BI-FOLD FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR PULL-OUT CABINET BEDS

Abstract

This invention relates to a frame mechanism used for a cabinet pull-out bed. The frame mechanism is a bi-fold frame with a back frame connected to and/or comprising two straight side frames, a front frame connected to and/or comprising two curve side frames, and two slot joints such that each slot joint connects a curve side frame to a straight side frame. A front support leg and a center support leg is also provided, along with two top frame hinges. Each top frame hinge comprises a small top frame hinge pivotally connected to a large top frame hinge. The large top frame hinge is pivotally connected to the front support leg and the small top frame hinge is pivotally connected to side frame. A mounting plate, support leg connecting bar and mattress base are also provided.

Claims

1. A bi-fold frame assembly for use as a pull-out bed for a cabinet, comprising: a back frame having two back frame ends; a front frame having two front frame ends; two slot joints, each slot joint having a slot joint first end and a slot joint second end; a front support leg pivotally connected to the front frame; a center support leg pivotally connected to the back frame; and two top frame hinges each comprising a small top frame hinge with a small top frame hinge first end and a small top frame hinge second end, and a large top frame hinge with a large top frame hinge first end and a large top frame hinge second end, wherein the small top frame hinge second end is pivotally connected to the top frame hinge first end; wherein the two back frame ends are each pivotally connected to the slot joint first end and both of the slot joint second ends are pivotally connected to the front frame ends; and wherein the small top frame hinge first end is pivotally connected to the back frame and the large top frame hinge second end is pivotally attached to the front support leg.

2. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the back frame further comprises two straight side frames.

3. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 2, wherein the front frame further comprises two curve side frames.

4. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more mounting plates for attaching to an interior surface of a cabinet, wherein the one or more mounting plates are pivotally connected to the back frame.

5. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 4, which additionally comprises a mounting plate ear and wherein the mounting plate is pivotally connected to the back frame via the mounting plate ear.

6. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 2, wherein the two straight side frames curve before joining the back frame.

7. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 5, further comprising a support leg connecting bar having a first connecting bar end and a second connecting bar end, wherein the first connecting bar end is pivotally connected to the mounting plate ear and the second connecting bar end is connected to the center support leg.

8. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 7, wherein the support leg connecting bar is substantially parallel to the straight side frame.

9. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the center support leg and the front support leg are substantially U-shaped.

10. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 9, wherein the center support leg and front support leg are curved at a bottom of the U-shape.

11. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 9, wherein the center support leg has two center support leg ends that are tilted away from the center support legs where they attach to the back frame.

12. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mattress base connected to the bi-fold frame assembly.

13. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 12, wherein the mattress base is connected to the bi-fold frame assembly with one or more springs.

14. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more stretcher wires connected to, and extending between, the front frame.

15. The bi-fold frame assembly of claim 14, wherein the stretcher wires are removeably connected to the curve side frames to form an X-shape.

16. The bi-fold frame assembly according to claim 4, wherein the bi-fold frame assembly is attached to an interior of the cabinet using two mounting plates.

17. A pull-out cabinet bed comprising a back frame comprising two straight side frames, each straight side framing having a straight side frame end; a front frame comprising two curve side frames, each curve side frame having a curve side frame end; two slot joints, each slot joint having a slot joint first end and a slot joint second end; a front support leg pivotally connected to the curve side frames; a center support leg pivotally connected to the straight side frames; and two top frame hinges each comprising a small top frame hinge with a small top frame hinge first end and a small top frame hinge second end, and a large top frame hinge with a large top frame hinge first end and a large top frame hinge second end, wherein the small top frame hinge second end is pivotally connected to the top frame hinge first end; wherein each straight side frame end is pivotally connected to the slot joint first end and both of the slot joint second ends are pivotally connected to the curve side frame end; and wherein the small top frame hinge first end is pivotally connected to the straight side frame and the large top frame hinge second end is pivotally attached to the front support leg; and wherein one or more mounting plates are pivotally connected to the back frame and attached attaching to an interior surface of the cabinet.

