Abstract
Provided is a sliding and folding bed table with adjustable height, designed for use over beds in confined living spaces such as campers, camping trailers, RVs, rooftop tents, and similar environments. This table is particularly useful in areas where room around the bed is limited or where the bed is positioned close to the floor.
Claims
1. A sliding bed table comprising: a tabletop comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; a first pair of legs, each of the first pair of legs being hinged near each end of the bottom surface of the tabletop; a second pair of legs, each of the second pair of legs being hinged near each end of the bottom surface of the tabletop; and two guides, wherein each of the first pair of legs is transitionable between a first unfolded configuration and a first folded configuration, wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is unfolded until configured to be connected to the respective guide, wherein in the first folded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is folded toward the bottom surface of the tabletop until resting relatively flat with the bottom surface of the tabletop, wherein each of the second pair of legs is transitionable between a second unfolded configuration and a second folded configuration, wherein in the second unfolded configuration, each of the second pair of legs is unfolded until configured to be connected to the respective guide, and wherein in the second folded configuration, each of the second pair of legs is folded toward the bottom surface of the tabletop until resting relatively flat with the bottom surface of the tabletop.
2. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the first pair of legs is height-adjustable.
3. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the first pair of legs is U-shaped.
4. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is unfolded to form an angle of about 90 degrees with the bottom surface of the tabletop.
5. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is slanted inward or outward toward the bottom surface of the tabletop.
6. The sliding bed table of claim 1, further comprising two sliders, each of which being associated with the respective guide, wherein each of the first pair of legs is configured to be connected to the respective slider that is configured to slidably move on the respective guide.
7. The sliding bed table of claim 6, wherein each of the first pair of legs comprises a connector that is configured to be received by the respective slider.
8. The sliding bed table of claim 7, wherein the connector is configured to be secured and detached by a mechanism of the respective slider.
9. The sliding bed table of claim 7, wherein the connector is a pin and/or protrusion from the first pair of legs.
10. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the second pair of legs is height-adjustable.
11. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the second pair of legs is U-shaped.
12. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein in the second unfolded configuration, each of the second pair of legs is unfolded to form an angle of about 90 degrees with the bottom surface of the tabletop.
13. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein in the second unfolded configuration, each of the second pair of legs is slanted inward or outward toward the bottom surface of the tabletop.
14. The sliding bed table of claim 1, further comprising two sliders, each of which being associated with the respective guide, wherein each of the second pair of legs is configured to be connected to the respective slider that is configured to slidably move on the respective guide.
15. The sliding bed table of claim 14, wherein each of the second pair of legs comprises a connector that is configured to be received by the respective slider.
16. The sliding bed table of claim 15, wherein the connector is configured to be secured and detached by a mechanism of the respective slider.
17. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the first pair of legs is positioned adjacent to the respective second pair of legs.
18. The sliding bed table of claim 1, wherein each of the first pair of legs in the first folded configuration are nested inside the respective second pair of legs in the second folded configuration.
19. A sliding bed table comprising: a tabletop comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; a first pair of legs, each of the first pair of legs being hinged near each end of the bottom surface of the tabletop; and two guides, wherein each of the first pair of legs is transitionable between a first unfolded configuration and a first folded configuration, wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is unfolded until configured to be connected to the respective guide, wherein in the first folded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is folded toward the bottom surface of the tabletop until resting relatively flat with the bottom surface of the tabletop, and wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is slanted inward or outward toward the bottom surface of the tabletop.
20. A sliding bed table comprising: a tabletop comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; a first pair of legs, each of the first pair of legs being hinged near each end of the bottom surface of the tabletop; and two guides connected to a camper, wherein each of the first pair of legs is transitionable between a first unfolded configuration and a first folded configuration, wherein in the first unfolded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is unfolded until configured to be connected to the respective guide, and wherein in the first folded configuration, each of the first pair of legs is folded toward the bottom surface of the tabletop until resting relatively flat with the bottom surface of the tabletop.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] The nature and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a prospective view of an exemplary sliding bed table in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a close-up prospective view of the feet and quick release pin of a leg attached to a slider in an exemplary sliding bed table in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a comparative, front prospective view of an exemplary sliding bed table in tray table configuration versus shelf configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a bottom prospective view of an exemplary sliding bed table in stored position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a prospective view of two exemplary sliding bed tables at tray table height positioned next to each other above one mattress while supporting another mattress in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a prospective view of two exemplary sliding bed tables at shelf height positioned next to each other above one mattress while supporting another mattress in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0030] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] As used herein, the term campers means campers, camping trailers, travel trailers, teardrop trailers, roof top tents, roof top campers, caravans, recreational vehicles, van conversions, tiny homes, other small dwellings, and any similar or equivalent objects.
