Folding bed device

Oct. 29, 1963

3,108,291

I. EASON

FOLDING BED DEVICE

<img file="US3108291A_D0001.tif" />

Oct. 29, 1963

3,108,291

I. EASON

FOLDING BED DEVICE

<img file="US3108291A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3108291A_D0003.tif" />

3,108,291

Oct. 29, 1963

I. EASON

FOLDING BED DEVICE

Filed Aug. 15, 1961

Sheets-Sheet 3

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United States Patent Office

3,108,291

Patented Oct. 29, 1963

3,108,291

FOLDING BED DEVICE Ira Eason, 3717 NW. 49th St, Miami, Fla.

Filed Afflg. 15,1961, Ser. No. 131,668

Claim. (Cl. 5—111)

This invention relates to folding beds or cots and has for one of its objects the provision of a bed or cot which, when in its open or extended position, will be of normal bed length and when collapsed or folded will be reduced to relatively small size, occupying the approximate space required by a large suit case.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cot or bed of this character which will be of light weight construction; which when extended into its operative or supporting position will be rigid and sturdy; which can be readily collapsed or folded into a compact unit occupying relatively small space, and which when folded can be readily carried or easily transported.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a bed or cot having a frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally joined and provided with folding legs, the legs being foldable when not in use and caused to be positioned within the frame sections, and the frame sections being foldable in a manner to present a compact structure including a mattress folded within it. The invention further contemplates the provision of latch means by which the frame sections are rigidly maintained against collapse when they are extended to supporting position; and in the provision of other latch means for holding the parts of the bed together when such parts are in their folded positions.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the acompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding bed or cot constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken susbtantially on the line 3—3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4—4 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5—5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6—6 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 7 is an end view of the folding bed or cot in its folded position;

FIG. 8 is a view taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 9—9 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The various parts of the improved folding bed or cot are preferably composed of aluminum and largely of aluminum tubing to provide for lightness in weight and to facilitate the handling and transportation of the bed. When the bed or cot is extended, or is in its open or operative position, it has a normally full bed length, and when folded or collapsed it assumes the shape of a compact unit capable of being stored in a small space. In its collapsed or folded condition it approximates the size of a relatively large suit case and it is provided with carrying facilities.

The cot includes a central frame section generally indicated at 5, and which consists of a pair of inverted Ushaped side members or rails 25 and 26 connected by tie rods 27 extending for the width of the bed. The opposite ends of the rails 25 and 26 are pivotally connected at 9 with next adjacent frame sections herein referred to ₅ as the intermediate frame sections. Said intermediate frame sections, generally indicated at 6, consist of spaced tubular rods .28. The ends of the rods 28 are pivotally connected at 1&amp; to one end of inverted U-shaped members 8 which are in the form of links providing an articulated connection between the intermediate frame members 6 and end frame members 12. Transversely-extending tie rods 11 extend between the link members 8. At their opposite ends, the links 8 are pivotally connected at 10a to the end frame members 12 which are U-shaped 15 sections of tubing having side rails 30 integrally connected by the cross member 31.

Pivotally connected at 32 to each of the end frame members 12 are U-shaped supporting legs 13 which are supported in their extended positions by means of pivotal 2q braces 16. Similar legs 13α are pivotally attached to rods 28 of the intermediate frame members 6.

Located adjacent to the U-shaped link members 8 are sliding latches 14, movable through brackets 15. ’When these latches are moved to the position shown in full 25 lines in FIG. 5, the same act to bridge the pivots 10α and thus prevent any pivotal movement of the frame parts 6 and 12 relative to one another while the bed or cot is in Its open or extended position.

The bed or cot frame, thus composed of the central 30 frame part, 5 the intermediate frame parts 6 and the end frame parts 12 and links -8, receive transversely-extending metallic strips 17 to support a mattress indicated at 18 in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and also shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 7 and 9.

Latches 19 are provided on the frame members to retain the parts of the bed or cot in the folded or collapsed position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, which latches are pivotally mounted on the pivots 10α, coupling the link members 8 to the frames 6. The latches 19 are each provided 40 with a notch 33 for engagement with the pm 16.

The bed or cot is shown in its open or extended position in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive wherein it will be observed that the several frame sections 5, 6 and 12 and link members 8 are disposed in the same horizontal plane and 45 co-operate in the formation of a bed or cot of normal bed length. The four leg units 13 and 13α are extended angularly downward at this time and are braced by the braces 16 to properly support the bed. Latches 14 are, at this time, extended into the full line position shown in 50 FIG. 5 so that the frame elements 6 and 12 are maintained against pivotal collapse.

When the bed or cot is to be folded or collapsed, the latches il4 are retracted or are shifted to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, thus permitting the end frame 55 sections 12 to be swung inwardly as indicated by the arrows at the opposite ends of FIG. 3. The end frame sections 12 are thus brought down to overlie the intermediate frame sections 6, the mattress 18, which can be of foam rubber, being folded with them. The legs 13 are collapsed in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 3 and the legs will then lie within the end frame sections 12. The link members 8 serve to maintain the rails of the frame sections 6 and 12 apart sufficiently to permit the mattress to assume a folded position between them as seen in FIGS. 7 and 9. The intermediate frame sections 6 are swung on the pivots 9 to bring them toward one another, and spaced by the members 26, the legs shown at 13α will be folded to lie between the rods 28 of The entire mechanism of the bed can be folded or collapsed with a minimum of effort, providing adequate support for the foam rubber mattress substantially as shown. When the bed is folded as above described, the

3,108,291 latches 19 are brought to the full line position shown in FIG. 7 and the same will hold the parts of the bed in the folded condition shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

When the bed is folded as above described, it will be noted that the intermediate frames 6 are located in 5 spaced-apart parallel relation, maintained in such relation by the disposition of the central frame 5 between them; that the end frames '12 come together between but spaced from the frames 6 by the links 3, which arrangement serves to provide the required spacing between the jq frame parts for the accommodation of the folded mattress. The legs 13 and 13α, being accommodated within the farme sections 6 and 12, are maintained in the plane of these frames sections.

When the bed is to be extended, the latches 19 are released and the bed is swung open, with the sections 6 swinging on the pivots 9. The end sections 12 are then swung outwardly and when they are fully extended, the latches 14 are shifted to the operative position with respect to the rails of the frames 6. The several legs 13 20 and 13α are then swung outwardly to the angular supporting positions illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

If desired, the mattress can be anchored in the frame so that it is assured of being folded as the frame folds. In the fully collapsed or folded position, it is possible to 25 provide an encasing cover which may have a slot at the top permitting the horizontal members of the legs 13α of the intermediate frame sections to project sufficiently upward to constitute carrying handles.