US3638249A

US3638249A - Cabinet bed

Info

Publication number: US3638249A
Application number: US1138A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stylianos G Katsigarakis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-06
Filing date: 1970-01-07
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01
Also published as: CA884054A

Abstract

A cabinet bed comprising a cabinet having a box mounted on a base; said box being formed of two halves which are respectively hinged to the base for opening and closing. When closed, the box contains a folding bed which is comovably coupled to both box halves for unfolding and folding coincidentally with the opening and closing of the box halves; the bed in its unfolded state being supported at an optimal level.

Description

United States tet Katsigarakis 1 Feb. I, 1972 [54] CABINET BED FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Stylianos G. Katsigarakis, 214 Vaughan 552,445 1 1/1956 Belgium ..5/6 Road Apt. #101, Toronto 347, Ontario, 364,287 5/1906 France... ..5/4 Canada I Primary Examiner--Bobby R. Gay [22] Ffled' 1970 Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette [21] Appl. No 1,138 Atr0rneyLeon Arthurs [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..5/159, 5/6 I [51] Cl I 17/60 A cabinet bed comprising a cabinet having a box mounted on [58] Field of Search ..5/6 159 4, 174 a base; Said being formed of two halves which are respectively hinged to the base for opening and closing. When 56 R f d closed, the box contains a folding bed which is comovably l e erences I e coupled to both box halves for unfolding and folding coin- ITED STATES PATENTS cidentally with the opening and closing of the box halves; the

bed in its unfolded state being supported at an optimal level. 431,825 7/1890 Sundback ..5/159 791,857 6/1905 Arnold ..5/159 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB I 2 d M0 at 4 2 FIG. 3

FIG.5

INVENTOR. s0. KATSIGARAKIS agent CABINET BED The invention is directed to a convertible bed consisting of a folding bed contained in an upright, free-standing, cabinetwhich is capable of being opened and closed; said bed unfolding for use when the cabinet is opened and folding for storage within the cabinet when the latter is closed.

The concept of a cabinet bed as above described is not broadly new. However, prior cabinet beds tended to suffer from one or more of several disabilities, for example: bulky and unprepossessing appearance; complicated mechanism rendering it difficult to fold and unfold the bed and compounding its cost; significant lack of comfort, and other disabilities of more or less significance.

The invention thus seeks, as its primary objective, to provide an improved cabinet bed as aforesaid which is relatively free of the enumerated disadvantages.

More particularly, the invention seeks to provide a convertible cabinet bed as aforesaid which, when opened, provides sleeping facilities at a level which is optimal, not only for sleeping, but also for sitting as is fairly commonly required.

The invention still further seeks to provide a said convertible bed which is not bulky when closed but will yet afford adequate accommodation for a full-thickness mattress-for example, an inner spring mattress-without cramping it while still leaving room for bed clothes.

The convertible bed of the invention includes a free-standing cabinet formed of a pair of box halves supported on a base to which said box halves are respectively hinged for movement in the manner of a bivalve between opened and closed positions. Further included, is a folding bed having a spring with an intermediate section and an outer (head or foot) section hinged to each end thereof for movement thereon between a folded state in which both outer end sections stand erectly on the intermediate section in mutually confronting and spacedapart relation and an unfolded state in which they are horizontally aligned on opposite ends of said intermediate section with which they then establish support for a sleeper.

The intermediate spring section is secured to the cabinet base at a selected elevation and its said outer sections are coupled to the box halves for conjoint movement therewith whereby, when the cabinet is closed, the said outer head and foot sections will assume their folded disposition in the interior thereof and, conversely, when the cabinet is opened, it will serve as a bedstead supporting the bed in its horizontal unfolded and functional position aforesaid.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that each opened box half is supported at one of its ends by the cabinet base; the other ends thereof being respectively supported on legs; constituted, in one instance, by a flap portion of the cabinet which extends across the full width thereof; said flap lying flush with the front of the cabinet in the closed position of the latter.

The invention further provides a headboard which also doubles as the top of the cabinet in the closed position aforesaid.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists of the novel parts, constructions, ar-

rangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cabinet bed according to the invention; the cabinet being closed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the instant cabinet bed at an intermediate stage in the opening thereof, the top parts thereof being broken off and the sides removed to expose the bed contained in the cabinet;-

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a part broken off from FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 partially opened and with broken lines depicting the parts of the bed contained in the cabinet;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a part broken off from FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the present cabinet bed in the fully opened state; parts of the folding bed forming part thereof being shown in full lines and other parts in broken lines.