[0032] As used herein, the term about means approximately or nearly and in the context of a numerical value or range set forth herein means 25% of the numerical value or range recited or claimed.
[0033] It would be beneficial for a bed table designed for confined spaces, such as those found in campers, to: be wide enough to maximize the usable area of the table; have folding legs for storage inside a camper; be capable of sliding along rails or guided pathways to various positions; be capable of easily and securely latching to fixed rails or other guides such that there is less chance of accidentally tipping over; be capable of various heights for use as a tray table closer to a person's lap or for use as a shelf at a comfortable distance above anyone sleeping below it; and have rails or other guides and sliders that are fixed or positioned close to the mattress or even with some or all portions just under it or compressing it and have legs that are slanted such that the table requires either no space or very little space around the mattress and may not interfere with camper walls or objects attached to the campers walls. It would further be beneficial if two or more bed tables can be combined for an even larger table surface, larger shelf surface, and/or to support a mattress on the table that may be wider than the depth of one table. A table that: 1) spans most of the width of a mattress above which it is used; 2) has folding legs so that they may be stored flat; 3) has legs that may be quickly latched, fixed, or otherwise secured to sliders on rails or other guides or directly to the guides so that the table may slide backward and forward and may be quickly detached for storage; 4) has multiple pairs of legs or has adjustable height legs to achieve various heights; and 5) may be combined with at least one other table to at least double the surface area of the table or shelf is described herein. Where space around a mattress, space to maneuver on or around a mattress, height above a mattress, and storage space both when a bed is being used and when it is not are all limited (e.g., inside a camper), a sliding bed table capable of: maximizing the usable width above a mattress yet not interfering with walls or protrusions from walls, folding, sliding securely along guides, and variable heights would be beneficial and is described herein.
[0034] Described herein are devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. for sliding bed tables. The description and accompanying figures, which describe and show certain embodiments, are made to demonstrate, in a non-limiting manner, several possible configurations of sliding bed tables, apparatuses, components, assemblies, systems, etc. and various methods of using them according to various aspects and features of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described. Rather, the inventive principles associated with the embodiments described herein, including with respect to the apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. described herein, may be applied in a variety of ways, including to other types of apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. General and specific apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. are described herein sufficiently to enable one to develop a variety of implementations/applications without undue experimentation. In the development of particular applications, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the design-specific goals, which will vary from one implementation/application to another. It will be appreciated that, having access to this disclosure and reading this disclosure, such a development effort would be a routine undertaking for persons of ordinary skill in the art.
[0035] This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms including, includes, comprising, have, has and their derivatives are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean including, but not limited to. The word or is used in the inclusive sense (i.e., and/or) unless a specific use to the contrary is explicitly stated.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a prospective view of exemplary sliding bed table 1, configured as a table with folding legs that latch to sliders on rails. Tabletop 2 may be a flat surface configured to span most of the width of a standard-size mattress (e.g., a Twin or Twin XL which may both be about 39 inches wide, give or take a few inches; Full or Full XL which may both be about 54 inches wide, give or take a few inches; Queen which may be about 60 inches wide, give or take a few inches; King which may be about 74 inches wide, give or take a few inches, or other standard size mattress) or a non-standard size mattress so that it may be used as a tray table when positioned at a shorter distance above a mattress or, when positioned at a taller height, as a storage shelf. Tabletop 2 may be one straight piece (e.g., a straight, flat surface that is not foldable) or it may be foldable (e.g., into two or more sections). Tabletop 2 may have a relatively flat surface on