18. The pull-out cabinet bed of claim 17, wherein there are two mounting plates.

19. A pull-out cabinet bed comprising a bi-fold frame assembly pivotally mounted in a cabinet that is movable from a vertical folded position in the cabinet to a horizontal extended position ready to be used as a bed by pulling down on the frame in the vertical folded position until it reaches a horizontal folded position and unfolding the frame until it is in the horizontal extended position.

20. A method of opening a bi-fold bed frame mounted to the interior of an opened cabinet, comprising the steps of: grasping the bi-fold frame assembly comprising a front frame having a front support leg and a back frame having a back support leg from a folded position that is substantially perpendicular to the floor inside the cabinet; pulling down the bi-fold frame assembly such that the frame pivots around two mounting plates that are pivotally connected to the bi-fold frame assembly and also secured to interior surfaces of the cabinet, until the bi-fold frame is in the folded position, and substantially parallel to the floor; unfolding a center support leg so that it comes to rest on the floor; pulling the front frame of the bi-fold frame assembly away from the cabinet so that the front frame pivots from a folded position resting on the back frame to being substantially planar with the back frame, in an unfolded position, while the front support leg simultaneously unfolds and comes to rest on the floor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the brief description of the drawings and the following detailed description in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bi-fold frame assembly for a pull-out cabinet bed of the present invention in a fourth position, with a mattress pad not installed in a cabinet.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the bi-fold frame assembly of FIG. 1 in a first position, as installed in a cabinet (shown in cross-section) and having no mattress pad.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the bi-fold frame assembly of FIG. 1 in a cabinet in a second position and having no mattress pad.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the bi-fold frame assembly of FIG. 1 in a cabinet in a third position and having no mattress pad.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the bi-fold frame assembly of FIG. 1 in a cabinet in a fourth position and a mattress on top of the frame and having no mattress pad.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of part of the top frame hinge of the bi-fold frame assembly of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an exploded left-side view of a mounting plate of an embodiment of the bi-fold frame assembly of the present invention attached to an interior wall of a cabinet.

[0025] FIG. 8A is a right-side view of a prior art pull-out sofa bed mechanism in a first position.

[0026] FIG. 8B is a right-side view of the prior art pull-out sofa bed mechanism of FIG. 8A in a second position.

[0027] FIG. 8C is a right-side view of the prior art pull-out sofa bed mechanism of FIG. 8A in a third position.

[0028] FIG. 8D is a right-side view of the prior art pull-out sofa bed mechanism of FIG. 8A in a fourth position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, there is a bifold frame assembly 200 of the present invention which combined with a mattress comprises a pull-out cabinet bed as shown in FIG. 5. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bifold frame assembly 200 comprises a back frame 220, a front frame 240, two straight side frames 260, two slot joints 270, two curve side frames 280, a center support leg 300, and a front support leg 320.

[0030] The back frame 220 is U-shaped and each end is joined to a straight side frame 260. In an embodiment of the present invention, the back frame 220 is tilted away from the planar surface of the back frame ends and straight side frames 260 to help prevent a mattress from dropping off of the bi-fold assembly and into the cabinet when the mattress is being stored in the cabinet. However, it is understood that the bi-fold frame mechanism will still work if the back length is not tilted.

[0031] Each end of the back frame 220 is connected to a first end of a straight side frame 260 using a bolted joint. It is understood that the back frame 220 and the straight side frames 260 may be a single construct or they may be three separate pieces attached together. The second end of the straight side frame is connected to a slot joint 270 at a first slot joint end. A second end of the slot joint 270 is pivotally connected to the curve side frame 280 at a first curve side frame end. The second end of the curve side frames 280 are joined to the front frame 240. In this embodiment, the front frame 240 is contiguous with the curve side frames 280 to from a U-shape. In an alternate embodiment, each end of the curve side frame 280 is connected to the front frame using a bolted joint. It is understood that the front frame 240 and the curve side frames 280 may be a single construct or they may be 3 separate pieces attached together.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, a front support bar 350 is attached to the front frame 240 to help hold a mattress M in place on the frame 200.