In accordance with the present inventive idea, the embodiment selected for the purpose of this disclosure includes a folding bed F which, in the position of FIG. 2, is contained within a composite box generally designated at 4 forming part of the cabinet structure illustrated in FIG. 1. As will be apparent from the drawings, said box 4 is capable of being opened and closed. When fully opened, said box 4 takes the form of a bedstead providing support for the unfolded bed F in its functional position as best shown in FIG. 6.

When closed, said, box 4 exhibits

surfaces

6 and 8 which, in this embodiment, are arbitrarily regarded as the front and rear of cabinet 10 when closed as aforesaid; said surfaces 6-8 constituting the bottom of the bedstead of FIG. 6 in the opened condition of the cabinet 10. A dual function is also served by panel 12 which may serve either as the top of the closed cabinet 10 or as the headboard of the bedstead of FIG. 6.

Said box 4 is divided into

separate halves

14 and 16, each half having edges 17 which meet when the box is closed along a plane lying between and substantially paralleling the front and

rear panels

6 and 8; said box halves 14-16 being separable by a downward pivotal movement on cabinet base 18 to which they are respectively attached on opposite sides thereof. As shown in the drawings, said base 18 may have low feet 20.

Said panel 6, being the front of the cabinet 10 in the present instance, is a composite of an upper flap 22 having a function to be described and a lower subpanel 24; both extending from one side 26 of box half 14 to the other. As will be observed, each of said box halves 14-16 is provided with sides 26-26 as aforesaid. The separation of box halves 14-16 is achieved by a downward pivotal movement thereof on

hinges

28 and 30 by which they are respectively attached to the cabinet base 18. By these means, said box halves 14-16 are convertible between the closed condition of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the outstretched, bedstead position of FIG. 6 in which they are linearly aligned on opposite sides of the cabinet base 18 in the form of a bedstead to support the folding bed F as aforesaid; the sides of the bedstead being now constituted by the sides 26 of the box halves 14-16.

Said folding bed F is comprised of a mattress M and a trisectional spring having an intermediate section 32 fastened to the cabinet base 18 by posts 34-36 on each side. While only one side of the present structure is illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the other side is likewise provided with corresponding posts.

The two other sections,

spring sections

38 and 40, are disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate section 32 in respective registration with box halves 14-16; one such section, herein designated as the foot section 38, being pivotally attached to the intermediate section 32 as at 39 and the other, the head section 40, being likewise pivotally attached to the other side of intermediate section 32 as at 41.

As revealed by the drawing hereinbefore described, the aforesaid pivoting of head and

foot spring sections

40 and 38 renders them movable between the horizontal unfolded use position of FIG. 6 in which they are respectively aligned with the intermediate section 32 and the stored position of FIG. 4 in which they stand erectly on said center section 32 in mutually confronting but spaced-apart relation within the box 4.

In the aforesaid bedstead position of FIG. 6, said bed F is supported centrally on cabinet base 18 with its head and foot sections 38-40 registering with box halves 14-16 as aforesaid. In turn, leg support for its extremities is provided, in the case of foot section 38, by the aforesaid flap 22 which forms part of the front panel 6; the head section 40 being bilaterally supported at its free end by symmetrical legs 42 of which only one is shown in the drawings.

At this point, it is deemed desirable to interrupt the description of the present embodiment to draw attention to a factor of some significance.

That is to say, it will be recognized to be desirable for many reasons which need not be enumerated herein that the bed F be disposed for use more or less at the top of the bedstead constituted by the opened

box halves

14 and 16 and, hence, with its mattress M more or less flush with the top of said bedstead 14-16. Conversely, when the

box halves

14 and 16 are folded to the position of FIG. 4, it is most desirable, as best exemplified by this view, that said bed F be relocated within box 4 so that the mattress M will not be folded into a cramped position between the upraised head and foot spring sections 40-38 but will, instead, be disposed loosely therebetween and, hence, able to embrace the bed clothing designated by the reference device BC as in FIG. 4.