top and a supporting frame on its bottom surface, as shown later in FIG. 4, or it may be relatively flat across a top surface and have indentations along a bottom surface that may accommodate other components, such as folded legs, inside it or it may be a relatively flat surface across both the top and bottom surfaces with folded legs attached to its bottom surface. Tabletop 2 may be comprised of metal, wood, plastic, glass, a composite material, other suitable materials, or some combination of materials. Sliding bed table 1 may have two or more pairs of legs to position tabletop 2 at various heights for various purposes, or it may have one pair of legs with adjustable height, or it may have one pair of legs at a fixed height. As shown in FIG. 1, folding legs 4 and 14, which may be hingedly connected to a bottom surface of tabletop 2, are in an unfolded position at an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees relative to a bottom surface of tabletop 2 (as also shown later in FIG. 3) such that the legs are slanted inward, toward the center of the tabletop or center of a mattress (e.g., a mattress inside a camper, and slanted away from the camper walls) and feet 6 and 16 and pins 8 and 18 of legs 4 and 14, respectively, may be inserted into slots, notches, holes, and/or grooves in sliders 10 and 20, respectively, in rails 12 and 22, respectively. Feet 6 and 16 may be protrusions from legs 4 and 14, respectively, that fit into slots, notches, holes, and/or grooves in sliders 10 and 20, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. Legs 4 and 14 may then be latched securely to sliders 10 and 20, respectively, by pins 8 and 18, respectively, such that they may not come loose unless the pins are unlatched or disengaged as also shown in FIG. 1. Pins 8 and 18 in legs 4 and 14, respectively, may each be a quick-release pin with a push button to latch or unlatch the pin, or may have some other type of quick attachment/detachment mechanism. Legs 4 and 14, and components of the legs such as feet 6 and 16, respectively, and pins 8 and 18, respectively, may each be comprised of metal, plastic, wood, rubber, a composite material, other suitable materials, or some combination of materials. Sliders 10 and 20 may be sliders that attach to rails 12 and 22, respectively. Sliders 10 and 20 may be attached to rails 12 and 22, respectively, by having wheels that fit on the rails or other guides or into slots in the rails or other guides or sliders 10 and 20 may have some other component that fits on or inside rails 12 and 22, respectively, such that the sliders may not come loose from the rails, in an unwanted fashion, but may still be able to slide along the rails, similar to many slider and rail assemblies commonly found. Alternatively, the feet may themselves have or be sliding mechanisms, such as wheels or other frictionless, low-friction, or other mechanisms capable of sliding along a guide, such as rails, tracks, trenches, grooves, or slots. Rails 12 and 22 may be rails, as shown, or they may be tracks, trenches, groves, slots, or other guided pathways that sliders 10 and 20, respectively, or sliding mechanisms attached directly to feet 6 and 16, respectively, or are feet 6 and 16, respectively, may attach to or into and held captive unless and until released. Sliders 10 and 20 and rails 12 and 22 may each be comprised of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, a composite material, other suitable materials, or some combination of materials. FIG. 2 shows a close-up prospective view of a leg of sliding bed table 1 inserted into a slider. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, feet 16 of leg 14 are inserted into notches on slider 20 and securely latched in place by pin 18, which may be inserted into a hole or notch in slider 20 and held there securely until disengaged, such that the leg and slider assembly can move along rail 22. The leg, feet, pin, and slider on the other side of sliding bed table 1 or each leg, foot, and pin of another pair of legs, if so equipped and as discussed in more detail below, and a slider may be similarly connected. Secure attachment of legs 4 and 14 to sliders 10 and 20, respectively, may allow sliding bed table 1 to move along rails 12 and 22, backward and forward, along the length of the rails which may be equivalent to, less than, or greater than the length of a mattress (e.g., a mattress in a camper which may have a standard length of either 75 inches long, give or take a few inches, for standard-size Twin and Full mattresses or 80 inches long, give or take a few inches, for standard size Twin XL, Full XL, Queen, or King mattresses, or other standard or non-standard sized mattress). In some embodiments, legs such as feet 4 and 14 may be attached to sliders 10 and 20 without relying on feet 6 and 16 and pins 8 and 18, for example, by magnetic force. In some embodiments, feet 4 and 14 may be attached directly to rails 12 and 22, respectively, or other guides if they are themselves capable of sliding or have mechanisms such as wheels that enable them to slide.