[0033] In an embodiment of the invention, the back frame 220, front frame 240, straight side frames 260, curve side frames 280, front support leg 320, centre support leg 300, and front support bar 350 are substantially hollow.

[0034] A center support leg 300 is pivotally connected to each of the straight side frames 260 and a front support leg 320 is pivotally connected to each of the curve side frames 280.

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the center support leg 300 and front support leg 320 are substantially U-shaped. The center support leg 300 extends down a first center support leg side, across a center support leg middle, and up the other second center support leg side. The center support leg 300 is pivotally joined to the straight side frames 280 at the ends of the center support leg sides. In this embodiment, the ends of the center support leg sides are tilted in the direction of the back frame 220. The center support leg middle may be curved so that when the center support leg is in an open position supporting the frame of the bed to hold a mattress, the center support leg middle touches the ground where it meets the center support leg sides and curves away from the ground to help balance the center support leg.

[0036] The front support leg 320 extends from one curve side frame to the curve side frame. The front support leg 320 has two front support leg sides connected by a front support leg middle. The front support leg 320 is pivotally joined to the curve side frames 280 at the ends of the front support leg sides. The front support leg middle may be curved so that when the front support leg is in an open position supporting the frame of the bed to hold a mattress, the front support leg middle touches the ground where it meets the front support leg sides and curves away from the ground to help balance the front support leg.

[0037] An embodiment of the bifold frame assembly 200 of the present invention also comprises two mounting plates 380, as is seen in FIGS. 1 to 5, and an exploded view of a mounting plate 380 is seen in FIG. 7. The mounting plate 380 attaches the bifold frame 200 to a cabinet 50. One, and preferably two, of the mounting plates 380 are attached to the interior of the cabinet 50 and are also pivotally connected to the back frame 220 via the mounting plate car 390. Each mounting plate 380 has a mounting plate car 390 extending from the main body of the mounting plate at about a 90-degree angle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the part of the back frame 220 that attaches to the mounting plate 380 is curved to prevent the back frame 220 from rubbing against the mounting plate 380 during the folding and unfolding of the bi-fold frame assembly 200 of the present invention.

[0038] The mounting plate 380 may have predrilled holes through which bolts may be used to secure the mounting plate, and therefore the bi-fold assembly frame 200, to the cabinet 50. The mounting plate car 390 is pivotally attached to the support leg connecting bar 440 and the back frame 220.

[0039] The cabinet walls to which the mounting plate 380 is secured must be of sufficient thickness to support the bi-fold frame assembly, and preferably so that the bolts do not extend through the cabinet wall. The cabinet wall may be reinforced using, for example, pieces of wood, that provides added thickness and reinforcement to the cabinet walls and to which the mounting plates are attached. It will be understood that many various means may be used to attach the mounting plate 380 to the cabinet 50.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, a support leg connecting bar 440 adds structural support to the frame 200. The support connecting bar 440 has a first connecting bar end and a second connecting bar end. The first connecting bar end is pivotally connected to the mounting plate 380 and the second connecting bar end is pivotally connected to the center support leg side of the center support leg 300 so that the support connecting bar 440 is substantially parallel to the straight side frame 260.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a base frame stopper 450 may also be attached to the straight side frames 260. In an embodiment, the base frame stopper 450 is L-shaped and a part of the base frame stopper 450 extends outward from the frame for the purpose of stopping the support connecting bar 440 when the frame 200 is in a folded position.

[0042] As seen in FIG. 3 and the exploded view of FIG. 6, a top frame hinge 400 connects the straight side frame 260 to the front support leg 320. The top frame hinge 400 has a small top frame hinge 402 and a large top frame hinge 404. One end of the small top frame hinge 402 is pivotally attached to the straight side frame 260 and the other end of the small top frame hinge 402 is pivotally attached to one end of the large top frame hinge 404. The other end of the large top frame hinge 404 is pivotally attached to the sides of the front support leg 320. The top frame hinge 400 facilitates the folding out of the curve side frame 280 and front frame 240, allowing the front support leg 320 to rest on the ground.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the pivot connection between the small top frame hinge 402 and the large top frame hinge 404 allows the small top frame hinge 402 to move from an acute angle relative to the large top frame hinge 404, to a substantially 180-degree angle (or straight line) between the small top frame hinge 402 and the large top frame hinge 404, and vice versa. This in turn allows the frame to be folded and unfolded.

