame 14. The outer frame 12 includes a head-side articulating frame 12A, a foot-side articulating frame 12B and two center frames 12C, 12D. The inner frame 14 includes a head-side stationary frame 14A and a foot-side stationary frame 14B that are pivotally connected to each other via hinges 14C.

(32) There are folding hinges 16 between one of the two center frames 12D and the head-side articulating frame 12A. There are folding hinges 18 between the foot-side articulating frame 12B and the other of the two center frames 12C. The foot-side articulating frame 12B has two sections 22, 24 between which are folding hinges 26. Folding hinges 16, 18 and 26 each axially connect the outer frame 12 to the inner frame 14. There are also links 36 pivotally connected via hinges 38 to the foot-side stationary frame 14B and via hinges 40 to the section 22 of the foot-side stationary frame 12B.

(33) Opposite corner regions of the section 22 of the foot-side outer frame 12B are mattress retainer bars 42 that retain a mattress in place to rest on top. The mattress retainer bars 42 are connected to pivoting hinges on the foot-side outer frame 12B. They can lift up and allow the mattress fitted sheet to be tucked under them, hiding them as can be understood from FIGS. 23-28.

(34) Turning to FIGS. 23-28, a combination of adjustable power bed layer 10 and mattress 50 with fitted sheet 52 are shown, with the mattress 50 being fitted with the fitted sheet 52 and being upon the adjustable power bed layer 10. While FIGS. 23 and 24 show the combination ready for use, FIGS. 25 and 26 are illustrative views that lift a corner to help grasp the relation between the retainer bars 42 and the mattress 50 with fitted sheet 52. The retainer bar 42 is up against the mattress and is covered by the fitted sheet 52. The retainer bar 42 pivots to lift the mattress. With the mattress so lifted, the fitted sheet tucks around and under the mattress and the retainer bar. FIGS. 26 and 27 have the fitted sheet 52 cut away in the corner region to reveal the retainer bar 42 underneath.

(35) There is also a head-side actuator 28 that includes a head-side motor 28A that imparts a force to drive a head-side sliding member 28B (such as a pull bar) to slide back and forth along a track 30. There is a head-side connected structure 28C that operatively connects pivotally the head-side sliding member 28B and the head-side articulating frame 12A. Thus, the head-side connected structure 28C moves in unison with the head-side driven member 28B to pivot the head-side articulating frame 12A about the folding hinges 16 to travel between its flattened and adjusted states.

(36) There is also a foot-side actuator 32 that includes a foot-side motor 32A that imparts a force to a foot-side sliding member 32B (such as a pull bar) to slide back and forth along a track 34. There is a foot-side connected structure 32C that operatively connects pivotally the foot-side sliding member 32B and the foot-side articulating frame 12B. Thus, the foot-side connected structure 32C moves in unison with the foot-side sliding member 32B to pivot the foot-side articulating frame 12B about the folding hinges 18 to travel between its flattened and adjusted states. Such pivoting action about the folding hinges 18 also result in pivoting action about the hinges 26 because the foot-side articulating frame 12B has the two sections 22, 24 pivotally connected to each other at the hinges 26, with section 22 pivotally connected via the hinges 40 to the links 36, which are pivotally connected via the hinges 38 to the foot-side inner frame 14B.

(37) The outer frame 12 nests about the inner frame 14. The actuators 28 and 32 remain within a height of the inner frame 14 during an entirety of the sliding movements of the respective head-side and foot-side connected structures in the respective tracks 30, 34. That is, the actuators 28 and 32 remain within confines of a volume defined between upper and lower planes of the articulated bed frame and bounded on the sides and ends by the outer and inner frames 12, 14 of adjustable bed frame 10. During an entirety of a lifting movement of the articulating frame, the associated actuator remains above the lower plane of the adjustable bed frame 10.

(38) The inner frame 12 folds in half at the folding hinges 16, without requiring the use of tools to do so. The actuators 28. 32 remain in the same plane as the inner frame 14 in its flattened condition throughout the lifting procedure for the mattress. As an alternative, the actuators 28, 32 each start flat within the same plane as the inner frame 14 and then raise slightly above the plane of the inner frame 14 during the lifting procedure.

(39) The lifting procedure can be appreciated from the drawings that show the flattened state (FIGS. 1-6) and the adjusted state (FIGS. 13-19) as well as from the sectional views (FIGS. 20-22). The respective connected structures 28C, 32C, which are operatively connected to the actuators 28, 32 via respective sliding members 28B, 32B that slide along their respective tracks 30,34 to change the orientation of the adjustable power bed layer 10 from the flattened state to the adjusted state and vice versa. By sliding the respective connected structures 28C, 32C, which are operatively connected to the actuators 28, 32, toward the center, both the head-side outer frame 12A raises and the foot-side outer frame 12B raise into the adjusted state from the flattened state.

(40) Turning to FIG. 20, the foot-side of the adjustable power bed layer 10 has one stage that varies in lift force capacity and lift speed, which is dependent on the linkage angle and contact point of the cam/wing to the frame. The foot-side sliding member 32B, which is an actuator pulling structure, moves horizontally causing the linkages to lift vertically. As the bed angle increases, the point of contact moves from the initial lift contact point of the linkage pivot point 60 (of the foot-side connected structure 32C) towards the tip of the contact surface after initial lift of the wing/cam 62 (of the foot-side connected structure 32C).

(41) Easy access to the underside of the adjustable power bed layer 10 of the invention is availableby folding the adjustable power bed layer 10 from the flattened state (FIGS. 1-6) which would be resting on a mattress box spring, bed frame or platform bed frame, to the folded state (FIGS. 7-12). That is, the inner frame 14 can be folded about the folding hinges 16 so that whichever is desired to be on top as between the head-side inner frame 14A and foot-side inner frame 14B, such folding will expose the applicable one of the actuators 28, 32 to become accessible from above. Thus, the folded adjustable power bed layer 10 allows for maintenance of the applicable one of the actuators 28, 32 as needed without the need for completely removing the adjustable power bed layer 10 in its entirety from its installed location on the bed and flipping it over. That is, the adjustable power layer 10 remains in its position but merely half of it is folded over at one time to allow maintenance to proceed as needed.

(42) There are no legs required for the adjustable power bed layer, which may be placed on any flat surface, such as the top surface of a box spring, a platform bed or bed frame with a distributed support surface.

(43) While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

(44) Not applicable.