[0037] Rails 12 and 22, as shown previously in FIG. 1, may be permanently (e.g., by nails, adhesive, or some other permanent fastening mechanism) or semi-permanently (e.g., by screws, thumb screws, wing nuts, or some other semi-permanent fastening mechanism) attached to a floor or mattress platform, positioned on either side of a mattress (e.g., a mattress inside a camper), as close to the mattress as possible or positioned in such a way that it slightly encroaches on the space occupied by the mattress. Alternatively rails 12 and 22 may be other guides, such as tracks, trenches, groves, and/or slots and may be fixed onto or into a floor or mattress platform as described above or may be carved, cut, or molded into the floor or mattress platform. The sliders, rails, and/or legs of sliding bed table 1 may slightly compress a mattress bound by it, if they're placed close enough to touch the mattress and/or placed slightly closer than the width of the mattress, such that the mattress is slightly compressed, providing some resistance to unwanted sliding of the table and some light purposeful force may be required to push or pull sliding table 1 along its rails. Alternatively, the sliders of sliding bed table 1 may provide some resistance or friction (that is either adjustable or not), by use of a screw, spring, brake, pads, wheels with friction (i.e., softer or rubber wheels, wheels that rub on the sides of the rails, or other types of wheels that provide some resistance), or by some other resistance mechanism, that may prevent movement, except through deliberate, light force, or alternatively, the sliders may have a lock or brake that may hold sliding table 1 in a fixed position unless disengaged.
[0038] Sliding bed table 1 may either have two or more pairs of legs at different heights, may have one pair of legs with adjustable height, or may have only one pair of legs at a fixed height, as mentioned previously. The ability to change the height of sliding table 1 may allow it to be used as either a tray table positioned close to a person's lap or as a storage shelf positioned at a sufficient distance above a person, such that a person may sleep under it. FIG. 3 shows a comparative, front prospective view of sliding table 1 with its shorter legs for tray table use, leg 4 with feet 6 and leg 14 with feet 16, versus its taller legs for storage shelf use, leg 24 with feet 26 and leg 30 with feet 32. Both pairs of legs may be hingedly connected to a bottom surface of tabletop 2, as shown in FIG. 4, in their folded positions. Legs 4, 14, 24, and 30 may each be U-shaped legs that are hingedly connected to a bottom surface of tabletop 2 at or near the top ends of the U shape, as shown in FIG. 4. Legs 4, 14, 24, and 30 may alternatively each be a single wide leg, may each be made of two or more smaller legs (e.g., for a total of 4 or more legs, with one close to each corner of sliding bed table 1), or may have any typical table leg configuration that may be hingedly connected to tabletop 2. As shown in FIG. 4, shorter leg 4 with feet 6 and pin 8 may be nested inside the bounds of longer leg 24 with feet 26 and pin 28 and shorter leg 14 with feet 16 and pin 18 may be nested inside the bounds of longer leg 30 with feet 32 and pin 34. Either leg 4 with feet 6 may latch with pin 8 or leg 24 with feet 26 may latch with pin 28 to slider 10 on rail 12, examples of which were previously shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly, either leg 14 with feet 16 may latch with pin 18 or leg 30 with feet 32 may latch with pin 34 to slider 20 on rail 22, examples of which were previously shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Sliding table 1 may be stored, as shown in FIG. 4, with both pairs of legs folded against a bottom surface of tabletop 2. Or sliding table 1 may be used with one pair of legs unfolded, while the other pair of legs remains in a folded position. If sliding table 1 is positioned at a tray table height (i.e., a shorter height above a person's lap) using legs 4 and 14, to transition it to a shelf height (i.e., a taller height positioned to allow a person to comfortably sleep below it), pins 8 and 18 may be disconnected or disengaged, feet 6 and 16 may then be lifted out of the notches, holes, or grooves in sliders 10 and 20, respectively, as previously shown in FIG. 1. Legs 4 and 14 may then be folded toward tabletop 2 until they rest relatively flat with a bottom surface of tabletop 2 (as shown in FIG. 4), legs 24 and 30 may then be unfolded away from tabletop 2, feet 26 and 32 may be placed into notches in sliders 10 and 20 (similar to examples shown previously in FIGS. 1 and 2), respectively, and lastly pins 28 and 34 may be connected or engaged to securely latch the table to sliders 10 and 20, respectively, allowing sliding table 1 to slide along rails 12 and 22. Alternatively, if the feet or legs of sliding table 1 have components such as wheels (e.g., vertical or horizontal wheels) or other sliding components or components capable of sliding that can fit into guides such as tracks, trenches, grooves, and/or slots, the guides may be configured such that at certain locations, the opening in the guides may wide enough to accept or release the sliding components, however elsewhere along the guided path, the opening is narrower causing sliding bed table 1, through its sliding components, to be held captive, helping to prevent accidentally tipping of the table along those portions of the guides where the opening is narrow (e.g., similar to how a key-hole shaped opening may, at a certain location where the opening may be wider, allow for a wider portion of a component, such as a screw head, to be inserted and when the component is moved or slid to the narrow portion of the opening, the wider component is held captive until moved back to the wider portion of the opening).