[0044] The movement of the top frame hinge 400 from an open position in which the frame 200 is fully opened to a closed position in which the frame is fully closed and located inside a cabinet can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0045] In a further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, there is a mattress support comprising a mattress base 460 connected to the frame. The mattress base 460 may be connected to the frame 200 using springs 340 and/or mattress base connecting wires 360. In the embodiment of the mattress base 460 shown in FIG. 1, the mattress base 460 hangs beside the curve side frames 280 on either side of the frame 200 and is connected to the back frame 220, straight side frames 260 and front frame 240 using springs 340. One or more stretcher wires 480 extend between the sides of the frame. In an embodiment of the present invention, there are two stretcher wires 480 that are removably attached to the curve side frame 280 part of the frame 200 to form an X-shape over the mattress base 460. The stretcher wires 480 prevent the frame from becoming twisted.

[0046] In operation, to move the bifold assembly of the present invention from a fully folded retracted first position (as seen in FIG. 2) in which the bifold assembly is in the interior of a cabinet to a fully extended assembly (fourth position as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5) in which it is in a position to be used as a bed, first the cabinet doors are opened and the bifold assembly is pulled towards the floor or other ground surface (which is the second position seen in FIG. 3) such that the assembly pivots around the mounting plate from an upright position (first position) in the cabinet and comes to be parallel with the ground surface, such as a floor. As the bifold assembly pivots downwards, the center support leg unfolds so that it rests on the floor (which is the third position seen in FIG. 4). Once the center support leg is settled on the floor, the front frame 240 and front support leg 320 of the bifold assembly is unfolded by pulling the front frame 240 (or front support bar 350) away from the cabinet until the front support leg 320 is unfolded and resting on the floor (which is the fourth position seen in FIGS. 1 and 5).

[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, a mattress M, rests on the mattress base 460 which is the pull-out cabinet bed shown in FIG. 5. The mattress M of the pull-out cabinet bed folds up within the bi-fold frame assembly 200 as it is folded from the fourth to first positions. The slot joint 270 provides space for the mattress M within the frame assembly 200 when the mattress is folded. If the bi-fold frame assembly does not hold a mattress, a mattress may be placed on top of the mattress base after unfolding it.

[0048] To fold up the bi-fold frame assembly 200 from an extended open (fourth) position such that it may be used as a bed frame to a fully retracted (first) position stored inside a cabinet 50, the front frame 240 (or front support bar 350) is pushed up, away from the floor or ground surface so that the small top hinge 402 and the large top hinge 404 move from substantially 180 relative to one another to an acute angle relative to one another, causing the front frame 240, the curve side frame 280 and the front support leg 320 to pivot in towards the straight side frame 260 until the curve side frame 280 is adjacent to the straight side frame 260 separated by the length of the slot joint 270. Effectively, the frame is folded in half. Next the front support leg 320 is pushed down so that it is also resting near the curve side frame 280. The partially folded frame is then pushed up so that it pivots upwards around mounting plate car 480 and into the cabinet 50. The center support leg 300 is simultaneously pushed down so that it is adjacent to the straight side frame 260 and the support leg connecting bar 440. Once the bifold assembly is in the cabinet, the doors of the cabinet may be closed.

[0049] In an embodiment of bifold frame assembly 200 of the present invention, the mechanism allows the assembly to pivot upwards, as compared to existing assemblies used for sofa beds, etc. See prior art FIGS. 8A to 8D for the pivot mechanism of existing sofa bed assemblies.

[0050] While embodiments of the invention have been described in the detailed description, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.