FOLD-AWAY BUNK BED

The present invention relates to a fold-away bunk bed.

As is known, traditional bunk beds include two beds arranged one above the other at a certain distance, advantageously aligned, utilizing space in a vertical direction and limiting horizontal space occupation, which is comparable to that of a single bed.

These bunk beds are constituted by a supporting structure, which is constituted by four vertical posts mutually joined by a series of horizontal longitudinal members, which form two supporting surfaces for the bedsprings and the mattresses.

On one side of the bed, the structure includes a ladder for access to the upper bed and a safety side rail.

To reduce space occupation further, at least when the bed is not in use, so-called fold-away bunk-beds are used in which the two bedsprings rotate about a long side and are closed inside a fixed framework.

The structural supporting members, including the ladder and the side rail, also are closed generally inside the fixed framework.

The panels that support the beds are coupled to the fixed framework, which also acts as a support; the presence of this coupling conditions the thickness of the framework, which must not only contain the bed when it is folded away but must also allow mutual engagement.

EP-0431851, US-7051384 and FR-2732567 disclose fold-away bunk beds of the type described above, wherein two bedsprings are connected by an articulated framework which allows the two bedsprings to move, together, from a folded position to an horizontal position, and back.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a fold-away bunk bed that is improved with respect to the bunk beds of the cited prior art.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a fold-away bunk bed that has an extremely limited space occupation in both working positions, the open one and the closed one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bunk bed with a system for the articulation of the movable bedsprings that is structurally compact and reliable.

Another object is to provide a bunk bed that is advantageous both from a functional standpoint and from an esthetic standpoint.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bunk bed which allows to open and close each bedspring independently.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a fold-away bunk bed comprising a supporting framework having at least two shoulders to which two bedsprings, an upper bedspring and a lower bedspring, are hinged; each of said bedsprings having at least two working positions: an open position, in which said bedsprings are in a horizontal position, and a closed position, in which said bedsprings are in a vertical position and are substantially comprised within said framework; said bed being characterized in that each of said bedsprings is hinged to said framework by means of an independent articulated structure that is contained in said lateral shoulders of said framework.

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of the fold-away bunk bed according to the present invention, shown in the open position;
• Figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, of the bed in the closed position;
• Figure 3 is a front view of the bed in the open position in the condition for use;
• Figure 4 is a view, similar to the preceding one, showing the bed in the closed position;
• Figure 5 is a partially sectional side view of the bed in a step of the movement of the upper bedspring;
• Figure 6 is a partially sectional side view, from the opposite side with respect to the preceding figure, showing the bed in the open position in the condition for use;
• Figure 7 is a view, similar to the preceding one, showing the bed in the partially open position, with the upper bedspring inclined at 45°;
• Figure 8 is a broken plan view, showing the bed in the open position;
• Figure 9 is a sectional broken plan view showing the bed in the open position;
• Figure 10 is a sectional side view of the upper coupling region of the ladder;
• Figure 11 is another side view of the upper coupling region of the ladder;
• Figure 12 is a side view of the lower coupling region of the ladder.
• Figure 13 is a perspective view of the adjustable foot.

With reference to the cited figures, the bunk bed according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting framework 2, to which two bedsprings, an upper bedspring 3 and a lower bedspring 4, are hinged.

The two bedsprings have at least two working positions: an open position, in which the bedsprings are in a horizontal position, and a closed position, in which the bedsprings are in a vertical position and are substantially included within the framework 2.

Each bedspring 3 and 4 is hinged to the framework 2 by means of an articulated structure, designated by the reference numerals 5 and 6 respectively, which is contained within the lateral shoulder of the framework 2.

The upper bedspring 3 is constituted by a tubular frame 7 that is hinged to the articulated structure 5 by means of a rotation pivot 9, which engages a seat provided in a plate 11 that is integral with the shoulder of the framework 2.

A lever 13 has an end that is hinged at the pivot 9 and a free end that is hinged to the stem of a gas cylinder actuator 15.

The cylinder of the gas cylinder actuator 15 is hinged to the plate 11 of the articulated structure 5.

The frame 7 has a rear bar 17, in which two locking pins 19 are arranged, one on each side.

On one side, a locking pin 18 is actuated, in contrast with a contrast spring, by means of an actuation lever 21 that is substantially inserted within the tubular frame 7 and has a grip member 23 that can be accessed by virtue of a lateral opening of the tubular frame 7.

By pulling the grip member 23, the actuation lever 21 extracts the pin 19 from the locking seat of the plate 11 and, by means of a transmission assembly, constituted by a cable 25 and pulleys 27, extracts the other pin 19 as well, leaving the frame 7 free to rotate about the rotation pivot 9.