[0039] Legs 4, 14, 24, and/or 30 may also contain stoppers or bumpers near the tops of the legs, as shown on legs 4 and 14 in FIGS. 3 and 4. These stoppers may or may not be necessary to limit the extension of the legs to a maximum angle (which may be different for different length legs) as they are unfolded. If the legs do not contain these stoppers, as shown on legs 24 and 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edges of tabletop 2 may limit their extension to a maximum angle. This angle may be greater than 90 degrees relative to a bottom surface of tabletop 2, as shown in FIG. 3 which may allow the legs to slant toward the tabletop and/or middle of the mattress, which may aid in avoiding camper walls and/or objects on camper walls, as previously mentioned. Other mechanisms besides stoppers, bumpers, and table edges may be used to limit or adjust the extension of table legs, such as locking hinges, locking pins, or other components. These mechanisms (i.e., stoppers, bumpers, table edges, locking hinges, locking pins or other mechanisms) may also be configured to limit the angle of the unfolded legs to 90 degrees, about 90 degrees, or slightly more or less than 90 degrees, or adjustable to various angles, which may allow the table to be configured to be as wide or wider than the mattress below it, if space around the mattress permits that configuration.
[0040] Sliding bed table 1, comprised of tabletop 2; foldable legs 4, 14, 24, and 30, which may be slanted inward when unfolded, toward the center of the table or toward the center of a mattress over which the table may be positioned for use with feet 6, 16, 26, and 32, respectively, and secured with pins 8, 18, 28 and 34, respectively; and sliders 10 and 20 that attach to rails 12 and 22, respectively, may provide a secure surface that may be used as either a table, positioned just above a person's lap while a person is seated on a mattress below it, or as a storage shelf, positioned a comfortable distance above a person laying below it. Sliding table 1, by use of sliders on rails, may be secured in such a manner that it may not accidentally be tipped over during use or while repositioning it for various purposes. And sliding table 1 may be separable into a tabletop with legs that may be folded for storage and sliders on rails that may remain in place during storage and when not in use. Alternatively, a sliding mechanism may be a permanent or semi-permanent part of the leg assemblies of sliding table 1 (e.g., wheels, ball bearings, or some other rolling or non-rolling sliding mechanism attached directly to the legs instead of feet that are inserted into a slider), that may be inserted into, onto, or otherwise attached to the rails and capable of sliding along the rails, in which case sliding table 1 may be separable into the tabletop with legs that have attached sliding mechanisms and can fold for storage and the rails which may remain fixed in place. Or if, instead of rails, other guides such as tracks, trenches, groves, or slots are used, those components may remain in place when sliding table 1 is stored or may be permanent and/or integrated portions of the floor or platform which a mattress is placed on. Sliding table 1 may provide a work surface, dining table, storage shelf, seating surface, or other flat surface that may increase the functionality and usability of campers, particularly those with limited space.
[0041] Sliding bed table 100, which may be identical to sliding bed table 1 or may contain components similar to sliding table 1, may be positioned adjacent to sliding bed table 1 for use as a mattress platform to support a second mattress, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Sliding bed table 100 may be identical to sliding bed table 1, except that it may not have its own pair of rails and may be placed on rails 12 and 22 of sliding bed table 1, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Or it may be placed on other guides if rails 12 and 22 are instead tracks, trenches, groves, slots, or other guided pathways. Sliding bed table 100 may be placed adjacent to sliding bed table 1 such that a smaller mattress (e.g., a standard-size Crib mattress which may be about 28 inches wide by about 52 inches long, give or take a few inches; Small Single which may be about 30 inches wide by about 75 inches long, give or take a few inches; or other standard or non-standard sized mattress) may be placed on them and span both tables as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, depending on how wide the sliding bed tables are configured to be which may depend on what size mattress the sliding bed tables are positioned over. Sliding bed table 100 may positioned at tray table height or at a taller, shelf height. Two sliding tables (i.e., sliding table 1 and sliding table 100) placed next to each other at tray table height may, together, create a table surface that is twice as deep as one sliding bed table, providing a deeper surface to work, eat, play, and/or place a smaller mattress on them (e.g., a small mattress placed