GB2316305A

GB2316305A - A bed convertible between single and double configurations

Info

Publication number: GB2316305A
Application number: GB9617146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Broadbent
Original assignee: ABF Ltd
Current assignee: ABF Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-15
Filing date: 1996-08-15
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Also published as: IE970604A1; GB9617146D0

Abstract

The bed has a foldable base 4 and a plurality of mattress portions. In the single bed configuration the base is folded and the mattress portions overlie one another. In a double bed configuration the base is unfolded and the mattress portions lie adjacent one another and cover the base. Conversion to double bed form is made by folding out extensions 6 which are supported by stowable legs 10.

Description

A BED The present invention relates to a bed of the kind comprising a base and a mattress.

According to the present invention there is provided a bed comprising a foldable base and a plurality of mattress portions, the bed being convertible between a single bed configuration in which the base is folded and the mattress portions overlie one another and a double bed configuration in which the base is unfolded and the mattress portions lie adjacent one another and cover the base.

In a preferred embodiment the base comprises a main portion with a side extension moveable between a folded position in which it overlies the main portion and an unfolded position in which it extends from the side of the main body. Two side extensions may be provided, one on each side of the main portion in which case the extensions may each be half the width of the main portion.

Preferably the side extensions are pivotally connected to the main portion by means of hinges.

Support legs may be provided to support the side extensions in their unfolded configuration. The support legs may be retractable into the main portion of the base which may have recesses to receive them. The support legs are conveniently pivotally connected to the base and are fitted with casters or glides.

The mattress portions may be separate or may be hingedly connected.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed in accordance with the present invention and shown in a single bed configuration; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bed in the configuration of figure 1 with support legs shown.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bed of figure 1 shown partially expanded; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bed of the present invention shown in a double bed configuration.

Referring now to the drawings. the exemplary bed comprises a folding base 1 and two mattresses 2,3. The base 1 comprises a timber frame of generally rectangular appearance in plan and has a main central portion 4 on casters 5 with side extension panels 6 that are pivotally connected by hinges 7 on each side.

Each side extension panel 6 is of the same length as the main portion 4 of the base 1 but is of half its width and approximately half its depth.

Side walls 8 of the main portion 4 of the base 1 are recessed (indicated at 9 in figure 3) to receive support legs 10. Each support leg 10 is pivotally connected to the main portion 4 of the base 1 and is moveable in a horizontal plane through 90 degrees between an extended position in which is projects at right angles to the corresponding side wall 8 and a retracted position in which it is fully received in the recess 9 and is flush with the side wall 8.

Figure 1 shows a single bed configuration in which the side extension panels 6 are folded so that they overlie an upper surface 11 of the main central portion 4 of the base 1 and the mattresses 2,3 overlie one another on the base 1.

In accordance with the present invention the bed may be converted, when desired, from the single bed configuration illustrated in figure 1 to a double bed configuration as shown in figure 4. In order to do this the four support legs 10 are first pivoted outboard of the side walls 8 of main portion 4 of the base 1 as shown in figure 2. Thereafter the mattresses 2 3 are removed and the two side extension panels 6 of the base 1 are unfolded through substantially 180 degrees until they each rest on the support legs 10 with their upper surfaces 12 flush with the upper surface 11 of the main central portion 4. Figure 3 shows one of the side extension panels 6 unfolded and one still folded. When the base 1 is fully unfolded the mattresses 2,3 are replaced in a side-by-side arrangement whereby they fully cover the upper surfaces 11, 12 of the main portion 4 of the unfolded base 1 and the side extension panels 6. The mattresses 2,3 may be separate or alternatively may be joined along one side edge by a foldable hinge of fabric or the like (not shown). If the mattresses are joined in this manner the hinge may have a zip or another suitable connector to enable their separation and reconnection.

The bed of the present invention is particularly useful as a guest bed that is in occasional use. When not in use the bed may be folded into its single bed configuration thereby taking up less space. When guests come to stay the bed may be used in its single or double bed configuration, as necessary.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example the bed and retractable support legs may be mounted on other suitable means other than casters, for example, glides. Furthermore instead of two half width side extensions the base may have a single extension connected on one side of the main portion and being substantially of the same width as the main portion so that in the single bed configuration the side extension fully overlies the main portion.

Claims

1. A bed comprising a foldable base and a plurality of mattress portions, the bed being convertible between a single bed configuration in which the base is folded and the mattress portions overlie one another and a double bed configuration in which the base is unfolded and the mattress portions lie adjacent one another and cover the base.

2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a main portion with at least one side extension moveable between a folded position in which it overlies the main portion and an unfolded position in which it extends from the side of the main portion.

3. A bed according to claim 2, wherein two side extensions may be provided, one on each side of the main portion and each being substantially half the width of the main portion.

4. A bed according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the side extensions are pivotally connected to the main portion by means of hinges.

5. A bed according to any preceding claim, wherein support legs are provided to support the side extensions in their unfolded configuration.

6. A bed according to claim 5, wherein the support legs are retractable into the main portion of the base.

7. A bed according to claim 6, wherein the main portion of the base has recesses in which the support legs are received in a retracted position.

8. A bed according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the support legs are pivotally connected to the base.

9. A bed according to claim 8. wherein the support legs are fitted with casters or glides.

10. A bed according to any preceding claims in which the mattress portions are separate from one another.

11. A bed according to any one of claims l to 9, wherein the mattress portions are hingedly connected.

12. A bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.