The articulated structure 5 of the upper bedspring 3 has three locking positions of the pin 19, which correspond to the open position (Figure 1), to the closed position (Figure 2) and to a partially open position, shown in Figure 7, in which the bedspring 3 is inclined downward by approximately 45° to make it easier to make the bed.

The lower bedspring 4 has a tubular frame 8 hinged to the articulated structure 6, by means of a rotation pivot 10. The pivot 10 engages a seat provided in a plate 12 that is integral with the shoulder of the framework 2, in a manner similar to the upper bedspring.

A lever 14 has an end hinged at the pivot 10 and a free end hinged to the stem of a gas cylinder actuator 16.

The cylinder of the gas cylinder actuator 16 is hinged to the plate 12 of the articulated structure 6, in a manner similar to the upper bedspring, with the only difference that the gas cylinder actuator 16 of the lower bedspring 4 can have smaller dimensions than the upper bedspring, because the 45° position is not provided for the lower bedspring.

Like the upper bedspring 3, the frame 8 of the lower bedspring 4 has a rear bar in which two locking pins are arranged, one for each side.

On one side, a locking pin is actuated, in contrast with a contrast spring, by means of an actuation lever that is inserted substantially within the tubular frame 8 and has a grip member that can be accessed by means of a lateral opening of the tubular frame.

By pulling the grip member, the actuation lever extracts the pin from the locking seat of the plate and, by means of a cable and pulley system, extracts also the other pin, leaving the frame 8 free to rotate about the rotation pivot 10.

The articulated structure 6 of the lower bedspring 4 has two pin locking positions, which correspond to the open position (Figure 1) and to the closed position (Figure 2).

The fold-away bunk bed 1 also includes a ladder 30 which, in the open position of the bed, is engaged first with the frame 8 of the lower bedspring 4 and then with the upper frame 7.

The ladder is locked in an operating position by means of two knobs 31, which arm themselves during the engagement step and must be pulled in order to release the ladder and remove it.

The bunk bed 1 also includes protective barriers for each bedspring: an upper protective barrier and a lower protective barrier, both designated by the reference numeral 40.

Each barrier 40 is constituted by two parts: a first part 41, which is fixed to the frame of the respective bedspring, and a second part 42, which is articulated with respect to the first part by virtue of gears 43.

The two parts of the barrier are folded, when the bed is in the closed position, and arm themselves, during opening, locking themselves in a substantially vertical position, with a slight inclination, in the open position of the bed.

During closure, the barrier is released by acting on a release button, that is arranged laterally and, in the closed position, the second part 42 rests on the mattress 50, as can be seen in Figure 2.

The barrier 40 is provided with a padding, not visible in the figures.

The fold-away bunk bed according to the present invention may also comprise adjustable feet 60, arranged at the outer corners of the lower bedspring 4.

Each adjustable foot 60 comprises a foot body 61 hinged to the bedspring 4 by means of a ball bearing, not visible in the figures.

The foot body 61 has a spring locking means adapted to lock the foot 60 in the vertical position.

The foot body 61 has longitudinal seats for a slider 62 which is movable with respect to the foot body 61.

An adjustable member 63 may be adjustably fastened to the slider 62 by means of bolt 64 which clamps the adjustable member 63 against dented regions 65 of the slider 62.

While opening the lower bedspring 4, the foot 60 rotates about its ball bearing and keeps a vertical position by gravity.

When the lower bedspring 4 is in the horizontal position, the foot 60 is vertical and perpendicular to the floor.

The weight of the lower bedspring 4 makes the slider 62 slide into the foot body 61 and lock therein.

The adjustable member 63 allows to adjust the height of the adjustable foot 60.

The fold-away bunk bed according to the present invention is characterized by the articulation system of the fold-away bedsprings, in the shoulder of the supporting framework, which contains the rotation pivot and the gas cylinder actuator.

Advantageously, the bed is enclosed in a housing.

Contrary to the prior art fold-away bunk beds, the bunk bed according to the present invention has a fully independent actuation mechanism and each bedspring may be deployed independently from each other.

The system for locking the bedsprings, by means of the lever inserted in the tubular frame thereof, ensures the horizontal position of the bedspring and, in the case of the upper bedspring, the 45° inclined position, in order to make it easier to make the bed, ensuring the stability of the bedsprings, in the horizontal position, without the aid of feet resting on the ground.

The supporting frame 2 is fixed to a wall in an upward region.

The ladder 30 has the purpose of increasing the stability of the bedsprings, discharging part of the weight to the ground. The ladder is not part of the articulation system and may be used only if necessary, when the upper bedspring is deployed.

Another advantage of the bunk bed according to the present invention is due to the articulated padded barrier, which includes a mechanism for automatic locking and articulation.