across the tables, whose length is the same as or slightly less than the width of a main mattress placed below the tables). Alternatively, two sliding bed tables (e.g., sliding table 1 and sliding table 100) placed next to each other at shelf height may, together, create a shelf surface that is twice as deep as one sliding bed table, providing a deeper surface for storage and/or to place a smaller mattress on them (e.g., a small mattress placed across the tables, whose length is the same as or slightly less than the width of a main mattress placed below the tables) and may allow enough height below the tables for one or more people to comfortably sleep below the two sliding bed tables. In such a configuration, one or more people may be able to sleep on a main mattress below while another person (e.g., a child) may be able to sleep above, increasing the number of sleeping occupants a camper may be able to accommodate. Two sliding bed tables may also be placed at different heights adjacent to or apart from each other for different purposes. For example, one sliding bed table may be used as a tray table while another is used as a storage shelf or two sliding bed tables may be used together with one positioned as a bench, at a lower height, while the other is positioned as a table, at a taller height. Additional sliding bed tables may be added to increase the table, storage, sitting, or sleeping areas (e.g., additional tables and/or sliders may be added to the rails or other guides, limited only by the available length of the rails or other guides). If desirable, two sliding bed tables may be fastened (e.g., by straps, wings nuts, screws, magnets, clamps, or some other fastening mechanism, so that the two tables may be moved together or secured together so that they do not accidentally separate.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows two sliding bed tables positioned at tray table height, adjacent to each other, for use as a mattress platform. As shown in FIG. 5, sliding bed table 1 with tabletop 2 which has leg 4 with feet 6 and pin 8 inserted into and latched to slider 10 which is attached to rail 12 and leg 14 with feet 16 and pin 18 inserted into and latched to slider 20 which is attached to rail 22 may be positioned above mattress 132 and adjacent to sliding bed table 100 with tabletop 102 which has leg 104 with feet 106 and pin 108 inserted into and latched to slider 110 which is also attached to rail 12 and leg 112 with feet 114 and pin 116 inserted into and latched to slider 118 which is also attached to rail 22, such that both sliding bed tables may, together, form an elevated platform to support mattress 134. Mattress 132 may be a standard sized mattress (e.g., a Full, Queen, King or other standard sized mattress) and mattress 134 may be a smaller mattress that may be as long or almost as long as mattress 132 is wide. For example, if mattress 132 is a standard-size Full mattress it may be about 54 inches wide, give or take a few inches, and if sliding bed tables 1 and 100 configured to be placed above a Full mattress with legs 4 and 14 and legs 104 and 112, respectively, positioned in such a way that they slant toward the center of the mattress and/or tabletops, tabletops 2 and 102, respectively, may be slightly less than 54 inches wide (e.g., 52 inches wide, give or take a few inches) in which case, mattress 134 may be configured to be a standard-size Crib mattress, which may be about 52 inches long, give or take a few inches, and may be placed on the two sliding bed tables, forming an elevated bed (e.g., a small bed for a small child). If mattress 134 is a standard-size Crib mattress, it may be about 28 inches wide, give or take a few inches, and if tabletops 2 and 102 are about the typical depth of many tray tables, which may be about 14 to 16 inches deep, give or take a few inches, two sliding bed tables, placed adjacent to each other, may be deep enough to accommodate the width of mattress 134. As another example, if mattress 132 is configured to be a standard-size King mattress, which may be about 76 inches wide, give or take a few inches, and if sliding bed tables 1 and 100 are similarly configured to be placed above a King mattress, tabletops 2 and 102 may each be wide enough to accommodate mattress 134 if it is configured to be a standard-size Small Single mattress which may be about 75 inches long. In this configuration, the length of mattress 134 placed above sliding bed tables 1 and 100, may be long enough to accommodate a larger child or an adult. As mentioned previously, if tabletops 2 and 102 are about the typical depth of many tray tables they may be about 14 to 16 inches deep, give or take a few inches, in which case their combined depths may be wide enough to accommodate a standard-size Small Single mattress which may be about 30 inches wide, give or take a few inches. As shown in FIG. 5, with sliding bed tables 1 and 100 placed at tray table height with legs 4 and 14, and legs 104 and 112, respectively, the elevated bed may or may not be tall enough for a person to sleep below it.