For this purpose, it will be observed that the pivot 41 which joins head spring section 40 to the intermediate section 32 is more or less in vertical registration with hinge which connects box half 16 to cabinet base 18. Thus, when box half 16 is moved to the erect, storage, position of FIG. 4, said spring section 40 will be seen to retire more or less closely against the rear panel 8 of cabinet 10. Conversely, when said box half 16 is swung downwardly to the bedstead position of FIG. 6, said spring section 40 will be seen to advance from rear panel 8 to the elevated position shown in the drawings and above described.

Substantially similar movements but not necessarily of the same scope are also effected by the companion spring section 38 at the foot end of the bed F; pivot 39 attaching this foot section 38 to intermediate section 32 being disposed somewhat more centrally of bed F than the companion pivot 41 whereby said spring section 38 does not retire all the way over to panel 6 in the closed position of FIG. 4 although it does so retire to a lesser degree. In this connection, it will be noted that the distance between pivotal connections 39-41 between intermediate spring section 32 and the other spring sections 38-40 is less than the distance between hinges 28-30 interconnecting cabinet base 18 to box halves 14-16.

Thus, as the box halves 14-16 move between open and closed conditions, each said

spring section

38 and 40 will move relative to its

particular box half

14 or 16 as the case may be not only in the direction of its depth but also in the direction of its length or height; it being observed that each of said spring sections 3840 is somewhat smaller than the specific box half with which it registers to permit such movement.

Each leg 42 which supports the head section 40 of the folding bed F is pivotally attached thereto as at 44 for swinging between the erect functional position of FIG. 6 and the folded collapsed state defined mainly by broken lines in FIG. 4. To render said leg 42 coacting with the opening and closing of box 4, it is intermediately fulcrumed on box sides 26 as at 44.

Thus, as box half 16, for instance, moves from the open position of FIG. 6 to the closed position of FIG. 4, the aforesaid movement of head spring section 40 will induce rotation of leg 42 of fulcrum 44 to the collapsed position of FIG. 4. Conversely, a reverse movement of box half 16 will procure erection of leg 42 to support the head end of bed F at the optimal level hereinbefore described, namely: generally flush with the top of bedstead 14-16.

As regards the foot end of bed F, it will be recalled that its supporting member, namely flap 22, is displaced from cabinet surface 6 when box half 14 is opened and restored thereto when said box half is closed.

Such movements are enabled by appropriate pivotal attachment of flap 22 as at 48 to sides 2626 of box half 14 in a manner which will be obvious and apparent from the drawings; the flap 22 being rendered coacting with foot spring section 38 by link 50 which interconnects them pivotally as shown at 52 in the drawings.

The hereinbefore described construction yields a structure characterized by three cabinet components which are linearly alignable to serve as a bedstead for a folding bed. Alternately,

the two components on the opposite ends of the intermediate component are foldable towards each other to form a closed box providing storage for said bed which is, in its turn, cofoldable with said components to fit within said closed box 4. Significantly, said folding bed F is comprised of three sections 38-32-40 which register, respectively, with the cabinet components 14-18-16; the intermediate spring section 32 being rigidly secured to the intermediate cabinet component, namely base 18, while the

spring sections

38 and 40 are comovable with cabinet components 14-16 between said opened and closed conditions.

Of further significance is the fact that the said folding bed F changes position with respect to the interior of the box 4 in moving from one state to the other so that, in the form of FIG. 6, the folding bed F is raised to the tops of the outstretched box halves 14-16 whereas its parts move well into the interior of said box halves l4-16 when they are closed thereby permitting uncramped storage of mattress M and providing accommodation for bed clothes BC.

What I claim is:

1. A cabinet bed comprising:

a bed foldable for storage and unfoldable to support a sleeper;

a free-standing cabinet containing said bed and convertible between a closed-condition in which it forms a box for Storing said bed in its folded state and an open condition in which it serves as a bedstead for the said bed in its unfolded state, and

legs interconnected between said bed and cabinet articulated to procure folding and unfolding of said bed conjointly with the opening and closing of the cabinet;

said bed being movable in said cabinet to lie generally flush with the top of the bedstead when the cabinet is open and having sections which move to spaced-apart confronting positions in the interior of the cabinet providing accommodation for bed clothing when the cabinet is closed.

2. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cabinet comprises:

a pair of box halves, and

a base hingedly interconnecting said box halves for movement between said open condition in which they and the base constitute the said bedstead and the closed condition in which they form a box on and with said base for storing said bed.

3. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said bed is comprised of head and foot spring sections and an intermediate spring section pivotally interconnecting them for movement between the said folded state, in which they are supported by said intermediate section in mutually confronting and relatively widely spaced-apart relation, and the said unfolded state in which they are linearly aligned with the intermediate spring section and on each end thereof.

4. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said cabinet has a composite surface panel including a flap which is articulated to serve as one of the legs aforesaid to support the bedstead when the cabinet is in open condition and to merge with the rest of said surface panel when the cabinet is in closed condition.

5. A cabinet as set forth in claim 2 including:

a panel which serves as the top of the cabinet in its closed condition and as a headboard for the bedstead in its open condition.

6. A cabinet as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said bed is comprised of head and foot spring sections and an intermediate spring section pivotally interconnecting them for movement between the said folded state, in which they are supported by said intermediate section in mutually confronting and relatively widely spaced-apart relation, and the said unfolded state in which they are linearly aligned with the intermediate spring section and on each end thereof;

said head and foot spring sections each registering with a said box half and the said legs interconnecting each said box half with its registering spring section to procure folding and unfolding of said bed conjointly with the opening and closing of the box halves as aforesaid.

7. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the said intermediate spring section is disposed at an elevation above said cabinet base and the box halves are respectively longer than the specific spring sections with which they respectively register.

8. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the distance between the pivotal connections of the intermediate and the other spring sections is shorter than the distance between the hinges interconnecting the box halves and the base on each side of the cabinet.

9. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

10. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 9 including:

11. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

Claims

1. A cabinet bed comprising: a bed foldable for storage and unfoldable to support a sleeper; a free-standing cabinet containing said bed and convertible between a closed condition in which it forms a box for storing said bed in its folded state and an open condition in which it serves as a bedstead for the said bed in its unfolded state, and legs interconnected between said bed and cabinet articulated to procure folding and unfolding of said bed conjointly with the opening and closing of the cabinet; said bed being movable in said cabinet to lie generally flush with the top of the bedstead when the cabinet is open and having sections which move to spaced-apart confronting positions in the interior of the cabinet providing accommodation for bed clothing when the cabinet is closed.

2. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cabinet comprises: a pair of box halves, and a base hingedly interconnecting said box halves for movement between said open condition in which they and the base constitute the said bedstead and the closed condition in which they form a box on and with said base for storing said bed.

3. A cabiNet as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bed is comprised of head and foot spring sections and an intermediate spring section pivotally interconnecting them for movement between the said folded state, in which they are supported by said intermediate section in mutually confronting and relatively widely spaced-apart relation, and the said unfolded state in which they are linearly aligned with the intermediate spring section and on each end thereof.

4. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said cabinet has a composite surface panel including a flap which is articulated to serve as one of the legs aforesaid to support the bedstead when the cabinet is in open condition and to merge with the rest of said surface panel when the cabinet is in closed condition.

5. A cabinet as set forth in claim 2 including: a panel which serves as the top of the cabinet in its closed condition and as a headboard for the bedstead in its open condition.

6. A cabinet as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said bed is comprised of head and foot spring sections and an intermediate spring section pivotally interconnecting them for movement between the said folded state, in which they are supported by said intermediate section in mutually confronting and relatively widely spaced-apart relation, and the said unfolded state in which they are linearly aligned with the intermediate spring section and on each end thereof; said head and foot spring sections each registering with a said box half and the said legs interconnecting each said box half with its registering spring section to procure folding and unfolding of said bed conjointly with the opening and closing of the box halves as aforesaid.

7. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 6 wherein: the said intermediate spring section is disposed at an elevation above said cabinet base and the box halves are respectively longer than the specific spring sections with which they respectively register.

8. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 6 wherein: the distance between the pivotal connections of the intermediate and the other spring sections is shorter than the distance between the hinges interconnecting the box halves and the base on each side of the cabinet.

9. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 7 wherein: the distance between the pivotal connections of the intermediate and the other spring sections is shorter than the distance between the hinges interconnecting the box halves and the base on each side of the cabinet.

10. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 9 including: a panel which serves as the top of the cabinet in its closed condition and as a headboard for the bedstead in its open condition.

11. A cabinet bed as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said cabinet has a composite surface panel including a flap which is articulated to serve as one of the legs aforesaid to support the bedstead when the cabinet is in open condition and to merge with the rest of said surface panel when the cabinet is in closed condition.