Beds – Bedsteads – Upending
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-02-13
Grosz, Alexander (Department: 3628)
Beds
Bedsteads
Upending
C005S133000, C005S164100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to beds, and more particularly, is a folding bed that is alternatively raised and lowered in response to an operation of a switch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A folding bed, often referred to as a Murphy bed, is usually comprised of a frame that supports a foundation and mattress. The folding bed is moveable from a vertical raised storage position to a horizontal lowered functional position and vice versa.
When in the raised position, the folding bed usually is disposed within an alcove of a wall or within a storage cabinet where it is concealed. In the lowered position, the folding bed appears to be a piece of furniture without extraordinary features.
The folding bed is frequently used in an environment, such as an apartment, where floor space may be marginally sufficient for a resident.
It should be understood that the weight of the folding bed is considerable. Because of the weight, counterbalancing springs are used to reduce the effort needed to raise and lower the folding bed. However for an elderly or handicapped individual, almost any effort is enervating. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a motorized folding bed that obviates the effort.
The motorized folding beds of the prior art are cumbersome and expensive to produce. U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,397 of Moore, for example, discloses a folding bed that is raised and lowered by a motor that rotates a lead screw. The head of the '397 bed is coupled to a pair of guide tracks by guide members that are slidable within the tracks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,263 discloses a motor bolted to a floor near the center of the foot of a folding bed. The motor is connected to a reciprocal drive arm that rotates the '263 bed about a pivot pin. Counterbalancing springs reduce the amount of force needed to rotate the '263 bed.
All folding beds of the prior art are comprised of a structural arrangement where raising and lowering creates friction between either two or more moveable structures or a moveable structure and a stationary structure. The friction is a source of undesired wear. There is a need for a motorized folding bed that is simple, reliable and inexpensive to produce and is a structure of a type that obviates excessive undesired wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a frame of a folding bed that is alternatively raised from a lowered functional position and lowered from a raised storage position in response to an operation of a momentary switch.
According to the present invention, a motor is operable to cause a rotation of a frame of a folding bed about an axis of rotation.
In one specific embodiment, the motor is included in a rotatable power assembly that has an axis of rotation that is displaced from the axis of rotation of the frame. A threaded shaft is coupled to the motor. The threaded shaft engages threads within a sheath that is connected to the frame at a datum location whereby a rotation of the frame to either the raised storage or the lowered functional position causes a related rotation of the motor and all other components of the power assembly. The frame is raised in response to a distance between axis of rotation of the power assembly and the datum location being increased. The frame is lowered from a raised storage position in response to the distance being decreased. The distance is changed in response to a rotation of a threaded shaft.
The invention is a motorized folding bed that is simpler than motorized folding beds of the prior art. Additionally, in the event of a power failure, the folding bed is easily either raised or lowered manually.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 580359 (1897-04-01), Anthony
patent: 940038 (1909-11-01), Lyons
patent: 1105203 (1914-07-01), Lavaway
patent: 1915507 (1933-06-01), Wright
patent: 2067136 (1937-01-01), Bridenbaugh
patent: 2116698 (1938-05-01), Hall
patent: 3179956 (1965-04-01), Bennett
patent: 3458877 (1969-08-01), Edwards
patent: 3517397 (1970-06-01), Moore
patent: 4449263 (1984-05-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4766623 (1988-08-01), Belhoffer et al.
patent: 4937900 (1990-07-01), Bridges
patent: 5446932 (1995-09-01), Voorhis
patent: 1341675 (1963-09-01), None
Grosz Alexander
Weiss Leonard
LandOfFree
Motorized folding bed does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motorized folding bed, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motorized folding bed will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2607711