[0043] FIG. 6 shows two sliding bed tables positioned at shelf height, adjacent to each other, for use as a mattress platform. As shown in FIG. 6, sliding bed table 1 with tabletop 2 which has leg 24 with feet 26 and pin 28 inserted into and latched to slider 10 which is attached to rail 12 and leg 30 with feet 32 and pin 34 inserted into and latched to slider 20 which is attached to rail 22 may be positioned above mattress 132 and adjacent to sliding bed table 100 with tabletop 102 which has leg 120 with feet 122 and pin 124 inserted into and latched to slider 110 which is also attached to rail 12 and leg 126 with feet 128 and pin 130 inserted into and latched to slider 118 which is also attached to rail 22, such that both sliding bed tables may, together, form an elevated platform for mattress 134. As mentioned previously and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, mattress 132 may be a standard sized mattress (e.g., a Full, Queen, King or other standard sized mattress) or non-standard sized and mattress 134 may be a smaller (standard or non-standard sized) mattress that may be as long or almost as long as mattress 132 is wide. For example, and as mentioned earlier, if mattress 132 is a standard size Full mattress it may be about 54 inches wide, give or take a few inches, and if sliding bed tables 1 and 100 configured to be placed above a Full mattress with legs 24 and 30 and legs 120 and 126, respectively, positioned in such a way that they slant toward the center of the mattress and/or tabletops, tabletops 2 and 102, respectively, may be slightly less than 54 inches wide (e.g., 52 inches wide, give or take a few inches) in which case, a standard-size Crib mattress, which may be about 52 inches long, give or take a few inches, may be placed on the two sliding bed tables, forming an elevated bed (e.g., a small bed for a small child). If mattress 134 is a standard-size Crib mattress, which may be about 28 inches wide, give or take a few inches, and if tabletops 2 and 102 are about the typical depth of many tray tables, which may be about 14 to 16 inches deep, give or take a few inches, sliding bed tables 1 and 100, placed adjacent to each other, may be deep enough to accommodate the width of mattress 134. As another example and as previously mentioned, if mattress 132 is configured to be a standard-size King mattress, which may be about 76 inches long, give or take a few inches, and if sliding bed tables 1 and 100 are similarly configured to be placed above a King mattress, tabletops 2 and 102 may each be wide enough to accommodate mattress 134 if it is configured to be a standard-size Small Single mattress, which may be about 75 inches long. In this configuration and as previously mentioned, mattress 134 placed above sliding bed tables 1 and 100, may be long enough to accommodate a larger child or an adult. As shown in FIG. 6, with sliding bed tables 1 and 100 placed at shelf height, with legs 24 and 30, and legs 120 and 126, respectively, the elevated bed may be tall enough for a person to sleep below it, increasing the number of occupants the camper that contains sliding bed tables 1 and 100 may be able to comfortably sleep.
[0044] Mattresses 132 and 134 may each be comprised of foam, springs, fabric, and/or other material, and/or some combination of materials typically used in mattress construction. As previously mentioned, mattress 132 may be configured to be certain standard sizes with widths that correspond to the length of other standard-sized mattresses that may be used for mattress 134 (e.g., if mattress 132 is a Full-size mattress, mattress 134 may be a Crib-size mattress; or if mattress 132 is a King-size mattress, mattress 134 may be a Small Single-size mattress). Alternatively, mattress 132 may be a custom size or other standard or non-standard size and mattress 134 may be configured to be a custom size or other standard or non-standard size mattress that may be as long as mattress 132 is wide or shorter. As previously mentioned, mattress 132 may rest on top of a mattress platform or may be placed directly on the floor of a camper, for example. Mattress 132 may also be placed on any suitable surface that can accommodate a mattress and that rails 12 and 22 may be fixed to or that may have other types of guides, such as tracks, trenches, grooves, slots or other guides that maybe fixed to or carved, cut, or molded into the surface that hold mattress 132. Mattress 132 may simply be placed on a suitable surface, may be held in place by straps, or may be bound by other certain objects (e.g., a boundary or fence formed around the mattress). Similarly, mattress 134 may simply be placed on sliding bed tables 1 and 100, may be held in place on sliding bed tables 1 and 100 by straps (e.g., straps attached temporarily or permanently to mattress 134 that may be placed around or through tabletops 2 and 102 of sliding bed tables 1 and 100, respectively), or may be held in place by a boundary (e.g., a boundary formed by one or more camper walls and/or one or more fences temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently attached to tabletops 2 or 102). A boundary, if used, may also aid in preventing a child or adult from accidentally rolling off the elevated bed formed by placing sliding bed tables 1 and 100 adjacent to each other with mattress 134 placed on top of them.
